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The Tangled Mess of EV Chargers

Popular mechanics -- Range anxiety isn’t the only frustration for EV early adopters. Although many electric-vehicle charging stations appear to be identical, drivers are finding that public charging stations won’t fill their EVs with juice. What’s going on?
This spring PM got to drive the Mitsubishi i, the company’s tiny, futuristic EV offering. As we’d learned from driving a Nissan Leaf, it’s not easy to get used to managing the limited range of an electric car. But we had a leg up on being responsible EV owners—a 240-volt Level 2 charger we’d installed while driving the Leaf.

Or so we thought. Although our charger fit onto the Mistubishi, it wouldn’t charge the car. Similarly, when we tried to charge the i on a public charger in Michigan, no juice flowed forth.

Such is the state of EV charging. While the

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Submitted Aug 04, 2012 By: mastermariner

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RONALD777 Champion Author Houston Posts:2,447 Points:365,680 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Aug 5, 2012 8:32:02 AM Ignore RONALD777 Report Abuse Ha ha - now that is funny!
Norm10 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,342 Points:162,925 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 4:31:43 PM Ignore Norm10 Report Abuse I'm sure the rich people who can afford EVs don't care.
DesertRat2011 Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,628 Points:487,755 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 4:07:15 PM Ignore DesertRat2011 Report Abuse Vehicle that are standardized that would be nice. Look how long it took to get OBDII
Mark8601 All-Star Author Bakersfield Posts:918 Points:381,940 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 11:14:51 AM Ignore Mark8601 Report Abuse Mitsubishi got it right, but the others were too fast getting it out. J1772 is the standard, some chargers are just not built right on the electronics.
fuel2use Champion Author Seattle Posts:3,493 Points:734,300 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 10:37:45 AM Ignore fuel2use Report Abuse It helps to standardize.
aquarinut Champion Author British Columbia Posts:1,628 Points:436,855 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 10:33:52 AM Ignore aquarinut Report Abuse Once again, an agenda forced on people by a government who didn't even think about the logistics involved.
leraar2 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,769 Points:788,655 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 9:14:21 AM Ignore leraar2 Report Abuse and like the issue of VHS vs. BETA, we'll usually end up with the INFERIOR system, because it's cheaper, or less complicated, not because it's best. (always the lowest common denominator, right, bunky?)
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,561 Points:749,995 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 7:51:35 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse If they want the electric car to work, there has to be the infrastructure, and you need a single plug for it to work.
FPLREP Champion Author Virginia Posts:8,271 Points:2,450,200 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 7:14:27 AM Ignore FPLREP Report Abuse Just pick a standard electrical configuration on the utility side, problem solved.
VDubBill Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:3,765 Points:1,263,870 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 6:17:44 AM Ignore VDubBill Report Abuse Somebody wasn't thinking this "Tab A into Slot B" thing out too well.
Yooperheart Champion Author Michigan Posts:3,430 Points:528,975 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 5:58:21 AM Ignore Yooperheart Report Abuse And no one saw this coming? Just wait til every body want's a CNG ride and no where to fill it.
Wally3023 Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:2,041 Points:542,150 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 5:55:06 AM Ignore Wally3023 Report Abuse They will get it figured out
StArrow68 Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,268 Points:1,363,190 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 5:53:55 AM Ignore StArrow68 Report Abuse Good luck to those that got one early and then get stuck.
afghaned Champion Author Hamilton Posts:11,827 Points:1,288,085 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 4:53:59 AM Ignore afghaned Report Abuse Einstein would be so proud!!
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,297 Points:2,373,320 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 4:50:00 AM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse such chaos.............
djgunrunner Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:10,109 Points:2,350,555 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 2:49:03 AM Ignore djgunrunner Report Abuse So what you are telling us is that the thing didn't go very far and then you were stuck. Wow, I gotta have one of those in my garage.
JamesCalvin Champion Author Lancaster Posts:3,196 Points:521,505 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 2:39:27 AM Ignore JamesCalvin Report Abuse Make a different charger protocol for each model, just like wheel types for each car.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!
cheapchickKY Champion Author Lexington Posts:4,027 Points:798,240 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 2:06:37 AM Ignore cheapchickKY Report Abuse If chargers for cell phones are all different, what would makes you assume cars would be different?
MyGaidin Veteran Author Vancouver Posts:279 Points:141,140 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 1:49:37 AM Ignore MyGaidin Report Abuse Well a standard would be nice, but look at the USB standard, will that be a standard mini or micro connection sir? Sigh.
MN1 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,369 Points:652,540 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 1:27:02 AM Ignore MN1 Report Abuse Need an industry standard
Amplion Champion Author Oregon Posts:6,777 Points:1,867,010 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 1:13:29 AM Ignore Amplion Report Abuse ALL OF MY NEW LAWN EQUIPMENT IS POWERED BY BRIGGS & STRATTON !!! MY CAR WILL CONTINUE TO BE A STRAIGHT SIX RWD !!!! I WILL CONTINUE WITH A 40 YEAR OLD 12 Volt Charger !!!!
bisonjim Champion Author Florida Posts:1,065 Points:208,180 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 12:48:22 AM Ignore bisonjim Report Abuse Not good
jimgraham Champion Author Akron Posts:10,382 Points:1,981,160 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 12:41:16 AM Ignore jimgraham Report Abuse Just another reason not to buy a EV - OR -buy a ChEVy Volt - drive it for thirty days and go get your money back!!
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:7,272 Points:1,743,655 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Aug 4, 2012 12:00:58 AM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse A case for onboard magnetic chargers.
Bussman Champion Author Dallas Posts:5,523 Points:1,360,935 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:52:53 PM Ignore Bussman Report Abuse It's a tangled web we weave...
us4usa Champion Author Missouri Posts:5,998 Points:1,114,940 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:42:02 PM Ignore us4usa Report Abuse This should help EVs, no thanks...
JimL1 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:8,222 Points:1,243,395 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:32:47 PM Ignore JimL1 Report Abuse A standard that can be interpreted in multiple ways is not much of a standard, now is it?
lesndave Champion Author Texas Posts:3,047 Points:703,105 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:30:00 PM Ignore lesndave Report Abuse Well said, tedjm1!
pa79th Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:1,792 Points:1,218,800 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:28:56 PM Ignore pa79th Report Abuse Settle on a standard that works and get on with it!
BobD2009 Champion Author Long Island Posts:6,999 Points:1,241,735 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:27:36 PM Ignore BobD2009 Report Abuse The EV is a fools errand.
csblesson Champion Author Texas Posts:1,821 Points:354,850 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:25:45 PM Ignore csblesson Report Abuse Ok
dwh724 Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:1,541 Points:636,125 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:24:49 PM Ignore dwh724 Report Abuse Okay
tedjm1 Champion Author New York Posts:5,609 Points:800,300 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:24:33 PM Ignore tedjm1 Report Abuse Total infrastructure was not considered. Only get the Electric out for sale.
carpenter4u Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,436 Points:617,895 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:24:30 PM Ignore carpenter4u Report Abuse Time to make some things standard
DABEE1073 Champion Author San Diego Posts:8,215 Points:1,575,035 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:23:37 PM Ignore DABEE1073 Report Abuse EV's ARE A PASSING FAD. THEY WILL NOT WORK OUT. RANGE IS TOO LIMITED.
rawdog1313 Champion Author Lexington Posts:3,309 Points:1,644,755 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:23:00 PM Ignore rawdog1313 Report Abuse Fix it ........ if you want them to have a chance of Selling.
FlyNFool Champion Author South Carolina Posts:8,254 Points:1,687,150 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:22:14 PM Ignore FlyNFool Report Abuse ok
ACTown Champion Author Oregon Posts:2,349 Points:1,432,120 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:20:35 PM Ignore ACTown Report Abuse our cell phone chargers are the same way.
SteelPenny Champion Author Dallas Posts:30,990 Points:2,608,690 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:19:05 PM Ignore SteelPenny Report Abuse More of our tax dollars wasted.
Thomtec Champion Author Nashville Posts:2,475 Points:610,095 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:17:49 PM Ignore Thomtec Report Abuse If it is not demanded by the market, Good liberal intentions usually never work.. The waste is remarkable!
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,297 Points:2,373,320 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2012 11:15:23 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse just more waste