Level2Charger
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SolarCity gets in the EV charging game, we're still waiting for our Leaf
Tired of trekking down the 101, just to charge your damn Tesla? Must be rough, but at least SolarCity's looking out for ya, as it'll soon install ClipperCreek's EV chargers in your digs, right alongside the company's residential solar equipment. The $1,500 SAE-J1772 compatible juicers will work with almost any plug-in vehicle we can think of -- including the Volt, Leaf, Prius plug-in, Focus BEV, iMiev and aforementioned Roadster (provided you'll spring for an adapter) -- and being of the Level II ilk, top-up your automobile 5x faster than a 120V plug. Pair that with a solar panel lease, and you'll apparently cut charging costs in-half -- according to SolarCity, anyway. We can't vouch for that, but if it doesn't work you could always try to install something just a tad bigger.
Hawaii funding deployment of up to 320 public EV chargers, islander Leafs say 'mahalo'
If you don't have far to go, an electric car can make a lot of sense. You know what group of people doesn't have far to go? People who live on an island, that's who. For this reason we're feeling some synergistic love as the State of Hawaii partners with AeroVironment, a company that also makes some goofy looking UAVs for DARPA, to deploy up to 320 public EV charging stations plugs across Kauai, Hawaii Island, Maui, and Oahu. All will be 240v Level 2 units that can charge an average EV in between four to eight hours. That's plenty of time to grab your board and get worked on some swell -- or to work on your tan if you're feeling a little less aggro. Update: Dan wrote in to let us know that Better Place is also getting a piece of this pie, securing $854,000 for "charging stations on all islands and the introduction of EVs to a rental car fleet."
Ford partners with Leviton and Best Buy for $1,499 Focus Electric charging station
Lusting over the new Focus Electric? It's still a few years off yet, but if you're already thinking about practicalities you're wondering how you're going to charge the thing. Got 120V power in your garage? No problem, you can charge off of that easily -- if you don't mind waiting 20 hours. A Level 2 charger will drop that down to between three and four hours, but it requires some hardware installed in your home. If you want to do that for the Leaf or the Volt you're looking at $2,000 installed, and that installation is permanent. Ford is making things much easier, and much cheaper, with a $1,499 charger made by Leviton that's not only cheaper than the competition but completely modular. It hangs on the wall and simply plugs into a 240V outlet, handling the necessary electrical wizardry to quick-charge your Focus without burning down your house or singeing your cat. Ford is partnering with Best Buy for installation, which could be a good or bad thing depending on your propensity for Geeks in Squads. %Gallery-113306%
