Affordable 40A Portable Charger

[karioka]

The portable charger that came with the Mach E has been working fine for me but takes a bit long to fill up the battery as the maximum current is 32A. Therefore, I got myself a new one that can go up to 40A, also portable. It cost me $300.00 - tax included. This one is still being tested but it's promising, the vendor name is LefanEV.

I decided not to pay $1000.00 for a new charger when I can have one that also provides 40A for $275.00. And there's no bluetooth to worry about as all the programming is done in the Mach E.

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[KAustin]

Do you have a link for it?

 

[RickMachE]

The portable charger that came with the Mach E has been working fine for me but takes a bit long to fill up the battery as the maximum current is 32A. Therefore, I got myself a new one that can go up to 40A, also portable. It cost me $300.00 - tax included. This one is still being tested but it's promising, the vendor name is LefanEV.

I decided not to pay $1000.00 for a new charger when I can have one that also provides 40A for $275.00. And there's no bluetooth to worry about as all the programming is done in the Mach E.

Several points.

1) While $300 is a great price, did you check to see if your utility company provided a rebate for the purchase of a charger? Many do, and require a specific brand/model. Or they sell it at a discount. I got $500 back, but had to purchase either a JuiceBox or a ChargePoint Flex. After my $500 rebate, the cost of a JuiceBox48 (not portable) was less than $250, and that's before the 30% government tax credit.

2) They're not $1,000. A JuiceBox 40 is $599.

3) An intelligent charger has several distinct advantages over a dumb charger. And they use WiFi, not Bluetooth (at least mine does). Advantage 1 - you can set charging hours in the charger, so that the vehicle, even when programmed to charge when you want decides to charge anyway, can't. Example - a departure time in peak hours. Advantage 2 - you can produce reports with all sorts of information.

Without a utility rebate, or discount, I would agree that spending $300 is better than spending $599. But, with my utility rebate, I could have spent $99 if I chose the portable JB.

 

[karioka]

Several points.

1) While $300 is a great price, did you check to see if your utility company provided a rebate for the purchase of a charger? Many do, and require a specific brand/model. Or they sell it at a discount. I got $500 back, but had to purchase either a JuiceBox or a ChargePoint Flex. After my $500 rebate, the cost of a JuiceBox48 (not portable) was less than $250, and that's before the 30% government tax credit.

2) They're not $1,000. A JuiceBox 40 is $599.

3) An intelligent charger has several distinct advantages over a dumb charger. And they use WiFi, not Bluetooth (at least mine does). Advantage 1 - you can set charging hours in the charger, so that the vehicle, even when programmed to charge when you want decides to charge anyway, can't. Example - a departure time in peak hours. Advantage 2 - you can produce reports with all sorts of information.

Without a utility rebate, or discount, I would agree that spending $300 is better than spending $599. But, with my utility rebate, I could have spent $99 if I chose the portable JB.

Thank you for bringing these points up. I just checked with my utility and they don't provide any rebates on chargers. However I now realize that I qualify for the 30% government tax credit. I totally forgot about this one.

 

[RickMachE]

Thank you for bringing these points up. I just checked with my utility and they don't provide any rebates on chargers. However I now realize that I qualify for the 30% government tax credit. I totally forgot about this one.

And that's on wiring and charger, both.

 

[Neil4Real]

Several points.

1) While $300 is a great price, did you check to see if your utility company provided a rebate for the purchase of a charger? Many do, and require a specific brand/model. Or they sell it at a discount. I got $500 back, but had to purchase either a JuiceBox or a ChargePoint Flex. After my $500 rebate, the cost of a JuiceBox48 (not portable) was less than $250, and that's before the 30% government tax credit.

2) They're not $1,000. A JuiceBox 40 is $599.

3) An intelligent charger has several distinct advantages over a dumb charger. And they use WiFi, not Bluetooth (at least mine does). Advantage 1 - you can set charging hours in the charger, so that the vehicle, even when programmed to charge when you want decides to charge anyway, can't. Example - a departure time in peak hours. Advantage 2 - you can produce reports with all sorts of information.

Without a utility rebate, or discount, I would agree that spending $300 is better than spending $599. But, with my utility rebate, I could have spent $99 if I chose the portable JB.

Uhhh can you help me out with this 30% government tax credit?!? I didn't know this existed and have been toying with adding a permanent charger to my home rather than using the Ford Mobile Charger, this way I can keep it in the car, just in case.

 

[RickMachE]

Uhhh can you help me out with this 30% government tax credit?!? I didn't know this existed and have been toying with adding a permanent charger to my home rather than using the Ford Mobile Charger, this way I can keep it in the car, just in case.

The federal government pays a $7,500 non-refundable tax credit for purchasing the vehicle, at least currently.

In addition, there is a 30% tax credit for up to $1,000 for the installation of alternative fuel vehicle refueling equipment, i.e. the cost to wire and install a charger. As of now, this equipment must be purchased AND installed by 12/31/21 to be claimed on your 2021 federal tax return. It is also non-refundable.

The vehicle tax credit is filed on form 8936. The equipment tax credit is filed on form 8911.

Non-refundable means that your tax owed, i.e. line 24, has to be equal to or larger than the tax credit(s), otherwise you lose them. What you pay in withholding tax or estimated tax is irrelevant, it's your total tax determined from your income.

 

[Neil4Real]

The federal government pays a $7,500 non-refundable tax credit for purchasing the vehicle, at least currently.

In addition, there is a 30% tax credit for up to $1,000 for the installation of alternative fuel vehicle refueling equipment, i.e. the cost to wire and install a charger. As of now, this equipment must be purchased AND installed by 12/31/21 to be claimed on your 2021 federal tax return. It is also non-refundable.

The vehicle tax credit is filed on form 8936. The equipment tax credit is filed on form 8911.

Non-refundable means that your tax owed, i.e. line 24, has to be equal to or larger than the tax credit(s), otherwise you lose them. What you pay in withholding tax or estimated tax is irrelevant, it's your total tax determined from your income.

Do you need anything special? I just save the receipt from the install of the outlet I had done ($250) and then save the receipt of the charger I buy on Amazon, say $800, and then I can claim $300?

 

[RickMachE]

Do you need anything special? I just save the receipt from the install of the outlet I had done ($250) and then save the receipt of the charger I buy on Amazon, say $800, and then I can claim $300?

Just receipts, yes. Not in my math...

$250 + $800 = $1,050 x 30% = $315

So a non-refundable tax credit of $315 will be applied, along with the $7,500 for the vehicle, to your total tax. If your tax is more than $7,815 (absent other credits), you're all set. If it's less, you lose some of the above.

 

[GuliblGuy]

I'm seeing it for $369 on amazon, decent reviews, though quite a few people reporting it failing after months of use.

https://www.amazon.com/LEFANEV-220V-240V-Portable-Electric-Charging/dp/B08B7WQHPZ

 

[Neil4Real]

Just receipts, yes. Not in my math...

$250 + $800 = $1,050 x 30% = $315

So a non-refundable tax credit of $315 will be applied, along with the $7,500 for the vehicle, to your total tax. If your tax is more than $7,815 (absent other credits), you're all set. If it's less, you lose some of the above.

Ah, ok so the credit can be up to $1,000 wasn't sure if the total "charge" was up to $1,000 and it being 30% of that, so max was $300. Awesome!! Thanks so much!

 

[Maquis]

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

Uhhh can you help me out with this 30% government tax credit?!? I didn't know this existed and have been toying with adding a permanent charger to my home rather than using the Ford Mobile Charger, this way I can keep it in the car, just in case.

 

[karioka]

I'm seeing it for $369 on amazon, decent reviews, though quite a few people reporting it failing after months of use.

https://www.amazon.com/LEFANEV-220V-240V-Portable-Electric-Charging/dp/B08B7WQHPZ

I got mine from eBay and the price was $275.0. Maybe you know that in eBay you can make an offer. Initially they were asking $300.00, then I offered $230.00 and they counteroffers $275.00 and I accepted.

I didn't know about the failure after months of use. We'll see, I use mine one or twice a week

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