San Francisco Bay Area Quick Chargers Getting them sooner

[GoingGreener]

LOL, yup. One of our favorite areas to walk with an awesome view of the GG Bridge on a clear day, as well as Lands End. We can't beat the beauty of the beaches in San Diego tho!

 

[glemieux]

I emailed Jason Smith at Ecotality to follow up on this, and below is his response:

both the VW and Bishop Ranch DC fast charging stations will be operational by mid-March. We have most of the construction complete and are now just waiting for the equipment to get shipped out.

Not sure why they are still waiting for the equipment, since the project has already been delayed by over a month from their original schedule (mentioned in the article) due to permitting. You'd think that the equipment would have been already in place. Anyways, still keeping fingers crossed but not holding my breath. I could have really used the Belmont DC fast charger last night coming back from airport. Ended up having to sit at the San Mateo Walgreens for a hour to wait for the charge to charge...

That does seem odd. Hopefully now that it's just getting hardware in hand the ETA will be closer to his updated prediction. I have to head down to Mountain View later this month and I'd love to be able to utilize the Belmont station. Is Jason Smith going to give you a heads up on this when it's done, or even send out a notice to the major EV webzines? Thanks.

 

[ericsf]

I stopped by the Volkswagen building in Belmont, CA to see if there was any sign of progress on the EVProject DC Fast charger. Good news: Something is coming up from the ground. Across from the Level 2 stations, a new slab with conduits. 10 feet to the right, a weird tower. The panel's inscriptions describe the process of connecting and charging a car. Payment with some kind of token (the red square). But no cable and nowhere on the tower for them to come out. I suspect the plugs will be on a base yet to be installed on the slab... can't wait to see it in action.

 

[yoyofella]

I stopped by the Volkswagen building in Belmont, CA to see if there was any sign of progress on the EVProject DC Fast charger. Good news: Something is coming up from the ground. Across from the Level 2 stations, a new slab with conduits. 10 feet to the right, a weird tower. The panel's inscriptions describe the process of connecting and charging a car. Payment with some kind of token (the red square). But no cable and nowhere on the tower for them to come out. I suspect the plugs will be on a base yet to be installed on the slab... can't wait to see it in action.

That's wonderful news! Anyone know how Aerovironment's payment plan goes? a little annoying that I may have to sign up for a 3rd card for EV charging payment... I hope they can just take a credit card.

 

[ElectricVehicle]

That looks a whole lot like AeroVironment's Commercial Level 2 charger which is not a quick charger, the "Commercial AC Charging Station EVSE-CS" http://evsolutions.avinc.com/products/public_charging/commercial_ac_charging_station" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Do you have a model number or higher resolution image of the control panel?

Here's the overview page for all of AV's EV chargers: http://evsolutions.avinc.com/products/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[ElectricVehicle]

The Official CHADeMO Quick Charger map for the US (actually North America, Europe) http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=210740974077298891697.0004ac7e66a8121c75d8e&msa=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; This is from http://www.chademo.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . So far in California, it only shows Vacaville, which we all know is not publicly available. Check out Chicago, Texas, Western Europe (UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, etc.)

Just in case you're starting to think we're behind, check out Japan. http://www.chademo.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Eeks! Behind isn't even the word...

The number of CHAdeMO DC Quick charger installed up to today is 1071.
-- (Japan 848 Europe 191 Other 32) last update 2012.03.01

http://www.chademo.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

When was the last time you thought of the US as "Other"?
(The US is in the "Other 32")

( - oh wait slow broadband speeds and high prices! Cable Modems are helping the slow speeds a little but not the pricing.)

 

[edatoakrun]

A suggestion to you Bay Area drivers.

When they finally get a DC charge station working, USE IT!

In fact, if several of you were (politely) lining up to charge, and the local media picked up on it, it might both end the "it takes hours to charge EVs" FUD, and impress on the responsible government and utility officials, the essential role of fast-charging infrastructure, in California BEV adoption.

 

[MaryC]

Don't worry this QC is in a good location for anyone traveling thru the mid-peninsula. I am sure it will be utilized by many.

 

[lenny]

A suggestion to you Bay Area drivers.

When they finally get a DC charge station working, USE IT!

In fact, if several of you were (politely) lining up to charge, and the local media picked up on it, it might both end the "it takes hours to charge EVs" FUD, and impress on the responsible government and utility officials, the essential role of fast-charging infrastructure, in California BEV adoption.

With the number of Leafs I see on the road here in the Bay Area, it will change to "it takes hours to wait for your turn to charge EVs".

 

[ElectricVehicle]

With the number of Leafs I see on the road here in the Bay Area, it will change to "it takes hours to wait for your turn to charge EVs".

You got that right, unfortunately. People who want to bash EVs will always find something or invent $1.50/kWh electricity and pass it off as factual news!!

 

[ElectricVehicle]

As we've seen in some posts and photographs, construction for some QC sites is underway! Yeah!

Stay tuned for operational quick chargers in the month of March or April. And if they don't arrive....

We'll mobilize the LEAF Air Force again to do aerial reconnaisance of the LA ports to track the arrival of Quick Chargers on cargo ships!

 

[yoyofella]

so... it's middle of March. Anyone dropped by the Belmont or Walnut Creek QC to see if it's really up?

 

[edatoakrun]

so... it's middle of March. Anyone dropped by the Belmont or Walnut Creek QC to see if it's really up?

Walnut Creek?

Where?

 

[ht2]

San Ramon.

Bay area QC project update from other thread:

Vacaville -- Looks like Eaton is going to gift a new charger to the City of Vacaville.
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2927&p=172309#p172309" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

EVproject Volkswagen Electronics Research Lab in Belmont --
EVproject Sunset Development (Bishop Ranch) in San Ramon --
all site work is completed. waiting for the equipment to be delivered.
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=5692&p=181975#p181975" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Good Earth Natural Foods (720 Center Blvd. Fairfax, Ca) -- They will be installing a level 3 charger shortly after the opening date(2/16/2012).
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=5692&p=171638#p171638" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Santa Rosa Nissan --
They've already got the setup pre-wired and ready to go. waiting for permit from county.
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=7017&p=173293#p173293" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Santa Clara -- Freedom Circle, Santa Clara (near Cisco/McAfee bldg) in a month or two.
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=5692&p=174558#p174558" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Edit: removed ETF date from EVproject.

 

[EricBayArea]

As of right now (3/14 @ 12:24pm) the BlinkMap does not show any in California.

Only ones it shows are:
Portland, OR - 2 (both at the same Fred Meyer)
Phoenix, AZ - 5 (all at the same location)
Tennessee - 23! Spread out evenly around the state off of their main interstate. Now THATS how you do it.

I assume that the ones going up in the Bay Area are part of EV Project / Ecotality, thus they will be Blink, thus they will show up on the BlinkMap. If anyone knows something to the contrary please correct me.

 

[palmermd]

San Ramon.

EVproject Sunset Development (Bishop Ranch) in San Ramon --
both the VW and Bishop Ranch DC fast charging stations will be operational by mid-March.

Mid March 2012?

 

[yoyofella]

so... it's middle of March. Anyone dropped by the Belmont or Walnut Creek QC to see if it's really up?

Walnut Creek?

Where?

oops, I mean San Ramon. From here in the Peninsula, all these east bay towns looks the same :lol:

 

[ht2]

Mid March 2012?

Yes, not 2013. :roll: (I hope)
Jason Smith (Ecotality) e-mail to our forum member.

both the VW and Bishop Ranch DC fast charging stations will be operational by mid-March. We have most of the construction complete and are now just waiting for the equipment to get shipped out.

See some pictures from the VW site.
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=5692&p=179905#p179905" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[glemieux]

so... it's middle of March. Anyone dropped by the Belmont or Walnut Creek QC to see if it's really up?

I dropped by VWERL Belmont station and didn't see anything new. Emailed Jason Smith to get a new ETA and make sure they'll be shouting it from the rooftops. Here's his response:

both DCFC locations will be installed by the end of the month, all site work is completed and we are just waiting for the equipment to be delivered. We will be making a formal announcement once the chargers are ready for use.

Thanks,

Jason Smith, PMP/LEED AP
Area Manager - Northern California

Guess we'll have to wait a little longer. I could have really used it yesterday too...

 

[edatoakrun]

We can all expect, the announcement of an absolutely certain April 1st operating date...