Living in Apartment Building - Charging questions

[GerryAZ]

The new BC Hydro rates for DCFC are much cheaper than what EVgo charges in Arizona (but still much more expensive than charging at home). I found that actual DCFC charging rates were similar for my 2011 and 2015. My experience was that battery deterioration does decrease the maximum DCFC charge rate as well as maximum regeneration when the battery is cold (for both 2011 and 2015), but charge rate (and regeneration) was close to normal when battery was warm. The 3.3 kW onboard charger in the 2011 and 2012 LEAF's is actually 3.3 kW to the battery (AC input power is about 3.8 kW) so the 6.6 kW onboard chargers in later cars are not twice as fast. I think the OP will enjoy the car as long as its limited range meets the need. Once they have charging at home, they will really enjoy it. The 2011 and 2012 models have some features that were deleted from later models.

[Jctz1]

The new BC Hydro rates for DCFC are much cheaper than what EVgo charges in Arizona (but still much more expensive than charging at home). I found that actual DCFC charging rates were similar for my 2011 and 2015. My experience was that battery deterioration does decrease the maximum DCFC charge rate as well as maximum regeneration when the battery is cold (for both 2011 and 2015), but charge rate (and regeneration) was close to normal when battery was warm. The 3.3 kW onboard charger in the 2011 and 2012 LEAF's is actually 3.3 kW to the battery (AC input power is about 3.8 kW) so the 6.6 kW onboard chargers in later cars are not twice as fast. I think the OP will enjoy the car as long as its limited range meets the need. Once they have charging at home, they will really enjoy it. The 2011 and 2012 models have some features that were deleted from later models.

Thanks! We really like the car so far, though I am sure everyone here tends to really like their LEAFs. I think so too! Once we have the chance to charge it at home we will really enjoy every aspect of it. Some of the tips I have found here and been told to preserve battery are super useful already, and am really thankful. Last time we charged, a couple of days ago, it seemed to charge at 1kWh every 20 minutes or so, at a level 2 station. Pricing was like $1.47 after an hour and 20 minutes of charging. My only question left is that sometimes the charger (not the car, but the app related to the public charger) counts incoming energy in Amperes. I was wondering how that translates to how much energy in kWh is coming in.

[SageBrush]

My only question left is that sometimes the charger (not the car, but the app related to the public charger) counts incoming energy in Amperes. I was wondering how that translates to how much energy in kWh is coming in.

watts = amperes * volts
watts * time = energy

Example:
Say the car pulls 16 Amps for 80 minutes at a public EVSE that supplies 208 v

watts = 208 * 16 = 3,328 watts = 3.328 kW
time = 80 minutes = 4/3 hours
kWh = 3.328* 4 /3 = 4.44 kWh

[Jctz1]

watts = amperes * volts
watts * time = energy

Example:
Say the car pulls 16 Amps for 80 minutes at a public EVSE that supplies 208 v

watts = 208 * 16 = 3,328 watts = 3.328 kW
time = 80 minutes = 4/3 hours
kWh = 3.328* 4 /3 = 4.44 kWh

That's quite helpful! Thanks SageBrush!

[alozzy]

Circling back to the related topic of how DC fast charging is billed (earlier in this post), Measurement Canada is going to allow per kWh billing for DC fast charging. Progress, at last!

https://driveteslacanada.ca/news/measur ... d-of-2022/

It will be interesting for Canadians to see how local electric utilities respond, as it would seem that Measurement Canada isn't enforcing the use of per kWh billing. Hopefully they recognizes that per kWh billing is the only fair system and transition ASAP.

The most fair system would be if the DC fast chargers calculate based on both time and per kWh and then bill for whichever is cheapest.

A nice bonus would be automatic switchover to time based billing, whenever charging past 90% SOC, at triple the usual cost. That would cut back on the number of people who insist on charging to 100% all the time.

[oxothuk]

The most fair system would be if the DC fast chargers calculate based on both time and per kWh and then bill for whichever is cheapest.

IMHO it would be fairer to bill for whichever is more expensive. You want a disincentive for folks using DC chargers to reach 100% SOC.

[alozzy]

IMHO it would be fairer to bill for whichever is more expensive. You want a disincentive for folks using DC chargers to reach 100% SOC.

My old LEAF charges as slow as 12 kW during winter and so it can cost a fortune to charge on cold days using per minute billing. I prefer what I mentioned in my last paragraph above as a fair solution (billing at a higher rate when the SOC >90%)