[webwevers]

Hello All,
I ran across this forum while searching for news on the Bolt. I have a 2013 fiat 500e lease which is coming due in August and am looking at the Bolt as my next electric car. I already have a Siemens VersiCharge charger so am ready! After having an electric car for three years I cannot go back to an ICE vehicle. Love the Electric! The extra range that the Bolt has will be nice.

 

[Zoomit]

Welcome! Only about 8 more months to go!

 

[Bazinga]

Welcome to the forum!
How's the Siemens VersiCharge charger? Heard it was reliable and easy to install and I'm still researching chargers.

 

[DucRider]

Welcome to the forum!
How's the Siemens VersiCharge charger? Heard it was reliable and easy to install and I'm still researching chargers.

FYI, the "charger" is on board the car for AC (L1 & L2) charging. The units you are researching are EVSE's (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment). In reality just a very fancy smart extension cord with redundant safety features. The charger (like the "brick" of a laptop) is part of the car and converts the AC to DC to charge the batteries.
When quick charging (CCS, CHAdeMO, Supercharger) the external equipment is indeed acting as the charger and supplying the DC current to the batteries.

It's fighting a losing battle because most people refer to EVSE's as chargers, but technically they are not. They could have designed EV's to plug in to a 240v outlet with an extension cord just like boats and RV's have done for decades.

 

[Bazinga]

So if someone come out with an outlet adapter for this charger, we can just skip the EVSE and plug it into the wall socket?

 

[DucRider]

So if someone come out with an outlet adapter for this charger, we can just skip the EVSE and plug it into the wall socket?

Nope,
The vehicles is looking for information from the EVSE before (and during) charging.
From Wikipedia:

J1772 signaling circuit
• supply equipment signals presence of AC input power
• vehicle detects plug via proximity circuit (thus the vehicle can prevent driving away while connected)
• control pilot functions begin
• supply equipment detects plug-in electric vehicle
• supply equipment indicates to plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) readiness to supply energy
• PEV ventilation requirements are determined
• supply equipment current capacity provided to PEV
• PEV commands energy flow
• PEV and supply equipment continuously monitor continuity of safety ground
• charge continues as determined by PEV
• charge may be interrupted by disconnecting the plug from the vehicle

You can view more on the spec here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_J1772

Note: This is the SAE standard, a slightly different connector and protocol is used in the European version.

 

[webwevers]

No problems with my Siemen's EVSE. I control the charging times with my fiat and charge between 12:00pm and 6:00am since the cost for electric is cheaper during those times. Otherwise unit works great.

 

[Roth33d]

Some people might even find it lucrative to have some power bank that can keep power they get from those cheaper times and even power they generate from solar panels. Just looking at the long term savings and at what point it will start paying off should make a good business case.

 

[AlGray]

So if someone come out with an outlet adapter for this charger, we can just skip the EVSE and plug it into the wall socket?

The charger on board the car "chats" with the brick or charging station concerning available power from shore. The charging station or brick tells the onboard charger what it can supply (120 or 240 volts, what current) so that the charger doesn't overload the outlet supplying the brick or the charging station. 120v supply is assumed to be 15a, which is 12a continuous rating. Just happens to be what the bricks tell the chargers.
"Shore" is both a marine and RV term.

 

[The Other Tom]

Welcome to the forum. I'd be conflicted if I were in your shoes. The deals on the Bolt are really good right now (almost half price!!!). It would be very tempting to me to go ahead and get a Bolt and turn in the Fiat early. Of course the new models will be coming out in the fall so maybe the deals will be good in August as well. I know, first world problems.

 

[AlGray]

Welcome to the forum. I'd be conflicted if I were in your shoes. The deals on the Bolt are really good right now (almost half price!!!). It would be very tempting to me to go ahead and get a Bolt and turn in the Fiat early. Of course the new models will be coming out in the fall so maybe the deals will be good in August as well. I know, first world problems.

"Conflicted?" Is this a reply to me?
On Bolt deals: I just took a test drive of a 2020 Bolt window sticker $40,225 offered for $22,450!! Had 6 miles on the odo.
Maybe in a couple or three years when it's down to $11,225?

 

[The Other Tom]

"Conflicted?" Is this a reply to me?

it's a reply to the original post (first post in this thread)

 

[BillG49]

it's a reply to the original post (first post in this thread)

... and the original post is 5 years old! I'm sure he's made a decision by now..

 

[The Other Tom]

... and the original post is 5 years old! I'm sure he's made a decision by now..

oops, I should start looking at the post dates before I respond.

 

[AlGray]

... and the original post is 5 years old! I'm sure he's made a decision by now..

Others who may not have followed this thread for all five years may not have.