New forum category for [Public] Charging Infrastructure?

[pv]

Can we have a new forum category made for Charging Infrastructure?  Talking about the internals, uses, specs etc of chargers is great and all, but there are separate discussions that people may want to take place in regarding public charging options, getting them installed, keeping them running, reporting progress/condition, etc.  Sound worthy of a forum category?

Pv

[aviken]

Pv

I think that this could be a great topic(thread) in an existing category, but I think the topic is not broad enough in the scope of the Electric Car theme of this forum to warrant a separate category. This is of course just my opinion.

I think the plan is to reluctantly add new categories until a spike in topics necessitates it. If we get a lots of conversations going on about Charging infrastructure, we will gladly add a topic for it.

Ken

[Stephen_J]

I agree with Paul. I think it would be nice to see a charging infrastructure category. It's different than just Chargers as equipment where it is filed now.  Plenty of stuff to talk about regarding charging our EVs in the northwest. Regulations, types of outlets, updates, user experiences, guerilla charging opportunities, new locations and maps etc.  On that note...

I am happy to report that I used the Edmonds EV charging spot with my Lead Acid factory S-10E and brought my own magnecharge unit and plugged in to the 50amp 220V outlet (14-50 range plug).  It worked splendidly!   I had dinner and watched the sunset over the sound while I charged. Then I had full voltage for the big hill heading out of town. This is a great location on about 5th and Bell right by city hall and in the heart of downtown.

Ciao,
Stephen Johnsen

[rjf]

For the moment, I agree with Ken in that until there is enough "critical mass" of topics (posts) regarding charging that it may not make sense to start a new board.  It definitely doesn't warrant a new Category, as a category is the top level or organization (IE: General, Vehicles, Components).  But Stephen has also made a good point about there being plenty of potential topics within the realm of "Charging" which is very different from Hardware/Chargers, and I know that he and others have plenty that they can contribute regarding charging.  So I am open to creating a new Board within the General Category, and am willing to accept proposals for the new boards Name (First bold title) and Description (about two lines worth, perhaps with a link to wiki charging page).  Keep in mind that we can create a new board at any time and move threads from their current locations into their own new board at any point in the future without breaking any urls or links...

[pv]

For the moment, I agree with Ken in that until there is enough "critical mass" of topics (posts) regarding charging that it may not make sense to start a new board.  It definitely doesn't warrant a new Category, as a category is the top level or organization (IE: General, Vehicles, Components).  But Stephen has also made a good point about there being plenty of potential topics within the realm of "Charging" which is very different from Hardware/Chargers, and I know that he and others have plenty that they can contribute regarding charging.  So I am open to creating a new Board within the General Category, and am willing to accept proposals for the new boards Name (First bold title) and Description (about two lines worth, perhaps with a link to wiki charging page).  Keep in mind that we can create a new board at any time and move threads from their current locations into their own new board at any point in the future without breaking any urls or links...

I'm OK w/ keeping things global for now and then moving them to a moderated board if the topic gets "hot"

[cathysax]

OK, so it looks like this is the appropriate place for questions about public charging stations...

The map at <www.evcharging.org> shows an SPI charger at the Issaquah Costco. Anyone know where it's located? We did a pretty thorough search of the lot, and asked at the tire station and inside at customer service. No sign of a charger, and the employees didn't have any insight.

Cathy Saxton
...proud new owner of a RAV4-EV!

[aviken]

Congratulations on your RAV4! I'll refrain from badgering you with questions about it...it's my vehicle of choice for my conversion...

I too wonder about the Costco one. It's in my area (though not real close, I live in the Redmond Ridge area). I haven't been there, but I do plan to check it out the next time I am in Issaquah. I don't have the answer your looking for...but we'll both be happy when it's location is confirmed (hopefully)...

[aviken]

Dan answered this from the mail list so I've posted it here...

The Issaquah Costco charge location is parking space #29, located in the
employee parking garage underneath the Costco office building that's closest to
the store across the street. It is immediately to the right when you enter
the parking area, in front of the bicycle parking cage. The station amounts to two
240v outlets on the wall. One is a NEMA 14-50 (4-pin). I forget what the other one is,
but it has 3 pins. There is no signage whatsoever, although as of last week
there was a movable fluorescent cone/standard in the space itself.
Stephen Johnsen reports that the power has been live to the area on past visits.

Dan Davids

[leitmotif]

I think that
1.  Several people have gone thru some work to create a list and or map of charging stations
2.  Their work deserves a stand alone easy to find location
3.  The users would have the convenience of looking it up at a computer almost anywhere when they lose their map list or whatever.
4.  IT may not be a high demand item
5   In the interest of community service and just being all around good guys (OK OK PC is here - persons uhhhh homo sapiens??) we should have a separate listing

Dan Bentler