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Where are you in your preparation for electric vehicle ownership / life?

3274 Views 34 Replies 17 Participants Last post by  EVolution
Not sure if this particular forum slot is the best place for this question, but if it needs to be moved...By all means do so.
Anyway, I was curious as to how many forum members were current or previous EV owners and already had their "at home" charging gear purchased, installed, and in use.What could those same folks provide in the way of help / info. to help those of us who don't not make a mistake that might be avoided with some good info. from experienced EV owners in the setting up of charging equipment? Please share any info. you can think of to help ease us ICE owners over to the moving Electon world!
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I saw that Cadillac is currently offering $1500 towards the installation of a charger, but for the Chevy Bolt it is $1,000. Here is what I found on the Chevy site:

There are 3 options: Standard Home Installation, a Home Installation Credit, or EVgo Credit.
  • Standard Home Installation: Installation by a Qmerit electrician of 240-volt outlet and permit acquisition for customers with a standard home set up. If your home does not meet the standard home installation requirements you will be eligible for a credit of up to $1,000 towards a Qmerit installation of a 240-volt outlet and up to $250 towards permit fees.
  • EVgo Credit: $500 credit to use at EVgo Public Charging Stations
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Just a note. Even though the Blazer EV can take 11KW doesn't mean that it's required to have an 11KW EVSE. Most people drive less than 30 miles a day. I know people that have Bolt EV's that get by charging at L1 speeds (1.2KW) because their normally daily drive isn't very far.

Personally I have a 7.7KW setup (240V 32A). On our Bolt EV on most days it's back to fully charged in less than 2 hours. And we rarely ever come close to depleting the pack. On the Blazer EV 7.7KW will fully charge the large pack from depleted in ~13 hours - medium in ~11 hours and small pack in ~9 hours. 7.7KW is roughly 24 miles of range an hour on the Blazer EV. So that is more than fast enough for our needs. 11KW charging is roughly 32 miles of range an hour.

I understand that many may want a 48A 11KW EVSE for maximum flexibility and that's fair. But for the vast majority of people who's panel may not support that (or don't want to spend the money for the 60A circuit) don't fret. An 11KW EVSE is overkill for the vast majority of people.

In my last house I only had a 100A panel. My L2 EVSE was 16A (3.8KW). And even that will charge a Blazer EV at ~12 miles of range an hour. Or ~120 miles of range in 10 hours.
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Just a note. Even though the Blazer EV can take 11KW doesn't mean that it's required to have an 11KW EVSE. Most people drive less than 30 miles a day. I know people that have Bolt EV's that get by charging at L1 speeds (1.2KW) because their normally daily drive isn't very far.

Personally I have a 7.7KW setup (240V 32A). On our Bolt EV on most days it's back to fully charged in less than 2 hours. And we rarely ever come close to depleting the pack. On the Blazer EV 7.7KW will fully charge the large pack from depleted in ~13 hours - medium in ~11 hours and small pack in ~9 hours. 7.7KW is roughly 24 miles of range an hour on the Blazer EV. So that is more than fast enough for our needs. 11KW charging is roughly 32 miles of range an hour.

I understand that many may want a 48A 11KW EVSE for maximum flexibility and that's fair. But for the vast majority of people who's panel may not support that (or don't want to spend the money for the 60A circuit) don't fret. An 11KW EVSE is overkill for the vast majority of people.

In my last house I only had a 100A panel. My L2 EVSE was 16A (3.8KW). And even that will charge a Blazer EV at ~12 miles of range an hour. Or ~120 miles of range in 10 hours.
My garage is woefully lacking in electrical possibilities due to the age of the house / garage and the grage panel I will have to upgrade to maximise what I have to work with. The garage is detached and has a underground service run from the house. If I can get a charger that can provide 50 miles in a day given my available wiring I'll be happy. I am retired and don't need a daily 80% charge. Right now my existing panel is pretty ancient, but even though I've got circuits pre-wired for 220 they will require inspection, probable replacement, and most likely a new dedicated hardwire for a charger. Right now now of the 220 circuits are not being used. One is indicated for heat even though there are not any signs of baseboard resistant heaters ever being installed. The other was probably for a window AC which does have a 220 receptacle under one window.
Electrical wiring Gas Fixture Machine Electronic device
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I added a 60 amp 14-50 plug for our Pacifica Hybrid last year to the opposite side of the garage from the panel. I'm pretty sure it's when 6 gauge wire was at its most expensive 🤣. I recently had a 16kw solar panel system installed and now I'm waiting for my local utility to come out and inspect it so it can be commissioned. I want to add another 60 amp to my panel but I'm holding out to see how V2H develops in hopes of being able to use the blazer as a battery backup for my solar setup. Will see when the standard for V2H gets finalized. My employer has free EV charging at their parking lot but the slots are starting to fill up. Hoping they add more stations in the future. Pretty excited about expanding into an all electric vehicle.
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My employer has free EV charging at their parking lot but the slots are starting to fill up. Hoping they add more stations in the future.
I am starting to see more companies offering free chargers for employees. My company has several chargers also, but they fill up early in the morning. I am hoping they add more. A couple of years ago someone was telling me that parking at their office was $150 a month for a reserved spot (off-street parking), but if you had an EV it was free and they had a free charger.
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I currently have two EV's - both Ford MachE's...a 2021 Premium AWD/EXT (although I'm in the process of selling this to Driveway), and a 2022 MachE GTPE (keeping this one). We hardwired a Chargepoint charger in our garage - on a 50 amp breaker. Our utility company offered a rebate if we went this route - so we did. So far, it works really well.
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I currently have two EV's - both Ford MachE's...a 2021 Premium AWD/EXT (although I'm in the process of selling this to Driveway), and a 2022 MachE GTPE (keeping this one). We hardwired a Chargepoint charger in our garage - on a 50 amp breaker. Our utility company offered a rebate if we went this route - so we did. So far, it works really well.
Our utility offers a $500 rebate on a qualifying connected charger, so we installed 3 (the circuits were already in place). We decided to make our home ready for our eventual teen driver and any additional EVs.
I have a Nissan Leaf with an ICE backup (Not really a backup as much as a garage queen). My "community" (fancy word for apartment that charges way too much) has a charging station. Charging my Leaf completely from about 20%-30% generally costs me about $12.00 (they charge per hour with $1 for each hour for the first 2, then $2 for the next 4 hours, then $4.00 for hours after the first 6 hours).

When the housing market cools, I'm hoping to find some place that's a little ways off the beaten path, but intend on having a charger installed. My initial thoughts are to have one near the garage door, a little separated from the house so that I can charge my vehicle as it sits outside. The other reason for having it further from the house is just in case the Blazer lives up to its name and begins to exhibit issues like the Bolt started having before the battery recall.

My personal recommendation is if this is your first dive into the EV market, look for a cheap ICE that you can use as a backup. If that is not an option, they say that the main rule of EV ownership is ABC (Always Be Charging). With me having an ICE as a backup, I can literally drive my EV around until it gets close to 20% and then plug it in with my ICE ready at the drop of a hat. Some people cannot sit around and wait for their vehicles to charge, and I understand that. Even if you buy a $2000 cash vehicle, it's peace of mind to have that vehicle as a backup (if it's possible to find a $2000 cash vehicle that's decently road worthy).
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I have a Mach E on order. Build date is scheduled for 10/3/22. Based on what is being reported on the Mach E forums for recent builds (and barring any delays) delivery should occur in late November.

I have scheduled estimates to install a NEMA 14-50 outlet in my garage and whatever EVSE I decided on.

My electric utility offers a $250 bill credit for the installation of a level 2 charger on certain plans.
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This will be our only EV for the time being but we may have two in the future. I want the ability to fully charge the battery from very low overnight. That's why I was thinking of hardwiring a 48 or 50 amp unit.

My understanding is that GM only covers the cost of the wiring and electrician. They will not apply the $1500 promotion to the charger itself. With that said, I would likely max out the wiring so that I can easily upgrade in the future. As of today, I think the Emporia charger is the best bang for the buck at $450 (sometimes less) and 48 amp hard wired charging. I won't actually order anything until we are closer (likely once the order is placed for the Blazer). Available chargers could change in the next year.
ngiovas: I agree. There's a good chance I'll go with a hardwired Emporia as well since it looks really good to me for the money. Not going to do the actual setup until I've ordered my car.
Hi both, thanks for considering the Emporia 48 Amp Level 2 Smart Home EV Charger. We're a bit late to replying here, but wanted to let you know the price is now $399 with options for black or white if you're still yet to pick up a charger. If you have any questions, we're happy to answer!
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Hi both, thanks for considering the Emporia 48 Amp Level 2 Smart Home EV Charger. We're a bit late to replying here, but wanted to let you know the price is now $399 with options for black or white if you're still yet to pick up a charger. If you have any questions, we're happy to answer!
Thanks for the information. I am waiting to purchase my charger after I order the vehicle. Hopefully that happens soon :)
We actually have a chevy bolt euv and a hyundai ioniq 5. We planned to replace the bolt with a equinox and the ioniq 5 with the blazer. We have two 240v / 32 amp charger.
We actually have a chevy bolt euv and a hyundai ioniq 5. We planned to replace the bolt with a equinox and the ioniq 5 with the blazer. We have two 240v / 32 amp charger.
I'm curious as to why you are giving up the I5. Seems like most owners love em.
I'm curious as to why you are giving up the I5. Seems like most owners love em.
I really love my ioniq 5, 3 season per year. But in snow there some design flaw, the front wiper is one of them( lack of rear one is not a problem for me) but the front one is mess in snow. I have the rwd , its really good in snow for what it is, better than the fwd on the bolt, but i miss my last awd vehicle. Also my wife got an accident in her bolt euv and the plastic bumper only bend a little. I saw few mild crashed ioniq 5 accident and the plastic look so filmsy, its like it explode on impact , so i fear that an ice block would do he same thing.

Honestly if it wasnt the incredible selling value I would keep it, but since I will make alot of money with selling it , it weight alot on my desire to swap it for the blazer. I would also like a awd ioniq 5 but used the price is crazy and new, there is 3-4 year wait list here.
I really love my ioniq 5, 3 season per year. But in snow there some design flaw, the front wiper is one of them( lack of rear one is not a problem for me) but the front one is mess in snow. I have the rwd , its really good in snow for what it is, better than the fwd on the bolt, but i miss my last awd vehicle. Also my wife got an accident in her bolt euv and the plastic bumper only bend a little. I saw few mild crashed ioniq 5 accident and the plastic look so filmsy, its like it explode on impact , so i fear that an ice block would do he same thing.

Honestly if it wasnt the incredible selling value I would keep it, but since I will make alot of money with selling it , it weight alot on my desire to swap it for the blazer. I would also like a awd ioniq 5 but used the price is crazy and new, there is 3-4 year wait list here.
Gotcha. Yeah, the lists are crazy long where I am at as well. I figure that will change in about a year as more EVs hit the market and we slowly venture into a recession.
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