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At what price is it profitable to charge your prime @ a chargepoint?

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by PrimeOwner_CA, Jan 4, 2017.

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  1. PrimeOwner_CA

    PrimeOwner_CA Junior Member

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    I'm trying to calculate the approximate price I can pay and save money (vs buying gas) at a chargepoint or other public paid charging stations, and the amount is surprisingly low by my initial calculation. Am I missing anything?

    - Assuming 55mpg driving in full hybrid mode
    - Assuming 25miles range on average in EV mode
    >> Each full charge saves me about half a gallon of gas
    - Gas is about $2.80/gallon
    >> I can pay up to $1.40 for a full charge and make a profit

    Too simplistic?

    Also does anyone know how many kWh are in the green portion of the battery (the portion which allows you to drive in full EV mode)?
     
    #1 PrimeOwner_CA, Jan 4, 2017
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Around 5.7kWh. But you'll see 6.1kWh-6.3kWh at the power outlet if you use a meter (because there are charging losses). So really, you should use 6.1-6.3 since that'll be what you'll be billed on.
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, Jan 4, 2017
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i'm with you o/p, sounds perfect. but consider, it may be worth paying a bit more to drive electric, and not burn deadly gasoline, both pollution and middle east.

    i pay 24 cents a kWh, and the pip takes about 3 kWh, so about 75 cents to take me 15 miles vs 60 on gas. so that's $3.00 for electric vs $2.25 to $2.50 for gas.
     
    #3 bisco, Jan 4, 2017
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2017
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  4. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    Gas: $2.80 / 55 mpg = 5 cents a mile
    EV: about 4 miles a kWh

    Then break-even is 20 cents a kWh

    • Advice: Work an extra hour and ignore this nonsense
    • Advice #2: Charge at home
    • Advice #3: Install PV at home. I expect to pay 2 cents a kWh for my PV juice, which works out to about 28 cents a gallon equivalent. Car fueling has not been this cheap since the 1960s, and thankfully my income has increased ;-)
     
    #4 EV-ish, Jan 4, 2017
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2017
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  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    #5 Tideland Prius, Jan 4, 2017
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  6. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Keep in mind you aren't just paying Chargepoint for electricity, but also parking.
     
    #6 Trollbait, Jan 5, 2017
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  7. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    Since you pay by time and not by kWh, it doesn't matter what car you drive. What matters is the speed of your onboard charger. That's 3.3v for PiP and Prime.

    That's means you shouldn't pay more than $0.70 an hour. Since most pay chargers are $2 an hour and up...

    you don't charge in public unless it's free. Simple.
     
    #7 mmmodem, Jan 5, 2017
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  8. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    You mean 3.3 kW
     
    #8 EV-ish, Jan 5, 2017
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  9. PrimeOwner_CA

    PrimeOwner_CA Junior Member

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    Thanks for the tips guys. I think for public chargers free is the right price for me. Knowing how much a full charge is is very helpful though.


    iPhone ?
     
    #9 PrimeOwner_CA, Jan 5, 2017
  10. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    around here, paid chargers might be cheaper than home.
     
    #10 bisco, Jan 5, 2017
  11. jmarkd7

    jmarkd7 Member

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    #11 jmarkd7, Jan 5, 2017
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  12. Tom_06

    Tom_06 Active Member

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    For me it is about 20 miles round trip to get to the nearest accessible Chargepoint (closest are in private company parking lots). And then I would have to waste 2 hours doing nothing. I don't expect to even activate the card.
     
    #12 Tom_06, Jan 5, 2017
  13. EV-ish

    EV-ish Active Member

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    Sell it
     
    #13 EV-ish, Jan 5, 2017
  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    #14 Tideland Prius, Jan 5, 2017
  15. ArcPrime

    ArcPrime Active Member

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    If Prius Prime will allow max charging current 32 AMP at ChargePoint L2. Which will be cheaper than gas. I got about 13AMP @ ChargePoint after my 1st 100 days no more ChargePoint. It's not the ChargePoint's fault. It's Toyota onboard current limit protection issue.
     
    #15 ArcPrime, May 17, 2017
  16. sumting77

    sumting77 Junior Member

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    I am currently charging every day at work at a rate of $1/hour. I typically end up paying an average of $2.20 per charge (burning the toyota credit). Once it is over, I don't think it makes economical sense to charge at this rate even if I can squeeze a 30 mile range. I plan on buying a fold-able bike which I can carry in my car and plug in at a nearby (1.4 miles) free charger. Bonus is the 20 minutes of exercise per day.
     
    #16 sumting77, May 17, 2017
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  17. Lee Jay

    Lee Jay Senior Member

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    It's not a current-limit protection issue. The charger is in the car, and the charger the Prime comes with is a 16A charger. A 32A charger would be bigger, heavier and more expensive. None of the plug in hybrids come with a bigger charger.
     
    #17 Lee Jay, May 17, 2017
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  18. ArcPrime

    ArcPrime Active Member

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    Thanks for the information. Too bad Prime doesn't come with a bigger charger like Fiat e500. It will charge battery in 32 AMP. It will charge in 1/2 the time.
     
    #18 ArcPrime, May 17, 2017
  19. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    BEV such as the Leaf tend to come with 32 amp (6KW) chargers. For PHEVs, a 3KW charger is the current "standard". BEV may also may also support fast DC charging.
     
    #19 CharlesH, May 18, 2017
  20. I'mJp

    I'mJp Senior Member

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    The amperage limit is probably due to the battery cooling. Liquid cooled batteries can be charged faster, because the heat can be managed better.

    The prius batteries are air cooled, so the charge must be limited. Thats also why the battery packs in the prius are huge, they need the space for air channeling.
     
    #20 I'mJp, May 19, 2017
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