Lainey
Well-Known Member
Or at least enhances charging stations. I have to admit charging at home so spoils me
evse recommendations?
- Thread starter KeninFL
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Or you could be stupid like me and future-proof by accident. When MINI announced the SE in July, 2019, they indicated it could charge at 11 kW. So I ripped my 40-Amp EVSE off the wall and bought a 48-Amp EVSE to go with my 60-Amp service in the garage. Then I read that the MINI I waited more than a year to be delivered could charge at 11 kW only on 3-phase AC power, not the single-phase AC found in US homes. And the J1772 connector can't do the 3-phase thing anyway. Now I have a very thick cable I have to wrestle around to charge my SE.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
What I did was have the electrician put in 60 A gauge wire, and use a 40 A breaker for now. If I need to go up to a 50 A EVSE it's simple to replace the 40 A circuit breaker with a 60 A one instead of having to pull new wire.
The wiring needs to be able to handle the load, and a thicker gauge wire can handle more. The circuit breaker limits the maximum draw by tripping at whatever level it's rated for, and the EVSE will not pull more than the max it's rated for. Finally the car will only draw what it can draw. So on a 60 A circuit the SE will still only pull a maximum of 32 A.
If I install my 40-Amp Bosch EVSE in a garage with 40-Amp service, will I be able to charge my 30.83-Amp SE without tripping the 40-Amp circuit breaker? I have a friend who lives on a lake far from any charging station. He has a 40-Amp service panel in his garage. I don't know if there would be a 40-Amp surge when I plug in.
Unlike other makes, this EVSE does not have a way to set it to operate at lower amperages. I will put up a sign, "No Teslas (with adapters) Allowed" next to the EVSE.
Unlike other makes, this EVSE does not have a way to set it to operate at lower amperages. I will put up a sign, "No Teslas (with adapters) Allowed" next to the EVSE.
GetOffYourGas
Well-Known Member
Same here. The convenience of home charging is one of my favorite features of an EV.
I think that as vehicle range increases, home charging speed becomes less important. In the extreme case, you only need to add the amount of energy you use in an average day. In the US, the average driver covers about 13,500 miles/year. That's an average of about 40 miles/day. Let's say that future EVs are actually less efficient due to becoming larger in size. If you only get 2 miles/kWh* and drive 40 miles/day, you need to add 20kWh per day. Charging 8 hours/day (i.e. while you sleep), that's only 2.5kW!
Now that scenario assumes that you have enough extra range to ride out the longer travel days with a charging deficit and make it up on the shorter days. With a more modest buffer, you would want more than 2.5kW. But my bigger point is you generally don't need to regularly charge a long-range EV from empty to full in 8 hours at home. And if you did suddenly need a boost, your local DCFC station can help you out.
Given all that, I just installed a NEMA 14-50 outlet with a proper 50A circuit. I have a 32A EVSE, but could upgrade to 40A if I needed to. I doubt I ever will.
* For reference, the upcoming Hummer EV is expected to get about 2 miles/kWh on the EPA scale. That's a huge brick of a vehicle, and I think represents the worst case for what most of us would have in our driveways. The SE gets about 4, but it is small and efficient. 3 miles/kWh is probably more realistic. Of course then there is winter.
I've been wondering how much Level 2 power the Hummer EV could take and found this on Motor Authority: "GMC said owners will be able to charge on a Level 2 outlet at a rate of 11.5 kw, though it didn't give charging times." With a 200-kWh battery, it would be charging at the full 11.5 kW for a long time before the charging rate slowed as the battery neared a full charge.
GetOffYourGas
Well-Known Member
I can't find it now, but I remember reading that it would come standard with an "11kW" charger (likely 48A) with an available "19kW" charger (80A, which is the max of the J1772 standard at 240V).
The 2022 Bolt EV/EUV pair will have an 11kW charger on board. It sounds like GM is likely buying the same charger for all of their EVs, with an option to upgrade to 19kW, at least on the Ultium platform (which the Hummer is but the Bolts are not).
The 2022 Bolt EV/EUV pair will have an 11kW charger on board. It sounds like GM is likely buying the same charger for all of their EVs, with an option to upgrade to 19kW, at least on the Ultium platform (which the Hummer is but the Bolts are not).
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
Definitely. The car determines how much power is drawn, the EVSE just ensures a smooth, consistent supply. The 40 A of your EVSE is a maximum, and the SE will only take 32 A at most, so it should not trip the 40 A breaker.
Lainey
Well-Known Member
I got 1.9mi/kWh on a bad day where I was driving like crazy and it was like 5F out. My winter average was 3.2mi/kWh. Though today at 40F I got 3.9mi/kwh. I cannot imagine the hummer in the winter lol.
From what I recall most EVs do get 3-4mi/kwh IIRC Tesla was on the lower end for the S and X. I haven't found a good list of 2021 cars yet to compare.
Still mind is blown at 2mi/kWh
GetOffYourGas
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I could have gone on with my own winter experience, but I figured my post was long enough. Suffice to say, I have also seen less than 2 miles/kWh in the winter, especially at single-digit temps (or lower).
I don't have much experience with the SE in the winter. I haven't yet invested in winter tires, so I appreciate your experience. I don't like the idea of driving icy roads with performance summer tires, especially when the Bolt has some really nice snow tires (Michelin XI3s).
I have zero interest in owning a Hummer EV or other any of the other upcoming trucks, but I am mildly curious about them. I may join a forum or two just to see others' experience.
Lainey
Well-Known Member
I only have a month of winter but all of it was sub freezing. Only today was solidly above 20 finally. We often get a deep chill and then jump overnight towards the end of winter.
I am also on summer tires. I just avoided snowy times (we clear snow in hours here) and will deal with them this fall.
The great thing about getting my car in January was the lifetime average was all winter with all driving done in 10-20F on average (a few single digits and some 25, but none above 30F until today)
I have little interest personally in owning a big car but am interested in cars as a whole and especially EVs. I'll be watching what the hummer is like out of curiosity. I am watching many others for whatever our next BEV will be or for family who need more than a 2 seater (emergency holds 4)
GetOffYourGas
Well-Known Member
Now I'm curious where you live. I'm in Syracuse, NY. Just down wind of all 5 Great Lakes. We get lake effect snow more days than not in the winter. They do a great job of salting/plowing the roads, but still there is always ice, snow, and slush on them. And winter lasts about 5 months, from mid November to mid April.
Today was mid-30s, but the roads are water and slush. When the sun sets, it will be very icy.
For better or for worse, my wife and I are both home these days. My job is mandatory work-from-home due to COVID. So we just don't drive much right now. And I can't remember the last time we needed two cars at the same time. Probably October when I took a backpacking trip to the White Mountains with friends, and she stayed home.
Today was mid-30s, but the roads are water and slush. When the sun sets, it will be very icy.
For better or for worse, my wife and I are both home these days. My job is mandatory work-from-home due to COVID. So we just don't drive much right now. And I can't remember the last time we needed two cars at the same time. Probably October when I took a backpacking trip to the White Mountains with friends, and she stayed home.
Lainey
Well-Known Member
I'm more central Ohio so far enough south that we don't get feet of snow at a time usually. Every snow we've had this year was 6-8 inches max and cleared in a few hours after snow stopped. Unfortunately the snow happened on days I had to be out in the middle of it so I took my husband's car those days.
Today was a balmy 46 out for the high! First time I drove and didn't lose any power at all! I was out a few times today too (work this morning was 40 and getting kid from school was 46) Probably helped with the 3.9mi/kwh
Today was a balmy 46 out for the high! First time I drove and didn't lose any power at all! I was out a few times today too (work this morning was 40 and getting kid from school was 46) Probably helped with the 3.9mi/kwh
Jenna
New Member
This is possibly off topic, but I am wondering if anyone has their EVSE not attached to a wall (on a post or something). I'm trying to figure out my charging situation because my SE is coming very soon, and my parking situation is not going to allow for even a 25 foot cord to reach the car in the driveway if I mount it on the outside of the house (no garage, it's a backyard driveway sort of across the yard). Thinking we may have to install an outlet on a post. I'm not happy about it but don't know what else to do!
bldxyz
Well-Known Member
Given that portable charging solutions exist, I can see no reason why not.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
Totally on topic for this thread!
In my experience most public level 2 EVSEs are basically mounted on a post. You should have no problem doing that, just make sure the one you use is weather resistant. Depending on your home environment, using an outlet may not be the best idea lest someone decides to abscond with your EVSE. Hardwiring an EVSE might be the best idea, and there are many on the market that even have locking covers if you want to keep others from using it.
Ideally you'd have an electrician run the wiring in a trench out to your location and then feed it into your mount. It's essentially what I had done for mine even though mine's in a garage. I put in a second electric meter and had a trench run from the meter to the garage to provide power for my hardwired EVSE.
polyphonic
Well-Known Member
Definitely talk to your electrician about that. They do it all the time.
Alternatively a 40 ft J1772 extension may be an option, but is perhaps less than ideal.
http://www.umc-j1772.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=61
Alternatively a 40 ft J1772 extension may be an option, but is perhaps less than ideal.
http://www.umc-j1772.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=61
Jenna
New Member
This is the part I am confused about because I have been looking at extensions like this...and they do seem to be sold in a lot of different places...but I also get the vibe that they are not recommended. Any reason why in particular?
Lainey
Well-Known Member
The biggest issue with be with the cabling to the house. It should be buried which can get costly. The extension cables are costly too and will be rather unwieldy - charging cables are often stiff and not the best to move long distances.
Congrats on your new car coming soon though!
polyphonic
Well-Known Member
I use an extension outside. It just made the most sense in a IIRC UL sets a max length for extensions at 25 ft or something close to that which includes the EVSE cable to the car, so they can’t be listed. Insurance might not like it, but those j1772 extensions are very unlikely to cause an issue. It sounds like your best bet is probably the post tbh.
There are lot of cheap EVSEs and cables which should definitely be avoided. Your EVSE needs to be UL listed, not some cheap knockoff from Amazon.
There are lot of cheap EVSEs and cables which should definitely be avoided. Your EVSE needs to be UL listed, not some cheap knockoff from Amazon.