BNL Employee Electric Vehicle Charging Program users group

["Van Buren, Gene" <gene AT bnl.gov>]

Hello, BNL evusers
(I've cc'ed a few people I don't see on the evusers-l mailing list)

Several topics today...
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For those unaware (as I was until someone tipped me off - thanks, Jamie), 
PSEG has instituted a $500 rebate for certain home Level 2 charging stations 
(actually, EVSEs to get the terminology correct) as of last month for the 
remainder or 2019:
https://www.psegliny.com/saveenergyandmoney/solarrenewableenergy/electricvehicles/smartcharge

The rebate only applies to a specific list of equipment that must connect to 
WiFi and allow PSEG to monitor your usage. If you are interested in a 
JuiceBox model from Emotorwerks, you can get an additional $15 off the price 
by using my referral (full disclosure: I get $15 too if you do):
http://emotorwerks.refr.cc/genevanburen

I want to make sure that everyone is also aware that there is also a 50% 
income tax credit on such equipment from the state of New York:
https://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/credits/alt_fuels_elec_vehicles.htm

My reading of this is that anything you spend _over_ the $500 you get back on 
the PSEG rebate is eligible for the 50% tax credit. And if you don't use the 
rebate at all (or missed out on it), you should still be able to use this tax 
credit for the equipment cost.

_____

I wish I had more positive news to bring you about charging stations at BNL 
(I'm aware of the congestion we're experiencing already), but I do have some 
questions I'd like to survey. I have continued to push for access to 
additional resources on four fronts:

i) Getting the lab to purchase plug-in fleet vehicles and associated charging 
equipment. Unfortunately I believe this took a setback with the recent 
decision to purchase more non-plug-in fleet vehicles.
ii) Getting access to some currently unused 110 V outlets. News here is mixed 
as I've had some "nope" and "we'll see what we can do" responses, the latter 
moving very slowly.
iii) Getting access to some currently unused 220 V outlets, which the 
Laboratory Electrical Safety Committee is not currently permitting. See below.
iv) Getting new equipment when new facilities are built. For example, I 
brought this up in the context of the Central Garden topic. The discussion on 
this is just beginning, so please give it some time; it's wait-and-see for 
now.

I mentioned that I'd particularly like to see is access to the 220 V outlets. 
Aside from trying to find a positive path forward with the LESC, it would be 
helpful for us all to understand the situation with 220 V from the users' 
side. To that end, I would really appreciate hearing directly from people 
(you don't need to reply to this list unless you want to add more to the 
discussion) on these questions:

1) Are you interested in having 220 V charging at BNL? The outlets are on 20 
A circuits, and standard safety practices are to stay 20% below the circuit 
maximum, so we would really only be looking at 16 A, or 3.5 kW max, which 
isn't quite 3x what you can get on the 110 V outlets.
2) Does the portable EVSE you already own accept 220 V? (I'm not talking 
about the plug, but rather its circuitry. This should be indicated on the 
label.)
3) If so, do you have a plug or adapter that lets you plug into an L6-20 
receptacle?
4) Would you be interested in chipping in on the cost of shared equipment 
that we could keep at a 220 V charging site?

For question 4, here is an example of potentially viable equipment that is 
UL- and outdoor-rated (we cannot have employee-owned equipment permanently 
installed on site):
https://store.amazing-e.com/level-2-charging-station-16-amp-amazinge

_____

Lastly, some safe-practice reminders that will help keep us from taking steps 
backwards with onsite charging:
- Never share a circuit even though it is physically possible and 
electrically viable. The Bldg. 535 and 400 sites have two circuits.
- Never use an extension cord, even if it's properly rated.

I'm fully aware that these are overly conservative safety steps, but 
compromises are part of the current situation current.
_____

Hope this is helpful information. Please encourage anyone else you know who 
is interested in these topics to sign up to evusers-l at lists.bnl.gov.

Thanks,
-Gene