I just finished wiring my garage for EVs. I installed three outlets, one at the front of the car, one at the left side rear, and one outside for when the car's not parked inside. I also installed a second utility electricity meter; its one that is dedicated by utility regulation to EV use. My utility, PG&E, here in northern California, has an EV rate (EV-B) for EV-charging-only second meters. This rate is about one-third the cost of my normal marginal electric rate. I can now charge my car at about $0.11USD per kWh.
The project cost me about $950USD for the parts and local permits to install the infrastructure. So, I'll break even after about 680 charges at 7 kWh/charge. OK, I thought I'd be in this for about half this cost, and, I did all the work myself. I'll be ahead money-wise after about two years or so. But wait, there is a 30 percent federal income tax credit available for EV-infrastructure costs. That brings my breakeven down to 475 charges (but only if I can avoid the US' Alternative Minimum income Tax that negates this credit). So, somewhere between 1.5 and 2 years I should be whole on the infrastructure costs.
The alternatives to this effort were to continue charging at 120V for 7+ hours nightly at a rate more expensive than gasoline with no new infrastructure, or to add a 240V circuit to my existing panel for faster charging, but still more expensive than gasoline. In either case, I should have looked elsewhere for a car.
So, since I have a deposit in on a Tesla Model 3, and for future proofing, I chose to wire the garage with three 50A circuits off of a new 100A meter/panel using the 14-50 NEMA outlet devices required by Tesla and the 6-3 electric cable that will support these 50A devices and that includes a neutral wire.
Visually, the 14-50 "dryer/Tesla" outlet, and the 6-50 "Audi" outlet appear similar enough that the Audi 240V cable should plug right in to the 14-50 and just not connect to the neutral on the 14-50. Nope, pin spacing on the 6-50 and 14-50 are different. Did I check this BEFORE I installed this? Nope, again. I assumed based on visual layouts. Never assume.
To make this work I needed a 14-50P to a 6-50R adapter, or I'd have to replace all three outlets with ones that would not support the Tesla. Arrrgg. But, however, I have found the adapter!
If you have a Tesla in the garage along with your Audi, or just want to hijack your dryer plug, order this adapter cable http://www.hobartweldshop.com/adapt...mpion-elite-champion-10-000-welder-generator/from the good folks at Hobart Arc welders. They've got them now at $20USD plus shipping. This compares to three or more times that cost elsewhere.
If you're in northern California, consider PG&E's EV-B rate. You'll need a second meter tapped off the feeders ahead of your existing meter and your costs to do so may vary from mine. Otherwise, however, I don't see how at-home charging in NorCal makes any sense. That's fodder for another thread, however.
The project cost me about $950USD for the parts and local permits to install the infrastructure. So, I'll break even after about 680 charges at 7 kWh/charge. OK, I thought I'd be in this for about half this cost, and, I did all the work myself. I'll be ahead money-wise after about two years or so. But wait, there is a 30 percent federal income tax credit available for EV-infrastructure costs. That brings my breakeven down to 475 charges (but only if I can avoid the US' Alternative Minimum income Tax that negates this credit). So, somewhere between 1.5 and 2 years I should be whole on the infrastructure costs.
The alternatives to this effort were to continue charging at 120V for 7+ hours nightly at a rate more expensive than gasoline with no new infrastructure, or to add a 240V circuit to my existing panel for faster charging, but still more expensive than gasoline. In either case, I should have looked elsewhere for a car.
So, since I have a deposit in on a Tesla Model 3, and for future proofing, I chose to wire the garage with three 50A circuits off of a new 100A meter/panel using the 14-50 NEMA outlet devices required by Tesla and the 6-3 electric cable that will support these 50A devices and that includes a neutral wire.
Visually, the 14-50 "dryer/Tesla" outlet, and the 6-50 "Audi" outlet appear similar enough that the Audi 240V cable should plug right in to the 14-50 and just not connect to the neutral on the 14-50. Nope, pin spacing on the 6-50 and 14-50 are different. Did I check this BEFORE I installed this? Nope, again. I assumed based on visual layouts. Never assume.
To make this work I needed a 14-50P to a 6-50R adapter, or I'd have to replace all three outlets with ones that would not support the Tesla. Arrrgg. But, however, I have found the adapter!
If you have a Tesla in the garage along with your Audi, or just want to hijack your dryer plug, order this adapter cable http://www.hobartweldshop.com/adapt...mpion-elite-champion-10-000-welder-generator/from the good folks at Hobart Arc welders. They've got them now at $20USD plus shipping. This compares to three or more times that cost elsewhere.
If you're in northern California, consider PG&E's EV-B rate. You'll need a second meter tapped off the feeders ahead of your existing meter and your costs to do so may vary from mine. Otherwise, however, I don't see how at-home charging in NorCal makes any sense. That's fodder for another thread, however.