Comments for Plugin Center http://www.plugincenter.net Advancing Electric Vehicles in North Central Washington Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:36:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Stevens Pass Opens First Electric Car Charging Stations on U.S. Route 2 by Nick Chambers http://www.plugincenter.net/2011/06/06/stevens-pass-opens-first-electric-car-charging-stations-on-u-s-route-2/#comment-1085 Nick Chambers Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:36:02 +0000 http://www.plugincenter.net/?p=301#comment-1085 William, Good point. I've changed the post to indicate the true meaning of "first charging stations over any mountain pass" to "first modern universal charging stations over any mountain pass." Certainly there are RV plugs in many places and, in California, there are the old paddle style chargers from the EV mandate days, but what we're talking about here is something bigger than that. These are the universal Level 2 stations that all modern electric cars from here forth will support—as they climb in numbers from the couple thousand examples we have today to the hundreds of thousands we'll see in the next few years. William, Good point. I’ve changed the post to indicate the true meaning of “first charging stations over any mountain pass” to “first modern universal charging stations over any mountain pass.” Certainly there are RV plugs in many places and, in California, there are the old paddle style chargers from the EV mandate days, but what we’re talking about here is something bigger than that. These are the universal Level 2 stations that all modern electric cars from here forth will support—as they climb in numbers from the couple thousand examples we have today to the hundreds of thousands we’ll see in the next few years.

]]> Comment on Stevens Pass Opens First Electric Car Charging Stations on U.S. Route 2 by William Korthof http://www.plugincenter.net/2011/06/06/stevens-pass-opens-first-electric-car-charging-stations-on-u-s-route-2/#comment-1076 William Korthof Fri, 10 Jun 2011 01:25:32 +0000 http://www.plugincenter.net/?p=301#comment-1076 Not to reign in on the enthusiasm, but this certainly isn't the first mountain pass to have electric car charging facilities. In the Lake Tahoe area, there has been convenient electric car chargers along Interstate 80 over the Donner Summit and US Highway 50 between Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, and Reno, for several years already. Moreover, the helpful owners of Recreational Vehicle (RV) parks all over the country have enabled drivers like me to plug in, and recharge our electric cars for at least the past 15 years. Not to reign in on the enthusiasm, but this certainly isn’t the first mountain pass to have electric car charging facilities. In the Lake Tahoe area, there has been convenient electric car chargers along Interstate 80 over the Donner Summit and US Highway 50 between Sacramento, Lake Tahoe, and Reno, for several years already.

Moreover, the helpful owners of Recreational Vehicle (RV) parks all over the country have enabled drivers like me to plug in, and recharge our electric cars for at least the past 15 years.

]]> Comment on State Will Build Electric Car Fast Charging Stations Between Seattle and North Central Washington by John http://www.plugincenter.net/2011/01/12/state-will-build-electric-car-fast-charging-stations-between-seattle-and-north-central-washington/#comment-1002 John Wed, 27 Apr 2011 01:01:36 +0000 http://www.plugincenter.net/?p=49#comment-1002 It's exciting to finally see progress on the EV charging stations. However, having stations on the top of the pass may not be especially "efficient". It would be better to have charging stations on either side at the base of the mountains (e.g., somewhere between Monroe and Skykomish). That way you can fully charge before heading up. Climbing really eats up the electrons. Then you can regen or coast down hill and regain some of that potential energy. If you charge fully at the top, the battery is full and there is no place for the regen electrons to go. The same thing goes for Snoqualmie pass. Locate the charging stations at North Bend and near Cle Elum. Based on actual driving experiences in California with the Nissan Leaf, driving non-stop 86 miles from North Bend to Ellensburg will not be possible, especially in the winter. It’s exciting to finally see progress on the EV charging stations. However, having stations on the top of the pass may not be especially “efficient”. It would be better to have charging stations on either side at the base of the mountains (e.g., somewhere between Monroe and Skykomish). That way you can fully charge before heading up. Climbing really eats up the electrons. Then you can regen or coast down hill and regain some of that potential energy. If you charge fully at the top, the battery is full and there is no place for the regen electrons to go. The same thing goes for Snoqualmie pass. Locate the charging stations at North Bend and near Cle Elum. Based on actual driving experiences in California with the Nissan Leaf, driving non-stop 86 miles from North Bend to Ellensburg will not be possible, especially in the winter.

]]> Comment on State Will Build Electric Car Fast Charging Stations Between Seattle and North Central Washington by Nick Chambers http://www.plugincenter.net/2011/01/12/state-will-build-electric-car-fast-charging-stations-between-seattle-and-north-central-washington/#comment-714 Nick Chambers Tue, 15 Feb 2011 01:19:42 +0000 http://www.plugincenter.net/?p=49#comment-714 Stevens Pass, Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and details! What you're doing is truly pioneering. Stevens Pass,

Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and details! What you’re doing is truly pioneering.

]]> Comment on State Will Build Electric Car Fast Charging Stations Between Seattle and North Central Washington by Nick Chambers http://www.plugincenter.net/2011/01/12/state-will-build-electric-car-fast-charging-stations-between-seattle-and-north-central-washington/#comment-713 Nick Chambers Tue, 15 Feb 2011 01:18:38 +0000 http://www.plugincenter.net/?p=49#comment-713 Notheastern'er, good questions. While exact pricing hasn't been specified yet, indeed people will likely be charged for the DC fast charging service. Given that it is a very convenient way of charging a vehicle and the electricity demands of the charger place it into higher industrial use rate tiers, it is likely it will cost on the order of five-ten dollars per charge—which puts it less expensive or on par with a gasoline fill up. Keep in mind this is not a way to charge your vehicle on a daily basis and that when charging it at home or on most public lower speed chargers you will still be paying about 3-10 times less (depending on location; here in Chelan County it can cost as much as 20 times less) than an equivalent gasoline-powered vehicle for "fuel." Notheastern’er, good questions. While exact pricing hasn’t been specified yet, indeed people will likely be charged for the DC fast charging service. Given that it is a very convenient way of charging a vehicle and the electricity demands of the charger place it into higher industrial use rate tiers, it is likely it will cost on the order of five-ten dollars per charge—which puts it less expensive or on par with a gasoline fill up. Keep in mind this is not a way to charge your vehicle on a daily basis and that when charging it at home or on most public lower speed chargers you will still be paying about 3-10 times less (depending on location; here in Chelan County it can cost as much as 20 times less) than an equivalent gasoline-powered vehicle for “fuel.”

]]> Comment on State Will Build Electric Car Fast Charging Stations Between Seattle and North Central Washington by Northeastern'er http://www.plugincenter.net/2011/01/12/state-will-build-electric-car-fast-charging-stations-between-seattle-and-north-central-washington/#comment-712 Northeastern'er Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:41:28 +0000 http://www.plugincenter.net/?p=49#comment-712 How much will people be charged? There has to be some kind of fee for the use of these? would you be charger per minute, per ten minutes or what? How much will people be charged? There has to be some kind of fee for the use of these? would you be charger per minute, per ten minutes or what?

]]> Comment on State Will Build Electric Car Fast Charging Stations Between Seattle and North Central Washington by Stevens Pass Resort http://www.plugincenter.net/2011/01/12/state-will-build-electric-car-fast-charging-stations-between-seattle-and-north-central-washington/#comment-493 Stevens Pass Resort Fri, 28 Jan 2011 03:25:57 +0000 http://www.plugincenter.net/?p=49#comment-493 Hi Nick (et al), I'm the environment manager at Stevens Pass coordinating the EV installation...we're pretty excited to be part of this. Happy to answer questions, but in the meantime, here are a few details: -We'll have two CT 2100 Level II networked stations from Coulomb. -Each can charge 2 EV's simultaneously: one at 120V and one at 240V. -Our location will be right there at the base of the heated plaza steps (the rockstar parking in Lot A) -We're not in any discussion currently about installing a DC/'Level III' fast charger -Our electrical work is done, we hope to physically mount the units in the next month or so. -Our power comes from Chelan PUD. Spread the word! www.stevenspass.com/environment Hi Nick (et al),

I’m the environment manager at Stevens Pass coordinating the EV installation…we’re pretty excited to be part of this. Happy to answer questions, but in the meantime, here are a few details:

-We’ll have two CT 2100 Level II networked stations from Coulomb.
-Each can charge 2 EV’s simultaneously: one at 120V and one at 240V.
-Our location will be right there at the base of the heated plaza steps (the rockstar parking in Lot A)
-We’re not in any discussion currently about installing a DC/’Level III’ fast charger
-Our electrical work is done, we hope to physically mount the units in the next month or so.
-Our power comes from Chelan PUD.

Spread the word!
http://www.stevenspass.com/environment

]]> Comment on State Will Build Electric Car Fast Charging Stations Between Seattle and North Central Washington by John C. Briggs http://www.plugincenter.net/2011/01/12/state-will-build-electric-car-fast-charging-stations-between-seattle-and-north-central-washington/#comment-281 John C. Briggs Tue, 18 Jan 2011 12:31:02 +0000 http://www.plugincenter.net/?p=49#comment-281 Nick, Thank you for the thoughtful reply. John C. Briggs Nick,
Thank you for the thoughtful reply.
John C. Briggs

]]> Comment on State Will Build Electric Car Fast Charging Stations Between Seattle and North Central Washington by SeattleBlueLeaf http://www.plugincenter.net/2011/01/12/state-will-build-electric-car-fast-charging-stations-between-seattle-and-north-central-washington/#comment-77 SeattleBlueLeaf Sat, 15 Jan 2011 16:46:29 +0000 http://www.plugincenter.net/?p=49#comment-77 Nick, I work with Chelan County and the PHEV Prius vehicles that are already over there and I'll be at some of the events regardless but I'd love to bring the LEAF. Going to NES event this week in Tacoma too. 'Should' have the LEAF at that as well. Nick,

I work with Chelan County and the PHEV Prius vehicles that are already over there and I’ll be at some of the events regardless but I’d love to bring the LEAF. Going to NES event this week in Tacoma too. ‘Should’ have the LEAF at that as well.

]]> Comment on State Will Build Electric Car Fast Charging Stations Between Seattle and North Central Washington by DaveinOlyWA http://www.plugincenter.net/2011/01/12/state-will-build-electric-car-fast-charging-stations-between-seattle-and-north-central-washington/#comment-73 DaveinOlyWA Sat, 15 Jan 2011 12:40:07 +0000 http://www.plugincenter.net/?p=49#comment-73 this news although welcome, is not a surprise in any way. i did elect for the QC option on my Leaf despite living in Olympia where 110 volt charging station abound but i knew that WA State would heavily promote EV transportation. Having relatives In Salem, i could easily make it there after the planned stations south of me are installed. granted, it would be an all day affair to get there, but at least i will have that option soon!! this news although welcome, is not a surprise in any way. i did elect for the QC option on my Leaf despite living in Olympia where 110 volt charging station abound but i knew that WA State would heavily promote EV transportation.

Having relatives In Salem, i could easily make it there after the planned stations south of me are installed. granted, it would be an all day affair to get there, but at least i will have that option soon!!

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