Good points, Tom. The more I think about it, I agree that ESVEs should be located away from the favorite ICE spots. Why cause contentions? In the long run, that may have to change, but we're talking about early adopters right now.
Another point I'll add to is what areas to locate ESVEs. In my january post on looking for an ESVE in Tacoma, it turns out all the level 2s are in the downtown core in parking garages. That means, not only do you have to pay to use the ESVE, but you also pay for the garage. Cost me $10 to use the garage and a few more for the ESVE. I didn't need to be downtown, so in my case, locating a few on the periphery would make more sense. Maybe a handful of convenience stores would be willing to host a space. It wouldn't even have to be marked EV exclusive, as typically convenience store spaces are only used for a few minutes at a time. Does anyone think this would be useful? Peri -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of tomw Sent: 07 February, 2013 8:14 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [EVDL] EV charging stations I agree with the points made by Bruce in quotes below. Especially the second one. It just pisses some people off to think someone else is getting something they are not. I can walk 50 or 100 yards to the store no problem, so put the EVSE in an out of the way spot in the parking lot. In addition I think that EVSE's should charge per unit energy rather than by the hour. It doesn't make sense to me for someone charging for 2 hours at 15A to pay twice as much as someone who charges at 60A for 1 hour. Though I suppose if the EVSE is in high demand, available time may be more valuable than the energy. Charging by the hour also encourages people to invest in higher current chargers so they don't need to tie up EVSE's for a long time, though that isn't an option with most manufactured EV's. If/when the population of EV's grows, this will become a big issue. It has not at all been an issue for me so far. I have used the Clipper Creek EVSE's at Truckee CA and Tahoe City CA. They have both been there at least a couple years now and have weathered the Sierra winters and brutal sun well. I have also used a Coulomb EVSE. It was much less convenient in that I had first to order a card and set up an account to access it, whereas the Clipper Creek units I just pulled up and charged, no card necessary. All are free. If someone is visiting from a nearby town, they may or may not have a card. I would guess Bruce would say they should just plan ahead and get a card. To which I would say yeah, there are lots of things we should do - and there is always the possibility of loosing the card. :^)) My experience driving over the last three years is that my only use of an EVSE is when I want to do an out and back trip from home that is greater than my range. I have never used any of the about half dozen EVSE's in my town despite most being free. I also never used level 1 since it takes much too long to get enough charge for me to extend my range by 25 miles or more, which is usually the minimum I am interested in. Even level 2 takes two hours to add 54 Ah with my charger charging at 27A which is about the most it will do on hot summer days. That will take me about 27 miles at average of about 55 mph - and I drive a small energy efficient car (http://www.evalbum.com/3060). With that I can extend my range (with mostly highway driving) from around 65 miles to about 92 miles in summer, enough to do a 45 mile round trip from home. A Leaf would be similar. Also need to consider decreased winter range. That 92 mostly highway miles drops to about 75 if I have to leave the heater on most of the time in say -9 C ambient. I prefer an EVSE to be within walking distance of restaurants or a coffee shop so I can plan to eat breakfast or lunch there and read a book while charging. I'm not a shopper, but shopping centers may be a good place for others. A library would also be a good location for me. You need to kill 2 or more hours if you want to add much range so there needs to be something to do. Smaller towns are nice since you can walk to most things there - or take your bike. Bruce: "I highly recommend that you have a game-plan to install EVSE in a contiguous pattern that allows plugin drivers get from point A to B and back (do not have all your EVSE all crowded together downtown and none outside of town.). EVSE should be installed in parking spots that ice-drivers do not want to park in (not up front but around the side or in the back). Also spots must have proper signage to keep ice from blocking EV charging spaces. Another mistake suggested by EVSE sales teams is to install EVSE at or near City Hall. Unless the City has plugin vehicles in their fleet to use that, that is a waste as your local population will want to go shopping much more often than go to city hall." -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EV-charging-sta tions-tp4660792p4661077.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
