ECOtality Level 2 charger : Blink

[evnow]

This link takes you to the demonstration of the new BLINK EV Charger that will be used by the EV Project.

http://i.engadget.com/2010/07/27/ecotality-and-frog-design-debut-eye-catching-blink-ev-chargers/

Wow - I had read they had hired Frog Design for this - but I've to say Ecotality has exceeded my expectations. They have not skimped since they had already got the fed money - but have come up with what has to be a more expensive design - with touch screen too.

Well done.

Now I've to upgrade rest of my garage to match the sophistication of this "approachable" evse

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBwvyYbcsd0[/youtube]

 

[indyflick]

Great vid, thanks for posting. But what's a "garriage"? ....Oh garage, I see.

 

[DaveEV]

This link takes you to the demonstration of the new BLINK EV Charger that will be used by the EV Project.

http://i.engadget.com/2010/07/27/ecotality-and-frog-design-debut-eye-catching-blink-ev-chargers/

The non-mobile / full site link:

http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/27/ecotality-and-frog-design-debut-eye-catching-blink-ev-chargers/

 

[indyflick]

I wonder if the Blink home charger will support charging multiple EVs simultaneously?

 

[SilverLeaf]

Here's a link to the Blink Home Charger Spec Sheet

http://www.blinknetwork.com/media/kit/Blink%20L2%20Wall%20Mount%20Charger.pdf

... and here's a link to the full media site (downloadable photos and spec sheets)

http://www.blinknetwork.com/media/

 

[DeaneG]

A Blink guy at the San Jose plug-in conference told me their residential networked EVSE will be about $1100. Seemed like a decent deal for a highly capable box, compared to the push-the-green-button user interface on the Nissan/AV and Leviton units. The choice would depend on your level of involvement - push and go or watch and control.

 

[DeaneG]

A Blink guy at the San Jose Plug-in conference told me the home level 2 charger would be around $1100.

 

[evnow]

http://blogs.forbes.com/velocity/2010/07/27/another-stylish-electric-vehicle-charger-enters-the-fray/?partner=contextstory

The Blink charger will sell for $2,500 to corporate customers and $1,199 for residential customers.

Nice answers!

Is Read concerned about competition from Better Place, the electric vehicle infrastructure company led by former SAP executive Shai Agassi that has raised $400 million in private capital? No, it turns out. "We're going to have 20,000 chargers in the ground before they have one," says Read.

He doesn't rate Better Place's business premise highly, either. Says Read: "I think that battery swapping is ludicrous."

 

[TimeHorse]

… with touch screen too.

Of course! How else can I enter my WPA2 password or get it's MAC address to allow it in my network.

 

[mwalsh]

Well, that's it then.....$1100 and I hire my own electrician to do the work and pull the permits. I like the design better and no further pissing around with this HOA paperwork deal.

 

[mitch672]

The BIG loser here: AV (AeroVironment), who would want that overpriced junk, when you could have the Blink. Only uninformed customers, and there are not many of them that are "early adopters"

 

[garygid]

Blink $1199
AV $725

To me, the Blink looks like it is $474 higher basic cost, but it does a lot more "connecting".

The Blink still need to be hard-wired, right?

 

[EVDRIVER]

The BIG loser here: AV (AeroVironment), who would want that overpriced junk, when you could have the Blink. Only uninformed customers, and there are not many of them that are "early adopters"

+1, Their dock looks like a low budget build to maximize profit.

 

[EVDRIVER]

Blink $1199
AV $725

To me, the Blink looks like it is $474 higher basic cost, but it does a lot more "connecting".

The Blink still need to be hard-wired, right?

Does anyone know the blink specs? They are not listed on their site as far as I can tell.

 

[gasmiser1]

Blink $1199
AV $725

To me, the Blink looks like it is $474 higher basic cost, but it does a lot more "connecting".

The Blink still need to be hard-wired, right?

At the SJ Plug-in show, Blink rep said it needs to be hard wired.

 

[evnow]

Blink $1199
AV $725

To me, the Blink looks like it is $474 higher basic cost, but it does a lot more "connecting".

The Blink still need to be hard-wired, right?

Blink is more expensive - but we know AV isn't selling their evse by itself. Also, Blink is a real consumer grade evse with high end features - so you do get what you pay for.

I think the best options currently are

Blink : Hard wired, high-end option
Leviton : Plug-in, Low-end option

 

[Gavin]

Yeah...If I can get the Leviton installed for around a grand vs over 2 grand for the Blink, well I probably will go Leviton...but the Blink is darn pretty

But really my charging needs aren't great (we don't have off peak times here, just one price all day and night) and my garage ain't fancy...so a cheaper unit would likely work just fine for me.

Gavin

 

[mwalsh]

The Blink still need to be hard-wired, right?

Yes, but not to the tune of $1500! You call you OWN electrician in and get the whole thing (basic install) done for maybe $300-$400 including permitting!

 

[garygid]

If the city's Permit Fee is really $300 (as reported in one AV bid), you will not get much for $400.

I am waiting for a "portable" L2 EVSE so that I can plug it in at work, ... or at a friend's house, or an EV park.

Ideal would be a dual voltage 240 and 120-volt (L2 & L1) EVSE, so that one did not need to carry two EVSEs.

With a "universal" power supply inside, avoiding the use of 240v-operated parts, and a 120v socket adapter cord, a simple 240v (L2) EVSE would be likely to work at 120 volts (as a L1 EVSE), even though rated for "more severe" service (higher voltages and currents).

 

[mwalsh]

If the city's Permit Fee is really $300 (as reported in one AV bid), you will not get much for $400.

Yes, admittedly, it depends on your city. Garden Grove's basic electrical permit fee is around $150. YMMV and all that.