Dear Energy Coach: I bought an EV and have been making do with Level 1 charging. According to the load sheet, I need a transformer upgrade, but my EV has a 7.2 kw onboard charger, which isn’t close to the 12 kw load of the Level 2 charger that would overload my transformer. What gives? Why can’t you give me …
Ask the Energy Coach: When should I buy an EV?
Dear Energy Coach: My current car is a gasser, but my next will be electric. My question is, should I buy now or later for the best incentives? You’re in good company. Anecdotally, I know of many WEC members and Vermonters who have decided their current combustion engine vehicle will be their last. There’s more to take into account than …
Ask the Energy Coach: Is there an industry standard for EV charging connectors?
Dear Energy Coach: I am buying an EV, and I want to know where I can charge it. Can I charge a non-Tesla at a Tesla charging station now? Why isn’t there an industry standard for this stuff? Let’s start now and then look to the future. Yes: an industry standard is emerging, and it looks like it’s the North …
When your EV is also your outage battery backup: Looking ahead to bidirectional charging
EVs on the market can already charge other devices. Bidirectional charging EVSE will allow EVs to function as full-house battery backup. Bill Powell, WEC’s Energy Coach, doesn’t usually trade in predicting the future. When it comes to making big purchase decisions, though, he knows WEC members like to plan ahead. Members who are still driving combustion engine cars, but are …
On the transformer waitlist? You can probably still charge an EV
Efficiency improvements in tech sometimes come with unintended consequences. In March, the American Public Power Association filed a comment warning that the Department of Energy’s proposed efficiency standards for transformers would worsen an existing shortage, throttled by supply chain woes since early in the pandemic. WEC just saw a delivery of transformers ordered in 2020, and has several orders still …
Talking Electric Vehicles
Members considering EVs – but not yet buying them – talk about factors in their decision making WEC members are thinking about electric vehicles. While some members have been driving EVs for years, many other members are giving thoughtful consideration to making the switch as EVs become mainstream. Last year, at the member cookout in September, conversations about EVs reflected …
Energy Coach
Ask the Energy Coach: When will incentives resume? Dear Energy Coach: I just installed a hot water heat pump and want to take advantage of WEC’s incentives. When will they be available again? You can submit the invoices for any eligible equipment upgrades now – in fact, WEC hopes you will. All eligible equipment upgrades dated from September through December …
Our Electric Car Experience
Members Write by Lauri Scharf It’s been over two years now since we bought an electric car (or EV). It’s our first EV, so we weren’t sure what to expect, but at this point the verdict is in: we’re very satisfied. At the end of the day, living with an EV isn’t very different from daily life with a gas …