tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183935035867915860.post6119146524809821071..comments2018-03-13T16:31:49.342-04:00Comments on Mini E #458: East Coast clearance price on Think EVsJim McLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04514394481037410280noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183935035867915860.post-53766412667198948092012-04-21T11:54:22.486-04:002012-04-21T11:54:22.486-04:00You are welcome, gonzaga
No to chademo here. Ene...You are welcome, gonzaga<br /><br />No to chademo here. EnerDel was working on DC fast charging when the bankruptcy hit. (Hey, they latest longer through the Great Recession than either GM or Chrysler!) We will have to wait for the 6th gen Thinks for DC fast charging, and frankly that is not something I has heard about in any of the rumors.<br /><br />Being that it is not a Japanese product, I would not expect the new Thinks (whenever they come out) to use the chademo interface anyway, which is proprietary. I would bet on an industry standard like the coming update to SAE J1772 (which the IEEE is also helping with) or maybe some ISO standard, if they ever get their act together.<br /><br />I do know people in Norway who have hacked their 4th generation Thinks and doubled the charge rate, but that is a 119 volt battery or so, which is much less dangerous to mess with compared to the nearly 400 volts in the 5th gen Think. I will not even consider it. (Well, maybe when the warranty runs out and my wife buys extra life insurance on me. Ha ha.)Jim McLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514394481037410280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183935035867915860.post-28688151526725954262012-04-21T11:43:10.342-04:002012-04-21T11:43:10.342-04:00Thanks Jim
Any possibility of using Level 3 charg...Thanks Jim<br /><br />Any possibility of using Level 3 charging?<br /><br />There is a Chademo-compliant L3 charger at a Nissan dealership 90 or so miles away.<br /><br />Thanksgonzagahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15803334381223215352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183935035867915860.post-17633779780590375072012-04-15T23:10:55.890-04:002012-04-15T23:10:55.890-04:00Hi gonzaga
In the US, the safety box that comes w...Hi gonzaga<br /><br />In the US, the safety box that comes with EVs is setup for 120 volts. You could make or buy an adapter to let you take 120 volts from a 240 volt outlet, but I don't think that is what you are asking.<br /><br />The fastest charging rate is at 240 volts of course, and you will need a 240 volt safety box to take advantage of that. This interface device is called an "EVSE" for "Electric Vehicle Service Equipment" in the National Electrical Code, but I just call it a safety box. There are many brands available now, some that can be plugged into 240 volts although most require hardwiring in the US for 240. Leviton is an exception, they offer an EVSE that will plug into 240:<br /><br />http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ProductDetail.jsp?partnumber=EVB22-3PM&section=37741&minisite=10251 <br /><br />There have been rumors of compatibility problems between Leviton EVSE and a couple brands of cars, so maybe buy it from a retailer with an easy return policy. I believe Home Depot and Lowes both sell EVSEs, although maybe not Leviton.<br /><br />I have heard that the Think will charge directly from 240 volts without the EVSE (assuming you can get the J1772 plug for the car wired to a plug for the outlet in your garage) but it will default to the slower charge rate of 11 or 12 amps. This is still faster than 120 volts but the Think will pull 15 or 16 amps if the EVSE tells the car it is safe to do so.<br /><br />Also, the EVSE (safety box) keeps the plug that goes into the car de-energized until it is inserted and the car says it is OK to apply power, so it really is much safer to use an EVSE especially if kids are around. And the EVSE verifies the safety ground connection, polarity (on 120 volt connections at least), and does some other technical stuff that is good to have.<br /><br />So I really recommend getting a 240 volt EVSE if you need the faster charging. I admit I have charged the Mini EV without a safety box years ago, but not often. And with my present short commute, I almost always use the 120 volt EVSE at home with the Think EV. I do have a portable 240 volt EVSE which we use on the road, see this older post:<br /><br />http://minie458.blogspot.com/2012/03/guerrilla-charging.html<br /><br />You can also buy just the J1772 plug and cord:<br />http://www.newark.com/multicomp/dsi-ev32p-3c/plug-ev-j1772-32a-3m-cable/dp/75T6615?in_merch=Popular%20Cable%20AssembliesJim McLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514394481037410280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183935035867915860.post-85263093401220654142012-04-15T12:18:22.850-04:002012-04-15T12:18:22.850-04:00Hello
I am about to pick up a 2011 Think from the...Hello<br /><br />I am about to pick up a 2011 Think from the MD dealership.<br /><br />I have a 220v a/c plug right next to the garage. Can I just pick up an adapter for this, and plug-and-play?<br /><br />Newbie here<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />GBgonzagahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15803334381223215352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183935035867915860.post-62209068849866042432012-04-08T23:09:09.911-04:002012-04-08T23:09:09.911-04:00Hi Jill, sorry you were not able to get a Think th...Hi Jill, sorry you were not able to get a Think this time around. You were hounding them long before I was.<br /><br />Are you sure your husband doesn't want one though? These are much cheaper now than what he will be able to get next year probably. But maybe he needs four seats... Anyway, there might still be time if his is interested.<br /><br />I hope they do a better job with marketing when the new models come out. It was like pulling teeth to get them to sell the 2011 cars here. Maybe there will be a four door when Think comes back.Jim McLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04514394481037410280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183935035867915860.post-50534914191283447012012-04-08T09:29:12.449-04:002012-04-08T09:29:12.449-04:00Wow, so that's what Think did with their cars!...Wow, so that's what Think did with their cars! <br /><br /> I still like the Fiat I bought last October. Only things I don't like is it was not assembled in the USA and is not electric or hybrid. I do get 36mpg which is 3mpg better than the EPA rating, so I'm happy about that.<br /><br /> We installed a (Schneider Electric) evse in the garage last December (before the tax credit expired.) My husband will buy an electric car in about a year.Jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08966948491682781811noreply@blogger.com