Electric Car Battery Charging Stations at resorts

[Passepartout]

The etiquette as I understand it is as follows. If I see another car plugged in, many of the chargers say if the car is fully charged or not, either explicitly or by how much current is flowing. If it is not fully charged, you should not unplug it. But if it is, same as laundry, feel free to plug yours in. Ideally, leave a nice note that says something like how great someone else has an electric car like yours, you saw their car was fully charged so you plugged yours in and hope they don't mind. Maybe even leave your email address or phone # if they have any questions, i.e., courteous. You can pre-print these and keep a supply in your car. That's what I do. Never had a complaint or contact.

Makes sense. I like it. I'd also like to have some handy pre-printed cards to put on the windshields of gas-burners blocking charging stations. They wouldn't be nearly as nice. Thanks

 

[cp73]

I don't have an electric car but was wondering how much electricity is used when you are in traffic. For example if the battery has a 120 mile range can it still go that far even if your stuck in stop and go traffic and it took 4 hours to cover those 120 miles rather than 2 a 60mph?

 

[Passepartout]

I don't have an electric car but was wondering how much electricity is used when you are in traffic. For example if the battery has a 120 mile range can it still go that far even if your stuck in stop and go traffic and it took 4 hours to cover those 120 miles rather than 2 a 60mph?

My experience shows that you would go much further in the stop & slow situation than the 2 hour 'sprint'. You would be getting some benefit from regeneration & the slower speed simply uses less energy. Look at it this way. If you were going to take a hike of say, 10 miles. You could walk it in 2 1/2 hours, or run it in about 1 hour. Would you use more energy going for a 2 1/2 hour walk or a 1 hour run? Speed takes energy.

 

[Steve Fatula]

I don't have an electric car but was wondering how much electricity is used when you are in traffic. For example if the battery has a 120 mile range can it still go that far even if your stuck in stop and go traffic and it took 4 hours to cover those 120 miles rather than 2 a 60mph?

Yes, even at 110 degrees like this summer, a 60 mile trip through city streets with lights, AC took maybe 5% of the charge. I wondered the same thing.

 

[NboroGirl]

Yeah, you just don't leave those $300+ power cords all that accessible- even if they are on zero value to someone who doesn't have an electric car.

I wouldn't do that myself. Those charging cables are very expensive, too risky for me. Of course, few options when they purchased.

I can't speak for other electric cars, but I own a Volt and you can not unplug it while the doors are locked. If you try, the alarm goes off.

 

[BJRSanDiego]

I use them everytime I go. I own at DS1 and proud of our Board that put them in. Now if ICE cars would be so kind not to park in these few spaces for us EV owners, it would be greatly appreciated.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Another poster was mentioning that soon they'll be using credit cards. At DSV1 and 2, they already do. I spoke with a knowledgeable Marriott Engineering person and asked about how it works financially. The user charges to their credit card. I believe that the electricity is paid for by a 3rd party that maintains the charging stations. In the Palm Dessert area, I recall that Marriott's cost for electricity is a bit under 15 cents per kwh. The customer with the electric car pays about double that amount (30 cents per KWH) to charge their car. That is how the 3rd party makes their money. These numbers are going to be variable to some extent because the cost of electricity always seems to be changing depending on demand, supply, etc.

 

[VacationForever]

Another poster was mentioning that soon they'll be using credit cards. At DSV1 and 2, they already do. I spoke with a knowledgeable Marriott Engineering person and asked about how it works financially. The user charges to their credit card. I believe that the electricity is paid for by a 3rd party that maintains the charging stations. In the Palm Dessert area, I recall that Marriott's cost for electricity is a bit under 15 cents per kwh. The customer with the electric car pays about double that amount (30 cents per KWH) to charge their car. That is how the 3rd party makes their money. These numbers are going to be variable to some extent because the cost of electricity always seems to be changing depending on demand, supply, etc.

It costs money to put in the stations, charging 30 cents per KWH when cost of electricity is at 15 cents per KWH is more than reasonable.

 

[Passepartout]

I can't speak for other electric cars, but I own a Volt and you can not unplug it while the doors are locked. If you try, the alarm goes off.

I just tried this with our Clarity. No problem pulling the plug with the doors locked. I thought at first that the car had detected the fob in my pocket like it does when it unlocks the doors and adjusts seats/mirrors, but it neither blocked pulling the plug or sound the alarm when I didn't have the key fob with me.

Nice feature, though.

 

[Passepartout]

It costs money to put in the stations, charging 30 cents per KWH when cost of electricity is at 15 cents per KWH is more than reasonable.

Not worth it at all in my case. My battery holds 17 kWh. At $.30, a full charge would be $5.10, and give me 47 miles of EV use. The gas to run the hybrid drive is cheaper per mile. And the cost to charge a 100 kWh Tesla would be $30.00. Of course for owners of fully electric cars, they HAVE to pay what a supplier charges. No hybrid option.

Last week we were traveling and the nearest charger (free) was at a hotel. The only place nearby to hang out was a Starbux. So I'd plug in to get the equivalent of about $4.00 of gas mileage equivalent electrons, and go to Starbux and buy a $5 Pumpkin Spice Latte! That's false economy for you.

Jim

 

[Steve Fatula]

I can't speak for other electric cars, but I own a Volt and you can not unplug it while the doors are locked. If you try, the alarm goes off.

Agree, but a nasty person might decide to rip it out, break the cord, cut it (probably not smart), whatever. Just seems like a vandalism target. Charging is too slow anyway for 110v outlets.

 

[RLS50]

I'm curious to see how many more people enter the electric car market next year when the $35k version of the Tesla Model 3 (210 mile range) gets released.

And the local Tesla dealership here installs charging stations for free. Just need a location with 6-8 Tesla's and a business willing to have them. They have done a lot of hospitals and law offices.

 

[Steve Fatula]

Yes, that will indeed be interesting. Though they do themselves no favors with the negative press lately! I do see a lot of hotels with Tesla chargers, even truck stop type places along major highways.

 

[Pathways]

It costs money to put in the stations, charging 30 cents per KWH when cost of electricity is at 15 cents per KWH is more than reasonable.

I agree with Jim. At .30/kWh it's cheaper to fill it with gas. Doubling the rate just to make up for the install costs? What a ripoff! We all know that the taxpayer (that's you and me) subsidy to install the station probably paid for 50% of the install costs.

I pay .10/ at home. In Indiana, state law requires a public station to charge using time, not by the kWh so we are not using the public stations at all unless they are free. Most are not free. Again, gas at 2.60/g is cheaper.

The Kia also locks the charge plug. It will unlock automatically when the charge is complete. To remove it before the charge is complete, you have to unlock all doors.

 

[VacationForever]

I agree with Jim. At .30/kWh it's cheaper to fill it with gas. Doubling the rate just to make up for the install costs? What a ripoff! We all know that the taxpayer (that's you and me) subsidy to install the station probably paid for 50% of the install costs.

I pay .10/ at home. In Indiana, state law requires a public station to charge using time, not by the kWh so we are not using the public stations at all unless they are free. Most are not free. Again, gas at 2.60/g is cheaper.

The Kia also locks the charge plug. It will unlock automatically when the charge is complete. To remove it before the charge is complete, you have to unlock all doors.

As with any business there is risk in not being able to recoup cost of the installation and likely on-going costs in renting space from the landlord. This is California where petroleum and electricity is higher than most of the country.

 

[Passepartout]

As with any business there is risk in not being able to recoup cost of the installation and likely on-going costs in renting space from the landlord. This is California where petroleum and electricity is higher than most of the country.

There is actually very little cost involved with installing a 230v charging station. Around here, the electric utility is subsidizing them. There is Even at retail, compared with the price of putting in a gas pump, there is no storage, no pollution, about a 2'X3' patch of dirt, the price is negligible. Certainly in your example, it doesn't justify a 100% markup. Here: https://dailycaller.com/2018/05/31/california-will-use-vw-winnings-for-electric-car-charging/ is what California is doing with a $billion from the Volkswagen diesel air pollution lawsuit winnings. They are putting in electric car chargers!

Businesses that want relatively affluent people spending time in their business, spending their money, will easily pay to install chargers. While we visited our grown kids in (affluent) Redmond WA, we hardly saw a parking lot without a charging station. Electric cars are everywhere!

Jim

 

[Steve Fatula]

My Volt is actually easier. It turns out the 8 amp 110v charger and cord actually works just fine and is even rated for 12 amps. So, very little difference from a level 2 charger. I purchased a $40 electric adapter and a $10 outlet, had the solar guys put it in while at the house. So, $50 and full charge from 0 in < 5 hours.

 

[VegasBella]

I see electric vehicles all the time now. It used to be sort of rare but now it's fairly common. The market is growing.

https://insideevs.com/million-electric-car-sales-5-years/

just took a 400ish mile trip yesterday in under 7 hours. Undo-able in a full electric.

We just bought a used Tesla. We bought it 320 miles away from home and drove it home. Just required a stop at a Supercharger. Our car has a range of about 230 miles. There are superchargers located all over the place now. A few years ago there was only one place to stop along that route, now there are 5.

 

[pedro47]

What is the average driving range and the maximum highway speed?
Can you drive 65 to 70 mph over four (4) consecutive hours?

I am seeing the charging station in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Richmond,Va.

 

[VegasBella]

What is the average driving range and the maximum highway speed?
Can you drive 65 to 70 mph over four (4) consecutive hours?

I am seeing the charging station in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Richmond,Va.

Max speed is very fast, I don't even know because I'm not willing to experiment like that. But articles I read said tests have shown they can go up to 155 mph. There's a setting I can put on my car if I loan it out that will restrict drivers to a max speed of 85 mph.
You should go test drive a Tesla and learn all about them. They regularly beat all kinds of cars on speed tests.
https://www.motortrend.com/cars/tesla/model-s/2017/2017-tesla-model-s-p100d-first-test-review/

My battery is smaller than some, mine is a 70. That number refers to the battery size. A Tesla Model S 70 has a battery that has 70 kWh. A Tesla Model S 100 has a battery that has 100 kWh. The 100 has more range and can go about 335 miles whereas the 70 has a range of about 230 miles. My car doesn't quite have the range to go 70 mph for 4 hours but the 100 can do that. Or rather, mine might be able to do that (on a flat or sloping downward highway without using a/c and not in very cold weather) but it would drain the battery to a point that could be dangerously low and you would not want to do it on a regular basis, it would be a safer bet to do that in an 85 or 100. I'm more comfortable going 3 hours at normal freeway speed and then stopping for a charge. My bladder is more comfortable with that also

To find the superchargers you can go here and scroll down to the map and then input your city/zip code https://www.tesla.com/supercharger
(Only Teslas are supposed to use superchargers. New Teslas have to pay for charging but if you buy a used car from 2016 or earlier then it comes with free supercharging for life. There are adapters that allow non-Teslas to use them but they're not as efficient as the Tesla)

And for all kinds of chargers, you can use a site like PlugShare, which has reviews and pictures and lets you know what kind of adaptor you need and the speed your car will charge at https://www.plugshare.com/

 

[Passepartout]

Nice time for an update. We've had the Honda Clarity a couple months now. We charge at home on normal household current, and use the hybrid gas motor on highway trips. We haven't seen any discernable difference in the electric bill. I have noticed that as the weather cooled, the car's electric range on a full charge has diminished from the advertised 47 miles to just 40. It also goes through the first few pretty quickly, likely due to cabin heat, seat heat, and just more 'rolling resistance' in its folder weather. The range is still plenty adequate for daily needs running around town.
It still gets 45+ mpg on gas on the highway, so overall, we are at nearly 70 mpg. It would be more of we didn't have a second home 130 miles away, and no charger there.
For where we live, considering the lack of electric charger infrastructure, this plug -in hybrid (or a Chevy Volt) are the only game in town.

Jim

 

[Steve Fatula]

Nice time for an update. We've had the Honda Clarity a couple months now. We charge at home on normal household current, and use the hybrid gas motor on highway trips. We haven't seen any discernable difference in the electric bill. I have noticed that as the weather cooled, the car's electric range on a full charge has diminished from the advertised 47 miles to just 40. It also goes through the first few pretty quickly, likely due to cabin heat, seat heat, and just more 'rolling resistance' in its folder weather. The range is still plenty adequate for daily needs running around town.
It still gets 45+ mpg on gas on the highway, so overall, we are at nearly 70 mpg. It would be more of we didn't have a second home 130 miles away, and no charger there.
For where we live, considering the lack of electric charger infrastructure, this plug -in hybrid (or a Chevy Volt) are the only game in town.

Jim

Yeah, our Volt does the same in colder weather, it's the heater trying to heat up. But it only drains for a couple of minutes max. We keep it on "ECO" heat, and, I have the setting turned off to use gas to assist with heating. Really, with a heated steering wheel and heated chairs, it has to be real cold before we use the heat much. The heated chairs make us feel warm. We get around 55 miles in the Volt this time of year. We use the included 110V charger with a special 220V adapter. The Volt charger is rated for both. We have a 220V plug in our garage, and, use 12W charging so it only takes 4-5 hours for a full charge from empty. In summer, I have it charge over night to equalize the electricity usage, in winter, we charge when plugged in.

 

[buzglyd]

I just picked up a Cadillac CT6 hybrid. It will go 32 miles on a charge and switch to hybrid mode after that.

One nice feature is the Hold setting. If I’m going to be driving at freeway speeds, I can select Hold and it will use the gas engine more and save my charge until I’m in slow traffic or in a city.

 

[Passepartout]

What is the average driving range and the maximum highway speed?
Can you drive 65 to 70 mph over four (4) consecutive hours?

I am seeing the charging station in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Richmond,Va.

What is the average driving range and the maximum highway speed?
Can you drive 65 to 70 mph over four (4) consecutive hours?

I am seeing the charging station in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Richmond,Va.

This is exactly the reason we chose the plug-in hybrid. Highway speed is however fast you choose to drive it. Electric range, however drops significantly as speed increases . When you are in 'hybrid' mode, your range is limited only by the gas in the tank.

Jim

 

[Passepartout]

A pleasant surprise. Moved into Holiday Inn Desert Club in Las Vegas. I inquired about EV charging, and the clerk got a supervisor (obviously this is an uncommon request), who marked the location on the resort map. There are two, level 2 230V stations, one Tesla, and one J1772 for all the non-Tesla electric rabble. No additional charge, just a sign advising Parking for Electric Vehicles- While Charging.

 

[pedro47]

You can add these two (2) resorts that have added charges at their timeshare resorts. Marriott's Surfwatch, HHI,SC & Marriott's OceanWatch, Myrtle beach,SC.