Electric and Hybrid Car Thread

[jcmaz]

Originally Posted by AstulzerRZD

bruh fml but basically any house on 100A service cannot really support Level 2 charging for an EV and be up to code lol

We just use so much gas across a couple trucks that we gonna make that back instantly lmao

100A panel can support Level 2 EV charging (240V) as long as there is enough room in the load calculation based on a typical house with an electric range and dryer. Everything can be done to code. I've done many of them.

[AstulzerRZD]

Originally Posted by jcmaz

100A panel can support Level 2 EV charging (240V) as long as there is enough room in the load calculation based on a typical house with an electric range and dryer. Everything can be done to code. I've done many of them.

I think the bigger issue was that our panel was full?
Electric range, electric dryer, gas heating for downstairs but electric baseboard for upstairs.

They offered a 15 40 40 15 tandem breaker but said that wouldn't be to code?
The 4k quote was for charger + load management system + subpanel .. does the approach/cost sound reasonable or should we chat?

[SSM_DC5]

Originally Posted by JDMDreams

Well basically anyone who has their own private 120v plug can buy, it's just that if you need 240v it's more work. I'm sure 80% of EV buyers will survive with 120v, 240v is just more of a nice to have. And if you Tesla you can always just go to a super charger

May not be that simple if you park on the street. City of Vancouver has that permit to allow you to run an extension cord on the sidewalk. On my route to work, I used to see a i3 use an extension cord strung up on the trees above so it's not on the sidewalk, but recently the cord is gone. City told them to take it down? No clue, but there certainly are barriers for people that seem quite common, but aren't properly considered before making the purchase.

[whitev70r]

If you have to run an extension cord from the front of your house to charge your EV ... ... you should have gotten a hybrid.

[SSM_DC5]

Originally Posted by AstulzerRZD

I think the bigger issue was that our panel was full?
Electric range, electric dryer, gas heating for downstairs but electric baseboard for upstairs.

They offered a 15 40 40 15 tandem breaker but said that wouldn't be to code?
The 4k quote was for charger + load management system + subpanel .. does the approach/cost sound reasonable or should we chat?

Skip the rebate because it's not much, save on permit fees and go private modder.

[Badhobz]

Originally Posted by SSM_DC5

May not be that simple if you park on the street. City of Vancouver has that permit to allow you to run an extension cord on the sidewalk. On my route to work, I used to see a i3 use an extension cord strung up on the trees above so it's not on the sidewalk, but recently the cord is gone. City told them to take it down? No clue, but there certainly are barriers for people that seem quite common, but aren't properly considered before making the purchase.

You ratted on them didn’t you ?!?

[EvoFire]

Originally Posted by AstulzerRZD

Bro my parents would not have been able to buy an EV without my help - there's like 50000 steps.

Pre Purchase:
1) Figure out how much their gas costs today, figure out and compare how much charging costs
2) Figure out what service, panel we have and whether it's maxed uot
3) Find an electrician to quote, choose between energy managed/service/meter upgrades
4) Choose between charging units and energy management systems
5) Figure out real world range with heat/cooling/towing

Purchase:
6) See if you qualify for provincial EV rebate, apply
7) See if the car qualifies for federal rebate, longer range trucks qualify under a small business thingy
8) Apply for BC hydro rebate for charger install

Post Purchase:
9) Buy A2Z Tesla > CCS adapter cuz Ford's free adapter ships in October
10) Setup plug and charge in Ford app for Tesla superchargers, get Tesla/BC Hydro apps since Ford app handles Flow/Chargepoint.
11) Setup battery pre-conditioning and temporary level 1 charging.
12) Figure out charge times at public chargers.
13) Get charger app to report energy used to bill back to small biz.

End result:
Previous F-150 5.0s were getting 17-21L/100km without towing, 23-27L/100km when towing a utility trailer = $50 to drive 100km
F-150 Lightning, 2.8km/kw, 9c/kw home charging so $3.15

Charger cost $4000 for a warrantied, code legal install.
Subpanel with energy management system to avoid tripping breakers - we reduce charging rate (Emporia/Wallbox) instead of shutting off the charger (DCC-9).
Could've done a tandem breaker with or without energy management for like $1.5-2.5k but wouldn't have been to code.

Total savings: $47/100km
Breakeven on charger install + additional lease costs and such happens within 10k kms or about 5 months.

Step 1 already dashed any EV hopes as we don't drive enough to break even on the large size EV AND digging up the ground to run more amperage to the garage.

Originally Posted by AstulzerRZD

bruh fml but basically any house on 100A service cannot really support Level 2 charging for an EV and be up to code lol

We just use so much gas across a couple trucks that we gonna make that back instantly lmao

Originally Posted by jcmaz

100A panel can support Level 2 EV charging (240V) as long as there is enough room in the load calculation based on a typical house with an electric range and dryer. Everything can be done to code. I've done many of them.

I think you can do level 2 charging on a 100amp service, just can't expect full speed when you also have electric ranges, dryers, and AC as well.

[AstulzerRZD]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

Step 1 already dashed any EV hopes as we don't drive enough to break even on the large size EV AND digging up the ground to run more amperage to the garage.

FWIW the mission was to add a truck / shift load off of older trucks.
The choices were a MY23 F150, Maverick Hybrid, and Lightning.
After the gas savings, was easy win for the Lightning.

[AstulzerRZD]

I expect for a lot of 'normal' buyers, it probably looks like...

1) Own an older X3 / V6 RX350, etc.
2) Fill up on premium gas at $2/L some day
3) Consider cost of new RX350 gas, then go buy a Model Y, NX350h, RAV4/CX50 Hybrid or Prime

-A

[jcmaz]

Originally Posted by AstulzerRZD

I think the bigger issue was that our panel was full?
Electric range, electric dryer, gas heating for downstairs but electric baseboard for upstairs.

They offered a 15 40 40 15 tandem breaker but said that wouldn't be to code?
The 4k quote was for charger + load management system + subpanel .. does the approach/cost sound reasonable or should we chat?

Without seeing the panel, it's hard to determine if there are other solutions to free circuit breaker space. I have used tandem breakers like that one to create space for 240V loads such as ranges, heat pumps, and EV chargers. Based on limited info, I believe you are overloaded due to the baseboard heaters. I'm not sure why it would not be up to code. $4k sounds reasonable for all the electrical work but I'm unsure if it is necessary. Feel free to pm me!

[AstulzerRZD]

Originally Posted by jcmaz

Without seeing the panel, it's hard to determine if there are other solutions to free circuit breaker space. I have used tandem breakers like that one to create space for 240V loads such as ranges, heat pumps, and EV chargers. Based on limited info, I believe you are overloaded due to the baseboard heaters. I'm not sure why it would not be up to code. $4k sounds reasonable for all the electrical work but I'm unsure if it is necessary. Feel free to pm me!

PM sent!

[TypeRNammer]

Originally Posted by EvoFire

Step 1 already dashed any EV hopes as we don't drive enough to break even on the large size EV AND digging up the ground to run more amperage to the garage.





I think you can do level 2 charging on a 100amp service, just can't expect full speed when you also have electric ranges, dryers, and AC as well.

I have 125amp service, and my Tesla Wall Charger is hooked up to a 32 amp breaker.

The max speed I can get out of that is about 5.9kwh per hour.

If my Model Y is depleted, it likes about 8 to 9 hours for a full charge.

My Model 3 is about 6 hours for a full charge.


EDIT: I've also programmed my Tesla wall charger to only charge during the off peak hours of 11pm to 7pm

[TypeRNammer]

Originally Posted by SSM_DC5

Only car guys go to your extent when it comes to buying a pluggable vehicle. There are people out there that buy it, before consulting an electrician about options for charging.

Example, Person bought a tesla, finds a friend who's an electrician, electrician says wtf you have a detached garage, your panel is inside the house, you don't have any more space in the panel and I'd have to dig through dirt and concrete to pull the wire for a charger.

Another example, person in a place with strata. Posts a pic of the outlet at their parking spot, why can't I plug in my car at home, but I can at my parents place....

Before my laneway house, I had that same issue. Detached garage with the panel inside the house.

I managed to getaway with level one charging for the first 3.5 years of ownership, with the odd supercharging here and there.

[Koflach]

Originally Posted by AstulzerRZD

bro wtf so we have 100A service at home, so we have to...

1) Get a subpanel
2) Install a charger that can see how much energy the rest of the home is using and load manage the charger

Else, we gotta blow $5k+ on upgrading our service to 200A + a new panel.

wtf? I have 100 amp and my electrician just did a straight install of the charger. We have central AC and all the other major appliances (but a gas range). He did warn us that we needed to be cautious to not overload the panel or it would trip the main breaker.

[jcmaz]

Originally Posted by Koflach

wtf? I have 100 amp and my electrician just did a straight install of the charger. We have central AC and all the other major appliances (but a gas range). He did warn us that we needed to be cautious to not overload the panel or it would trip the main breaker.

The main breaker shouldn't trip or become overloaded if the load calculations were done correctly.

[jing]

Sounds like Koflach hired a trunk slammer. Load calc probably isn't even in their vocabulary.

[RabidRat]

Why is it called trunk slammer?? lol

[68style]

Unlicensed workers that don't have a real accredited business, just work out of their truck or van

[jing]

Can also be used to describe someone doing a shit job that 'works' but just barely and you can never get ahold of them again after you've paid for the work

[Koflach]

Originally Posted by jing

Sounds like Koflach hired a trunk slammer. Load calc probably isn't even in their vocabulary.

Nope, my neighbour is a licensed electrician. He did the calculations and told me that if we are running everything at the same time (dryer, electric range at the time, AC...), then we may end up tripping the main breaker. it's been 6 years now and we have had no issues so far.

[RabidRat]

Originally Posted by 68style

Unlicensed workers that don't have a real accredited business, just work out of their truck or van

Ya but why is it trunk "slammer"? I spent 15 minutes googling for the etymology and I just couldn't get a satisfactory answer haha.

[hud 91gt]

They work out of their car? What’s so hard to understand? Lol

[jing]

If there are caveats to the work that you've hired a professional to do then I'm sorry to say but that is not up to par by any means.

[whitev70r]

^^ ... and when they're done, they put their tools back in the trunk, slam it shut and he's gone .. never to be seen from again.

[Badhobz]

I’m pretty sure my whole house is built my trunk slammers. Buddy guy trunk slammers.