Hello everyone,, Did anyone notice the rate changed on public ChargePoint chargers? We just noticed that the rate went up from $0.15/kWh to $0.25/kWh with our 1st 2019 charge on the same ChargePoint charger that we used throughout 2018. Ouch!!! That's a whopping 66.7% increase from last year's rate..
I'm trying wrap my brain around why a PHEV owner would bother with expensive public charging when they can add 250 miles of range in 2 minutes for $7.26.
If you equate a full charge, 14kWh’s, to a gallon of gas, 42 miles, and electricity at $.25/kWh costs $3.50 for a full charge, it may make financial sense to avoid expensive charging stations, assuming that you have the PHEV model.
Gas is now ~$2.20 per gallon. Glad I can use gas if I want to. Of course with everything closed right now there is nowhere to drive to!
I still haven't charged up anywhere but home in the 2-1/2 years we've owned our Clarity PHEV, so I missed out on the cheap ChargePoint rates way back in 2018. I thought I'd better top-up the gas tank of our Clarity before the COVID-19 crisis got even worse. So on my first visit to the gas station this year, I drove past the $1.99 pump and stopped at the $3.99 ethanol-free "recreational gasoline" pump. I know Honda expects us to pump the alcohol mix, but the extra $10 I spent for 5 gallons of the old stuff made me feel better. Am I just like all those people who feel better putting super in their regular cars?
I guess I should stir things up by saying I am an ethanol producer, so I would suggest you add some dry gas (alcohol), and fuel injector cleaner (alcohol) to that gunk you just put in your gas tank. My recollection of the 'good old days' was gas lines freezing in the winter, along with regular cleaning of carburetors and spark plugs. Ethanol cleans and protects your fuel system, burns cleaner than gasoline, and is an environmentally friendly octane booster. Ethanol lowers the btu value, but reduces tailpipe emissions. It is usually produced locally. My ethanol is produced from waste products. I believe that ethanol addition to gasoline is an improvement.
Holy cow, 100% gasoline is $3.99 in your area? I just paid $1.69 for 100% 87 octane at the local 7-11.
The recreational gas price didn't change at all when the regular gas prices fell off the cliff. What is regular gas now in your neck of the woods, 75 cents?
Spot on. It amazes me how slow all of this is to catch on. As a midwesterner I don't think I've purchased a gallon of "pure" gasoline for anything I use since 1980. It's just not really available here in corn country. Including cars, boats, snowmobiles, lawn equipment, 2 stroke, 4 stroke, etc. Even on seasonal equipment that gets stored 10 months of the year with ethanol in the tank. And I'm a mechanic so yeah I know what it CAN do. But it WON'T do, especially in a Clarity of all things... There was only ONE exception. In 2007 I pulled my snowmobile up to a gas station in UP Michigan bragging "no ethanol" and topped off not thinking much of it. It was -10 degrees. Drove it to cabin and parked it. The next morning I had the first frozen fuel line of my life, and the damn thing wouldn't start. Had to pull it into a heated workshop for an hour or two to get it to fire, then promptly dumped a bottle of iso into it LOL. Had to make my own alcohol mix to get the stupid machine to run right, because I unfortunately didn't get my ethanol at the pump. I've preached it for decades. Even with politics removed, ethanol blends are GOOD.
You make some good points, but I don't believe all the original ethanol stays with the gas for 6-months or longer even though my Clarity's gas tank is pressurized. I haven't had a frozen gas line in 50 years and I trust Honda's engine technology to handle the other problems ethanol-free gas may present. I'm glad you don't make your ethanol from what could have become food.
pretty sure most chargepoint station have their prices set by the owners. On their website, when you click onto the staion, it'll show the price and "Set by xxxx"
$1.21 for 87 octane E10 at the local Sams Club. Lowest in OKC is currently $1.03. We must not be big corn lovers here, as 100% gasoline is widely available across the city. The 7-11 store nearest my house sells nothing but 100% gas. I don't put E10 in my Clarity unless I have no other choice. I prefer the long term storage benefits of 100% gasoline.
Couple of days ago I did the same thing. $3.99 vs $1.99. Figured the ethanol free would be better for mixing it up with 5 month old gas in the tank. Ready to go for another 1000 miles or so Sent from my SM-G955U using Inside EVs mobile app
As far as Chargepoint, each location owner gets to set their own charge rate. Some are free like in Santa Monica, to a 4.50 per charge plus electric at Norm Reeves Honda in Irvine. RIP OFF!
How far is Norm Reeves Honda in Irvine from less-expensive charging stations? If Norm is a long way from other charging stations, then he's taking advantage of his EVSE's location to make a profit instead of fostering good feelings with the very few potential customers who may already own a plug-in Honda and plan to purchase another some day in the future (assuming Honda continues to offer plug-in cars at all). If the next charging station is nearby, then Norm is simply using the high price to regulate traffic and the usage of his EVSE. Do you ever seen a car charging at Norm Reeves Honda in Irvine? For those in a hurry, the extra cost may be worth the convenience. How long do you have to wait for a free EVSE in Santa Monica?
Holy cow that is a ripoff. My home charging costs .11 per kWh, so when you figure in the buffer we have maybe 15kWh capacity.... that adds up to $1.65 for a full charge.
I was wrong. Norm Reeves Honda... 5.99 per session plus electric. and max ar 6.99. I bought my Clarity there and was surprised level two chargers are not everywhere. Assumed my dealer would be a place. Nope unless you are a dope.