240V EV-ChargeAmerica EVSE - (likely scam buyer beware)

[wwhitney]

Boy, I hope that didn't scare them off. Especially since a UL designation isn't required to sell the product.

Actually, in this case it is. NEC 625.13 states:

625.13 Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment. Electric vehicle supply equipment rated at 125 volts, single phase, 15 or 20 amperes or part of a system identified and listed as suitable for the purpose and meeting the requirements of 625.18, 625.19, and 625.29 shall be permitted to be cord-and-plug-connected. All other electric vehicle supply equipment shall be permanently connected and fastened in place. This equipment shall have no exposed live parts.

So since the EV-ChargeAmerica is cord-and-plug-connected and operates at 240V, it must be listed. That means it has to be tested by UL or an equivalent NRTL to verify compliance with the appropriate product standards.

Cheers, Wayne

 

[ht2]

IMHO NEC625 is very bad. Single out and discriminating Electric Vehicle.
Reason company like AV charging $2000 for $500 job because of NEC625.

Power should control by voltage, current and time regardless of usage.
Safety mechanism should equally apply regardless of usage.

Thank you for listening. I feel better now.

 

[garygid]

ht2,

I do not believe that NEC625 is the reason that AV is trying to charge so much.
Yes, NEC625 could have been written more clearly, but it attempts to deal
with the safety issues that a typical, unaware consumer might encounter.
For Example, kids playing with the "e-hose".

I suspect it is more because AV has a "captive" potential customer
list (from Nissan's pre-Ordering process), and Nissan has made it
a little "difficult" for most users to bypass the AV assessment.

Other vendors will have EVSEs out shortly, and be easier to "install", and have
more features, like measuring the energy (kWh) used to charge your EV.

Yes, there are slightly different "safety" features for 120v and 240v,
primarily because the 240v can be "more" deadly.

The section on ventilation (or not) is for a good reason, to avoid explosions.

If you have specific questions, either ask here, or
PM me with your phone number and we can chat.

 

[ht2]

Hi Gary,

I don't know EV-ChargeAmerica unit is UL approved or not but if not I can not use it for Electric Vehicle because NEC625.
My only other choice to get it done by the end of year is AV.

My uneducated opinion is if there is no NEC625, Nissan could go to simpler solution. Implement manual charge current over ride to the Leaf and ship with simpler version of Tesla MC240 cable with car side connector change to J1772.
http://shop.teslamotors.com/collections/charging/products/universal-mobile-connector-available-october-2009

 

[EVDRIVER]

Hi Gary,

I don't know EV-ChargeAmerica unit is UL approved or not but if not I can not use it for Electric Vehicle because NEC625.
My only other choice to get it done by the end of year is AV.

My uneducated opinion is if there is no NEC625, Nissan could go to simpler solution. Implement manual charge current over ride to the Leaf and ship with simpler version of Tesla MC240 cable with car side connector change to J1772.
http://shop.teslamotors.com/collections/charging/products/universal-mobile-connector-available-october-2009

Why would they need to do this? What is your specific issue for charging?

 

[prberg]

Looks like Charge America has posted a brochure (version 915) on their home charging dock (EV2104).

http://www.ev-chargeamerica.com/catalog.html

Unfortunately it is really lacking in details (it's pretty much the same as the website). Well it has the basic details... but I think we were all hoping for more. Hopefully they will answer our questions soon.

-Peter

 

[garygid]

1. I do not yet know the UL status if the EV2104 "home" L2 EVSE.

2. I think the $649 price is still in effect, at least as of yesterday.

3. They mentioned a 14-day backorder time for their EV2104.

 

[garygid]

The unit is apparently available to LEAF and Volt "owners"
for a "deep discount" price.

Their web site:
http://www.ev-chargeamerica.com/

The EV2104 page:
http://www.ev-chargeamerica.com/products_ev2104.html

A good EV2104 FAQ has been added to their site:
http://www.ev-chargeamerica.com/ev2104_faq.html
This FAQ covers most of my questions to them.

They mention that the to-wall plug is NMEA 6-50 and
that UL is ... apparently in progress. See their FAQ.

More later, Gary

 

[mitch672]

Still no firm price or ordering instructions/link.

And I see the amperage is not adjustable, they want a 40Amp circuit (good for up to 32Amps to the vehicle, or 7.6KW), so it will be able to handle the larger 6.6KW charger, if and when Nissan makes it available.

 

[garygid]

At the bottom of the EV2104 page, there is an email
and phone for ordering. I just emailed and said
that I want to order, what do you want me to do?

They show:
To Order by email: [email protected]
To Order by Phone Call: (702) 696-1600

I asked what days and hours is the phone-ordering available.
I will report their answers.

 

[garygid]

I got this Auto-Reply to my emailed request to buy the EV2104:

Because of overwhelming demand we have sold out of all our current Charge@Home units. We are running about 10 to 12 days of lead time now in our Las Vegas production facilities. If you want to be put on our waiting list, please email your contact information. Sorry and thanks.

So, I asked them to put me on their waiting list.

 

[smkettner]

Sounds like a good excuse to make a vegas run

 

[garygid]

It would certainly be good to actually see their manufacturing facility, if we could get in for a tour. It would do a lot to convince me that they are "for real".

If I could set it up, does sombody with good air conditioning want to drive?

Or, is there somebody already in that area, or going there for another reason?

 

[ht2]

So, I asked them to put me on their waiting list.

+1.

 

[csriram45]

I was at vegas over the wknd so had emailed them wanting to see their facility. They mentioned they are moving offices so can not accomodate.... I would like to see if they really moved or just were making an excuse..

 

[mwalsh]

Not that I'm hurling any accusations here, but the two things we're going to have to watch for are scammers and wannabes.

They will both promise more or less the same thing - great product at a great price. But it will never quite be ready to ship yet for various reasons, and you won't be able to stop by and see the factory/office because they are about to move or have just moved and are still working out of packing boxes. At worst this excuse will be a lie and their "office" is just a mail stop. At best it'll be a lie because the whole operation is just some guy working out of his garage.

 

[smkettner]

Until there is a UL approval there may not be much to see.
Why build a bunch if there is risk of required changes.

 

[garygid]

EVCA says that they sold a LOT of the EV2104, at least that
is what I was lead to believe.

I just sent this:

---------------------
We asked to visit your factory, but were told that it was not possible
because you were moving your offices. The old EVCA address is:

Robert Rosinski
Liberty Realty (702) 696-1600
9030 W. Sahara #125
Las Vegas, NV 89117

EV-Charge America
9030 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 125
Las Vegas, NV. 89117
Phone: (702) 696-1600

This address appears to be at or near the entrance to a townhome
complex just north of W Sahara Ave, so maybe EVCA is a home office?

OK, but where in Las Vegas is the manufacturing being done?

Where is the new office, and when will you be finished moving?

Meanwhile, would you please refer me to some customer who purchased a EV2104?

Thanks again for your kind help.
---------------------

I will let you know what happens.

 

[DarkStar]

This post has been removed.

 

[garygid]

Yes, I am looking north, because the even numbers seem
to be on the north side of the street, odd on the south.

However, there are some other businesses that seem to have an
even address, and are clearly not on the north side of the street.

So, who knows?