For a person who has limited access to electrical outlet, that person must (or optional) use a charge station of some sort. I came across Blink. Free membership, but the rates are laughable. California: $0.49 per kWh. (My apartment rate is $0.19 per kWh, but I have very very limited access to it) The PIP uses 3 kWh to charge. That is about $3.00 to charge a PIP to use 11 miles of EV using Blink Charge Station. $3.00 = 11 miles of EV gas $2.69 / 50 = $0.0538 * 11 miles = $0.5918 cost for 11 miles of gas. It seems cheaper to just use has at this point. $2.69 per gallon at the moment. Anyone has any suggestions on where to economically charge their PIP or just use their PIP like a regular Prius and not charge it? Thanks in advance. iPhone ?
Counter Question...Respectfully. If you can't charge at home, can't charge for "free" at work or any other extended stay location and drive more than 11 miles a day...why did you buy a PIP?
No problem. When I was searching/researching for a used prius to purchase, I have found that the Prius Plug In is cheaper than a used equivalent regular Prius. In some instances, I have seen older and higher mileage regular Prius costing more than a new lower mileage Prius plug in. Some of the Prius c was even more than the Prius plug in. In California, because of our poor air quality, we have access to some programs/incentive to purchase a hybrid/electrical/hydrogen vehicles. To put it into perspective, the Prius plug in (2012 Blizzard Pearl w/ 37k miles) I purchased was $14,998 plus tax, title, license, BS dealer fees, smog fee, etc. The list of fees goes on. Adding the california incentives, it reduced my out of pocket cost of my Prius plug in to $5,498, plus all the taxes, fees, etc. I honestly would not have purchased a Prius plug in without the incentives. So, here I am today trying to figure out how to get electricity economically. iPhone ?
Understand now and fair enough. So in essence you got a really-really good deal on a Prius with the same mpg and no place to economically stretch it out. If you got the free pass toll tags...even better. I'm guessing your employer is not open so wish you luck with your search for free or at least cheap logistical charging access.
Pretty good deal but I do miss being able to accelerate with the flow of traffic, but I guess the having gas mileage is a trade off. The high occupancy vehicle stickers are available, but I have to wait for my physical license plates before I can apply for them. Looks like a 3 week wait to get the plates. Can't charge at work because building management (I work in a high rise building) said first time is a warning, second time is cars get towed. iPhone ?
Like many people, I would probably not charge if I lived in CA. The electric rates are terrible even if charging at home. Then again, if I lived in CA, I would have solar and charge from the energy I produce. I believe Chargepoint or Plugshare can be used to locate free chargers. Often times the city will provide free charging locations as well as some grocery stores and car dealerships.
I used ChargePoint and Plugshare apps. There are, where I live, several charging stations that are free of charge. The city has a several EV ONLY parking stations on downtown streets, and Chargepoint charging is free. Also there are some "Park and Ride" lots that offer a EV only parking spot and free charging. I don't go out of my way, but the downtown spaces are great because they are close to where I need to go, AND since there are so few EV's they are usually open! They are posted "Tow Away" for non-charging cars. Also some car dealers and a few grocery stores offer EV charging, usually free. Fortunately I have a nice garage at home, where I can easily charge my PIP whenever I like.
The incentives are over now. I was applicant number 1,4xx. The waiting list was looooooong. When I referred someone, they were applicant 40,000, and found out it was oversubscribed. There were a lot of conditions to qualify: Must own and operate a polluting car for at least 2 years in certain parts of Los Angeles (mainly near freeways). Must retire that car you have and purchase any EV or hybrid vehicle and own it for 2.5 years. I actually qualified for more than $9,500, but I live in an apartment, so I couldn't use more of the available funds for installing a level 2 charger at home. If I had bought a new vehicle, I could have combined the it with the federal tax credit and other incentives so long as I don't use the car for commercial use like Uber or whatever. I get taxed on that $9,500 incentive, which I found out later was called a "grant" on my tax paperwork. There were other conditions, I don't remember. Anyhow, it is long over. California was trying to retire certain vehicles. I had a VW and that easily qualified during the height of the VW emissions scandal. iPhone ?
