SAE DC Combo chargers in Mid Atlantic

Does anyone know if any SAE DC combo chargers are slated to come online anytime soon the MId Atlantic region? I live in DC, and plug share tells me that the closest fast chargers are in Atlanta and Vermont. Would love to see one along I95 between here in Philadelphia, or on the NJ turnpike.

Interested in this question as well. Took delivery of our i3 last week in the DC area. Surprised by the lack of SAE Combo chargers in the mid-Atlantic area -- you'd think that the I95 corridor would be a top priority for build out. (Vermont? Really?) I'd also think that BMW and others would have an interest in getting more DCF chargers installed "inside the Beltway" in order to build more political support for expanding the charging infrastructure. I didn't quite appreciate at the time we chose the DC fast charging option how few SAE Combo charging stations there are at the moment.

myeodc said:

Interested in this question as well. Took delivery of our i3 last week in the DC area. Surprised by the lack of SAE Combo chargers in the mid-Atlantic area -- you'd think that the I95 corridor would be a top priority for build out. (Vermont? Really?) I'd also think that BMW and others would have an interest in getting more DCF chargers installed "inside the Beltway" in order to build more political support for expanding the charging infrastructure. I didn't quite appreciate at the time we chose the DC fast charging option how few SAE Combo charging stations there are at the moment.

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Let your public officials know! Deployment seems to be centered around the EV population for obvious reasons. More plug-in cars are coming with SAE CCS which can only help

I read Mid Atlantic and thought !!!!, my mind diverting by way of electric boats, eventually concluding that of course the OP had to be in Iceland, where there was plenty of cheap geothermal electricity when I was last on my way back from Seattle.
John (in UK)

myeodc said:

you'd think that the I95 corridor would be a top priority for build out. (Vermont? Really?).

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I'm guessing the locations so far are more a reflection of individual businesses opting to install a charger, and not any kind of public planning. The two in the Eastern US seem to have been installed within the last month or two, so I think we may see more before long. Maryland recently announced that it has a grant program to help roll out fast charging stations: http://pluginsites.org/maryland-ev-fast-charging-network-details-emerge/. Plus BMW developed a low-cost version of the SAE DC Charger recently as well, and ChargePoint announced this week that they are introducing a new fast charging station compatible with the i3.

@ironsia: While close friends of mine were indeed hiking in Iceland just last week, Mid Atlantic here refers to the Middle Atlantic states of the U.S. usually considered Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Sorry for the geographic confusion. ;-)

Regarding the DC charger in Vermont...they have an agreement with Montreal to provide an electrical charging network along the interstate that meets up with the highway leading to Montreal to enable EVs to make it there and back somewhat seamlessly. Not really sure how many more are planned, but at least some along that route.

I'm betting my choice to get that option on the car won't be totally wasted over the next few years, but then, I almost never win anything while gambling!

bdcrane said:

ChargePoint announced this week that they are introducing a new fast charging station compatible with the i3.

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Source?

cwerdna said:

bdcrane said:

ChargePoint announced this week that they are introducing a new fast charging station compatible with the i3.

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Source?

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Here's a link to the press release: http://www.chargepoint.com/press-releases/2014/0728?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRoluKvNZKXonjHpfsX66%2B4uUaOylMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4DT8RiI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFSrfMMbd52bgEUhE%3D

The hassle is, the BMW DC fast charger is a 24Kw device, not a 50Kw one, so while faster than you can charge with level 2, not the full capacity of the vehicle. https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/usa/pressDetail.html?title=bmw-unveils-bmw-i-dc-fast-chargers-and-chargenow-dc-fast-program-at-plug-in-2014&outputChannelId=9&id=T0189823EN_US&left_menu_item=node__5236

It will be much nicer when there are 50Kw devices all over!

bdcrane said:

cwerdna said:

bdcrane said:

ChargePoint announced this week that they are introducing a new fast charging station compatible with the i3.

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Source?

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Here's a link to the press release: http://www.chargepoint.com/press-releases/2014/0728?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRoluKvNZKXonjHpfsX66%2B4uUaOylMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4DT8RiI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFSrfMMbd52bgEUhE%3D

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It's not Chargepoint's to introduce.

See http://www.bmwusanews.com/newsrelease.do?id=2132&mid=&searchresult.

There are dual plug (CHAdeMO and Combo1) Efacec DC FCs already in use such as at http://www.plugshare.com/?location=8428.

The press release merely refers to 3rd party stations that have Chargepoint's equipment on them for authentication, billing, networking, etc.

If you want to make claims that the above were "introduced" by Chargepoint, then you may as well say that the http://nissanqc.com/ w/Chargepoint or eVgo equipment on them (http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=15867) were "introduced" by Chargepoint or eVgo. :roll:

Examples:
http://www.plugshare.com/?location=14866 and http://www.plugshare.com/?location=1385 - were originally not networked, got Chargepoint equipment added later
http://www.plugshare.com/?location=5040 - also not networked originally, eVgo added later

Wow, I'm glad I saw this post! I usually don't go into Regional Discussions but happened to see this listed on the home page.

Yes, I too am in the DC area and periodically check the websites or apps for any new DC Fast chargers being introduced. I think that the Maryland initiative will really help promote use of EVs as the plan is to have them spread out around the state to instill confidence in current drivers and help persuade others on the fence of joining the EV revolution.

One thing that was not discussed above is that with BMW's new DC Fast charger rollout i3 owners who charge up at least once in 2014 will get free DC Fast charging throughout 2015!

So we have to hope...maybe even pray...that we'll see one in this area by year's end!

On other thing to be aware of. Although it states that this promotion is for i3 owners with an active ChargeNow account, you actually have to log into your existing account and select the checkbox that you do want to participate in the DC Fast charge promotion. The site will then check whether your car is eligible.

So it seems like without a DCFC unit in the area we may miss a great opportunity in 2015!

I hope that with the reasonably low price of BMW's new chargers we'll start seeing them sooner than later. On the site it mentions that they can be purchased by partners and BMW centers. I'm wondering what other partners they have in mind. See: http://www.bmwicharging.com/BMWiDCFastCharger

As to the 24Kw vs 50Kw capacity, In real use I don't think we'll see much difference. My understanding is that 24Kw unit will charge the car to 80% SOC in 30 minutes vs 20 minutes. Not a lot of difference when you're catching up on email, texts, or phone calls! The idea with these units is not to regularly charge them to 100% as that last 20% takes significantly longer. True even with Teslas. Charge rate drops as the car gets closer to full capacity. The analogy I've heard is that of filling a bucket of water with a hose. Most of it can be filled with a strong stream of water. But as you're getting to the top, you reduce the water flow to not overfill the bucket.

I'm definitely turning notification on for this post.

BMW4Me said:

...One thing that was not discussed above is that with BMW's new DC Fast charger rollout i3 owners who charge up at least once in 2014 will get free DC Fast charging throughout 2015!

So we have to hope...maybe even pray...that we'll see one in this area by year's end!

On other thing to be aware of. Although it states that this promotion is for i3 owners with an active ChargeNow account, you actually have to log into your existing account and select the checkbox that you do want to participate in the DC Fast charge promotion. The site will then check whether your car is eligible.

So it seems like without a DCFC unit in the area we may miss a great opportunity in 2015!

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Unfortunately, ChargeNow DC Fast is only available in California.

see http://chargenow.chargepoint.com/fast-charging

Yes, that's what it says, but it also stated that my car was eligible. Hopefully that doesn't mean going cross country. I think they can only say California now because that's where the stations are. I would be VERY surprised if we don't see any stations here in the DC metro area before year's end...and I mean 2014! I'm encouraged by a recent report ranking the DC area as one of the top fastest growing areas for EV adoption. That bodes well for us!

[/quote]
Let your public officials know! Deployment seems to be centered around the EV population for obvious reasons. More plug-in cars are coming with SAE CCS which can only help[/quote]

You must be joking...most "public officials" are clueless. It has to be entrepreneurial. I can't believe they aren't installed at more upscale shopping centers, shopping villages (like Freeport, ME, Woodbury Commons, NY, and Manchester, VT etc.) Retail developers and restauranteurs are missing the boat. You need to DO something (read: spend money) while the car is charging. We do have them at a few of our local large Price Chopper supermarkets, which is helpful; they are even FREE!

This weekend, I drove 60, miles north to Lake George Village, NY (not a posh destination, but a handy trial run), plugged the car into a Level 2 behind the Holiday Inn, waved my ChargePoint card and went off with my camera to look at tourists, boats, etc. Hoofed back to motel (several blocks from main shopping area) after lunch and a couple of hours and it had replenished enough charge to get me back home again.

Curiously, there is one located on utility property, about 3-4 miles from a Factory Outlet Plaza south of the village--and not within walking distance--of the shopping area. Dumb.

BMW4Me said:

Yes, that's what it says, but it also stated that my car was eligible. Hopefully that doesn't mean going cross country. I think they can only say California now because that's where the stations are. I would be VERY surprised if we don't see any stations here in the DC metro area before year's end...and I mean 2014! I'm encouraged by a recent report ranking the DC area as one of the top fastest growing areas for EV adoption. That bodes well for us!

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The other potential hitch is that the program is only available at NRG eVGo Stations. Lucky for you, they already have a Level 2 presence in the DC area, so I would assume that you might be more likely to get DC in DC (sorry, couldn't help it): http://www.nrgevgo.com/find-a-station/

I don't think that shopping centers is where we'll see DCFCs deployed. Think about it, at a shopping center they want you to spend time shopping! Hence a L2 charger makes perfect sense!