Here comes the electric pickup

[RandyO]

Have any of you looked into level 3 chargers for home use? I know it is a bit of an extreme but I am curious about it and figured maybe one of you checked into it.

From what I have seen there doesn't seem to be anyone manufacturing a level 3 charger that is suitable for home use. The ones I have found are all geared towards fleet, commercial (work), retail or large charging station use.

Another thing that I may have missed a good solution for is if one of these Level 2 chargers is installed outside in say a parking lot at a group of townhouses what prevents other people from using them? Is there some type of card access needed? How weather proof are these level 2 chargers? I don't have an electric vehicle yet but the thought intrigues me and the parking lot at my townhouse is at the end of the row of units so my vehicles are nowhere near my unit with no way to effectively run a cable from my unit to the parking lot. The charger would need to be installed at one of my parking spaces.

I believe you need 3 phase for level 3

[G21forme]

Uhm so who is going to pay the electric bill?

[Crimedog]

Have any of you looked into level 3 chargers for home use? I know it is a bit of an extreme but I am curious about it and figured maybe one of you checked into it.

From what I have seen there doesn't seem to be anyone manufacturing a level 3 charger that is suitable for home use. The ones I have found are all geared towards fleet, commercial (work), retail or large charging station use.

Another thing that I may have missed a good solution for is if one of these Level 2 chargers is installed outside in say a parking lot at a group of townhouses what prevents other people from using them? Is there some type of card access needed? How weather proof are these level 2 chargers? I don't have an electric vehicle yet but the thought intrigues me and the parking lot at my townhouse is at the end of the row of units so my vehicles are nowhere near my unit with no way to effectively run a cable from my unit to the parking lot. The charger would need to be installed at one of my parking spaces.

I spoke with Ford Pro today and since they have level 3 listed I asked - they said the ballpark was $29k to get started. You would need 3-phase power and 50kW = 104+ amps at 480v. Any other level 3 system has been "call to inquire" presumably if you're a business. I haven't seen any home ones.

I'm struggling with the access portion but our spot will be out of the way and the idea is to have it on an accessible panel for shutoff over the weekend. I'm sure the app controlled ones have features that would help but the only ones with pins or RFID cards have been geared towards commercial so they are more expensive and require subscriptions.

I'm thinking that I'll just buy a Ford 19.2kW charger off someone that got it with their Lightning and won't use it.

[RandyO]

I spoke with Ford Pro today and since they have level 3 listed I asked - they said the ballpark was $29k to get started. You would need 3-phase power and 50kW = 104+ amps at 480v. Any other level 3 system has been "call to inquire" presumably if you're a business. I haven't seen any home ones.

I'm struggling with the access portion but our spot will be out of the way and the idea is to have it on an accessible panel for shutoff over the weekend. I'm sure the app controlled ones have features that would help but the only ones with pins or RFID cards have been geared towards commercial so they are more expensive and require subscriptions.

I'm thinking that I'll just buy a Ford 19.2kW charger off someone that got it with their Lightning and won't use it.

$ 29k

When I was looking at Volvo electric excavators a couple days ago, a Level 3 charging station was $9k iirc Now I'm gonna go back and check, I want more Volvo heavy equipment adds in my face


edit:https://www.volvoce.com/united-state...configuration/

[jhawley]

Have any of you looked into level 3 chargers for home use? I know it is a bit of an extreme but I am curious about it and figured maybe one of you checked into it.

From what I have seen there doesn't seem to be anyone manufacturing a level 3 charger that is suitable for home use. The ones I have found are all geared towards fleet, commercial (work), retail or large charging station use.

Another thing that I may have missed a good solution for is if one of these Level 2 chargers is installed outside in say a parking lot at a group of townhouses what prevents other people from using them? Is there some type of card access needed? How weather proof are these level 2 chargers? I don't have an electric vehicle yet but the thought intrigues me and the parking lot at my townhouse is at the end of the row of units so my vehicles are nowhere near my unit with no way to effectively run a cable from my unit to the parking lot. The charger would need to be installed at one of my parking spaces.

not spending 30K for a charger, Im home for 10-12 hours a night and the car can charge then. I have been super lucky to have access to the a free "slow" lvl 3 charger in town and if i had to a pay one that is full speed about 10 mins away from home.

[Crimedog]

not spending 30K for a charger, Im home for 10-12 hours a night and the car can charge then. I have been super lucky to have access to the a free "slow" lvl 3 charger in town and if i had to a pay one that is full speed about 10 mins away from home.

To be fair it's not intended, marketed or offered to consumers. It's also not a real quote and who knows it was accurate. I had to go through a two stage triage to get me to a sales rep and this was the second level.

Depending on your driving a level 1 charger may be enough if you could plug it in all night every night. Level 2 would be plenty regardless.

[PurplePackage]

1 NEMA 50A plug per vehicle should be enough for the next 30 years.

[tls25rs]

Thanks for the responses on my Level 3 comment. Appreciate the different perspectives.

[PurplePackage]

Thanks for the responses on my Level 3 comment. Appreciate the different perspectives.

https://jwshawelectric.com/ev-charging-systems/

This electrician has a good Q&A

[tls25rs]

Not a fan of the blanket answers that are out there that Level 3 is not suitable for home use like the the electrician states in his FAQ.

If there is 3-phase power available at your location and you have the desire to install a Level 3 charger I can't really understand what the hesitation/opposition to doing it at home is.

I may not understand how 3-phase power is billed relative to standard household service but I can't imagine that it is all that different. One would think a kWh would be a kWh from the perspective of the electric company.

Also it does not look like there is a provider of a household type Level 3 charger out there. Everything I have seen has a more industrial bent to it for commercial applications that would be way overkill for household use.

There is some info out there that states that charging with the Level 3 chargers all the time may not be the best thing for the battery packs long term but that isn't typically used as the argument against household Level 3 charging. How does this affect the people that live in apartments or condos without Level 1 or Level 2 charging available that rely on using Level 3 public chargers all the time for their charging needs?

[PurplePackage]

Not a fan of the blanket answers that are out there that Level 3 is not suitable for home use like the the electrician states in his FAQ.

If there is 3-phase power available at your location and you have the desire to install a Level 3 charger I can't really understand what the hesitation/opposition to doing it at home is.

I may not understand how 3-phase power is billed relative to standard household service but I can't imagine that it is all that different. One would think a kWh would be a kWh from the perspective of the electric company.

Also it does not look like there is a provider of a household type Level 3 charger out there. Everything I have seen has a more industrial bent to it for commercial applications that would be way overkill for household use.

There is some info out there that states that charging with the Level 3 chargers all the time may not be the best thing for the battery packs long term but that isn't typically used as the argument against household Level 3 charging. How does this affect the people that live in apartments or condos without Level 1 or Level 2 charging available that rely on using Level 3 public chargers all the time for their charging needs?

I think the ROI will be shit is the answer. I see it's a $20-50k install.

[loudbeard]

Install? No. Charger cost, maybe?

A 480v 3 ph service isn’t much more expensive to install than 240v 1 ph….assuming you already have 480 in the building.

[PurplePackage]

Install? No. Charger cost, maybe?

A 480v 3 ph service isn’t much more expensive to install than 240v 1 ph….assuming you already have 480 in the building.

Level 3 loads are yuuge, like 30kw. You're gonna need bigger wires.

[loudbeard]

Nope. A 50 amp service will cover it.

[RandyO]

Level 3 loads are yuuge, like 30kw. You're gonna need bigger wires.

not really, the way 3phase works, the load is less for =kw. that is reason many people go to 3 phase machinery, cheaper to wire

but, the meter would change to a demand meter, = not only measures kw of use, it measures the demand rate

[PurplePackage]

just make it 40a and leave the panel cover off, it will stay cooler

[PurplePackage]

not really, the way 3phase works, the load is less for =kw. that is reason many people go to 3 phase machinery, cheaper to wire

but, the meter would change to a demand meter, = not only measures kw of use, it measures the demand rate

30kw is the min, max is 400kw. if you want to limit it with 30kw then it should be fine, but it brings back the question of why are you putting an L3 when you can stick with L2 @ 20kw and save about $20k in install costs?

[RandyO]

30kw is the min, max is 400kw. if you want to limit it with 30kw then it should be fine, but it brings back the question of why are you putting an L3 when you can stick with L2 @ 20kw and save about $20k in install costs?

I would only consider L3 if I already had 3phase in my facility

[Kurlon]

Is three phase where they start charging for actual power vs apparent? IE power factor becomes a cost multiplier.

[breakdirt916]

Not my thread, but size wise it was taller, wider, a little longer, but the bed was remarkably close lengthwise to the Maverick for Dirtbike duty.



Price and practicality wise; the Maverick is a bargain.

[PurplePackage]

Is three phase where they start charging for actual power vs apparent? IE power factor becomes a cost multiplier.

I think that's residential rate vs business rates. No idea if you can get 3-phase in a residential bill.

[loudbeard]

30kw is the min, max is 400kw. if you want to limit it with 30kw then it should be fine, but it brings back the question of why are you putting an L3 when you can stick with L2 @ 20kw and save about $20k in install costs?

You are the one who brought up 30 kW. As far as 400 kW goes, that would be a charger ARRAY. Like enough to charge 10 vehicles simultaneously so of course there will be a substantial electrical infrastructure to support that. 480v 3 ph 600 amp service. None of that is relevant though, the questions asked were regarding if a 3 phase charger were feasible for home use. Omitting the question of whether 3 phase is actually available or installed, the cost of the branch circuit to supply the charger is about the same as doing a big single phase unit.

[PurplePackage]

You are the one who brought up 30 kW. As far as 400 kW goes, that would be a charger ARRAY. Like enough to charge 10 vehicles simultaneously so of course there will be a substantial electrical infrastructure to support that. 480v 3 ph 600 amp service. None of that is relevant though, the questions asked were regarding if a 3 phase charger were feasible for home use. Omitting the question of whether 3 phase is actually available or installed, the cost of the branch circuit to supply the charger is about the same as doing a big single phase unit.

L3 is 300kw per Tesla.

https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-supe...med-elon-musk/

[loudbeard]

I really don’t know what you’re trying to argue, or if you just like arguing for the sake of it. If you’re stating that a 300-400 kW service is more expensive then log off the internet and go put on your Captain Obvious hat. I am simply stating that a 480 3ph service will be less expensive than a comparably sized single phase service, it seemed like you were confused about that point.

[jeantarrou]

My brother-in-law received delivery notifications for a Ford Lightning and Rivian just days apart, he's planning on taking delivery of both and deciding which one to keep after driving them for a couple weeks. Resale restrictions aside, pretty cool to have a real side by side comparison in real life scenarios, I'm very jealous 😁