LakeLeaf
Well-known member
LakeLeaf said:
Got a call today - electrician can't come until mid-August. Knock me over with a feather.
EVSE Home Assessment Reports
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Got a call today - electrician can't come until mid-August. Knock me over with a feather.
DrPowell said:
I completely agree. Very sensible idea.
I attached a letter to mine, asking them to consider it a part of the application, in which I wrote that "Although the form quotes a rather scary scenario in which “the installation may result in holes, drilling, concrete trenching to lay conduit….” etc, I wish to assure you that my own installation requires none of the above. In fact, the methodology I have already discussed with the installer requires no exterior modifications to our home at all".
DrPowell
Well-known member
I did the same as you, when my HOA started to spin up after reading section 2. Sent a note off to both AV and Nissan suggesting they streamline the form so car sales aren't delayed too much by the HOA approval step. Suggested three check boxes: standard install, interior work only; custom install, interior work only, and custom install, interior+exterior work. The first two should cause 99% of the HOAs in America to wave through most installs with a quick glance.mwalsh said:
Congrats on lining up your new PVs! Wish a few more photons reached us here in "sky city", the land of liquid sunshine. At least PSE offers a green power program, which is pretty legit.
DrPowell said:
Oops....changed the word "install" to "application" in my post.
Boo, the contractor didn't show up for my assessment. I called Nissan and they were actually pretty nice and understanding about my frustration. They are going to waive the fee and send out one of their own "specialists" on my next scheduled time of Aug. 6th. I hope that specialist is knowledgeable because I am going to pepper him with a whole slew of questions 
javan
Well-known member
curtegg said:They are going to waive the fee
Same thing happened to us yesterday. We called after the time for the inspection passed and Nissan contacted the inspector, set up an appointment for today, and waived the $100 fee for the assessment. The assessment was done today on time and I'll be waiting to see what the quote is. Jim, Humboldt county, far northern coastal California
evnow
Well-known member
Wow - thats cool. I can now see people hoping the electrician misses the appointment :lol:
planet4ever
Well-known member
Of course that also means they will "waive" the $100 deduction if you go ahead with the installation. So it's really only good news if you are planning to reject the bid and kiss the money goodbye.
After experiencing and reading all the confusion and apparent excessive pricing around the Nissan/Aerovironment EVSE assessment and installation, I decided to write to the San Francisco Bay Area CBS 5 Consumer Watch about the issue. They were quite interested due to the importance and interviewed me, other prospective Leaf buyers and Nissan about the EVSE assessment process and cost. As a result of my interview with a CBS, Nissan made this claim to CBS 5 which aired on 8/3/2010.
I had my assessment after the interview so its results were not included. It was weird to say the least. The Electrician from A-1 Electrical told me "you will be a standard install on which I'll make some money". This was just after explaining that he could only charge $750 additional if I had not had a garage 100A panel and needed to install a new panel plus the EVSE and wiring in my detached garage. The $750 would have been a good deal since the trenching and work would in my opinion far exceed $750 in labor and materials. He jokingly said he would "make some money on my job" given I had done almost all the work and it would be "simple" ( just hooking up the breaker and EVSE and testing) , he quickly added I had no choice or my warranty would be void but he would bring a six pack to make it up. It was a really weird assessment! It sounded a little like the electrical contractors are allowed to make up the loses on the difficult jobs by padding the easy ones.
I just received my estimate and besides the outrageous 7 pages of legal language already mentioned, they want $749.92 to hook up my breaker, mount the EVSE to my plywood backing and hook up my wires. My guess is that this is about 1 hour of work at the most. The estimate appears to require I need get my own permit and the $749.92 does not include a permit or its application. The EVSE from Aerovironment is quoted at $721.12 plus $49.95 shipping and $70.31 CA sales tax.
I'll be doing just what Nissan said is allowed on the air on the CBS 5 news story. If Aerovironment won't sell me the EVSE, I'll stick with the Level 1 until I can purchase a reasonably priced EVSE. If they won't, I'll get back in touch with CBS 5 so they can do a follow up story. Stay tuned!
The on air news report was somewhat different from the story but is summarized on their website: http://cbs5.com/consumer/Nissan.Leaf.charger.2.1841181.htmlwatch One of the other individuals they interviewed and appeared on air, made the following statement:
I had my assessment after the interview so its results were not included. It was weird to say the least. The Electrician from A-1 Electrical told me "you will be a standard install on which I'll make some money". This was just after explaining that he could only charge $750 additional if I had not had a garage 100A panel and needed to install a new panel plus the EVSE and wiring in my detached garage. The $750 would have been a good deal since the trenching and work would in my opinion far exceed $750 in labor and materials. He jokingly said he would "make some money on my job" given I had done almost all the work and it would be "simple" ( just hooking up the breaker and EVSE and testing) , he quickly added I had no choice or my warranty would be void but he would bring a six pack to make it up. It was a really weird assessment! It sounded a little like the electrical contractors are allowed to make up the loses on the difficult jobs by padding the easy ones.
I just received my estimate and besides the outrageous 7 pages of legal language already mentioned, they want $749.92 to hook up my breaker, mount the EVSE to my plywood backing and hook up my wires. My guess is that this is about 1 hour of work at the most. The estimate appears to require I need get my own permit and the $749.92 does not include a permit or its application. The EVSE from Aerovironment is quoted at $721.12 plus $49.95 shipping and $70.31 CA sales tax.
I'll be doing just what Nissan said is allowed on the air on the CBS 5 news story. If Aerovironment won't sell me the EVSE, I'll stick with the Level 1 until I can purchase a reasonably priced EVSE. If they won't, I'll get back in touch with CBS 5 so they can do a follow up story. Stay tuned!
DeaneG
Well-known member
My assessment was exactly one month ago, no word yet. Am chomping instead to get a 30A Leviton prewire kit to convert an existing and unused "dryer" outlet that is well placed.
LEAFfan
Well-known member
DeaneG said:
Deane, do you know how much that kit is? Is the Leviton charger included? I also have an unused dryer outlet that I could use.
Someone said that the 'free' chargers are taken back after the lease is up and two years if they bought the car? Does anyone know if that is true?
evnow
Well-known member
leaffan said:
That would make sense, if Ecotality returns the money to the government
DeaneG
Well-known member
leaffan said:
You buy the kit and its matching EVSE ("charger") separately. There are three sizes of each for different max current carrying capacities. The Leviton thread has the accumulated knowledge:
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=822
Some say the kits are $200 (IMHO overpriced for what they contain). Leviton hasn't disclosed pricing on the EVSEs except to say that they intend to be reasonable compared to the competition.
pgrovetom said:
http://cbs5.com/consumer/Nissan.Leaf.charger.2.1841181.html
Tom, fixed error in the link you posted.
Gonewild
Well-known member
evnow said:leaffan said:
That would make sense, if Ecotality returns the money to the government
I do not think you will have to return it because it is not free you have to be monitored and do survey's over the next 2 yrs.
garygid
Well-known member
I think you get to keep the EVProject EVSE, unless you fail to participate "sufficiently" in the Project.
However, the EVSE's "advanced" features will probably be "turned off", or "unavailable" at the end of the Project.
Possibly, your e-rate from your PU might also change when the Project ends.
However, the EVSE's "advanced" features will probably be "turned off", or "unavailable" at the end of the Project.
Possibly, your e-rate from your PU might also change when the Project ends.
LEAFfan
Well-known member
garygid said:
Should I call my PU and ask what their rate is for EV's? If it is higher, do I still have to use that rate or just use the one I'm on now? I'm just curious...what will your e-rate be from your PU? Will it be lower than .08/kwh, which is my off-peak rate right now that I plan on using to charge the LEAF.
garygid
Well-known member
Lowest "total" rate from SDG&E is about 13¢ per kWh, I think.
But, high-tier rates are around 34¢, I believe!
Where are you, and what PU?
But, high-tier rates are around 34¢, I believe!
Where are you, and what PU?
LEAFfan
Well-known member
garygid said:
Wow! I'll just use the present off-peak rate. I don't want them to know I have an EV if they're going to charge me more! I'm in Arizona and SRP (Salt River Project) is our PU.
garygid
Well-known member
Each PU has their own way of handling rates, special rates for EV, Solar, Commercial, etc.
Often, EV rates (if they exist at all in your PU), are lower for late-night charging, but HIGHER dyring the day. CAUTION
Often, EV rates (if they exist at all in your PU), are lower for late-night charging, but HIGHER dyring the day. CAUTION
