Grizzl-E Charger - GRRRR

[redranger04g]

Except it's the JuiceBox...

Whoops typo. Grizzl-E is more waterproof than the juicebox.

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[yngwenli]

The main benefit of the smart charger in our case with the MME is the silly charge settings in the car. If GPS is off for your car and it just so happens you are a block down the street at a "new" location, your car will now charge to 100% which you may not want. With a smart charger set to only allow charging off hours, this could be prevented.

This could happen during peak energy rates (just happened to me) and in CA, that could be over $0.60.

 

[FordMachEGo]

I also have owned the Grizzl-E classic charger for about a year and a half and never had a single problem and I charge about twice a week. The build quality is phenomenal. They have videos showing them being run over with trucks and still working. One of the reasons I also like the dumb charger is because if your Wi-Fi goes down or for some other reason the connection is lost, your car won’t charge that night.

 

[21st Century Pony]

The main benefit of the smart charger in our case with the MME is the silly charge settings in the car. If GPS is off for your car and it just so happens you are a block down the street at a "new" location, your car will now charge to 100% which you may not want. With a smart charger set to only allow charging off hours, this could be prevented.

This could happen during peak energy rates (just happened to me) and in CA, that could be over $0.60.

Here in Virginia I happen to participate in a State EV utility program where the State financed a 2d electric meter, and the participants (me, for one) paid for (only) the installation of a separate 2d meter-to-EVSE permanent circuit, which the electric utility verified to prevent for example dryer connections etc. My 1 A.M. - 5 A.M. rate is 5.36 cents, and my 11 P.M. - to 1 A.M. and also 5 A.M. to 6 A.M. rate is 8.63 cents, whereas the 6 A.M. thru 11 P.M. rate is a whopping 17.97 cents. For comparison, my main residential electric meter has stayed at the 11 cents' rate for the rest of the house.

Therefore, I also have a built-in interest to charge only at night, and I've been a participant since 2011 thru three plug-in cars of my own and my son's Audi E-tron when he visits.

Yet, I still prefer the dumb Grizzl-E charger as I have found thru my three sequential plug-in cars and my visiting son's Audi E-tron, that the software built into the car chargers (software inside a Toyota plug-in Prius, a Ford Fusion Energi, the Audi E-Tron and now the MME) all almost faultlessly charge these cars when I want to charge them, and not outside of these time parameters.

What was confusing at 1st is that every one of these car models including the two Fords have their own unique way to manage this time-of-charge... for example the Ford Energi was faultless until the 3G standard went offline recently. It turned out that the Energi car charger needed a connection to some background Ford server via its built-in hidden 3G modem to reliably know what time it was for charging settings... grrr. That was a fun fun fun exercise including for the Ford dealer whose tech went nearly crazy dealing with Ford Corporate hahaha. ...and don't even get me started on Sonny Boy's typically Germanic overly complicated Audi time-of-charge setup.

However, all that aside, all four cars have nearly flawlessly charged when I wanted them to charge, other than a very occasional mistake, usually due to the owner's (mine) fat fingers or forgetfulness. I speak from over 10 years' experience across three major car manufacturers, and that's why I am a now devotee of relatively cheaper "dumb" EVSEs. This even with a reliable, very sizeable and well-used time-of-charge cost discount on my 2d electric meter, an outgrowth of the 2010 Obama shovel-ready funding.

 

[Woodchuck]

I've been wanting to buy a L2 charger for a while now... Appreciate all the posts that all have provided here...

After reading everything I'm going to give the Juicebox a try... On amazon you get a $50 coupon and with the 30% govt tax credit it makes it pretty affordable.

 

[RickMachE]

I also have owned the Grizzl-E classic charger for about a year and a half and never had a single problem and I charge about twice a week. The build quality is phenomenal. They have videos showing them being run over with trucks and still working. One of the reasons I also like the dumb charger is because if your Wi-Fi goes down or for some other reason the connection is lost, your car won’t charge that night.

On the JuiceBox, if you lose WiFi, it has the schedule stored and works fine. Most WiFi devices also do.

 

[Lynsey]

I've had the Grizzle dumb charger for almost a year. Never once have I had an issue. It always charges based on what my car is set to. I love it. I think the smart aspect isn't worth the hassle.

 

[kodiakng]

After reading everything I'm going to give the Juicebox a try... On amazon you get a $50 coupon and with the 30% govt tax credit it makes it pretty affordable.

FYI: if you have a Costco membership they have the Juicebox 40 available online for $549. guts are the same but it has a 20' cord instead of the normal 25' for the standard retail model.

 

[yngwenli]

I've been wanting to buy a L2 charger for a while now... Appreciate all the posts that all have provided here...

After reading everything I'm going to give the Juicebox a try... On amazon you get a $50 coupon and with the 30% govt tax credit it makes it pretty affordable.

Can you share where the 30% fed tax credit is available currently for EVSE? Just wanted to confirm that's legit before I possibly pick one up this holiday season.

Thx.

I was looking at IRS site:
https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8911

" The alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit expired for refueling property placed in service after 2021. Do not report refueling property placed in service after 2021 on Form 8911 unless the credit is extended."

I assume IRA extended this, but wasn't sure if that was in 2023 or it's ok now?

 

[21st Century Pony]

Can you share where the 30% fed tax credit is available currently for EVSE? Just wanted to confirm that's legit before I possibly pick one up this holiday season.

Thx.

I was looking at IRS site:
https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8911

" The alternative fuel vehicle refueling property credit expired for refueling property placed in service after 2021. Do not report refueling property placed in service after 2021 on Form 8911 unless the credit is extended."

I assume IRA extended this, but wasn't sure if that was in 2023 or it's ok now?

Congress has not extended this.

 

[yngwenli]

I found this article saying it was extended, but I'll probably wait for the form to update first.
https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/605081/ev-tax-credit-inflation-reduction-act-2022-changes

 

[daemonic3]

I found this article saying it was extended, but I'll probably wait for the form to update first.
https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/605081/ev-tax-credit-inflation-reduction-act-2022-changes

The home install credit is "brought back" but it is now based on zip code. Only certain zipcodes that are below the average income of the area, based on recent census data. I could not find a zip code list but then gave up anyway when I realized ours won't be on it.

 

[21st Century Pony]

The home install credit is "brought back" but it is now based on zip code. Only certain zipcodes that are below the average income of the area, based on recent census data. I could not find a zip code list but then gave up anyway when I realized ours won't be on it.

OK now THAT just blew my mind... now I need a drink haha

 

[yngwenli]

So anyone who can afford an EV can't qualify for the credit. That just makes so much sense! /s

 

[Jim54]

I purchased a Grizzl-E Smart Charger and have had it replaced within a couple of months of buying it. Guess what? I'm having the same issues with the new charger. 10 red blinks, stops charing. This happens when I get to 30% or below. I am so frustrated! But I will say Grizzl-E (United) has been responsive, but I can't believe I am the only one having this issue. Anyone else having the same issue?

Mine has been perfect since July delivery.

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