Recent content by MaxPower

http://www.plugincars.com/eight-rules-electric-vehicle-etiquette-127513.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Good news: I'm seeing a lot less people blocking EVSEs with their non-plug-in vehicle. Signage and the threat of towing / fines is working well. Bad news: Lots of broken...

"[Santa Clara] will be installing one EV Fast Charger at the Central Park Library as well as one EV Fast Charger and three Level II chargers at the Santa Clara Convention Center parking garage. These installations will be completed in spring 2013" seen on...

The 2013 cabin heater is only more efficient above 30F, below that temperature it is no more efficient than the 2011 and 2012 heater. Have you investigated the Toyota Rav4 EV? It is not quite as efficient as the Leaf, but it has a lot better range at highway speed.

When the battery loses capacity you are forced to spend more time charging since you now need to charge to 100 percent in order to get the mileage that 80% charge provided when new. Above 50% state of charge, the charger begins to reduce the current fed to the battery pack in order to prevent...

In the Winter when the air is dry, I have the habit of keeping my hand on a grounded part of the car body before and during the time I am climbing out of the car. The static drains off my body as quickly as it is created by friction with the seat, so I don't get a big nasty spark. The bare...

You should call Blink and have them check that the QC is working before you leave home. Also check on the other QCs in the area - there are several more QC locations as you go North on 101. If the QC is broken when you get there, you might have to use one of the L2 chargers next to the QC in...

While it is really cool to get a free quick charge, I have decided that it is generally not worth the time to travel out of my way to the QC and sit around for 30 minutes (or longer if someone is already using it). I'd rather spend the time doing something useful or fun instead. My cost for...

First I set my timer on the Leaf to charge from midnight to midnight, and to stop at 80%. That was fine until I tried to override the timer to get 100% ... because at midnight the charge timer reset, and I got an 80% charge. So now I have it set to charge from noon to noon instead. I don't...

If you could find even a 110V outlet at work, then the Leaf would be your best bet. Otherwise, you are not going to be happy with the range of the Leaf. It is too close to your commute distance. You should consider a vehicle with longer range, such as the RAV 4, Volt, or Prius. Mileage...

Today I went for a scenic 60+ mile drive, using cabin heater (almost full time) and both front seat heaters (as needed.) Temperature 40-50F with light wind and several thousand feet of climbing (and descending.) I was careful not to speed, and stayed below the 55mph limit on skyline because...

I like what Nissan has done with the Leaf. Emit a high-pitched sound at low speeds, which increases in pitch as the speed is increased, and turn off the noisemaker when moving fast enough for the tire and wind noise to be audible. High frequency sound allows the human ear to determine...

Stop by one of the quick chargers along 101 on the way home. Now that Blink is putting L2 chargers next to their unreliable L3 chargers, you at least have a backup plan if the quick charger fails. Or pay $7 at the Stanford Mall QC.

I used the Intuit L3 charger in Menlo Park on Monday (Christmas Eve). Only one side was working, but it worked without a hitch. I called Blink to alert them that the right side was still out of order. I also posted to plugshare that this site is operational again. Nice Christmas present from...

I saw an Escalade parked in an EV charging space in one of the parking garages downtown this weekend. 4 of 6 chargers were ICEd in that garage thanks to wimpy signage, lack of enforcement, and an inexhaustible supply of selfish jerks. Selfish people won't behave in a civilized fashion unless...

I was disappointed to find that the cabin heater will not work while fast-charging and using the accessory ON position. If I set the car to RUN then the heater works but the charge is aborted. That and the annoying way that the HVAC doesn't allow me to force the heater to stay off, shows how...