Preparing for Mach-E charging at home - preparation and installing charger

DaveRuns

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Are you trading in/selling a car when you purchase the Mach-E? If so, is it registered in Virginia (has VA plates)? If yes to both, you can go ahead and order new personalized plates for it via their website.

If you aren't trading in/selling a car when you get your Mach-E, but you do have vehicles registered in Virginia, you should be able to reserve a personalized plate on their website as well.

The dealer will handle the registration of the Mach-E, just let me know if you've reserved a personalized plate or if transferring one from a current vehicle.
I am trading in / selling my car when I purchase the Mach-E. It is currently registered in MA, with MA plates. I never registered it when I moved here because: 1. I couldn't get an appointment at the DMV, and 2. I knew I wasn't going to own this car much longer, so I didn't want to pay to register a car I was only going to own for a few more months. Looks like I'm screwed. I just hope the dealer will take my car with MA plates (clear title however).
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Maquis

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I just hope the dealer will take my car with MA plates (clear title however).
The dealer doesn't care about anything but a clear title. You should remove the plates before trading it in anyway.
 

methorian

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I am trading in / selling my car when I purchase the Mach-E. It is currently registered in MA, with MA plates. I never registered it when I moved here because: 1. I couldn't get an appointment at the DMV, and 2. I knew I wasn't going to own this car much longer, so I didn't want to pay to register a car I was only going to own for a few more months. Looks like I'm screwed. I just hope the dealer will take my car with MA plates (clear title however).
Ah - I gotcha. Yea - you'd have to physically go to the DMV in your case. As far as I know the dealer should be able to do everything when it comes to purchase your Mach-E though.

You may could find some DMV locations in more rural areas with appointments available though, if that's worth it for you.
 

Illinibird

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Our state is so backward....an extra $100 for EV plates (which I don't really have a problem with) but won't allow a vanity plate which would result in even more revenue!
Yeah, they really are! What kills me is that they allowed vanity and personalized license plates until January 1, 2020! Reason they gave me when I asked is that police complained it was harder for them to tell who you are which makes absolutely no sense considering they allow vanity and personalized plates for all other categories. Go figure.
 

DaveRuns

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Ah - I gotcha. Yea - you'd have to physically go to the DMV in your case. As far as I know the dealer should be able to do everything when it comes to purchase your Mach-E though.

You may could find some DMV locations in more rural areas with appointments available though, if that's worth it for you.
Good thinking on the Rural areas. I'll also check in the Pentagon. They have a DMV there, I walked by it last week...maybe they'll accept walk-ins.
 


DaveRuns

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The dealer doesn't care about anything but a clear title. You should remove the plates before trading it in anyway.
That's good to hear. My plates are specialized New England Patriots plates. I want to hold on to them as collectables.
 

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Confirming with the more knowledgeable folks in the forum - the EVSE credit is for any Level 2 charger - even ones that are not "smart chargers" or hard wired? I currently have a mobile EVSE plugged into a 14-30 outlet (30 amps) which has worked very well with my Fusion Energi. It's 16 amps, which is as much as that car can take. That still provides 10-12 miles of range per hour so as a home charger, I think it will be fine for the MME. That said, I could go up to 24 amps without upgrading the circuit, which I think would increase the charge speed to about 18 miles of range per hour. Looking at this Primetech EVSE https://www.primecom.tech/products/...6amp-20amp-24amp-32amp?variant=32624198778931 which has a longer cord that I need and is also somewhat "future proofed" since it can do 32 amps. I don't really need new equipment, but if it is eligible for 30% Fed credit and I think a 40% Maryland credit then that's kind of a no brainer.

Thoughts and insights?
 

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Confirming with the more knowledgeable folks in the forum - the EVSE credit is for any Level 2 charger - even ones that are not "smart chargers" or hard wired?

Thoughts and insights?
Yes - that's my understanding. At least the federal tax credit - states may vary....
 

WiilysStang

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I now understand that you will get a faster charge with the wall charger vs. the 14-50 NEMA plug. In my case, I charge the car overnight. When I plug the car in my garage the car is on a timer to start after midnight, CONED has off peak rates. So the speed of charging is nice, but when I come out in the am, it is all charged up.

A special note to NY drivers who have CONED as their utility provider. There is a program from FleetCarma, they send you a small box to plug into your OBD port and when you charge off-peak you earn rewards. The rewards are sent each month in dollars to my PayPal account. Here is the link:
https://www.fleetcarma.com
 

dbsb3233

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Confirming with the more knowledgeable folks in the forum - the EVSE credit is for any Level 2 charger - even ones that are not "smart chargers" or hard wired?
Correct. As well as any installation costs, which would include installing a 240V circuit. It's basically any expenses you incur to install an EV charger (up to $3333 in the year, where the tax credit caps at $1000).

Of course, with all things IRS, it's subject to interpretation of the IRS rep if you get audited. But I wouldn't worry much about that. Just keep your receipts. I think all that will go on your tax return form is the total of all the expenses you're claiming (and probably the install date and address).
 

dbsb3233

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I guess my question is why do people want these wall chargers when it is just cheaper and efficient to just put in the 14-50 wall plug because the EVSE supplied will fit right into this plug? Not only are you paying to have the wiring and breakers done, but now putting a wall charger in.
Shouldn't typically be any cost savings from an electrician for wiring a 14-50 outlet vs a hard-wired EVSE. In fact, the outlet probably costs a bit more (the cost of the outlet/box/plate, although that's just a few bucks). Terminating the connections to an EVSE is no more work than terminating the connections to an outlet.
 

dbsb3233

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I now understand that you will get a faster charge with the wall charger vs. the 14-50 NEMA plug.
Well, sort of. It's not the plug itself that matters, it's the power level the charger delivers, and the amperage the circuit wiring and breaker can handle.

Typically, a 40A charger (on a 50A circuit) is the max that is allowed via a plug. Anything higher requires a hardwire connection. So for instance, the Ford Connected Wall Charger is a 48A charger (requiring a 60A circuit), so it needs to be hardwired.

But it's also possible to hardwire a lower power charger too (many allow you to select 14-50 plug or hardwire connection when ordering).

So it's not the hardwire per se that makes it charge faster, it's simply the power level of the charger. And 48A will charge faster than 40A, 32A, 24A, etc.
 

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Shouldn't typically be any cost savings from an electrician for wiring a 14-50 outlet vs a hard-wired EVSE. In fact, the outlet probably costs a bit more (the cost of the outlet/box/plate, although that's just a few bucks). Terminating the connections to an EVSE is no more work than terminating the connections to an outlet.
When I was getting my quotes from electricians. 2 wanted more for outlet, 2 wanted more for hard wired, and 1 said it made no difference. The differences were $50-$60. I asked for quotes for 50A plug and 60A hardwired.
 

dbsb3233

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When I was getting my quotes from electricians. 2 wanted more for outlet, 2 wanted more for hard wired, and 1 said it made no difference. The differences were $50-$60. I asked for quotes for 50A plug and 60A hardwired.
Yep. I guess I should have said "in theory". It *shouldn't* cost more for a hardwire, but as with any contracted service, they can try to charge however they want. YMMV.
 

WiilysStang

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Well, sort of. It's not the plug itself that matters, it's the power level the charger delivers, and the amperage the circuit wiring and breaker can handle.

Typically, a 40A charger (on a 50A circuit) is the max that is allowed via a plug. Anything higher requires a hardwire connection. So for instance, the Ford Connected Wall Charger is a 48A charger (requiring a 60A circuit), so it needs to be hardwired.

But it's also possible to hardwire a lower power charger too (many allow you to select 14-50 plug or hardwire connection when ordering).

So it's not the hardwire per se that makes it charge faster, it's simply the power level of the charger. And 48A will charge faster than 40A, 32A, 24A, etc.
Understand.
In my case if it takes a little longer to charge that is OK, I charge off-peak hours after midnight.

But the cost of the Ford Connected Wall Charger to buy and then have an electrician come and do all the work would cost more than just have the electrician come and install the 14-50 outlet. He still has to do the wiring and the breaker.
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