GasBuddy Blog

GasBuddy News Article

votes

Electric-vehicle drivers outfit homes with specialized chargers

Eagle-Tribune -- Fremont, Calif., resident Shinya Fujimoto bought his Nissan Leaf during heady times for electric-vehicle fans.

It was spring 2011, when there was so much anticipation over a shipment of these all-electric vehicles from Japan to the West Coast that someone climbed aboard a chopper, shot photos of the cars on shipboard on their way to Southern California and posted them on a blog popular among plug-in vehicle owners.

“These people were crazy,” said Fujimoto, who admits to being such an enthusiast that he keeps Excel spreadsheets to illustrate the savings his Leaf has brought over the gasoline-powered vehicle he drove before. (It’s been about $100 to $150 per month, he said.)

When Fujimoto’s shiny baby-blue Nissan finally arrived in July 2011 — after delays caused by Japan’s tsunami — he a

Read the Full Article

Submitted Feb 25, 2013 By: NHLiveFree

Back To News

Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics	Add to favorite topics

Author	Topic: Electric-vehicle drivers outfit homes with specialized chargers	Post a Reply Back to Topics

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

First

Next Last

lesndave Champion Author Texas Posts:3,042 Points:702,130 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 10:29:56 PM Ignore lesndave Report Abuse Ok
mastermariner Champion Author Texas Posts:4,249 Points:494,800 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 8:38:57 PM Ignore mastermariner Report Abuse Good
paulweb All-Star Author Ohio Posts:806 Points:355,670 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 3:18:18 PM Ignore paulweb Report Abuse Just transferring $ from big oil to power companies.
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,079 Points:1,449,300 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 3:10:23 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse Your own power station at home. Cool.
SVmike Champion Author California Posts:1,569 Points:319,195 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:50:37 PM Ignore SVmike Report Abuse 335d1: Home chargers are a necessity if you own an EV. Not really. You can charge with 120v...it just takes about twice as long. Most people can charge for 8-12 hrs at night. With 120v you get ~1 mile of charge every 10 minutes. Or 6 miles in an hour. In 8 hrs that is almost 50 miles which is enough for a 25 mile commute. About half of commuters go less than this.
sljbc475 Champion Author Tucson Posts:4,225 Points:873,350 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 7:52:28 AM Ignore sljbc475 Report Abuse Part of owning an EV vehicle.
335d1 Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,386 Points:760,020 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 6:55:26 AM Ignore 335d1 Report Abuse Home chargers are a necessity if you own an EV.
Ebaz Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:3,251 Points:716,285 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 6:54:38 AM Ignore Ebaz Report Abuse 2x
EvergreenON All-Star Author Ontario Posts:948 Points:484,665 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 6:47:26 AM Ignore EvergreenON Report Abuse At least they do not give any money to the petroleum companies.
WestDriver All-Star Author Grand Rapids Posts:679 Points:548,770 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 6:04:57 AM Ignore WestDriver Report Abuse When he figures savings, does he include the extra cost of the car? The cost of installing the charger? The cost of the electricity? How about extra time to recharge while away from home - the charge for you to sit there and watch it?
skippypa Champion Author Hawaii Posts:8,481 Points:1,741,905 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 5:55:44 AM Ignore skippypa Report Abuse Wow what savings(not)
pscamp Champion Author Ottawa Posts:3,285 Points:475,960 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 5:00:36 AM Ignore pscamp Report Abuse OK
leeac Champion Author Ohio Posts:1,601 Points:434,880 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 4:20:09 AM Ignore leeac Report Abuse As EVs take over personal transportation there will be more private home charging stations. There have always been "early adopters" with every new technology and there have always been the "nay sayers". [Edited by: leeac at 2/25/2013 4:22:42 AM EST]
iFueler Champion Author Durham Posts:64,423 Points:179,500 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 4:13:23 AM Ignore iFueler Report Abuse TOTAL life cost for ALL expenses associated with any niche electric vehicle is the only way to compare cost of ownership between vehicles
djgunrunner Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:10,104 Points:2,349,580 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 3:54:25 AM Ignore djgunrunner Report Abuse It will take about 25 months at $100.00 per month to pay for the chargers. These clowns are looking at a new shinned penny. What they have to remember is the day that penny gets old and has to have the battery replaced. Then they penny will get pretty dull when they buy a battery, have it installed and pay for the disposal of the old one to the tune of $3,000 to $14,000.00. They also should look for the penny to get rough around the edges when the weather turns either real hot or real cold. It gets rougher still as the battery ages and loses holding storage capacity in the Amperes department just like an cell phone or flash light battery wearing out and getting duller and driving distance is lost.
txequitygas All-Star Author Houston Posts:798 Points:156,990 Joined:Dec 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 3:52:30 AM Ignore txequitygas Report Abuse I hope you can't over charge the battery and burn the place down..
jrs4125 Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,763 Points:592,720 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 3:44:45 AM Ignore jrs4125 Report Abuse Alrighty then Shinya.
leemun Champion Author Utah Posts:5,539 Points:1,041,100 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 3:30:09 AM Ignore leemun Report Abuse Not a big deal to install something like this.
Amplion Champion Author Oregon Posts:6,772 Points:1,866,035 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 3:24:51 AM Ignore Amplion Report Abuse NOT a good idea !!!
goldrose1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:10,944 Points:1,926,515 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 3:21:40 AM Ignore goldrose1 Report Abuse Plug in owners
snky2k Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:1,403 Points:304,540 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:52:25 AM Ignore snky2k Report Abuse Fujimoto? Nissan? Sounds like someone forgot he was an American, and as such, should be buying American made. THAT is EXACTLY why we are in a recession that will last years no matter who is president.
gasandgoAL Champion Author Alabama Posts:7,156 Points:1,590,640 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:48:17 AM Ignore gasandgoAL Report Abuse we need our coal mines
jkpsr Champion Author New Jersey Posts:4,084 Points:1,102,880 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:48:08 AM Ignore jkpsr Report Abuse Another sign of the times
jcdakota Champion Author Baltimore Posts:1,347 Points:361,345 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:47:58 AM Ignore jcdakota Report Abuse What happens when the power goes out? Someone hits an electric pole, a transformer blows, etc.
Quick68 Champion Author Columbus Posts:8,230 Points:1,226,775 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:47:26 AM Ignore Quick68 Report Abuse I don't have to worry about home chargers.
TXryder Champion Author Texas Posts:2,715 Points:433,705 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:41:58 AM Ignore TXryder Report Abuse Probably burn down your home while you sleep
nomad228 Champion Author Columbus Posts:3,117 Points:575,140 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:41:30 AM Ignore nomad228 Report Abuse hahahahahahaha how much diesel did it take to ship the car over here.and what power source is producing your electric to charge the leaf.........and?who paid for the electric charging stations all over cali forn i a.annnnd?how much more did the leaf cost to purchase compared to it's fuel driven counterpart.......the only way these cars could be green is if the home owner house is powered by wind,solar,geo thermal.hydro electric is powered by a system we all have to pay for.so not really green/self sufficient/less costly .just wait til president obama and the epa cause coal mines to be shut in......then electricity will shoot through the roof. while protecting some bugs.:)
Happytalk Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,140 Points:578,840 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:38:46 AM Ignore Happytalk Report Abuse very informative
kd5kpd Champion Author Texas Posts:3,742 Points:1,417,700 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:37:13 AM Ignore kd5kpd Report Abuse The fruit & nuts left coast, typical!!
ican2step Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:1,686 Points:428,375 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:34:59 AM Ignore ican2step Report Abuse Left coast
SHEP20715 Champion Author Maryland Posts:8,476 Points:1,715,820 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:33:04 AM Ignore SHEP20715 Report Abuse Very good informational article
cifuentesab All-Star Author Stockton Posts:675 Points:507,800 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:27:19 AM Ignore cifuentesab Report Abuse good
jcallaw All-Star Author Houston Posts:642 Points:244,800 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:23:25 AM Ignore jcallaw Report Abuse Hey, these vehicles are only going to get better! Remember your first personal computer? Electric vehicles are probably at that stage now; Give them five to ten more years and I think everyone will be surprised!
THZebra Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,934 Points:653,460 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:23:10 AM Ignore THZebra Report Abuse Nobody can get excited over coal burning vehicles like a "greenie".
speedys Champion Author Utah Posts:7,017 Points:2,559,635 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:22:40 AM Ignore speedys Report Abuse A good information article.
pyndasky Champion Author Maryland Posts:10,005 Points:1,782,780 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:07:47 AM Ignore pyndasky Report Abuse EVs make sense for big commuters... but for non-auto commuters driving less than 5,000 a year, tough to justify the cost...
Sneakers55 Champion Author Houston Posts:51,320 Points:2,144,900 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 2:02:30 AM Ignore Sneakers55 Report Abuse On Feb 25, 2013 12:45:27 AM, wshutton wrote: >I have wondered if it would be better to charge a vehicle >directly with DC power from the solar panels. The problem is you have to have tightly regulated voltage and current to properly charge a battery. I'm fairly sure that you can go down from higher to lower voltages with relatively little loss but definitely not the other way around.
PetroScopper Champion Author Houston Posts:6,627 Points:1,550,950 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:59:50 AM Ignore PetroScopper Report Abuse I don't know if the EV is as good as Mr. Fujimoto claims, but they are definitely worth taking a look at. Especially considering the way fuel prices keep rising.
TheeRedRam Champion Author Hartford Posts:3,168 Points:673,610 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:59:14 AM Ignore TheeRedRam Report Abuse Interesting to see was people are doing
RENEGADEGAS Champion Author Missouri Posts:14,918 Points:1,592,200 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:57:16 AM Ignore RENEGADEGAS Report Abuse Thats nice... until they spontaneously combust, or the battery needs a $3000.00 replacement. The costs far out weigh the savings in fuel not to mention the safety factors both sitting still (poof) or in traffic (crash).
TBONE3 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:8,751 Points:1,977,625 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:55:42 AM Ignore TBONE3 Report Abuse Very informative article!!! Points out things to be considered and predicts what a customer will face when the purchase of an EV is made. Good read!
sprocketsplines Champion Author Washington Posts:1,687 Points:861,615 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:55:38 AM Ignore sprocketsplines Report Abuse Come a hot summer when all the air conditioners go on in California, don't be surprised if there will be power outages due to all the added strain on the electric grid.
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:7,131 Points:1,356,655 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:52:06 AM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse Only way to go IF your going to own an EV is a home Charger system.
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,095 Points:1,623,180 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:50:32 AM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse They work just fine in all our states vernsimpson. Who has been feeding you that nonsense, the API!
Jayburt All-Star Author Toledo Posts:529 Points:131,890 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:50:14 AM Ignore Jayburt Report Abuse just a little crazy are they not?But the vehicles are giving many people real savings while showing that alternatives are viable.
stefanwaggoner All-Star Author Bakersfield Posts:562 Points:151,315 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:45:41 AM Ignore stefanwaggoner Report Abuse THis would be great
wshutton Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:1,672 Points:925,170 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:45:27 AM Ignore wshutton Report Abuse I have wondered if it would be better to charge a vehicle directly with DC power from the solar panels. Though the power loss over distance is greater for DC current, there must be some power loss in converting solar DC to AC and then back to DC to charge the cars batteries. I wonder what the balance point is? And with one DC to AC conversion from the solar panel/ electric car circuitry to the home the overall costs should be less.
vernsimpson Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:1,017 Points:260,755 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:45:02 AM Ignore vernsimpson Report Abuse They will not work in the colder states!
GAS1251 Champion Author Texas Posts:5,153 Points:1,627,205 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:44:14 AM Ignore GAS1251 Report Abuse Need the dedicated circuit,no matter what.
moregas1966 All-Star Author Columbus Posts:705 Points:139,555 Joined:Dec 2012	Message Posted: Feb 25, 2013 1:43:41 AM Ignore moregas1966 Report Abuse ok