Why is EVSE so expensive?

[Fsisung]

TBH if TSLA says so, I do the exact opposite, been a good strategy...

If you don’t own a Tesla why would you have to concern yourself with doing or not doing what they recommend?

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[Mach-Lee]

I toured a UL lab and observed multiple test setups and products under test. It is all very professionally done and not cheep. If there is any SCAM, it is the manufacturer not UL.

UL still does great testing, but the management has turned it into a giant cash-grab organization. It's mostly about finding ways to charge more money and fees to companies rather than the safety. UL stopped being mostly about the safety in the 1980's when they started certifying Chinese-made products. Companies evolve over time, UL has been for the worse and has turned into a good-ol-boys club. They don't really care if products they certify are junk in the real world as long as they get their money. They have strayed so far from their roots, it's sad.

 

[devmach-e]

Do you keep your evse plugged in all the time even when not charging? Wondering on the ghost power (If that’s the right term)

I'm hardwired, so it is "on" all the time. The amount of power it draws while idle is so tiny in the grand scheme of things. If you have a plug-in EVSE, just leave it plugged in. Or if you are so worried, turn the breaker off.

 

[Blue highway]

I just watched the video on electrical issues with evse installs so I thought if I plugged/unplugged. I would lessen chance of overheating and burning house down. I only charge once ever 2 weeks. Currently still 120 charging Takes 2 nights to go from under 50% to 90 I think it’s too hot here to charge outside in daytime All of our connections are on outside of house. Even my new huge ss panel.

Outside has a lot of complications, but please do not unplug and replug you EVSE from it's wall outlet any more than you have to. The more you do this, the less solid the connection between the outlet and your plug... and the more resistance and thus more heat and risk of fire.

At some point, you must have come across a 120 outlet that is really loose... If you draw a lot of current it will get hotter faster than an outlet that holds the pins tighter. You never want a loose EVSE outlet.

 

[kltye]

UL stopped being mostly about the safety in the 1980's when they started certifying Chinese-made products.

Wow...

 

[KevinS]

Wow...

Yeah. You said the quiet part out loud, chief.

 

[Maquis]

UL still does great testing, but the management has turned it into a giant cash-grab organization. It's mostly about finding ways to charge more money and fees to companies rather than the safety. UL stopped being mostly about the safety in the 1980's when they started certifying Chinese-made products. Companies evolve over time, UL has been for the worse and has turned into a good-ol-boys club. They don't really care if products they certify are junk in the real world as long as they get their money. They have strayed so far from their roots, it's sad.

I don’t disagree with any of that, but we need to remember that the standards that UL test against are safety standards, not necessarily quality standards.
It‘s not uncommon for a product to meet a safety standard, and be junk. It doesn’t matter if a product fails in a month as long as no one is killed or injured.

 

[Rob S]

Aside from cost and the ability to move the EVSE, why wouldn't you hardwire the charger? It sounds like hardwired is safer?

 

[Maquis]

Aside from cost and the ability to move the EVSE, why wouldn't you hardwire the charger? It sounds like hardwired is safer?

Hardwire should not cost more…likely less.

 

[Triggerhappy007]

If you have a plug-in EVSE, just leave it plugged in. Or if you are so worried, turn the breaker off.

I don't think the breaker is supposed to be used as a switch either. You can turn it on and off once in a while. I wouldn't do it daily.

 

[woody]

I don't think the breaker is supposed to be used as a switch either. You can turn it on and off once in a while. I wouldn't do it daily.

breakers are not designed to last if frequently tripped. They fail if tripped too frequently. Should they trip frequently something is wrong and should be investigated.

 

[woody]

All (good) EVSEs have GFCIs/RCD in them. They are safe.
Hard wired does not require (in EVSE)GFCI.
Your EVSE should remain plugged in. The (any)14-50 will wear out if frequently plugged in/out. As with other outlets. Of course they can always be replaced. I guess I am just too lazy and cheap to do that. The energy savings are minimal with frequent plugging in/out, even home appliances. Infrequent plugging in/out is certainly acceptable.

 

[yngwenli]

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

This just shows that it's expired currently (and was revised Jan 2022 before the IRA).

"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."

 

[yngwenli]

Aside from cost and the ability to move the EVSE, why wouldn't you hardwire the charger? It sounds like hardwired is safer?

Aren't these like the major reasons of many things in life ($$/convenience)? Those 2 things alone are enough to not hardware. Most folks won't need anymore.

 

[generaltso]

I personally would rather that Ford not provide a "free" EVSE that does not meet my needs and the price of the vehicle drops by $300.

It‘s a $500 option for the 2023 F-150 Lightning. I’m quite surprised Ford didn‘t do the same thing for the MME (yet).

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