It was another typical Saturday for me--drive to swimming and return home. The roundtrip ride takes almost the entire charge on my Nissan 2012 Leaf, Electra, usually arriving home with less than five miles to spare. But today, I wanted to charge up Electra so I could do a little bit extra while I was out. Whereas last week I jolted up at the local library while my daughter swam, today I wanted to see my other options.
Here was the challenge: the reason I wanted to extend my range was to go to the local Whole Foods store, which is just out of range if I combine swimming with the trip. But the Whole Foods, shame on them, doesn't have an EV charger. If I wanted to go to Whole Foods after swimming, I'd need to extend my range by fifteen miles. After searching Carwings, I discovered that the Publix near the pool sponsored an electric vehicle charger. Great, I could fix up a few basics and grab a few miles.
I dropped my daughter at the pool and headed to Publix, a Florida-based grocery store which is the darling of the grocery business. Publix cooks and cans their own organic line of food called Greenwise, which often sits next to the non-organic foods on the shelves. In my local Publix out in the 'burbs, the Greenwise foods intermingle with the regular foods, so it doesn't appear as though the Greenwise line is extensive. Well, Carwings directed me to a Publix-owned, free-standing Greenwise store in south Tampa. Who knew?
Humm. Let's put this in perspective. The reason I ended up at Publix Greenwise was to get a charge so I could go to its competitor, Whole Foods. The reason I needed to go to Whole Foods was because my local Publix doesn't carry Tofurkey nor soy-based yogurts. Maybe Publix's Greenwise would?
I plugged Electra in and entered the store. It was a Whole Foods copy-cat with a bit of Publix blended in. I found my Tofurkey, my yogurt, an entire gluten-free aisle for my husband, and plenty of non-organic items as well. Not only did I spend $100, but I was able to purchase everything I needed on my list without going to Whole Foods. Fantastic!
I asked for the manager. She gladly came over for a chat, and I told her the reason I came to her store--the charger--and how she just added $100 to her cash drawer for the day. I also stated that Whole Foods did not get the income, which made her smile instantly. Now, I'm not here to advocate Publix over Whole Foods, organic over non, tofu over turkey, but I am here to advocate for EV chargers.
I have no idea how much the EV charger costs Publix, but I do know they pocketed $100 of my money plus they kept me from visiting their competitor today. That sounds like a sound business decision to me. And, I'll go back to Greenwise as well. Thanks Publix for the free jolt and the extensive stock. You saved me time, money, and aggravation. Priceless.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Electra jolts up with ChargePoint!
Since I purchased my 2012 Nissan Leaf, Electra, 6 weeks ago, she's been juicing up every night via a 110 trickle charge. I am planning on upgrading my garage charge once I move into my new house, so in the meantime, we limp along with 13 and 14 hour charge times. But today, Electra's life line changed.
I decided to venture out to the public charging stations today. While my daughter was at swim practice, I journeyed to the public library and find my first charging station. Thanks to Carwings, it pointed me to a ChargePoint station in the county's parking lot. I have to admit, though, I wasn't sure what to do.
Electra fit nicely in the Electric Vehicle parking spot, nicely denoted by the green strips, parking block and sign. Next to the sign stood a Chargepoint station. I opened Electra's charging door and easily unhung the charging cord. I plugged her right in. Next, I figured I had to pay. Carwings told me the charging station was free. But why wouldn't it start?
I noticed on the front of ChargePoint I could tap my credit card, including all the major choices (Visa, MasterCard, AmericanExpress, etc.) But as I tapped, nothing happenend. Fortunately, there was a phone number. 888 758 4389. In one ring, a nice fellow asked my name. I told him that I was trying to tap my Visa, but nothing was happening.
He asked if my Visa had a chip in it. What? I told him it was a debit card, and I think he said I could only use a credit card. So I pulled out my American Express, but tapping it didn't work either. He asked if it had a chip in it. What? Apparently, tap-only charge spots require cards with chips in them. Humm, I'll have to research that one. He then asked if I had a ChargePoint card so that I could unlock the station. What?
Apparently I could use a ChargePoint card to start the electricity flowing. Fortunately for me, the charge was free as the kind man confirmed I was, in fact, at a free charging station. He pushed a magic button and within a few seconds, the station clicked and Electra started charging. The rep then asked if I wanted to have a ChargePoint card sent to me so that I could use it at future stations. Of course!
So, now I have some research to do. How to do I get a debit card with a chip inside, and do I want one? If I tap my card, does it automatically unlock a ChargePoint station? If I am at a free ChargePoint, how do I know except by what my Carwings tells me on my nav display? And, if I'm at a free station, is the only way to unlock the ChargePoint is with a ChargePoint card? Or will my chipped Visa unlock (but not pay), thus eliminating the need to carry yet another card. Or, can I link up my Visa to my ChargePoint so that I have a way to pay at a paying station? Wow, lots to think about.
I want to note something really neat though. The rep asked me if I wanted a 110 charge or a 240 charge. I chose the bigger as I only had 90 minutes before I needed to pick my daughter up. Thus, 240 jolted right into Electra, and in 90 minutes I had her back up to full charge. Good thing, I've got some birthday shopping to do and many miles to drive!
I decided to venture out to the public charging stations today. While my daughter was at swim practice, I journeyed to the public library and find my first charging station. Thanks to Carwings, it pointed me to a ChargePoint station in the county's parking lot. I have to admit, though, I wasn't sure what to do.
Electra fit nicely in the Electric Vehicle parking spot, nicely denoted by the green strips, parking block and sign. Next to the sign stood a Chargepoint station. I opened Electra's charging door and easily unhung the charging cord. I plugged her right in. Next, I figured I had to pay. Carwings told me the charging station was free. But why wouldn't it start?
I noticed on the front of ChargePoint I could tap my credit card, including all the major choices (Visa, MasterCard, AmericanExpress, etc.) But as I tapped, nothing happenend. Fortunately, there was a phone number. 888 758 4389. In one ring, a nice fellow asked my name. I told him that I was trying to tap my Visa, but nothing was happening.
He asked if my Visa had a chip in it. What? I told him it was a debit card, and I think he said I could only use a credit card. So I pulled out my American Express, but tapping it didn't work either. He asked if it had a chip in it. What? Apparently, tap-only charge spots require cards with chips in them. Humm, I'll have to research that one. He then asked if I had a ChargePoint card so that I could unlock the station. What?
Apparently I could use a ChargePoint card to start the electricity flowing. Fortunately for me, the charge was free as the kind man confirmed I was, in fact, at a free charging station. He pushed a magic button and within a few seconds, the station clicked and Electra started charging. The rep then asked if I wanted to have a ChargePoint card sent to me so that I could use it at future stations. Of course!
So, now I have some research to do. How to do I get a debit card with a chip inside, and do I want one? If I tap my card, does it automatically unlock a ChargePoint station? If I am at a free ChargePoint, how do I know except by what my Carwings tells me on my nav display? And, if I'm at a free station, is the only way to unlock the ChargePoint is with a ChargePoint card? Or will my chipped Visa unlock (but not pay), thus eliminating the need to carry yet another card. Or, can I link up my Visa to my ChargePoint so that I have a way to pay at a paying station? Wow, lots to think about.
I want to note something really neat though. The rep asked me if I wanted a 110 charge or a 240 charge. I chose the bigger as I only had 90 minutes before I needed to pick my daughter up. Thus, 240 jolted right into Electra, and in 90 minutes I had her back up to full charge. Good thing, I've got some birthday shopping to do and many miles to drive!
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Leaf-ing Anxiety Behind
As I've posted before, 2012 Nissan Leaf math means that a mile isn't really a mile. Depending on how fast I drive, whether the air conditioner is on, and whether I'm in ECO or Drive mode, I can range from 82 to 106 of total miles. The faster I drive, the smaller my range.
I live 47 Leaf miles to the aiport. This mean that I drive on the interstate, and I might have to use the A/C or the heater, which could decrease my range as well. This week, Electra, my 2012 Leaf, and I had to go to the aiport. My Leaf anxiety clicked in when I arrived at the aiport with 46 range miles left. Range anxiety amped to an all-time high.
Here's why. Even though I had called the Tampa airport to find out what the recharging situation was, I found out I would have to trust someone else to plug in my car, confirm she was charged, and rely on someone to do the job correctly. If "someone" failed me, I'd be stuck at the aiport with a car not charged enough to get home.
I had four options at the Tampa aiport. Option one involved leaving my car unattended in the cell lot where a charger remained unstaffed. Although the charger is free, the rules of the cell phone lot state that someone must remain with the car. So option one was out.
Option two required for parking in the short-term lot. I would have access to the free charger there, too. I would have to plug Electra in and hope that no one unplugged her before she was charged. Since I would be returning late on a Friday night, I was a bit apprenhensive that I could trust no one would unplug before Electra was ready. Granted, there are not a lot of cars lined up to get charged, but it was a risk I didn't want to take.
Option three involved me parking in long-term parking and hijaking my own 110 plug somewhere in the lot. This would take some creative research prior to my departure, and I wasn't sure if I could sneak this maneuver past the Tampa Parking Authority.
Option four pointed me to Valet parking. Although the most expensive ($25 a day vs $17 in long term), the valet would manage Electra's charging. Not only could I pull right up to the curb, valet would park, charge, and return Electra to me upon my arrival. Considering I couldn't take the risk of Electra not fully charging, I chose this option.
It worked beautifully! What was nice? I didn't have to wait to get home to find out if Electra charged or not. While in Boston, I pulled up my Carwings. There, I found Electra was fully charged in plenty of time for my arrival home. And, thus, she was! I returned to her warmed seats and full charge and made it home without a blimp. No need for any anxiety after all.
I'm really starting to love this car.
I live 47 Leaf miles to the aiport. This mean that I drive on the interstate, and I might have to use the A/C or the heater, which could decrease my range as well. This week, Electra, my 2012 Leaf, and I had to go to the aiport. My Leaf anxiety clicked in when I arrived at the aiport with 46 range miles left. Range anxiety amped to an all-time high.
Here's why. Even though I had called the Tampa airport to find out what the recharging situation was, I found out I would have to trust someone else to plug in my car, confirm she was charged, and rely on someone to do the job correctly. If "someone" failed me, I'd be stuck at the aiport with a car not charged enough to get home.
I had four options at the Tampa aiport. Option one involved leaving my car unattended in the cell lot where a charger remained unstaffed. Although the charger is free, the rules of the cell phone lot state that someone must remain with the car. So option one was out.
Option two required for parking in the short-term lot. I would have access to the free charger there, too. I would have to plug Electra in and hope that no one unplugged her before she was charged. Since I would be returning late on a Friday night, I was a bit apprenhensive that I could trust no one would unplug before Electra was ready. Granted, there are not a lot of cars lined up to get charged, but it was a risk I didn't want to take.
Option three involved me parking in long-term parking and hijaking my own 110 plug somewhere in the lot. This would take some creative research prior to my departure, and I wasn't sure if I could sneak this maneuver past the Tampa Parking Authority.
Option four pointed me to Valet parking. Although the most expensive ($25 a day vs $17 in long term), the valet would manage Electra's charging. Not only could I pull right up to the curb, valet would park, charge, and return Electra to me upon my arrival. Considering I couldn't take the risk of Electra not fully charging, I chose this option.
It worked beautifully! What was nice? I didn't have to wait to get home to find out if Electra charged or not. While in Boston, I pulled up my Carwings. There, I found Electra was fully charged in plenty of time for my arrival home. And, thus, she was! I returned to her warmed seats and full charge and made it home without a blimp. No need for any anxiety after all.
I'm really starting to love this car.
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