foobert
Well-known member
My work is making talk about installing several EVSEs in our parking garage. I'm seeking feedback from other EV drivers on my suggestions that I'm going to send them.
No comment from the peanut gallery on using a prius. Someone really needs to build a nice looking Sketchup model of the Leaf
[Updated based on feedback -- thank you all for your comments]
Facilities Management:
I applaud your efforts to install EV charging equipment in the parking garage. As we already have at least 5 EV vehicles on campus, I believe this effort will be well received.
As one of those EV drivers, I wanted to offer some suggestions on how to ensure the investment will be most readily utilized as the EV fleet continues to grow.
1) Throughout a work day, a single charger can easily service 2-3 vehicles if the stations are placed in a non-blocking arrangement. The worst method would be to install 4 chargers in 4 adjacent stalls requiring that a completed vehicle vacate the stall to enable another vehicle to gain access. The attached picture demonstrates a placement allowing a person to unplug a completed vehicle and quickly plug in another awaiting vehicle.
2) The number of parking stalls a charger services depends on the length of the cord. As illustrated, a 10' cord can reasonably cover 2 stalls, while a 15' cord can cover 3 stalls.
3) The J1772 plug standard is the most widely adopted format for current production vehicles. Because J1772 is so ubiquitous, many non-J1772 drivers (namely Tesla) carry an adapter to utilize these charging facilities. Thus, there is little reason to consider other formats.
4) That said, a standard NEMA 5-15 wall socket works well, too. While it may not provide a full charge within a work day, it also does not require any additional equipment to be installed if the cost of the power is of no concern. Such provisions should use dedicated breakers per plug as two vehicles charging simultaneously will exceed 20 Amps demand.
5) The cost of the power does not need to be gratis; a nominal price to cover the company's expense is understandable. Subsidized pricing will obviously encourage greater adoption of green transportation. Pricing that is significantly greater than the cost of charging at home will stifle most usage.
6) The placement of the EV charging area need not be "at the front door" to the building. A convenient spot for power access should decide the location, even if it's the back of the garage, on an upper level.
7) Each of the EV charging stalls should be clearly placarded for plug-in charging usage only to prevent non plug-in vehicles from blocking access.
I'd be happy to discuss any of these details and provide feedback on the various public charging systems I have experience with.
Thank you for your consideration.
No comment from the peanut gallery on using a prius. Someone really needs to build a nice looking Sketchup model of the Leaf
[Updated based on feedback -- thank you all for your comments]