Hardwired Level 2 ($16 per month) for 3.8cents/kwh overnight worth it?

[BoilerMachE]

Since taking delivery of my MME a few weeks ago I've been using the travel charger and plugging into a 240 outlet in my garage. Works fine and I get 7.2kw using this overnight. Xcel energy here in Minnesota has a program below that if I rent a hardwired level 2 charger ($16/ month) I can pay 3.8 cents /kwh for overnight off-peak charging.

1. We work from home so no daily commutes but still general daily use for errands, etc.
2. ChargPoint HomeFlex charges at 12KW, which I assume the MME can take 11.5? I assume this means the car will charge much faster than the 7.2kw travel charger. Faster charge but overnight anyway.

I'm debating if it's worth it. Too hard/unreliable to do the math this early into ownership to determine at what point the 3.8 cents/kwh + $16 (per month) is worth it compared to no monthly charge and standard rate and charging overnight anyway. Thoughts from the experts??

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[Shepherd]

It wouldn’t make sense for me driving only 150 miles a week. What you have to pay is a wash with my power cost and usage. They should be paying you to be in a program that restricts you to 12am to 6 am.

 

[jeffMachE]

What's your normal overnight rate? The math is pretty easy (but you have to fill in some blanks):
- How many miles do you drive on average in a month? Divide that by 3 (this is an approximation) and that is how many kWh you will consume in a month. Calculate monthly charge on "normal" rates and monthly charge on reduced rate (+$16) and see which is better. Without knowing how many miles you drive in a month or what your normal rate is, no way to tell what is better.

 

[PalsyWalsy]

Since taking delivery of my MME a few weeks ago I've been using the travel charger and plugging into a 240 outlet in my garage. Works fine and I get 7.2kw using this overnight. Xcel energy here in Minnesota has a program below that if I rent a hardwired level 2 charger ($16/ month) I can pay 3.8 cents /kwh for overnight off-peak charging.

1. We work from home so no daily commutes but still general daily use for errands, etc.
2. ChargPoint HomeFlex charges at 12KW, which I assume the MME can take 11.5? I assume this means the car will charge much faster than the 7.2kw travel charger. Faster charge but overnight anyway.

I'm debating if it's worth it. Too hard/unreliable to do the math this early into ownership to determine at what point the 3.8 cents/kwh + $16 (per month) is worth it compared to no monthly charge and standard rate and charging overnight anyway. Thoughts from the experts??

What is the normal/standard off peak charge when you do it overnight now?

 

[shutterbug]

Hard wired charger is the best option. The travel charger that came with your car is not designed for regular use, and many have experienced failures with them. What you need to compare is renting a charge for $16/month vs buying one outright.

The Chargepoint is currently selling for $550. After 30% tax credit, this comes out to $385. So after 2 years, buying one is cheaper than renting.

 

[BoilerMachE]

Since taking delivery of my MME a few weeks ago I've been using the travel charger and plugging into a 240 outlet in my garage. Works fine and I get 7.2kw using this overnight. Xcel energy here in Minnesota has a program below that if I rent a hardwired level 2 charger ($16/ month) I can pay 3.8 cents /kwh for overnight off-peak charging.

1. We work from home so no daily commutes but still general daily use for errands, etc.
2. ChargPoint HomeFlex charges at 12KW, which I assume the MME can take 11.5? I assume this means the car will charge much faster than the 7.2kw travel charger. Faster charge but overnight anyway.

I'm debating if it's worth it. Too hard/unreliable to do the math this early into ownership to determine at what point the 3.8 cents/kwh + $16 (per month) is worth it compared to no monthly charge and standard rate and charging overnight anyway. Thoughts from the experts??

Okay so I called Xcel and got the skinny on the numbers:

They are already installing a mandatory smart reader within the next 30 days that takes into account time of day use. If I do nothing with that installation, my rate would be 21-25 cents/kwh depending on summer or winter from 9am-9pm, or 5 cents /kwh from 9pm-9am. That said, I'm still using the travel charger that came with the car.

OR

$16 rental per month and 3.8 cents/kwh from 12am-6am OR $6 per month (if I buy my own Chargepoint) at 3.8 cents /kwh from 12am-6am. In this case I won't use the travel charger but it would be hardwired level 2.

OR

Buy the Chargepoint and charge overnight for 5 cents per kwh from 9pm - 9am. Only benefit is not using the travel charger as the main charger.

 

[Maquis]

Okay so I called Xcel and got the skinny on the numbers:

They are already installing a mandatory smart reader within the next 30 days that takes into account time of day use. If I do nothing with that installation, my rate would be 21-25 cents/kwh depending on summer or winter from 9am-9pm, or 5 cents /kwh from 9pm-9am. That said, I'm still using the travel charger that came with the car.

OR

$16 rental per month and 3.8 cents/kwh from 12am-6am OR $6 per month (if I buy my own Chargepoint) at 3.8 cents /kwh from 12am-6am. In this case I won't use the travel charger but it would be hardwired level 2.

So you pay $6 per month to save 1.2 cents per kWh. Breakeven is 500 kWh per month.

Edit - taxes could drop that number very slightly.

 

[RickMachE]

Remember that any charger you buy, plus installation, is available for a 30% federal tax credit if you qualify. Renting gets you no tax credit.

 

[BoilerMachE]

Remember that any charger you buy, plus installation, is available for a 30% federal tax credit if you qualify. Renting gets you no tax credit.

Where do you buy with install to get the tax credit?

 

[jberth]

Where do you buy and instill to get the tax credit?

You can buy any charger from any retailer and get it installed by any electrician. Just keep your receipts for both the charger and the install to submit with your taxes and you'll get the credit.

More details on the IRS website here

 

[BoilerMachE]

What's your normal overnight rate? The math is pretty easy (but you have to fill in some blanks):
- How many miles do you drive on average in a month? Divide that by 3 (this is an approximation) and that is how many kWh you will consume in a month. Calculate monthly charge on "normal" rates and monthly charge on reduced rate (+$16) and see which is better. Without knowing how many miles you drive in a month or what your normal rate is, no way to tell what is better.

This is great. Let's say we drive on average 1,000 a month. That means:

1. 333kwh at 5 cents/kwh 9pm-9am is around $16.65 per month of charging with my travel charger today.
2. If I rented a hardwired Chargepoint at $16/month to take advantage of the 3.8 cents from 12am - 6am that means it would be $12.65 per month + $16 = $28.65 per month.
3. If I bought the Chargepoint charger outright it's the most expensive option over 36-month lease as I would pay for the unit + install + $12.65 per month of charging + $6 per month fee if you own the box (down from $16).

So really, it's option 1 or 2. This begs the ultimate question: is an extra $12-ish dollars a month worth having a hardwired charger versus using my travel charger?

Thanks all for the input!!

 

[Jerrytball]

Since taking delivery of my MME a few weeks ago I've been using the travel charger and plugging into a 240 outlet in my garage. Works fine and I get 7.2kw using this overnight. Xcel energy here in Minnesota has a program below that if I rent a hardwired level 2 charger ($16/ month) I can pay 3.8 cents /kwh for overnight off-peak charging.

1. We work from home so no daily commutes but still general daily use for errands, etc.
2. ChargPoint HomeFlex charges at 12KW, which I assume the MME can take 11.5? I assume this means the car will charge much faster than the 7.2kw travel charger. Faster charge but overnight anyway.

I'm debating if it's worth it. Too hard/unreliable to do the math this early into ownership to determine at what point the 3.8 cents/kwh + $16 (per month) is worth it compared to no monthly charge and standard rate and charging overnight anyway. Thoughts from the experts??

I would say three months I am considered pretty new. Had the Ford level two installed at home. The cost of the charger was originally I think 1500 but I got it for like $700, and it was $1000 to install it. So I’m on time abuse there’s no monthly charge. It’s just four cents Kilowatt hour. So I drive about 1000 miles a month and it cost me $20 a month to charge my car all month. I can’t beat that. I don’t work so that’s just driving around town going to friends going to family.

 

[Maquis]

This is great. Let's say we drive on average 1,000 a month. That means:

1. 333kwh at 5 cents/kwh 9pm-9am is around $16.65 per month of charging with my travel charger today.
2. If I rented a hardwired Chargepoint at $16/month to take advantage of the 3.8 cents from 12am - 6am that means it would be $12.65 per month + $16 = $28.65 per month.
3. If I bought the Chargepoint charger outright it's the most expensive option over 36-month lease as I would pay for the unit + install + $12.65 per month of charging + $6 per month fee if you own the box (down from $16).

So really, it's option 1 or 2. This begs the ultimate question: is an extra $12-ish dollars a month worth having a hardwired charger versus using my travel charger?

Thanks all for the input!!

If you plan on driving an EV long-term, 3 is your best option. But buy it outright.

The $6 monthly fee is a separate discussion and only makes sense if you drive more than 1500 miles per month.

 

[Sikkun]

Depends on if you think 3mile/hr charge rate is going to be good enough for 3 years.

As opposed to 11mile/hr. If you actually need to add some range…3 miles is several days to a full charge.

 

[BoilerMachE]

I still need a pulse on how important a hardwired level 2 is versus using my travel charger and if that's worth an extra $12 a month! In you guys I trust

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