Chicagoland area

[benleafexpert]

Good news and bad news: My CarWings opened up today and I have a VIN number. But my delivery is now "month of December" instead of November.

I'm sorry to hear that, what color did you order? It seems that since the Tsunami in Japan they have had a problem producing the White, and Blue Leafs in time.

 

[lukati]

Good news and bad news: My CarWings opened up today and I have a VIN number. But my delivery is now "month of December" instead of November.

I'm sorry to hear that, what color did you order? It seems that since the Tsunami in Japan they have had a problem producing the White, and Blue Leafs in time.

I thought red was the problem color. I did order white though.

The confusing thing is that I have a VIN now which normally signals that the car is about to be received at an US port while at the same time my delivery month is being pushed back. I was expecting my dashboard to change to a "week of xx" mode with the release of the VIN.

Did anyone else in Chicagoland receive their VIN?

 

[redLEAF]

Good news and bad news: My CarWings opened up today and I have a VIN number. But my delivery is now "month of December" instead of November.

I'm sorry to hear that, what color did you order? It seems that since the Tsunami in Japan they have had a problem producing the White, and Blue Leafs in time.

No VIN for me, still 'month of November' -- no change yet, mine will be red (hence redLEAF moniker) which I was warned at order time back in early August may effect the delivery but we've seen red '11's still arriving so perhaps it is just down to a color or two -- have to also mention though that my dealer's demo is a 'new' white '11 which wasn't a press car, etc. so not sure what the color is effecting deliveries now (if at all) ... time will tell. IL appears to be further back from the other Tier 2 states with FL then GA and nothing definitive other than 'lukati' delivery now in December ... anyone else??

UPDATE 10/21/11: only 10 days away from 11/1/11 and still nothing other than 'month of November' -- no VIN, no Carwings, nothing; although I did get a marketing email from Nissan on the cost reduction for their EVSE install; sorry guys I've already got mine installed !!

 

[bigtlb]

My dashboard opened up for the next step today!

And, the estimated delivery date changed to "Week of December 01, 2011"!

Check list includes:

• Enable CarWings
• Apply for NMAC financing
• Home Charger Installation
• Have Your Trade-In Appraised

My AeroVironment installation will be this Monday. And, my office (w.w. Grainger, Inc. in Lake Forest) installed an L2 charger earlier this month!

I have been Googling to find out what L2 (or even L3) chargers will be available when my car arrives. I see Walgreens is slowly fulfilling their promise (of at least L2s anyway). Looks like I shouldn't have a problem going to Gurnee Mills, since they have 2 L2s near the Bass Pro Shops. The LEAF should make the round trip from uptown, if I go easy on it. But, it would be better to know I have a few extra miles. :mrgreen: I contacted Prime Outlets in Wisconsin, and they have no plans for EV chargers at this time. So, I guess if I want to make that trip it will only be with a layover at Gurnee Mills, or in my diesel Beetle (which I am keeping as a backup car).

:idea: I am a developer (mainly Microsoft stuff lately, but have dabbled with Android). I have been curious to see how CarWings works. Once I get it activated, I will throw Fiddler at it and see what is happening. I am considering what features would be good for a Windows Phone application (maybe aggregate CarWings, aggregated charging station searches, and a few other features, ultimately using the newer NFC chip technologies to emulate any activation cards that are needed).

Although it doesn't affect us that much here in the Chicagoland area, I have seen that others have to take elevation into consideration. Google maps has an elevation API. It wouldn't be too hard to plot a course, show L2s along the way, and add a routing option that gives you difference in elevation in kwh (given the known mass of a LEAF).

 

[bigtlb]

Nothing really useful to do with the opened dashboard checklist.

• The CarWings check box says to be on the lookout for an activation email
  • Nothing yet...
• NMAC auto-approved me for a loan, but it is only good for 30 days
  • Very short on details, no rate, only approved monthly payment (loan or lease)
  • Seems more like a push email, to get you into the dealerships.
  • I will definitely get my own third-party preapproved financing before showing up at the dealership
• They have a checkbox for charger installation
  • Can't check that off 'til Monday
• I'm not letting go of my old car so the Trade-In Appraisal is not useful

 

[lukati]

Nothing really useful to do with the opened dashboard checklist.

• The CarWings check box says to be on the lookout for an activation email
  • Nothing yet...
• NMAC auto-approved me for a loan, but it is only good for 30 days
  • Very short on details, no rate, only approved monthly payment (loan or lease)
  • Seems more like a push email, to get you into the dealerships.
  • I will definitely get my own third-party preapproved financing before showing up at the dealership
• They have a checkbox for charger installation
  • Can't check that off 'til Monday
• I'm not letting go of my old car so the Trade-In Appraisal is not useful

Same here. Week of December 01!

 

[dutchinchicago]

I am just coming back from Fontana, wi and i am wondering if this is my last trip. I am not seeing any L3 chargers between chicago and WI. Has anyone looked into this?

 

[bigtlb]

I don't think there are any Public L3 chargers in the state yet. Walgreens will eventually have a few, as will a few toll oases.

L2s will be much more prevalent....

===============================

Gurnee Mills is supposed to have 2 free ChargePoint network L2s. Also Walgreens is building out their network fairly quickly and you can find a few along the way.

The governor's electrification initiative has L2s slated for the Lake Forest (I-94 & 60) oasis fairly soon. I can't seem to find the link to the list of planned locations where I found that initially. Just the press release. http://green.autoblog.com/2011/02/21/350green-install-280-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-chicago/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Aside from ChargePoint (http://www.mychargepoint.net" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false I have been searching using the DOE database. It seems fairly complete, and an aggregation of multiple sources. http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator/stations/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[bigtlb]

Just used the DOE site to map the route between Fontana, WI to Chicago, IL. If you swing through Elgin, there is an L2 in the parking garage.

http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator/details.php?id=33353&apptype=stations" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can always plan a few hours there (Lunch? Dinner? Casino?)...

Grand Victoria is less than a mile away.

http://goo.gl/Rovsl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[dutchinchicago]

Thanks,

The http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator/stations/ link is great.

Not sure if I would be willing to try this trip with my family in the car. Only one charging station and who knows if it is working. What do you do if you get there and the charging station is not working or someone parked his Hummer in that spot?

It would be a 20 mile drive to the next charging station.

 

[kmp647]

this will be an issue for the electric traveller

broken or vandalized chargers, ICE'd chargers

what do you do?

we need longer range on EV's

charge at home , and at work, thats it mostly

there will be a point were its common to find chargers, but no available chargers

like a crowded amusment park

big issues to solve for EV's

 

[bigtlb]

...
Not sure if I would be willing to try this trip with my family in the car. Only one charging station and who knows if it is working. What do you do if you get there and the charging station is not working or someone parked his Hummer in that spot?

It would be a 20 mile drive to the next charging station.

If I HAD to do the trip. I would see about going past Gurnee Mills instead.

2 L2's there, more family friendly location, and who doesn't like the mall? Several restaurants and other things to do there. If those two aren't available, a fallback location is within 3 miles. And Rosen Nissan is nearby as well.

Gurnee Mills - Bass Pro Shop
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator/details.php?id=40807&apptype=stations" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fallback - Windfree Energy
http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/locator/details.php?id=38854&apptype=stations" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Rosen Nissan
http://goo.gl/c2A55" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://carstations.com/6938" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[portableal]

went by arlington nissan today and saw a 2011 blue Leaf sitting out front. it had "DEMO" stamped on the window sticker. it had a battery heater listed on the sticker. it also had a hi/lo switch on the left side of the passenger seat. (rear seat heater controls)
so if your looking for a place to test drive a leaf in the northwest side of chicago, there ya go.
I've read some "not so good reviews" about the dealership online. so keep your guard up when you visit them.

 

[prolix74]

Just noticed that my dashboard also now says week of December 1 instead of Month of December. Nothing else yet other than the new date. My color is Red if that helps.

 

[bigtlb]

My dashboard slipped a day.

It's now, week of December 2, 2011.

Well it's still first week of December.

 

[redLEAF]

Just checked my dashboard again -- still lists 'month of November' so I'm hopeful that perhaps mine will beat those getting theirs in December but of course anything can happen -- as far as the dealer comment, if you're out in the NW 'burbs be sure to check out McGrath Nissan in Elgin who does have good online sales and service reviews; they have a white '11 demo with Cold Weather package available for test drives and I hope to be their first customer delivery next month. I have to believe that many more Chicago area Nissan dealer's are getting 'LEAF certified' but I picked one of the first to place me order (this past August) that had done their certification and were in the process of getting their charging stations and training of tech's, (all done now) etc. The more knowledgeable your dealer , the better the experience! I have also seen that the Nissan dealer in Joliet (look through this thread, both are listed) is already offering a $500 discount and has a demo available but has mixed online reviews -- a bit too far for me anyway. I saw the blue demo on Arlington's lot this early AM as I happened to be going by today so can attest they have it -- how trained, etc. they are couldn't tell you.

 

[lukati]

My dashboard slipped a day.

It's now, week of December 2, 2011.

+1

 

[dutchinchicago]

Mine is also still saying month of November. I am a bit worried that it got stuck in some strange state because of my charger installation waiver.

 

[redLEAF]

Mine is also still saying month of November. I am a bit worried that it got stuck in some strange state because of my charger installation waiver.

I wouldn't think so ... at least when I talked to Nissan CS on getting the waiver option at the time I placed the order for the car, I emphasized that I didn't want it to impact my delivery date and they said it would have no effect. At this point I actually think that I beat any estimate of getting the charger installed by an AV contractor as my Schneider EVSE unit is ready to go NOW. I doubt it would help but for peace of mind you may want to just check in with Nissan CS as November is quickly approaching and you haven't seen any updates -- seem to recall some of the CA early adopter folks getting changes right up to the last minute on delivery dates with the online system so perhaps once again we'll just need to wait ... I'm now checking mine at least twice daily, especially when another Chicagoland person chimes in that theirs was updated !

 

[dutchinchicago]

I phoned Nissan and they seem a bit confused. Their estimated delivery is 11/4 but they also say that it is at least 30 days before I will get it because I did not get a VIN yet. Also it takes 32 days to get here by boat and it is not on a boat yet.

So basically they do not have a clue. I am trying to be patient but is is hard when you are getting this close.