Will you be installing a Level 2 charger?

[RevCaptJack]

My commute is only ~30 miles/day, so I plan to L1 charge btwn 9PM-5AM twice/week.

I have learned that 120V Level 1 charging is best for battery health if you have the time and don't need to drive many miles daily. Slow L1 trickle charging stresses the battery less and may lead to longer battery pack lifespan, potentially up to 20 yrs.

I have also learned that if you do use Level 2 charging, the use of the 240V clothes dryer plug is okay for occasional charging, not long term, because clothes dryer plugs were not designed for such intense, constant flow and are prone to eventual failure after months of EV charging, potentially melting and posing a fire risk. If you do intend to use a dryer plug long term, upgrade it to a newer generation unit that is UL rated specifically for EV charging. They're not expensive, around $50. IF YOU DO UPGRADE YOUR HOME'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR EV CHARGING, INSIST YOUR ELECTRICIAN USE AN "EV CHARGING" PLUG AND NOT A COMMON $10 "DRYER" PLUG! Google images of melted dryer plugs used for EV charging and prepare yourself:

https://www.google.com/search?q=clothes+dryer+plug+melted+ev+charging&sca_esv=f1ea2f922214231a&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS1151US1151&udm=2&biw=1536&bih=695&sxsrf=AE3TifOa92Kad_B9ood9vabP7C50r_ZCLQ:1749612353250&ei=QfdIaMSCD9OV0PEPr6WauQY&ved=0ahUKEwiEp732teiNAxXTCjQIHa-SJmcQ4dUDCBE&uact=5&oq=clothes+dryer+plug+melted+ev+charging&gs_lp=EgNpbWciJWNsb3RoZXMgZHJ5ZXIgcGx1ZyBtZWx0ZWQgZXYgY2hhcmdpbmdImntQ6g5Y3nlwAngAkAEAmAFMoAHDDaoBAjI1uAEDyAEA-AEBmAIAoAIAmAMAiAYBkgcAoAflCLIHALgHAMIHAMgHAA&sclient=img

Program your charger to activate only after your utility provider's kw rates go down, like after 9PM, to save money. I plan to use a kilowatt monitoring device to track my usage so I have real world numbers to compare to my gasoline usage costs (currently over $300/mo in the summer)

And don't charge over 80% and don't drain to nearly 0% either. Use the battery's capacity btwn 20 & 80% (or 10 & 90%) to make your very expensive battery last for many many years. Those that charge their battery to 100% all the time because they enjoy that full tank feeling have a dying battery in just a few years, so don't do it.

I really appreciate this info, never having had an EV (other than my little ZOOM scooter. How do you know this about not getting to zero or charging to 100%? And is it better to let it get down to 30% or so before recharging or just top off every night to 80%? I’m hoping Slate will give good “EVs for Dummies” instructions. 😊

 

[Imhotep]

There’s a thread in here with a professor explaining EV charging that makes me happy to level 1 charge. Basically, the slower, the better and if 20-80% is good, 40-60% is even better. Number of times on the charger is less important than keeping it in the middle.

I’ll only be driving 20 miles a day and cannot demand more power without a total service upgrade so I was really glad to hear this.

 

[AZFox]

And is it better to let it get down to 30% or so before recharging or just top off every night to 80%?

"Just top it off" is almost certainly your answer.

NMC batteries are made for frequent partial charging. They don't have Memory Effect properties.

Consider this: Regenerative Braking does a lot of micro-charging. I don't think regen is harmful to the battery.

 

[Neil Nelson]

I have seen it does not make any difference at which level you charge. 240 volt dryer circuit will work fine if your level 2 charger is set to take 24 amps. Check your circuit breaker for the switch on the amperage. Usually a level 2 charger will take more than 24 amps and so you will need to dial down the charger to 24 amps. An electric stove will take up to a maximum 50 amps but you should check your circuit breaker for the actual number and multiply that by 80%. 80% because you always want to give a 20% margin.

I have read that an EV sits best, only moderately, at around 50% charged but that level will not give you much in battery lifespan. That will only be useful if you do not use your EV very much. The charge amount depends on how much you use the EV and how often you want to charge it. If you charge it every night and travel 50 miles each day, 25 miles to and from work, then charging to 70% seems about right. For longer trips, charging to 80% or even higher for a longer wait between charges when you are out on the road makes sense.

 

[AZFox]

I have read that an EV sits best, only moderately, at around 50% charged

Does advice like this depend on battery chemistry? I think it may.

The Slate truck will have nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cells.

 

[Garbone]

We have 2 EVs in the garage and so we installed a 48A L2 Emporia J1772 charger hardwired onto 60A breakers and getting 11kW max out.

We took advantage of the 30% IRS tax credit for the charger cost plus installation labor 2 years ago.

Charger is still going strong!

I have this same charger, not hard wire but to an exterior 14-50 and only pushing 30amps. Has been flawless for a few years now.

 

[KevinRS]

I need to research chargers, but I intend to install one. I'd like to be able to charge only when rates are lowest, and just fast enough to finish while rates are lowest.

 

[Dorbiman]

I was able to get a 50A level 2 charger for $1.00 from my utility company. It looks like I’ll have to do a panel upgrade to install it, so it’ll come in time. It’d be great for our ID4 as well

 

[PACMAN]

IF YOU DO UPGRADE YOUR HOME'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR EV CHARGING, INSIST YOUR ELECTRICIAN USE AN "EV CHARGING" PLUG AND NOT A COMMON $10 "DRYER" PLUG!

Thanks for the tip!
-Sticking with level 1 until we have more than one EV.

 

[RetiredOnPaper]

I've never researched or looked into EVs at all until the Slate caught my eye.
Will you all be installing a Level 2 charger in your home?
I figured I would just use the wall outlet at first and see how that does.

I have a '18 Model 3 RWD LR, I used the standard NEMA 5-15 plug for the first year and a half. That gave me 5 miles per hour of charge. I then discovered that I had 2 plugs on opposite phases. This allowed me to have a NEMA 6-15R plug (240VAC 15A) which gives me 11 miles/hr charge. I never needed more that that. In a pinch I am 15 miles from a supercharger, but that was more of a newbee security blanket. It should be much cheaper for an electrician to give you this plug rather then all the work of a 30 or 50 Amp plug. (Far safer too.) Check this info out for yourself, talk to an electrician.

 

[RetiredOnPaper]

I really appreciate this info, never having had an EV (other than my little ZOOM scooter. How do you know this about not getting to zero or charging to 100%? And is it better to let it get down to 30% or so before recharging or just top off every night to 80%? I’m hoping Slate will give good “EVs for Dummies” instructions. 😊

This is an area Tesla really screwed up on. They got used to early adopters doing a deep dive into EVs. Now they have people buying them and not knowing the "care and feeding" of EVs. I have walked many new EV owners and renters I meet at charging stations that don't have a clue. It's different that gas, and once you know what, how and why of charging, a lot simpler. I hope Slate covers this in their videos.

 

[E90400K]

I'm planning for an L2. Plug into my 50-amp welder circuit in my shop.

 

[hbuck]

I've never researched or looked into EVs at all until the Slate caught my eye.
Will you all be installing a Level 2 charger in your home?
I figured I would just use the wall outlet at first and see how that does.

I have an unused 220 dryer plug. I will have an electrician make sure it’s ready for use. The house is 30 years old and the plug has never been ised

 

[Doctors Do Little]

I'm glad I made the L2 electrical work happen a couple of years ago (I have 2 separate circuits for 2 future separate chargers)...electrician was cool with balancing the loads between panels even though we didn't have a current need. I'll be happy for a few more years, until I escape suburbia.