Just got mine...

[FormerFF]

I just (like six hours ago) picked up my Energi, a Meteor Grey Titanium.  It's replacing a 2002 Focus that's served me well, but is getting a little worn.  It's the perfect car for me, since my commute consists of three or four very slow miles, then seven or eight miles at 45 - 50 mph with a few stoplights, then a couple of more slow miles.

 

Everyone in the family is thrilled.  My wife is happy because I'm no longer driving a two door hatchback in a loud color, and because she'll be able to drive the Fusion.  My daughters are happy because they each get their own door, and I'm happy because I get all the envirotech goodies.  Because our energy supplier has a super good overnight rate and because there's not outlet on my side of the garage, I'm planning on installing a Clipper Creek EVSE, most likely the 4.8 KW model.  I'm trying to decide whether I should ask for a 50 amp circuit or a 30 amp one.  I don't need the 50 amp one now, but who knows what the future will bring.  I plan on keeping the car for eight years or so, but will be in the house longer, and if I get a battery electric at that time, I might just want a 7.2 KW EVSE.

[meyersnole]

Welcome to the boards FormerFF. Your description of your commute does sound perfect for this car.

 

If you plan to take a couple trips on the weekend, or take the car out again after coming home for an hour or two then you can take advantage of a L2 charger. But, this is by no means a requirement for the vehicle. Most are perfectly happy charging over night with the supplied charger.

 

For convenience I installed a L2 charger, and went for 30A Bosch PowerMax. It can not use the maximum capacity of the charger, but if I decide I want to go to a full electric or another electric car that can...

 

Abuse the search on this site to find a ton of information, but if you can not find something be sure to post your questions.

[FormerFF]

Just arrived at work.  The MPG indicator shows 64, and I probably used about a quarter of the battery as well.  So far, I'm very impressed.

[Rexracer]

The mileage will go up after the car has broken in a bit, battery has been cyclced, etc etc. My old commute i went from getting 18-19mpg with my Acura TL (over hilll, twisty road) to averaging 60. Just moved closer to work, and so far this week I am sitting at 344mpg. ;-)

 

Congrats on the new car!

[Gigi]

When I bought our Energi, I installed a 3.8kW EVSE on an existing 20A circuit, which was fine for charging the Energi.  Soon, I fell in love with driving on electricity and decided to park my F-150 and add a Focus Electric to our household just two months after buying the Energi (nearly making the lease payment with what I was paying for gasoline in the truck). 

 

At this point, I am sharing one 3.8kW EVSE between two vehicles.  It's going fine since the Focus charges after I go to bed and it doesn't really matter whether it takes 3 or 5 hours to charge at that time, but I could foresee situations when one of us might want to charge to Focus more quickly than the 3.8kW unit is able to support.  I wish I had upgraded the wiring and breaker on the circuit and installed a 7.2kW EVSE initially because the Focus Electric is able to draw 6.6kW to charge and could charge more quickly during the day with the heavier unit.

 

If you think there is a possibility of getting an Electric sometime in the future either as a replacement or as a second vehicle and if you are needing to install a 240V circuit anyway, my suggestion is to go ahead and install a 40A circuit now and get a 7.2kW EVSE so that you can give an electric the power it can use when the time comes.

 

A second suggestion is to install the EVSE in a place where you can share the cord between two cars.  I installed mine in the middle of the wall the cars drive toward.  It is easy to unplug one when it is finished charging and transfer the plug to the other.

 

Welcome to the forum.  Congratulations on your purchase.  Did you get it from Cherokee or Sandy Springs?  I'm next door to you in the top right hand corner of Cobb Co.  If you see a White Platinum Energi or a White Focus Electric blink its lights, honk, or wave at you, it's me.

[FormerFF]

When I bought our Energi, I installed a 3.8kW EVSE on an existing 20A circuit, which was fine for charging the Energi.  Soon, I fell in love with driving on electricity and decided to park my F-150 and add a Focus Electric to our household just two months after buying the Energi (nearly making the lease payment with what I was paying for gasoline in the truck). 

 

At this point, I am sharing one 3.8kW EVSE between two vehicles.  It's going fine since the Focus charges after I go to bed and it doesn't really matter whether it takes 3 or 5 hours to charge at that time, but I could foresee situations when one of us might want to charge to Focus more quickly than the 3.8kW unit is able to support.  I wish I had upgraded the wiring and breaker on the circuit and installed a 7.2kW EVSE initially because the Focus Electric is able to draw 6.6kW to charge and could charge more quickly during the day with the heavier unit.

 

If you think there is a possibility of getting an Electric sometime in the future either as a replacement or as a second vehicle and if you are needing to install a 240V circuit anyway, my suggestion is to go ahead and install a 40A circuit now and get a 7.2kW EVSE so that you can give an electric the power it can use when the time comes.

 

A second suggestion is to install the EVSE in a place where you can share the cord between two cars.  I installed mine in the middle of the wall the cars drive toward.  It is easy to unplug one when it is finished charging and transfer the plug to the other.

 

Welcome to the forum.  Congratulations on your purchase.  Did you get it from Cherokee or Sandy Springs?  I'm next door to you in the top right hand corner of Cobb Co.  If you see a White Platinum Energi or a White Focus Electric blink its lights, honk, or wave at you, it's me.

 

 

I bought it from Cherokee, as they had the exact car I wanted (Meteor Grey, Titanium trim level, sunroof and nav) and we were able to come to what I think was a fair price, eventually.

 

I have a Clipper Creek LCS-25 coming next week.  I spoke with an electrician, and he said we could put some slimine breakers in the existing electrical box rather than having to run a subpanel, so I think I'm going to stick with the 30 amp wiring for now.  My wife has a six month old Explorer, and since we keep cars for eight or so years (my old car was a 2002 Focus) she wont be needing a plug anytime soon.  I do have a daughter who will be needing a car in about two years, and we might wind up getting one of those off lease LEAFs that will be available around that time, but it's too soon to tell.  I'm mounting my EVSE on the side wall not far from the door, so with that long cord that Clipper Creek gives you, we'd be able to charge a car that's outside should that be needed.

[Gigi]

Sounds great!  When you go for service at Cherokee, work with Jeff.  He's the service rep. who is trained on Energis and he appreciates the cars.

 

The tandem breakers should work fine to make room for the 30A.

 

Got my Energi from Cherokee and my Focus Electric from Sandy Springs.  So far so good with both dealers, but I do get annoyed with the requests from Cherokee to give excellent ratings for everything they do.  If people don't give them honest feedback, they're not going to learn anything about how to improve their service.