EA+ plus vs home charging?

[Gyrfalcon08]

As of Mar 1 in California PG&E land the average cost of charging at home on the E-1 rate is equal to the cost of EA+ at .36c per kWh. Has anyone considered DC charging as their primary source of charging even when they have home charging available due to cost? I have a relatively close EA station at a BoA. Thoughts on time cost or battery degradation with more DC charging?

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[RickMachE]

Depends on the frequency of DC charging. If you charge once a week, to 90% or less, I wouldn't think twice about it. If you need to charge daily, that's a bad idea.

I mention 90% because the Ford 80% is due to speed of charge, nothing else. The Mach-E slows to 44kW at 80%, which is not an issue.

But, if they're equivalent, why use a DC charger instead?

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

cost of home charging would have to be quite a bit higher than DCFC for me to consider it viable. I’m willing to pay a little bit of a convenience surcharge for the ease of home charging. Also slower charging is known to be better for the battery long term health.
On the other hand, if electric rates were that high, I would have just found a ICE car with roughly 35+ MPG and saved all the headache.

 

[Gyrfalcon08]

Depends on the frequency of DC charging. If you charge once a week, to 90% or less, I wouldn't think twice about it. If you need to charge daily, that's a bad idea.

I mention 90% because the Ford 80% is due to speed of charge, nothing else. The Mach-E slows to 44kW at 80%, which is not an issue.

But, if they're equivalent, why use a DC charger instead?

Because it then offsets the cost of electricity at the house thereby being able to reduce usage into a lower tier of electricity cost at the home. Not a great reason, and its likely the saving would be relatively low but it's there. We need to charge probably twice a week on average so point is taken.

cost of home charging would have to be quite a bit higher than DCFC for me to consider it viable. I’m willing to pay a little bit of a convenience surcharge for the ease of home charging. Also slower charging is known to be better for the battery long term health.
On the other hand, if electric rates were that high, I would have just found a ICE car with roughly 35+ MPG and saved all the headache.

Yeah, I'm thinking similarly that even isn't enough to push me over but its forced me to think about it. Also, by my math I'd need a 40mpg ICE vehicle to match given California's gas prices as well. Also, the other benefits of access to HOV lanes, self driving, instant torque, (until now charging at home lol), made the EV more attractive.

 

[superlarz]

I live in an apartment in CA and primarily DC charge on EVgo stations. Paying for the PlusMAX plan works out financially but if i could home charge i probably would still do that for the convenience

 

[RickMachE]

Run the numbers.

We looked at moving to a time of day plan when we ordered a PHEV in 2018. Evaluated our usage by hour (download from utility company website). It paid off to switch to the plan BEFORE the PHEV arrived. We simply shifted elective usage (dishwasher, washer / dryer) to non-peak hours.

Run your numbers and see.

 

[Gyrfalcon08]

Run the numbers.

We looked at moving to a time of day plan when we ordered a PHEV in 2018. Evaluated our usage by hour (download from utility company website). It paid off to switch to the plan BEFORE the PHEV arrived. We simply shifted elective usage (dishwasher, washer / dryer) to non-peak hours.

Run your numbers and see.

I charge during the EV rate hours just to see if it would pay off. The utility company calculators do say it would pay off minimally at ~$20 per year cheaper, but it would entirely be dependent on time of use usage during the year realistically. I use the dryer once during peak hours and that would swing it lol. We'd have difficulty shifting elective use due to our 1 yr old who is cared for at home during the day, (part of reason we didn't switch plans already).

 

[RickMachE]

I charge during the EV rate hours just to see if it would pay off. The utility company calculators do say it would pay off minimally at ~$20 per year cheaper, but it would entirely be dependent on time of use usage during the year realistically. I use the dryer once during peak hours and that would swing it lol. We'd have difficulty shifting elective use due to our 1 yr old who is cared for at home during the day, (part of reason we didn't switch plans already).

Why didn't you run the numbers before conceiving the child? ? ? ? ?

 

[bbulkow]

No, because I don't charge around the clock - the average time is not interesting, the lowest time is interesting.

I set the charger for overnight starting at midnight when the rate is 0.26 or 0.24 which is far less than commercial charging (I actually do know of some municipal chargers at 0.20, but they are L2) - and at least one fully free one - but would be a lot of work to use especially because others hog it. Add the convenience (hanging around a charger for an hour every week) and the higher battery wear, I expect to use a commercial fast charger only in very unusual circumstances.

 

[IgorKl]

PG&E rates are high for long time. We switch to primary none home charging since middle of the January. Yes, we are missing home charging convenience and outside charging required some review what other stations available next to us.
brw, if you calculate kW at PG&E , check if they charge you generation fee.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

How much do you value your time?

I value my time while not working well above my hourly pay rate. I would have to save a LOT of money every week to consider spending an extra hour babysitting the car at a DCFC instead of letting it charge at home.

 

[Sam2084]

You’re talking about saving tens of dollars by wasting hours of time. Absolutely not. Home charging is a luxury, it’s not just about being cheaper.

 

[astrorob]

I charge during the EV rate hours just to see if it would pay off.

i don't understand, are you saying that you charge during those times so that hopefully PGE's calculators will come up with the right analysis?

although i'm sure the smart meter is reporting 5min intervals even though you are on a non-TOU plan, i wonder if they are really storing all that data, since it's not necessary to calculate your bill. unless they collected and collect that info in order to show the CPUC that everyone should be forced onto a TOU plan.

 

[Gyrfalcon08]

i don't understand, are you saying that you charge during those times so that hopefully PGE's calculators will come up with the right analysis?

although i'm sure the smart meter is reporting 5min intervals even though you are on a non-TOU plan, i wonder if they are really storing all that data, since it's not necessary to calculate your bill. unless they collected and collect that info in order to show the CPUC that everyone should be forced onto a TOU plan.

Correct. I just did it so the PGE plan comparison calculator would have correct granular data. You are right I have no way to know for sure if it actually affects their calculations.

 

[PebbleMav]

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