Forum Discussion
- Johno02ExplorerJust a question, does anybody have any idea what it costs to use these chargers?? Do they charge by time, or how much used, or are they just free??
- 2oldmanExplorer III went to the website listed at the bottom of that page but I couldn't find anything about these chargers.
- John___AngelaExplorer
Johno02 wrote:
Just a question, does anybody have any idea what it costs to use these chargers?? Do they charge by time, or how much used, or are they just free??
Well, it depends. We use DCFC or DC fast chargers when we do longer trips. Otherwise, like most EV drivers we charge at home as its cheaper. So the most expensive place an EV driver can charge an EV is a DC fast charger. Typically they are about 30 to 35 cents per kilowatt hour but depending on the network they are on you can pay a flat monthly fee and get a reduced per KWH charge. I am not on one of those plans so I can't tell you much about that. Like I say, you pay for the fast charge convenience. It's always cheaper to charge at home.
They also mentioned a level 2 charger. That is typically a slower 6.8KW to 10 KWH charge rate. These are usually co-located at a DCFC site as emergency back up. They are much less in price, maybe half, but again depends on the network. Many level 2 fast chargers you see at shopping malls and restaurants are free but they are used as loss leaders by the business. EG, you go to Starbucks that has a level 2 charger and have lunch and a coffee for 12 bucks and they give you 30 cents worth of power free. Kinda like a restaurant using a coupon to get you there. Instead they don't have to print anything and instead of a 2 buck coupon its 30 or 40 cents of power.
We are pay as you go costumers on three different networks but have pre paid RFID cards that we just flash in front of the charger. It deducts from the card automatically. I put 50 bucks on my "add energy" card a year ago and I still have about 28 bucks left. Like I said, we only use it on longer trips. We do 95 percent of our charging in the garage.
Oh, on edit, the Tesla guys charge for free (for now) on their supercharger network. But that's why they pay 35,000 for a base model 3 and a leaf owner pays 22,000 for a base model leaf. Well, that and the fact they go twice as far on a charge. :). Meh. - profdant139Explorer III am waiting for the day when there is an electric pickup truck that can tow my trailer and go 400 miles without recharging.
It'll happen, but probably not in my lifetime. - John___AngelaExplorer
profdant139 wrote:
I am waiting for the day when there is an electric pickup truck that can tow my trailer and go 400 miles without recharging.
It'll happen, but probably not in my lifetime.
Yes that would be kinda cool. And yes probably 7 to 10 years away. But they are about half way there already. A tesla x can pull its rated load (5000 pounds if I recall) about 200 miles. Freakin expensive though. 120 grand or so. Meh. It'll get cheaper. - LenSaticExplorerThe other shoe hasn't dropped yet: Wait for the outcry over recycling the batteries. ;) I live off-grind solar so I have some idea of the down stream effects of "renewable" energy. Some of the first "horseless carriages" were electric, BTW.
LS - pnicholsExplorer III wonder how long it will be before the Free Enterprize System prices electricity from EV recharging stations such that it costs about as much (or more, years into the future) per mile - based on some average and ever-changing pricing formula - to drive them as an equivalent size gasoline or diesel powered vehicle?
I can't imagine free or dirt cheap EV "refueling" lasting too long into the future. Cheap refueling electricity is probably viewed as a "loss leader product" right now to get us into the EV buying mood. - John___AngelaExplorer
LenSatic wrote:
The other shoe hasn't dropped yet: Wait for the outcry over recycling the batteries. ;) I live off-grind solar so I have some idea of the down stream effects of "renewable" energy. Some of the first "horseless carriages" were electric, BTW.
LS
Curious. Why would there be outcry. Tesla and Nissan already have recycling facilities. Nissan pays a thousand bucks for the core. Not that anyone would ever not recycle a battery but a vehicle lithium ion battery doesn't have near the environmental impact as a single leaf acid 12 volt battery. Lead is nasty stuff. - John___AngelaExplorer
pnichols wrote:
I wonder how long it will be before the Free Enterprize System prices electricity from EV recharging stations such that it costs about as much (or more, years into the future) per mile - based on some average and ever-changing pricing formula - to drive them as an equivalent size gasoline or diesel powered vehicle?
I can't imagine free or dirt cheap EV "refueling" lasting too long into the future. Cheap refueling electricity is probably viewed as a "loss leader product" right now to get us into the EV buying mood.
I don't know. I don't think a restaurant cares about getting you into an EV buying mode. They just care about giving you one more reason to eat at there restaurant. Even if it costs them a buck of free electricity to get you to pick their restaurant it's still cheaper than printing a two dollar off coupon. As far as DC fast charging goes, it isn't cheap or free now, I doubt it will be in the future. And as far as home charging goes, people can and do produce their own power from roof solar. If the utility gets too expensive people will make their own power at home. Right now it wouldn't be worth it for us to install roof solar as grid power is cheap. Jack the rates up too much and I would reconsider. Solar is getting cheaper. Nice to have choices. Hard to refine your own gas. :) - LenSaticExplorer
John & Angela wrote:
LenSatic wrote:
The other shoe hasn't dropped yet: Wait for the outcry over recycling the batteries. ;) I live off-grind solar so I have some idea of the down stream effects of "renewable" energy. Some of the first "horseless carriages" were electric, BTW.
LS
Curious. Why would there be outcry. Tesla and Nissan already have recycling facilities. Nissan pays a thousand bucks for the core. Not that anyone would ever not recycle a battery but a vehicle lithium ion battery doesn't have near the environmental impact as a single leaf acid 12 volt battery. Lead is nasty stuff.
That's what they do now, not 50 years from now. They want people to buy. Plus, they are being subsidized. That won't last.
As for lead-acid, the greenies don't know it but the lead is recycled into bullets. ;)
One has to wonder why 19th century lead-acid batteries and internal combustion engines are still in use. It's a head scratcher! ;)
LS
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