Shopping for a Home Charger

dbsb3233

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The (US) federal tax credit for installing a home charger is currently set to expire at the end of 2020:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8911.pdf

It's a tax credit for 30% of the costs of purchasing and installing a home charger ($1000 max credit). So it's worthwhile to go ahead and purchase the charger and have an electrician install it (or at least the outlet to plug into) in 2020, even if the car won't deliver until 2021.

Thought I'd start this thread to help compare notes on what people are buying, or plan to buy, if you need a new charger.

One that I'm considering is this Siemens US2 VersiCharge:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...&pf_rd_p=edaba0ee-c2fe-4124-9f5d-b31d6b1bfbee
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dbsb3233

dbsb3233

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My local utility Detroit Edison (DTE) will give a $500 rebate if I install one of the chargers listed below. I'm thinking about the ChargePoint Home Flex, NEMA 14-50 Plug. It's $699 - $500 DTE rebate = $199 net cost.

So I'll have an electrician install a NEMA 14-50 plug on a 50 amp circuit (#6 copper) so I have some flexibility with installing either the wall unit or mobile charge cord.

https://www.chargepoint.com/drivers/home/chargepoint-home-flex/


Ford Mustang Mach-E Shopping for a Home Charger 1596474712401
 

ChasingCoral

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I need mine located outside so will be using this (this is just a prototype used for a photo shoot and not actually wired up yet, production units not ready until September). A friend and I are developing this for the EV market...this example has a NEMA 14-50 plug, and 120V accessory plug at the bottom rear. As shown is just a generic J1772 charger I picked up on amazon, haven’t decided if I’ll stick with that or use the Ford one. ChaseStation.com if you’re interested.

D1DFA7A9-4976-4E98-BBE9-F86BD6215B0D.jpeg
 


jhalkias

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My power supplier (AEP Ohio) has a few that I can save about $30 - big deal. I will be curious to see what others think here. I was thinking I would just do the Ford charger to make it easier and more seamless, but have a local electrician install it. But WHEN is that going to be available???
 

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My power supplier (AEP Ohio) has a few that I can save about $30 - big deal. I will be curious to see what others think here. I was thinking I would just do the Ford charger to make it easier and more seamless, but have a local electrician install it. But WHEN is that going to be available???
The Ford Connect Charge Station does not seem to be available yet on parts.ford.com. The pre-COVID info I had showed this, so it may be delayed a bit:
  • Part number: ML9Z-10C823-A
  • Delivery available September 2020
 

Honhme

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I have had a Clipper Creek unit (plugging into an installed 240V outlet). Have had no problems for 3 years ( I have two different cars, a BEV and PHEV).
 

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I have had a Clipper Creek unit (plugging into an installed 240V outlet). Have had no problems for 3 years ( I have two different cars, a BEV and PHEV).
Yeah been happy with my Clipper Creek going on 7 years now.
 

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I have had a Clipper Creek unit (plugging into an installed 240V outlet). Have had no problems for 3 years ( I have two different cars, a BEV and PHEV).
Please excuse my ignorance, but if you're going to just plug in your charger to a 240 outlet, why the additional expense? Why wouldn't you just plug in your car directly to the outlet? What's the additional benefit?
 

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Please excuse my ignorance, but if you're going to just plug in your charger to a 240 outlet, why the additional expense? Why wouldn't you just plug in your car directly to the outlet? What's the additional benefit?
A plug-in electric car has the AC charger built into the car. But the manufacturers require us to use an EVSE (EV "supply equipment") between the car and the wall.

A typical, basic power cord is missing information that the car needs in order to make charging safe and reliable. Such as a way to communicate maximum current draw, and additional thermal and grounding protections. So the EVSE is what supplies these things.

Also, the J1772 connector that you plug into the car is built to handle regular connects/disconnects, unlike typical wall outlets in a residence.
 
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dbsb3233

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Please excuse my ignorance, but if you're going to just plug in your charger to a 240 outlet, why the additional expense? Why wouldn't you just plug in your car directly to the outlet? What's the additional benefit?
Using the Ford Mobile Charger that comes with the Mach-e, you mean? That's certainly doable. And I might just do that. But there's also benefit to just leaving that one in the car so you always have it in a pinch. Moving it back and forth between storage in the car to plug in every night in the garage would be a bit of a pain.

The charger doesn't HAVE to stay with the vehicle either. Most charging away from home will likely be at a retail station that has it's own charging cord. But if you ever find yourself in position to plug in at a 240V (or 120V) outlet somewhere, you need the charging cord. So I'd always take it on road trips at least.

Plus it's a mobile charger, which I'm guessing probably won't hold up quite as well as a wall charger designed for daily use. (Although I don't really know of that's the case or not. Just assuming.)

Oh, and even if you don't buy a charger, I assume just getting the 240v outlet installed would probably qualify for the tax credit.
 
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The (US) federal tax credit for installing a home charger is currently set to expire at the end of 2020:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8911.pdf

It's a tax credit for 30% of the costs of purchasing and installing a home charger ($1000 max credit). So it's worthwhile to go ahead and purchase the charger and have an electrician install it (or at least the outlet to plug into) in 2020, even if the car won't deliver until 2021.

Thought I'd start this thread to help compare notes on what people are buying, or plan to buy, if you need a new charger.

One that I'm considering is this Siemens US2 VersiCharge:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...&pf_rd_p=edaba0ee-c2fe-4124-9f5d-b31d6b1bfbee
The VersiCharge unit you selected seems well built. We have one at work and both my niece and brother each have one at their home garage. No issue with any of those units. Our work unit is mounted outdoors so we hard wired it vs using the built in plug.

I prefer the contactor type vs solid state type for Level 2 EVSE units. The solid state (brick) types generate a lot of heat and then slow down their charge speeds and sometimes even shut down until the thermal breaker resets. The contactor type doesn't have those issues as far as I have seen and it gets pretty hot where I live. The VersiCharge is a contactor type. Other choices are Aerovironment RS, ChargePoint etc.

The 20' cord version is what I prefer.

At home, we all have our EVSEs mounted at the entrance to the garage. With a 20' cord, we can charge our vehicles if parked in the garage facing forward or backwards as well as charge in our driveways parked forward or backed in. It's a nice option to have for those days where I am using my garage for something else. Also, I can visit my brother or niece and park in their driveway and use their charger if needed while their car remains in the garage.
 

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I am still trying to get ramped up on all this electric car stuff, so please forgive my ignorance, but just to make sure that I am understanding correctly, we actually have the option to use a different home charging solution than the Ford Connected Charging station that Ford will be offering? What are the benefits to going with one of the alternatives like the ones mentioned above in this thread, as opposed to simply going with the Ford Connected one that we can buy with the Mach E?
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