AmazingE ESVE?

[erco]

I caved to the popup ads on this site and ordered the "AmazingE" portable ESVE from Amazon. Its "3.8KW of goodness" is a fine match for the 3.6 kW OBC in my 2014 Leaf S, and my garage already has a 240V 30A dryer outlet, so it seems like a no-brainer for this car anyway. I didn't find any mention of the "AmazingE" here, but there are good reviews at Amazon (duh) and http://300mpg.org/2017/09/02/amazing-e- ... nd-opening . I'm new to all this, but my early take is that all these ESVEs are mostly high-current extension cords, with just enough smarts to confirm the handshake protocol with the OBC. And switching relays and GFI, and UL certification of course.

Funny, Amazon's price was $214 when I bought, but now it's jumped to $303. Did I do that? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XSLYDLH/

I got quite a bargain, since Amazon sells just a replacement cable and connector for $180: https://www.amazon.com/Charging-Station ... 01CPST3W0/

I'm pretty handy and was/am tempted to modify my stock Nissan brick per http://www.instructables.com/id/313CONV ... HARGER-TO/ I found this 2014 discussion interesting: http://www.plugincars.com/why-electric- ... 29543.html

I'm wide open to opinions & comments.

http://amazing-e.com/

[Randy]

Bought one for a friend, good unit, guts made by Clipper Creek, UL listed....Was great price at low $200's....

[alozzy]

Paid $380 for a Zencar 32A portable EVSE, have no complaints about it. I like that you can order it with whatever amperage settings you prefer and also that it will work on both 120V and 240V supplies. I also have a dryer outlet (NEMA 14-30R) and charge my SV at 5.76 kW rate (240V@24A).

Even if you have only a 3.3 kW OBC, the flexibility of being able to, for instance, charge via a 14-50R (3.3 kW max rate), 14-30R (3.3 kW max rate), TT-30R (2.88 kW), or 5-15R (1.44 kW) is so nice to have.

I have a single adapter cable that let's me use any one of those, more details on that here:

viewtopic.php?f=27&t=24302&hilit=adapter&start=10#p500259

[jjeff]

I also have the Zencar and really like it, but if cost is very important and UL listing is paramount, then for the low $200s that this AmazingE normally sells for, is a pretty decent deal. At closer to $300 the seller at Amazon is really ripping people off I mean to take a EVSE that normally sells ~$200 and now mark it up to >$300.....well do the math!
My main complaint about the AmazingE would be, like the CC that it's designed from, it's ONLY a L2 EVSE, no flexibility like many of the other portable EVSEs to be able to use 120v in a pinch. I guess if your OK with only L2 and the fact that it only charges at 16a(can't manually select amperage so no ability to use on a 240v 15a circuit) then for close to $200 it's a good deal. Otherwise if your OK without your EVSE being UL listed for closer to $200(mid $100s if your OK ordering direct from China) there are other options available

[erco]

I also have the Zencar and really like it, but if cost is very important and UL listing is paramount, then for the low $200s that this AmazingE normally sells for, is a pretty decent deal. At closer to $300 the seller at Amazon is really ripping people off I mean to take a EVSE that normally sells ~$200 and now mark it up to >$300.....well do the math!

Yep, that's weird. I looked at it for two weeks on Amazon.com, always listed for $214. The day after I ordered, the price jumped up to $303. Either I got lucky or I triggered the increase! Noteworthy that the AmazingE website doesn't direct sell, they steer buyers to Amazon, who has the monopoly AFAIK.

My main complaint about the AmazingE would be, like the CC that it's designed from, it's ONLY a L2 EVSE, no flexibility like many of the other portable EVSEs to be able to use 120v in a pinch. I guess if your OK with only L2 and the fact that it only charges at 16a (can't manually select amperage so no ability to use on a 240v 15a circuit) then for close to $200 it's a good deal.

No worries, I plan to use this as my permanent home charger. I emailed the company and they say that's fine, there's an 18 month warranty.
And this is a local (Los Angeles) car only, no need to carry the charger with me, searching for other 220V outlets. Plenty of free L2 chargers all over LA.

[erco]

My AmazingE was delivered today. All in all a nice unit, have to move an outlet before I can try it. Surprisingly, its UL-certified cables are slightly smaller diameter OD and more flexible than those on the stock Nissan level 1 (120V) EVSE, which is built like a brick outhouse. In the discussion at http://www.plugincars.com/why-electric- ... 29543.html, it's pointed out that 120V OEM units which get "upgraded" to 240V aren't UL certified. The modder says "they would pass if we went to the expense to certify them". I have no doubts that the external cables are up to the task, based on comparison to the AmazingE.

[jjeff]

Interesting, I just looked on CamelCamelCamel.com(price tracker for Amazon) and it says the AmazingE EVSE has been $369 for the last 6 months I know thats bull because I remember seeing it close to $200 just a week or so ago and noting it's good price........
https://camelcamelcamel.com/Portable-El ... B06XSLYDLH
Sounds like you ordered yours at just the right time

[Leaver]

So, erco,... you're the responsible party! I was just about to pull the trigger on one myself yesterday when I saw the price had jumped. I had been eye-balling it for the past week when it was $214.00, and when I went to order it yesterday, bam!... $305.00! Now I'm waiting to see if it comes back down, as I think that's too much money for this EVSE.

[erco]

So, erco,... you're the responsible party! I was just about to pull the trigger on one myself yesterday when I saw the price had jumped. I had been eye-balling it for the past week when it was $214.00, and when I went to order it yesterday, bam!... $305.00! Now I'm waiting to see if it comes back down, as I think that's too much money for this EVSE.

Yeah, I suck. Isn't that weird?

I can't find it now, but earlier today I was reading a website which claimed that a 3.6kW OBC might need over 5kW input power from the grid... it made no sense. Still looking through my browser history to find it... but which computer or tablet was I on...?

[erco]

LA's Air Quality Management District has an incentive program for home ESVE buyers, they pay $250 (up to $500 for low-income) for home EVSE purchase & installation. I emailed them last week, and just got a reply that they will be adding the AmazingE to the approved list. Wow!

http://www.aqmd.gov/home/programs/commu ... -incentive

Los Angeles has other incentives, including plenty of available L2 chargers around town. Southern California Edison (our power company) pays a $450 rebate to the first THREE owners of any qualifying electric car. I'm the third owner of my 2014 S, so I qualified.

https://www.scecleanfuel.com/

Ten more incentives and this car may just pay for itself!