Which home charger will you choose for your new Kona or Niro

Discussion in 'Hyundai Kona Electric' started by EnerG, Dec 1, 2018.

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  1. EnerG

    EnerG Active Member

    Greetings all. While you and I impatiently wait for our new rides, I thought I'd start my first conversation here with a chat about what would be your first, second or third choice of home charging setups for Nero's and Konas. I am assuming they will have similar charge requirements and connectors as they share many components.

    I should also mention that this is specific to North America as we have split phase 60Hz. 240V service common to Canada and USA.

    In my case I am considering installing a 50A/240V L2 charger, but I could see myself bumping that considerably as I have an extra 100A of service. My target will be 600km per week of range. I do expect slower charging to be gentler on the battery but if I can charge 2 nights a week to obtain that 600km of range I would be content.

    An ability to log and monitor charge data on a PC would be great but what else do you consider to be make it or break it features one should consider when looking at charging stations.

    Looking forward to your ideas.
     
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  4. I was thinking of Juicebox but I have bought the ChargePoint. Both get good reviews but my choice was made for me when I discovered that ZapBC takes $1,100 of the cost of the ChargePoint and installation. They arrange for an installer and permit. Total cost $2,200 and they reduce that by $1,100. The other government program here in B.C. has used all of their funding this year. They would have paid $750 towards the cost of the charger and installation.
     
  5. EnerG

    EnerG Active Member

    Thanks so much for the reply Bill. I am also in BC and did not know about the subsidies so this may affect which way I go as well. What is the name of the other program? Links?
     
  6. The other program is through B.C. Hydro. Same site as applying for the $5000 grant on purchase of your vehicle, although the dealer will do that. I believe it is also BC Hydro where you apply for the sticker to use the HOV lane but not sure.
     
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  8. EnerG

    EnerG Active Member

    Thanks Bill. You must already own an EV. ZapBC requires a VIN number to apply. At this point in time the Canadian Kona or Niro MSRPs have not been announced so consequently those of us on the list can't get a VIN. It makes sense, no VIN until we agree on purchase price.

    Both the Chargepoint and the Juicebox 40Pro offer WiFi. Either look like a nice units but the JuiceBox offers a few more Km per hour over the Chargepoint 32Amp model.

    Having the electrical panel in the garage has a big advantage here. If Technical Safety BC issues the permit I'll install a Nema 14-50R myself.
     
  9. I used the VIN from my current gas car. That is all you have to do to apply and I was approved.
     
  10. EnerG

    EnerG Active Member

    Yup, I missed that one.

    Is your install completed?

    Any concerns about being forced to maintain the WiFi, or it being cloud base? Does it still function if you have a network outage?
     
  11. I do not have charger installed yet. They were ready but I put off until after Christmas.
    My understanding is that the unit will begin charging when plugged in even if there is no wifi.
     
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  13. I must have missed this post a while ago. I have had a JuiceBox Pro 32 for a while and if there isn't any wifi connection it will max out at whatever amperage you had it set at previously. If you need to change the amperage because you've taken the charger to another location with a lower wiring capability and there is no wifi, you connect directly to the charger using the app and adjust the maximum. For example, at my home I leave it set for the full 32amps as I have the charger plugged into a dedicated 50amp circuit. When I take it to my parents house, they only have a 30amp circuit available so I log in to the charger when I get there (because I always forget to change it the easy way at home with wifi) and back the charger down to 24amps max.

    Hope that clarifies for ya! I love the JuiceBox, very easy to use and heavy duty. IMG_20190113_130819.jpeg
     
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  14. E-Shark

    E-Shark Active Member

    Hey Shawn, what is that plug you have hanging on top? It looks like an adaptor?
    Does the Juicebox have cord storage around the unit, or is that the way you have to store the cord as in your picture?
     
  15. The charger came with the cord connector and storage piece. The piece up top is an adapter from JuiceBox that allows the NEMA 14-50 JuiceBox plug to plug into a NEMA 14-30 dryer outlet. You just have to dial it back in the settings so you don't burn the house down lol. 1549043075864.jpeg 1549043091439.jpeg 1549043107515.jpeg
     
  16. E-Shark

    E-Shark Active Member

    Thanks for the pics!! That is awesome that they give you an adaptor!! I've narrowed down my decision to ChargePoint and JuiceBox now. If you don't mind me asking, what was your unit and install price?
     
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  17. I installed mine myself so that part was pretty cheap, a box and outlet, some wire and a breaker. I have no idea so I will guess about $100. The charger I actually got from the US. In Ontario anyway, you could only order the Pro32 hardwired, which I didn't want because I want it to be portable for longer trips. I could buy directly from the US site because any info I put in (address, credit card, PayPal etc) it recognized I was in Canada so it redirected me. I live I Sarnia right on the US border and one of my friends does work in the US and has a US credit card addressed in Port Huron so he bought it for.me, shipped it to his US place and he brought it across and I paid him back. I think all said and done the charger was $760 CAD. The Canadian version of the same thing I think lists for $869? And I would have had to add an end plug as well so it wasn't hard wired so well over $1000 all in.

    Very happy with the charger though. The reason I chose JuiceBox over Charge point was because ChargerPoint wouldn't let me back the amperage down without a wifi connection so using it for travel was a no go for me.
     
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  18. And that US price was also with me paying for that adapter :)
     
  19. E-Shark

    E-Shark Active Member

    Awesome, thanks for the info. ClipperCreek was a brand I was looking at too. They have lots of chargers at different Amps, and almost any type of plug, but they have the same issue of only being in the states.
     
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  20. Sun Country Highway retails the entire (re-branded) Clipper Creek line-up in Canada.
     
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  21. Thanks Shawn for the info. I was wondering what I am going to do. Unfortunately I don't have any ev yet. Hope to get the Kona here in the US soon. However I only have a dryer NEMA here so I want to keep options for the future. Sounds like the juicebox is a great option.

    Sent from my moto x4 using Tapatalk
     
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  22. E-Shark

    E-Shark Active Member

    Thanks for that info!!! Unfortunately their price is so much more than the US equivalents.
     
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  23. DVoran

    DVoran Member

    For what it’s worth, I installed Siemen’s VersiCharge that plugs into NEMA 6-50 Plug. Originally ordered the non-WiFi unit VC30GRYU but turned it back for the Wi-Fi version (VCSG30GRYUW) to track usage. Have to say the App is pretty primitive and doesn’t really tell you much other than total kWh used. After 7 months the Wi-Fi module failed. Am still waiting for the replacement module (going on 3 weeks now). So while the unit looks good and services the car (have a Honda Clarity PHEV) would never recommend the Siemens unit.


    Sent from my iPad using Inside EVs
     
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