EV charging station: maybe a "now charging" whiteboard?

Would it be worth putting up a little whiteboard on/by the EV charging stations, that the current users could put their name/number on in case they need to be contacted? Maybe with an “ok to unplug” checkbox if someone with a greater need comes along? (I’d like to get home on electric, but my plug-in hybrid will get me home on gas if need be; so if someone driving a full-EV needs it to get home, I’m happy to let them take priority).

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This is a great idea. My general concern is going to be that it will probably have to be outdoors, and a whiteboard pen isn’t going to last long at any one location, no matter where it gets put.

I’m wondering if some sort of flag system (attach the GREEN flag to the charging system if it’s OK to unplug) might be a super-easy step in the meantime? I’m a Leaf driver, but since it’s only 7.5 miles for me to get back to my house, I don’t think I’ve ever HAD to plug in or risk not making it back. Maybe a little plastic “Will return” clock could be put outside with a bit of a minimum, please-don’t-unplug-me until XX:XX time?

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The issue with “OK to unplug” is that I think most cars lock the plugs in when they’re locked. At least mine does. But I think whiteboard/contact info is a great idea.

This feels like it should be “there’s an app for that”…
*yowzers! That slogan is now (at least) 10 years old!

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Mine does not. Mine also has 3x lights across the dash to show the general charge state to make it easy to figure out when it’s done charging.

Given the limited reach of the charging cables, seems like a cell phone number left on the dash would be more useful since moving vehicles seems like a necessity in most cases.

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I’m pretty agnostic as to the physical implementation (cell number on whiteboard vs cell number left visible on dashboard) unless you’re looking to set up a queue, a la the 3d printers. I guess a sign by the charger, asking users to have their name/number visible on the dashboard would be enough to clue in noobs like me, and avoid the “whiteboards in the rain” or “disappearing markers” issues?

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So is charging your EV / Hybrid done for free at DMS?
Voluntary donations?
Possible IRS inurement problem?
Just wonder’n.

Next up is laptop, robot, flashlight, drone and other rechargeable batteries.

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@artg_dms There’s a suggested $1/hr donation. (URL to donation page via PayPal is posted on the inside portion of the charging hardware).

With recent cost saving measures, I’m surprised that we continue to provide free charging. Can we collect data from the chargers that will allow us to calculate what the yearly cost is to DMS?

Filling up a Tesla from dead-flat empty costs us less than $6.50. usage of the chargers doesn’t even show up as a rounding error in the electric bill.

Opening the garage bay costs more.

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@tomthm mind you, of the two times I’ve changed there, my car only started charging after I went in and did the donation thing. Being a noob, I don’t know if there’s some smarts built into the system for that, or if it was just coincidence (I was going to donate anyway).

Wiki lists it at 30A/208V, so ballpark 6.6kW. I don’t know what DMS pays for electricity, but $1/hr should cover that (and more than cover it for cars that can’t take the full 6.6kW)

Don’t use it. Vaguely remember something about donating to cover.
Thanks for update.

Thanks for the reply. I’m ok with not worrying about the costs of charging as a means to encourage EV. That’s been strongly debated on Talk on the past, and I know many many disagree strongly. I was wondering about the cost, but absolutely not proposing we recoup it completely.

:point_up_2:

Air conditioning Carrollton is expensive.

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https://dallasmakerspace.org/wiki/Monetary_Ln_EV_Charger_TaskForce#Costs

As of Summer 2017, Dallas Makerspace is paying a commercial rate of $0.03779/kWh for electricity (~$0.063/kWh with all fees, charges and assessments), down about 20% from ~$0.079/kWh (including all fees, etc.) we were paying in 2016. To get the cost per hour, multiply the cost per kWh ($0.063) by the Kilowatts drawn by the car (208v x Amps). Many EVs, like most 2011/2012 Nissan Leafs, pull only 15A when charging and will cost less than $0.20 per hour to charge. The Tesla EVSE is on a dedicated 100A circuit and is set to the 80A charge rate, but it only gives that higher rate to the few Tesla cars that are equipped with dual chargers. The costs listed below are the maximum cost, as batteries get full, they charge at a lower rate and cost. For example, a LEAF that is empty would pull the full 6.24kW until the battery started charging up, towards the end of the charge it will be closer to a 1/2kW rate.

I’ll see if I can find a current bill and see what our current cost is. I don’t expect it to be much higher.

Edit To Add:
Our most recent combined bill for 102 & 104 was for $7,097.78. The usage was 111,180 kWh over 33 days. This gives a total of $0.064/kWh after all taxes and fees, so a very small increase over last year.

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Then the summer electric bill didn’t even double with 102, which is about 20% bigger. I attribute that to the newer more efficient A/C units installed and the doors aren’t opened very much.

Hopefully, at some point the chargers can be relocated to the end of the building so they don’t block loading docks.

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As a driver of an EV - I hope that they get moved to a location that is less likely to be blocked by a standard vehicle. This isn’t just for DMS but in general. Put the darn things way out in the far corner of the parking lot. Fewer people will put their standard gas burning cars in front of them then!

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While discussing gas burning cars, don’t overlook the fact that the charging station delivers energy that is 67% fossil fuel and 11% nuclear.

https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/what-does-it-mean-for-texas-to-have-produced-more-wind-than-coal-energy-11725090

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