Hawaii Leafs

[jj50]

Anybody sign up for HECO's EV pilot rate program? I'm thinking of getting a second meter dedicated for the Leaf. It'll be about 5 or 6 cents cheaper from 9p to 7a. But it'll also be a nice way to know exactly how many kWh I'm using to charge the Leaf. Just gotta see how much it is to install the meter.

Otherwise, considering The Energy Detective to monitor energy usage...anybody using the TED?

[koolaukid]

Anybody sign up for HECO's EV pilot rate program? I'm thinking of getting a second meter dedicated for the Leaf. It'll be about 5 or 6 cents cheaper from 9p to 7a. But it'll also be a nice way to know exactly how many kWh I'm using to charge the Leaf. Just gotta see how much it is to install the meter.

Otherwise, considering The Energy Detective to monitor energy usage...anybody using the TED?

Any idea of the cost of installing a two meter setup?

[jysue]

I got the 2 electric meter option. I went with Aerovironment because it was simpler for me. They handled everything, permits, coordinating with HECO. One complication was that it was a little longer and harder to wire my garage from where the electric meters are than an alternative path, but I thought the lower rates would be helpful. It came out to be about $4000 (before state rebate and federal tax credit). You might be able to get a better deal from someone else than Aerovironment.

However, even though they advertise a great rate, there are other items in the bill. This is from my most recent bill:

Kilowatt hours: 88
TOU Meter charge: 1.50 (the time of use meter monthly charge is specified in the EV-R schedule)
Non-fuel energy: 9.83 (this is roughly the 11+ cents per kwh at off peak)
Interim increase: 0.38
Purchased power adjustment: 2.34
RBA rate adjustment: 0.04
PBF surcharge: 0.52
Energy cost adjustment: 10.21
IRP Cost recovery: 0.03
Total: 24.85

So the big item is the energy cost adjustment. I think this is a factor based somehow upon the price of oil. This goes up and down as the price of oil goes up and down (please correct me if this is wrong).

The effective rate per kilowatt hour comes out to 28.24 cents per kilowatt-hour. I get an average of 4.7 miles per kilowatt-hour (your mileage may vary). To drive 10 miles, it would take 2.13 kilowatt-hours (10 miles divided by 4.7 miles per kilowatt-hour). 2.13 times 28.24 = 60.2 cents to drive 10 miles using my Leaf. If gasoline were $4.00 per gallon and I got 50 miles per gallon, the equivalent cost to drive 10 miles would be 80 cents, so I'm saving about 20 cents per 10 miles. If my car got 40 miles per gallon, the cost to drive 10 miles would be $1, so I would be saving about 40 cents per 10 miles.

There is a cost advantage for getting 2 meters for me, but it is nowhere near as much as I thought it was going to be, before I got the bills which shows all the extra charge items. Keep in mind that all of these extra charge items (except the monthly TOU meter charge) would also be in your electric bill if you didn't get 2 meters.

[koolaukid]

Wow, great post. Thank you. I was thinking of going with a two meter setup but the savings don't justify the expense. I am installing a TED this afternoon to measure the various household loads including that of charging the car.

[dcboy]

I got the 2 electric meter option. I went with Aerovironment because it was simpler for me. They handled everything, permits, coordinating with HECO. One complication was that it was a little longer and harder to wire my garage from where the electric meters are than an alternative path, but I thought the lower rates would be helpful. It came out to be about $4000 (before state rebate and federal tax credit). You might be able to get a better deal from someone else than Aerovironment.

However, even though they advertise a great rate, there are other items in the bill. This is from my most recent bill:

Kilowatt hours: 88
TOU Meter charge: 1.50 (the time of use meter monthly charge is specified in the EV-R schedule)
Non-fuel energy: 9.83 (this is roughly the 11+ cents per kwh at off peak)
Interim increase: 0.38
Purchased power adjustment: 2.34
RBA rate adjustment: 0.04
PBF surcharge: 0.52
Energy cost adjustment: 10.21
IRP Cost recovery: 0.03
Total: 24.85

So the big item is the energy cost adjustment. I think this is a factor based somehow upon the price of oil. This goes up and down as the price of oil goes up and down (please correct me if this is wrong).

The effective rate per kilowatt hour comes out to 28.24 cents per kilowatt-hour. I get an average of 4.7 miles per kilowatt-hour (your mileage may vary). To drive 10 miles, it would take 2.13 kilowatt-hours (10 miles divided by 4.7 miles per kilowatt-hour). 2.13 times 28.24 = 60.2 cents to drive 10 miles using my Leaf. If gasoline were $4.00 per gallon and I got 50 miles per gallon, the equivalent cost to drive 10 miles would be 80 cents, so I'm saving about 20 cents per 10 miles. If my car got 40 miles per gallon, the cost to drive 10 miles would be $1, so I would be saving about 40 cents per 10 miles.

There is a cost advantage for getting 2 meters for me, but it is nowhere near as much as I thought it was going to be, before I got the bills which shows all the extra charge items. Keep in mind that all of these extra charge items (except the monthly TOU meter charge) would also be in your electric bill if you didn't get 2 meters.

thank you very much for the useful info,

[kmau123]

http://s1184.photobucket.com/albums/z340/kmau123/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
i was at the dealer yesterday and look want i saw

I guess the dealer like to use bumpers as ladders to install leaf antennas. the mechanic did not even use a cloth to protect the paint on the car. I guess if he did he might slip and fall.

[koolaukid]

After a lot of consideration, I just got on Hawaiian Electric's TOU EV initiative. A great way to go for anyone that has an EV and solar panels, no up front expense whatsoever, HEI provides and installs the more sophisticated meters at no charge except for a $1.50 a month increase in meter rental. The program uses a single meter but charges different rates at different times of the day. $.02 cents under the normal rate (normal rate is about $.33 a KWH) for daytime hours 7AM to 5PM, when the PV system is generating power. $.05 over the normal rate during "peak" times, 5PM to 9PM, and $.06 under the normal rate from 9PM to 7AM, the best time to charge the Leaf.

I figured that the savings on EV charging will more than offset any additional generated during "peak" hours while the additional $.02 per KWH during the day would just be icing on the cake. This is apparently a high priority strategy for Hawaiian Electric as I dropped the application for TOU EV on Tuesday, Hawaiian Electric called with questions Wednesday and the new meter was installed Thursday. The guy that did the installation told me that his supervisor told him "whatever is on your plate is second, get this TOU EV meter installed today".

The new meter breaks down usage so you can see exactly how much you've used/generated during that time period since the meter was installed. I've started a spreadsheet to get a better handle on usage and seasonal trends but just from my one day experience it's obvious this will lower my electricity bill.

[fulabu]

After a lot of consideration, I just got on Hawaiian Electric's TOU EV initiative.

We're doing the same.

Also, parked for free at the Blaisdell (saved $6). Told the attendant I was driving an electric vehicle and she said, "OK, have a nice day." Sweet!

[JJnHAWAII]

Anyone going to participate in the national plug in day on oct 16th? Looks like everyone is meeting up on the north shore at 10am and heading down to the green energy outlet. Go to plug in America for details.

[fulabu]

FYI, started at full charge and drove from Kapolei to Sea Life Park, back to Kapolei via Wiamanlo/H3. No A/C for the whole trip - 18 miles left on the Leaf.