At-home charging requirements?

[Looney100]

There are definitely cheaper Chinese brand wall chargers on Amazon that are not UL listed and I would not trust them even if they are $300. For any name brand Chargepoint, Lectron, EVGo wall chargers, they are typically $700+. Yes you do gain wifi control, but you can already do that within the vehicle.

For the Tesla adapter, it would sit at home 90% of the time, except for those long road trips where you would benefit from destination L2 top ups.

Specs and certifications are what’s important, brand somewhat irrelevant as many components are shared. Agree that you don’t want 11kw going through an inappropriate cable. Similarly, make sure your adapter is spec’d to handle 48A, or you could have an issue there.

 

[rickcinyyc]

Ricky,
I‘m in a similar situation as you. I’m in Calgary and am getting solar installed this summer.
The thing to keep in mind is that electrons are fungible. They are all the same regardless of where they came from. If you are charging while you are generating more power than your house needs, then theoretically, you could say that your car is running on 100% renewable (unless you charge elsewhere). However, that just means that that energy didn’t make it onto the grid, and someone else is going to burn some coal or natural gas that wouldn’t have otherwise been needed if you didn’t charge at all.

I‘ve been paying extra for offsets to my electricity consumption up to this point, and feel good that the house is “net zero”, but I do recognize that the incremental kWh is still fossil-fuel generated, so my charging does create carbon emissions.

On another note, your post made me think of the Tesla that my wife saw in town once with a license plate of “COALPWD”

Thanks for that - I realize that much of it is virtue signalling. Whether I sell to the grid at 25c/kWh in the daytime or buy from the grid at 25c/kWh at night, it's the same net effect. And I like that I know my excess generation is powering my neighbours' homes. Once the utility companies introduce peak pricing (it's inevitable), then maybe timing will matter more for charging.

So are you also saying that the charger doesn't matter? I don't need anything specific due to my PV array?

 

[Looney100]

Thanks for that - I realize that much of it is virtue signalling. Whether I sell to the grid at 25c/kWh in the daytime or buy from the grid at 25c/kWh at night, it's the same net effect. And I like that I know my excess generation is powering my neighbours' homes. Once the utility companies introduce peak pricing (it's inevitable), then maybe timing will matter more for charging.

So are you also saying that the charger doesn't matter? I don't need anything specific due to my PV array?

Nothing special needed, assuming you’ve got the right circuit from the panel. It’s just another appliance drawing power.

 

[Looney100]

I was on Amazon and noticed there are a few decent affordable EVSE options available - a number with Prime Delivery. The Juicebox units are currently $60 off.

40A 'dumb' unit $420
Grizzl-E $675
32A Juicebox smart $900
40A Juicebox $940

 

[mike931]

In advance of installing my Level 2 charger, my electrician brought up something about the garage needing ventilation, as the batteries "off gas" when charging. Apparently this is a requirement part of the Canadian electrical code. I think this might be referring to older batteries (think GM EV1), not the dry and sealed batteries like those in the GV60. Here's what I found on this Rule 86-400:

Where electric vehicle charging equipment is located indoors and requires ventilation, it must be adequately provided in each charging area and must be interlocked to operate with the charging equipment to render it inoperative if the ventilation is interrupted.

I highly doubt this is applicable to us, but how do I convince my electrician ventilation isn't needed? Thoughts?

 

[Looney100]

My interpretation of what I read online was that IF ventilation was required, the charger had to be interlocked with the ventilation. It doesn’t say that ventilation or interlocking is required by default.

This doesn’t seem to be a requirement due to battery off-gassing, it’s about temperature management of equipment. Unless your EVSE says it needs special ventilation, then you’re fine.

what kind of charger are you thinking of? If this is a problem for your electrician either find a new one, or ask this one to just install a 60A circuit and plug for you. You can plug in the EVSE yourself later.

 

[mike931]

My interpretation of what I read online was that IF ventilation was required, the charger had to be interlocked with the ventilation. It doesn’t say that ventilation or interlocking is required by default.

This doesn’t seem to be a requirement due to battery off-gassing, it’s about temperature management of equipment. Unless your EVSE says it needs special ventilation, then you’re fine.

what kind of charger are you thinking of? If this is a problem for your electrician either find a new one, or ask this one to just install a 60A circuit and plug for you. You can plug in the EVSE yourself later.

Thanks, that's useful.

I am getting a Grizzl-E 40A charger, so nothing unusual that would require special temperature management control.

 

[Looney100]

Thanks, that's useful.

I am getting a Grizzl-E 40A charger, so nothing unusual that would require special temperature management control.

Nor does it need to be hardwired (48A units do). If the electrician puts up a tight just ask him to install a plug that matches what the EVSE needs.

 

[Bobdhd]

Your electrician isn’t wrong, he may just be playing it safe. As Looney said, the code states “If ventilation is required..” & if your electrician isn’t known to you, he may be covering his backside by saying that.

 

[fredf]

I don't think you need ventilation.

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[fredf]

The Ioniq 5 community put together a group buy discount for the Tesla Mini Tap 60 A and 80 A adapter. Now that we can all use Tesla chargers it’s not a bad idea.
Unfortunately they are very expensive but it opens up a whole world of free destination chargers at hotels and attractions and malls.

Who would be interested if I can put it together? The Ioniq 5 group got a 15% discount. I’ll see what I can do if there is interest.

 

[rickcinyyc]

The Ioniq 5 community put together a group buy discount for the Tesla Mini Tap 60 A and 80 A adapter. Now that we can all use Tesla chargers it’s not a bad idea.
Unfortunately they are very expensive but it opens up a whole world of free destination chargers at hotels and attractions and malls.

Who would be interested if I can put it together? The Ioniq 5 group got a 15% discount. I’ll see what I can do if there is interest.

Ballpark cost?

 

[fredf]

the Mini 60A is $259 u.z nx 80A $299 us
they are expensive

 

[Looney100]

$280 Canadian

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09DCTJCTV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There's no point in paying for more than 50A, the GV60 can pull no more than that.

 

[fredf]

$280 Canadian

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B09DCTJCTV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There's no point in paying for more than 50A, the GV60 can pull no more than that.

Are you sure?

 

[AlexD]

I believe the peak charging rate is 235 kW

 

[Looney100]

Are you sure?

I believe the peak charging rate is 235 kW

Yes. Max AC charging rate is 11kw, which is ~240V at 48A.

DC fast charge tops out at ~240kw, but you won’t be using the adapter for that.

 

[fredf]

Yes. Max AC charging rate is 11kw, which is ~240V at 48A.

DC fast charge tops out at ~240kw, but you won’t be using the adapter for that.

Ok. Good information. Once again, thanks

 

[fredf]

So if I can arrange a group discount the TeslaTap Mini 60A would come in at $280Cdn which is the same as the Lectron but I believe it’s a nicer unit

 

[Siufu]

So if I can arrange a group discount the TeslaTap Mini 60A would come in at $280Cdn which is the same as the Lectron but I believe it’s a nicer unit

I'm interested and thanks for organizing. How are you going to manage the delivery of it? Ship to the individual or we gonna pickup from a central location?