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Prime Charging

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by HPrimeAdvanced, Mar 12, 2018.

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  1. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    Just thought I'd start a thread relating to charging our Primes, mainly concerning public charging.

    I read this article today in Motortrend:

    2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Review - Long-Term Update 6

    This guy pretty much has seen what I see; the infrastructure is not yet ready for EV-only cars. I still think plug-in hybrids are the way to go for the foreseeable future.
     
    #1 HPrimeAdvanced, Mar 12, 2018
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  2. huskers

    huskers Senior Member

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    Waiting for he highways that can charge a car while it is driving down the road.
     
    #2 huskers, Mar 12, 2018
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  3. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    once the hotels all have enough, with more available as needed, we'll be close to ev nirvana.
     
    #3 bisco, Mar 12, 2018
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  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    But I want one during my driving lifetime. That is why I'm considering PHEVs now.
     
    #4 fuzzy1, Mar 12, 2018
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  5. albus

    albus New Member

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    Given my needs, I will consider an EV when:
    1. Total range greater than 300 mi. We are getting there... ;)
    2. DC fast charging stations within 100 mi anywhere in the continental US (even outside the highway network).
    3. When the above can give 200 mi of real range (even during winter with AC on) in 1/2 hour.
    Until then, enjoying my Prime...
     
    #5 albus, Mar 12, 2018
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  6. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    And the shopping centers and PARKS!! We have so many parks out here, and I've not seen any of them with charge stations.
    There's a lot of work that still needs to be done!
    I've spoken to Garmin, and they say they're working on adding charge stations as points of interest to their maps.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
    AChoiredTaste.com
     
    #6 HPrimeAdvanced, Mar 18, 2018
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  7. Dudley1030

    Dudley1030 Active Member

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    The new parking garage at the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, KS has 14 free charging stations. "Free" not including the price to park there.
     
    #7 Dudley1030, Mar 18, 2018
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  8. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    Continued my survey of charge stations for planned future trips into Los Angeles.
    It's still pretty frustrating, with the availability of good charge stations very very low. Some of the places offer free charging if you pay a $5 parking fee. Other places will not let you charge unless you work at the particular agency. Others close at 8pm with a gate, so you can get locked in; some people have apparently experienced this little bit of joy. Many have too few charging posts, so people start fighting each other to get access to a charger. Still others charge as much as $5 flat with a time limit. Some don't work; frequently none are available. Often, little "regular" (ICE) hogs park in electric-only spots, so you can't charge (happened to me Sunday in Riverside). Some electric vehicles (I won't call out Volt owners here) leave their car parked all day in a spot even though their car is fully charged. Yeah bring me my new BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) auto; the perfect solution for today's wonderful infrastructure in Socal! Har, har. I LOVE my Prime!!

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
    AChoiredTaste.com
     
    #8 HPrimeAdvanced, Mar 19, 2018
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  9. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    Found a "No Network" location using ChargePoint in the city of Commerce. At least 4 plugs, very quick, and FREE! It's at the LA County Health something or other at 5555 Ferguson Dr., Commerce,CA for any of you in the area. It let me stay all electric today (including my client letting me plug in with 110v, at his company for 1.5 hrs I was working there.), while driving over 60 miles!

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
    AChoiredTaste.com
     
    #9 HPrimeAdvanced, Mar 20, 2018
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  10. Dudley1030

    Dudley1030 Active Member

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    Just did a test this weekend. The parking garage costs: First 30" are free. Then $1 every 15" with a max of $5 per day. So, in 1.75 hours you max out. $5 charge which is about 2 gallons. Not worth it to charge at work. Costs me less than a gallon to drive home.
     
    #10 Dudley1030, Mar 21, 2018
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  11. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    It's a shame; the charging infrastructure, at least here in Southern California, is still in the "Wild, Wild, West" mode of being completely unpredictable both in pricing and availability. In 5 years when I replace my Prime, I'll certainly be buying another PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electrical Vehicle), unless I get killed by an autonomous vehicle first!! Har, har!

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
    AChoiredTaste.com
     
    #11 HPrimeAdvanced, Mar 21, 2018
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  12. Roy2001

    Roy2001 Active Member

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    $5 for at most 25 miles is a joke.

    Looks like I won’t get a EV any time soon.
     
    #12 Roy2001, Mar 21, 2018
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  13. Dudley1030

    Dudley1030 Active Member

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    That was the cost for me to charge at work in the parking garage. That is what it costs to park whether you are charging or not. They say the charger is free. But you have to pay to park. At home, it costs me about $1 to charge.
     
    #13 Dudley1030, Mar 21, 2018
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  14. Roy2001

    Roy2001 Active Member

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    That's why I never activate my $100 charge card. Even if I can save $1.5 to charge, I still need to find the special location, kill 2 hours around. It does not make sense to me at all.
     
    #14 Roy2001, Mar 21, 2018
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  15. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    Currently, if you spend several hours with the ChargePoint app on your phone, you can locate charge stations, either en route or near/at your destination. There are some out there, but it does require work. I'm sure, car owners ran into a similar problem of availability when the horse was king in transportation. Hey we're spoiled and we are definitely reliant on the current easily fuelled Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) cars. BUT, electric is coming; hang on to your shorts!!

    P.S. The several hours I have spent looking for "useful" charge stations is saved on my Garmin; it's not wasted time, nor does it have to be repeated. Now when I make a trip to those documented areas, I know if I can charge and where to charge. This is just WAY more work than the average traveler would be willing to do. The FLEXIBILITY of my Prime's energy use, charging rapidity, and decent range, coupled with it's superlative reliability make it the perfect choice for my driving needs.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
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    #15 HPrimeAdvanced, Mar 21, 2018
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2018
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  16. Roy2001

    Roy2001 Active Member

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    I guess it is too late to active it as after 50 days of ownership I could not even find my Chargepoint card. :)

    But, the good news is that, 2 miles away, the county library which is on my way to pickup kids, has 4 level2 charge station, and it is FREE!

    So all I need to do is to bring my computer, drive to library, charge the car and walk inside the library. It has wifi so I can work from there and enjoy the spacious hallway. Then after 1.5 hours, I would just drive to school next to it to pickup the kids.:p
     
    #16 Roy2001, Mar 23, 2018
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  17. CraigM

    CraigM Active Member

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    Great! The only thing that would make this better would be if the library had an attached coffee bar!
     
    #17 CraigM, Mar 23, 2018
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  18. HPrimeAdvanced

    HPrimeAdvanced Senior Member

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    Your "exercise" demonstrates that it is "possible" to use the existing charging infrastructure, but it does require a good bit of effort and thought; good luck persuading the average peasant to go through those hoops!! We enthusiasts must lead the way, and then NAG the hell out of the powers that be to improve the infrastructure.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
    AChoiredTaste.com
     
    #18 HPrimeAdvanced, Mar 24, 2018
  19. A Prime Factor

    A Prime Factor Formerly "I want my PHEV"

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    I used a public charger for the first time last week. I was on a trip and visiting a museum where I had to pay to park anyway. Getting a charge in addition for no extra cost was a nice bonus. My plan was to go the museum, park there, and then after a few hours, get on a streetcar and go to another part of town to see something else. Total transportation cost was a little gas to get to the museum, $7 to park, and $1.50 for the streetcar. Could have been much worse since parking downtown in a big city is outrageously expensive!
     
    #19 A Prime Factor, Mar 26, 2018
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  20. CraigM

    CraigM Active Member

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    Hope you moved your car when it was charged.
     
    #20 CraigM, Mar 26, 2018
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