Home charging
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Automakers caution against using an extension cord when charging a plug-in hybrid or electric car. How many of you do anyway?
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Amazon hooks Kia owners up with easier home-charger installation
Those just transitioning to an electric car, like the 2019 Kia Niro EV, face some potentially daunting decisions well beyond the vehicle itself—not just how they’re going to charge up the vehicle in their own garage or driveway, but how they’re going to charge it quickly enough...
Bengt Halvorson -
Ford C-Max Energi, Fusion Energi owners still waiting for cooler charge cords
Six months after Ford issued a recall over a fire risk and its charge cords, some drivers of Ford plug-in vehicles still don’t have the peace of mind of a new charge cord. The recall, issued last August, affected or the 120V AC “convenience charge cord” that Ford supplies with...
Bengt Halvorson -
Report: Home electric-car chargers vulnerable to hackers
Connected home chargers can bring a higher level of convenience to the electric-car ownership experience, allowing more flexibility with remote access, charge scheduling, power-output adjustment, and even data displays. But according to the cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab, they can also bring a...
Bengt Halvorson -
Study: Jump in electric vehicles may not stress California's power grid (Update)
Electric-car critics have said that more EVs on the road could stress already overburdened electric power grids past the breaking point. Now, a study released this week by a California nonprofit suggests that may not be true. San Francisco-based think tank Next 10 published reports this week that...
Aaron Cole -
If you own an electric car, what's your at-home charging source? Take our Twitter poll
Drivers who buy an electric car that plugs into the power grid to recharge the battery often start to consider the source of their energy. A 2012 analysis from California, in the earliest days of modern electric cars, indicated as many as four in 10 electric-car drivers were already using or...
John Voelcker -
The internet has transformed how many perceive property, allowing the rental of other peoples' personal vehicles, apartments, and other spaces when owners are not using them. Now, the idea is being applied to charging stations across the United Kingdom with the introduction of the Chargie smartphone app. Chargie aims to redefine how electric-car owners plan their travels by allowing access to individual's own charging stations (which the British call "chargepoints"). DON'T MISS: Electric-car charging networks spin out, merge, and go global In the spirit of AirBnB, which rents out apartments...
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Electric car charging: the basics you need to know (updated)
The number of plug-in electric cars on North American roads grows every year, and with them come new buyers. Each new electric-car driver will have a few things to learn, so we've rounded up some tips on how, where, and when how to charge up that new plug-in vehicle. Whether you're already an...
John Voelcker -
Chevy Bolt EV will offer AeroVironment charging station
AeroVironment charging stations will be sold through Chevrolet dealers for the Bolt EV.
Stephen Edelstein -
New Orleans: Big Easy to make life easier for electric car owners?
New Orleans has a hot-and-cold relationship with environmentally friendly technology. Last week, however, the two were definitely on good terms as the city council voted unanimously to make life easier for current and future electric car owners. Crescent City crises Given the New Orleans' tenuous...
Richard Read -
Installing An Electric-Car Charging Station: This Old House Shows You How
The PBS show demonstrates installing an electric-car charging station.
Stephen Edelstein -
California Urged To Stay The Course On Electric Cars, Help Owners Charge Cheaper
Gas prices are falling: Michigan has signs advertising regular at $1.99 per gallon. It's now below $3 a gallon even in California, which continues to be the focal point for electric-car adoption. Now an electric utility CEO has joined with an environmental advocate to urge that Californians stay...
John Voelcker -
A Volt owner in Michigan had power to her detached garage cut off after refusing to pay a higher electricity rate.
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Nissan Leaf-To-Home Electric-Car Power Tests: More Practical For U.S. With Longer-Range Cars?
Nissan will test its Leaf-To-Home station at certain dealers in Japan over the next few months.
Stephen Edelstein -
Self-Contained Solar Carport With Battery: Electric-Car Charging For The Future?
Envision Solar's EV ARC is a self-contained solar charging and energy-storage system.
Stephen Edelstein -
In 10 Years, Electric Cars Make Home Solar Practical Without Subsidies: UBS
Swiss bank UBS predicts home solar will be widely adopted in the next decade.
Stephen Edelstein -
Electric-Car Charging Station Prices Fall: 30 Amps For $500 (Through Sep 30)
When plug-in electric cars came on the market less than four years ago, the first 240-Volt home charging stations carried four-figure price tags. Now a handful of models cost less than $500--and a fairly high-amperage model is being offered by Home Depot this month for $499 after a special offer...
John Voelcker -
In CA, Renters Can Now Install Electric-Car Charging Stations
A new California law would require landlords to let tenants install charging stations.
Stephen Edelstein -
If you own a plug-in electric car, what's the best (and cheapest) way to get a second charging cable to supplement the one that came with your vehicle? Turns out there are several options--as electric-car owners and advocates suggested when we asked the question. MUST SEE: Decoding Toyota's Electric-Car Disdain: A Role For Fuel Cells It all started when reader Brandt Buffham of Santa Clarita, California, bought a Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid sedan. DON'T MISS: Chevy Volt Charging Cord Cut: Angry Neighbor, Electric-Car Hater? He wrote: I have a 2014 Ford Fusion Energi. It comes with the...
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BMW Smartphone App Helps Cut Home Electric Car Charging Costs
Unless you're a Tesla owner with access to free Supercharger fast charging stations, there's no better place to charge your electric car than at home. Pick the right electricity tariff, and charging can cost pennies on the dollar next to even the most efficient combustion-engined vehicle. BMW hopes...
Antony Ingram -
Honda Opens Demonstration Smart Home, With Fit EV Electric Car In Garage
The Honda Smart Home represents about 2000 square feet of energy efficient living
George Parrott -
2014 BMW i3 Electric Car Drivers Can Opt For Solar Charging Service
BMW's first full-scale production electric car isn't a vehicle done by half measures. It's uniquely styled, features high-tech carbon fiber reinforced plastic construction and the minimalist interior is awash with sustainable materials. BMW thinks its customers might want to continue that...
Antony Ingram -
Palo Alto To Require Electric-Car Charger Wiring In New Homes
With most electric-car charging today taking place in the garages of private homes, installing a home charging station can pose a hurdle to potential buyers. Now Palo Alto, California--the city in the center of Silicon Valley--is moving to make it easier for homeowners who want to switch to an...
John Voelcker -
Electric-Car Drivers Charge Anywhere; Check Out These Photos!
Plugging in your electric car to recharge the battery is simple if you have your own garage, carport, or driveway. If you park on the street, it's a little harder; there just aren't that many curbside charging stations yet. So electric-car owners can get very, very resourceful. We said it more than...
John Voelcker