Deplete EV miles in Prius PHV while driving over 65 MPH?

One charger per plugin could become expensive. 3 Prius PHV can share one L1 charger.

 

LOL. Think about doing this EVERY DAY! Sheesh. Imagine all the work hours lost over a years time. Wait till some "gung ho" middle management type sees this as an opportunity to manage.....

 

The setup at work is best described as "funky". There are 4 chargers to serve a campus of about 2,000 people. They're the old paddle style chargers. So obviously noone is using those chargers. They have retrofitted some of the equipment such that there is at least 1 110V outlet. Someone apparently brings a heavy duty 3-way splitter and everybody seems to use that. It's kind of scary when you think about the electrical draw they might be using.

I believe the policy is first come first served. I haven't actually talked to anyone who is charging at work since I usually get to work well after the charging parking spots have been taken. We aren't charged for power. I've already mentioned to the powers that be to rip out the old style chargers, or split off some more 110V outlets from the existing feed to the chargers. Since there's only 4 spaces and 4 chargers, it's not like someone is gonna use the paddle charger and the outlet at the time, especially since I don't think anyone uses the paddle chargers.

I've asked that more chargers be installed, and in more locations on the campus. The 4 chargers are on the other side of the campus from where my office is, so it's a little impractical to use. On the other hand, I could probably use the exercise. I did put in a request for more chargers to be installed and was told they're looking into it. The more people that request charging stations, the more likely they'll do it said the person from facilities. So I put flyers on the Leafs and Volts telling people to politely e-mail this person and ask for more charging stations. do not know if it has helped yet, but I do know the facilities person has asked me to be involved.

 

Or around an hour after some Level 2 chargers finally get installed.

 

Don't plug in there.

 

Yep, the only time I'd share a 120V plug to charge multiple cars is to use this Leviton L1 EVSE set to 7A on a 20A circuit.

On a 120V 20A circuit you might get away with 2 cars charging on L2 at the same time for a while before the circuit breaker trips, but the voltage drop will likely be significant.

 

Multiple people could use 1 outlet, if the vehciles have charging timers, with delayed start or start based on time of day... just saves people from going out and plugging/unplugging. could be designed so only 1 vehcile at a time is actually charging, even though it is shared by 2 or 3 users. They just need to coordinate the charging start time and length (if possible). Of course its always best to have a dedicated 15A or 20A outlet per car, if possible.

 

I have no idea how the Leaf owners have managed to not trip the breaker on that outlet/circuit. Another EV user on the campus has told me where to find some additional outlets to use, so I'm gonna go hunting to see if I can use them.

 

Today is my first time plugging in at work. We have eight stations between 16 parking spaces. It's not clear if they're L1, L2 or L3 (is there a way to tell if nothing's written on the units?) They have red, yellow and green lights in a stack on top if that's a clue to anyone). There were 6 leafs already plugged in when I got there. Some had the red light on, another had a green. Mine had a green after I plugged in too. Whatever that means.

I wanted to set my timer for 2pm so it would be fully charged close to when I go home, but decided just to let it rip right then just in case someone came later and unplugged me before the timer would have gone off. We'll see if it's still plugged in when I go home.

 

The J1772 connector that plugs into the PiP is only Level-1 (120v) or Level-2 (240v). You can tell which it is when you plug it in by how long it takes to charge up your PiP. The level-3 is the high voltage (480 v) connector found on some Leafs. The Volt and the Plug-In Prius can only accept the J1772 connector which is either L1 - 120v or L2 - 240v.

 

Found the small print on the side of the unit - it's L2. Unfortunately though I couldn't tell you how long it would have taken to charge because some Leaf owner unplugged me and put it into theirs! Probably right after I left my car, so I got no charge! They may have some attitude that since they NEED the power and we don't that somehow justifies this.

Tomorrow I'm going to put a sign on the charge handle specifically asking not to be unplugged until after say 10:30am. With L2 that should be plenty of time to get filled up.

I was originally hoping to use the timer to get my charge closer to when I leave, but that clearly won't happen if I can barely leave the car for a few minutes!! Sheesh. Selfish Leaf snobs...

 

Might I suggest that perhaps the Leaf owner was mistaken about the status of your charging and not malicious in anyway. The Leaf indicates that charging is complete with three blue indicator lights lit. The Leaf owner may have thought that the charging indicator lit on your Prius Plug-in meant that it finished charging, when in actuality it meant it was charging. Perhaps a sign explaining that it is ok to unplug after the indicator goes off would be helpful (in addition to the estimated time of completion).

 

That sucks.. if they unplugged you later in the day, I could understand that. But to unlpug you as soon as they arrived (assuming most people who work there arrive at a similar time), I just cant see that being acceptable. Its extremely bold and in some neighborhoods, extremely foolish.

 

That action could have caused your PHV to get ticketed or even towed away. California law AB 475 requires you to have the charger plugged into your car to stay parked in that charging spot.

I guess that's only true for public charging stations. If it is a private company charging station, it may not apply.

 

I suspect that law is only in effect if the charging space has a specific sign noting that law and the rule. At least that is how the older CA law worked that used to require a DMV sticker issued only to all-electric plugins. The new law was passed in order to allow PHEVs to charge and no longer require the sticker on the car.

FYI, for those who don't want to be unplugged, some charging stations have J1772 plugs that have a small hole in the release button along the top of the plug. Many ChargePoint stations are like this (and also the PiP 120V charge cord). You can use a small luggage-style padlock to lock the release button after you have plugged in to deter others from unplugging you or stealing your charge cord.

 

Thanks all. I will go with the assumption that they thought the light on meant done and make a note accordingly which I'll tape over the handle button this morning (so they have to see it). And we'll see if that takes care of the problem. I don't mind being unplugged of course, but not before I get a charge. Fingers crossed!

I don't think there's any rule/issue about being in the space unplugged since they have 16 slots and not all we're being used anyway. Later they may make a policy I guess.