LEAF in Kansas City

[ericvoll]

Here's a question...if you accepted/signed the online quote for the charging station and decide that's too expensive/you want to go another way (like you did), is there a way to get out of that acceptance or am I stuck with the exorbitant cost of getting that installed by Aerovironment?

When I ordered mine, I spoke with online Nissan LEAF customer service, telling them I had already installed a charging station. They just had me do a waiver.

My dryer is (below grade) in my basement (ranch house), however, it's right below where I'm having the charging dock installed in my garage upstairs (but it's down the basement wall horizontally 10' or so). I wonder how it would work tying into that, if at all possible? I sure don't want anything "jerry-rigged" that would end up burning down the house...

You need a separate circuit for the EVSE that only the EVSE uses.

FYI, since the charging station at Union Station is free and the parking space is $1.00/hour, I suspect it may be that way at the Performing Arts Center too

The new Performing Arts Center charges for both parking and for use of the EVSE's there. I'm not sure what parking costs, but the EVSE's are $1.00 per hour. It's not much fun getting double dinged.

[davewill]

Thanks, davewill.

I reread the quote/agreement and it basically gives you 3 days to cancel, but I'll look into the potential for a waiver. ...

The waiver just means that Nissan won't hold up your RAQ/Delivery waiting to hear from AV. I'd get that done, and jump on AV trying to cancel ASAP. The high price is the reason that anyone who asks on here always gets told to skip getting a quote from AV. They are just taking advantage of people. Either get the EVSE Upgrade or buy a unit (even AV's unit on a cash and carry basis isn't too badly priced), and have a local electrician run the 240v circuit.

[eclecticflower]

Contacted Aerovironment today and can get out of that quote. Having my electrician friend who's upgrading my service bid the extra job. It s/b quite a bit of savings. Thanks everyone for your input.

[ericvoll]

Congrats!! Post a picture of your charging station when you get it.

[eclecticflower]

Decided to prod Nissan about an actual delivery date, since all I got was estimated delivery: "June 2012" and "scheduled to arrive at your dealership within 15 days of the estimated delivery month shown." Had to ask if "within 15 days" of the delivery month meant 15 ahead of or following June (a strange estimate; I need better than that).

Nissan's response: "...at this time, all directions point to an ETA of the week of June 15, 2012. Your dealer appears to have everything in order and completed for certification and your order has been placed. This arrival will be within a 2 week timeframe of before or after your ETA date and as your delivery date gets closer to the 15th, your arrival time will become more solidified. If you do notice great fluctuations in delivery, please contact us at 1-877-664-2738 for further assistance."

That beats the very vague "June 2012" listed on my account.

Still working on getting the service in my house upgraded by electrician friend (doing work on the side) and his new bid to add that 240 circuit and wiring. AV's still being vague about their minimum service cost to just install the EVSE, IF if I buy it from them at their discounted price from their original quote. They'll have to credit my $100 assessment fee, too...checking other resources for similar EVSEs.

[cdherman]

My advice to you early adopters:

If you have a 220 plug of some sort anywhere close, then explore the modification of the 110V charge cable and don't even BOTHER to put in any sort of EVSE charging station for now. The charge stations are falling in price by the minute, and the 2012 Leaf cannot use the L2 ones anyhow. The modded 110v unit (goes to 220v) costs under $300, is portable, and charges you Leaf at the same rate as a wall charger.

Once the chargers get cheaper, or the tax breaks kick back in, then do the dedicated install.

As for me: Sidelines for now. Got impatient last year and got a Prius. Perhaps should have waited, since I have about 1500 kwh per year solar that I am overproducing and "selling" back to KCP&L for 1.8 cent per kwh. But at the time, Leafs were vaporware and Ford then and now had no plan for Missouri. At 5 miles per kwh, I could theoretically drive 7500 miles for under $30. WOW.....

I'd trade out, but I like the range of the prius and we'll need another (third) vehicle in 2013 for additional drivers(s) so the $$ to sell/trade don't make much sense. Current plan is a Leaf or Focus EV in early 2013, whichever company can deliver....

[eclecticflower]

My electrician friend quoted labor & material to install the 240 volt 40 amp ciruit from my service panel across basement and through/up garage wall in 3/4" flex conduit terminating in a 1900 junction box (parts/labor) at $285.41. If I have him install the charging station onto the box, it's $45.00 more. That's a "whopping" $330.31 compared to AV's quote of $1,230.00 (service portion alone).

I cannot get AV to quote a price to just install the charging station onto the junction box (because they can't assume my electrician did everything perfectly/to code). They just want to be vague - so they're probably going to lose my business (I'll lose my $100 assessment fee) and I'll buy the EVSE equipment elsewhere. I may have my electrician buy the EVSE for me, since he'd get a business discount. Still working on this...

In the interim, I have an existing 110 outlet in my garage into which I could plug the L1 EVSE for overnight charging (no KCPL special rates/times; next day's departure in 14 1/2 hours). This should sufficiently recharge what I use in battery on my daily commute (17 mile round trip).

[eclecticflower]

UPDATE:
Rec’d. call from AV quoting (vague, verbal approximation) $1,600-$1,700 for simple installation service including EVSE (assumes $721 orig. price for EVSE). LOTS of money to twist a few wires to install the EVSE into the junction box – I’ll pass. My electrician quoted $45 to install, on top of the $285.41 to add the circuitry, wiring, conduit and junction box (total $330.41). Today I purchased the AV usnit on eBay for $710 + 30 shipping (from an early adopter who didn’t buy the car). That’s $1,070.41 for the circuitry, parts, labor and EVSE. Add the $1,200 I’m spending to upgrade my homes’ service panel, total $2,270.41. Getting much more for my money this way.

[ericvoll]

UPDATE:
Rec’d. call from AV quoting (vague, verbal approximation) $1,600-$1,700 for simple installation service including EVSE (assumes $721 orig. price for EVSE). LOTS of money to twist a few wires to install the EVSE into the junction box – I’ll pass. My electrician quoted $45 to install, on top of the $285.41 to add the circuitry, wiring, conduit and junction box (total $330.41). Today I purchased the AV usnit on eBay for $710 + 30 shipping (from an early adopter who didn’t buy the car). That’s $1,070.41 for the circuitry, parts, labor and EVSE. Add the $1,200 I’m spending to upgrade my homes’ service panel, total $2,270.41. Getting much more for my money this way.

Excellent!! I'm glad it all worked out. AV has a captive audience and has sure been making a killing; it's nice to see that some people are able to do this on their own and show AV that excessive quotes are not in their best interest.

On a different note, I have about three more weeks to go until I get my LEAF in; I hardly can wait. My delivery date keeps jumping around, but only by a few days or so.

[ksnogas2112]

<jealousy> Congrats on your impending arrival </jealousy>

So, had a quote from dealer's "preferred" installation company. For about 50ft of wire, 5 new breakers (4 mini's to compress existing connection and then 1 double for the new line), conduit, the Schneider ev equipment, $2500 installed.

Quote from school electrician at my wife's office, $800 for the Schneider from Lowes or Home Depot and ~$220 (pun) for installation.

Waiting to hear back from AB May on Saturday for their offer. I expect it to be between the two existing quotes.