EV Basics - Shell Recharge Level 2 Charging

[@highlanderapparel]

Very informative😊 the Highlander

[@matheusnunes2469]

Thank you, Karl! Very informative, as always.

[@thenetworkarchitectchannel]

Informative. Also, thx for pronouncing My-er. I mention them on my channel and have yet to pronounce it correctly. Will reference this video before I make a video with their stations next time.

[@0e-michigan]

Yes, it's a old Dutch name and very similar to the German Meier. Here in Michigan, people tend to put an "s" on the end of stores, like "I went to Aldi's but couldn't find everything I wanted, so I got it at Meijer's." As non-native, I'm not sure where that comes from. I still need to get to the Grand Ledge FJ EVGo site to check it out.

[@realnicksutton]

I find it a bit easier to scan the QR code on the "charger" from within the Shell Recharge app. Then you don’t need to dig around in the map and try and sort through to select the right charger from the list.

[@stevendunn264]

Maybe you have not run in to it yet. But also check that the right plug is docked in the right charger. Some people will put cord 1 in charger 2 by mistake. I always check the cord I'm trying to use is connected to the charger I'm trying to use.

[@0e-michigan]

I think that's exactly what the problem was.

[@BrianTRice77]

I don’t know whether all Shell Recharge stations are former Volta stations, but J1772 free charging at retail always made sense, advertising or not. And I’ve used Volta for travel on my Zero before. They’re usually reliable, just not available until after a shopping center winds down for the evening. Anyway, I happened to try out a Shell Recharge CCS station yesterday at the former Volta headquarters, and the 15 minute update latency in the app made monitoring pretty useless! I think the charge rate was 85kW but had to sit in the car for long enough to see it for myself. It wasn’t cheaper than comparable CCS stations, so the retail advantage of free 1 hour charging on J1772 really doesn’t transfer? So Recharge CCS is fine but doesn’t have the same advantages.

[@0e-michigan]

Interesting. I looked up "Volta Shell Recharge" and sure enough there seems to be a connection now. Thanks for pointing that out. www.reddit.com/r/evcharging/comments/1batk8q/volta_is_now_shell_recharge/ Our local Volta L2s are free, but not the CCS, so I'm not surprised. The app is nearly useless. I might have to see if ChargePoint gives most timely stats if I activate a Shell Recharge with the CP app.

[@FameyFamous]

Free for the first hour is a good deal! I've used this at the Meijer stores in Scio Township (west of Ann Arbor) and in East Lansing (Lake Lansing Road). Today, i checked the Shell Recharge and PlugShare apps to see if I could find similar service in southern Michigan or northern Ohio. I found 3 more locations. Seven Hills, Ohio Holland 28th Street in Grand Rapids Am I missing any? Will more be installed?

[@0e-michigan]

Sweet! Thanks for the heads up. I'm hearing that Volta and Shell Recharge have teamed up, so it will be interesting to see what that merger will bring. Volta is known for free Level 2 charging paid for by advertising on the big screens on the stations. I've used Holland and 28th St. Cascade in GR. The latter is very popular and really could use an expansion.

[@realnicksutton]

I’ve used Shell Recharge at Meijer on 8 Mile Rd in Northville.

[@dssyenon]

I have no home charger and rely on public stations, so the math is important to determine if it's cost effective. Station reports it can output 7.4 kW. In an hour, this is 7.4 kWh. I suspect Meijer pays commercial energy rates, but even if we assume an expensive rate of 20c/kWh, that 7.4 kWh would cost them $1.48. I'd posit people spend more than that in an hour of shopping. After an hour, the station bills $2/h. At 7.4 kW, this costs the driver 27c/kWh, still a decent retail price. Commercial energy near me costs 8c, so that's a 3.4x markup. When compared to my previous gas car's mpg and current gas prices each time I charge, over the 3 years I owned the EV, energy would need to cost 56c/kWh to equal my fuel cost. So 27c is a win for me. Meijer wins because it costs them less to dispense the energy vs what people spend while charging. I win because I'm saving over 2x vs gas. People with home chargers paying residential rates save even more.

[@0e-michigan]

I've never been able to get the full 7.4 KW at these stations, but still the math works out. Even if I stay 2 hours, that's $2 for, say 2 x 6 kWh so 12 kWh, making it 17c/kWh...close to what I pay at home. Of course if you can play games like unplug and start another session, you can keep getting it for free. I'm sure it's a drop in the bucket for Meijer. Like I said in the video, I spent about $100 on groceries but I went out of my way to shop at this location for the chargers. I think this is the business math the some charging locations seem to miss. Offer free or reduced rate charging but EV drivers will come and spend money there.

[@ColtonBlumhagen]

Have on of thes near me. It's free so needing the app is complete stupidity.

[@0e-michigan]

The ones I've seen are only free for one hour and paid after that. Even free ChargePoint stations require a ChargePoint account. I do try to convince charging hosts who don't plan to collect funds for charging to go with a non networked charger. They're so much more reliable without a network.

[@davidmarlow194]

You have confirmed that the Shell chargers are amoung the most complicated to use. How does this help pepole go electric? Sense Shell is a gas company, I think that is what they want to do, discourge EV use.

[@0e-michigan]

FWIW, Shell is at least making the transition to electric to keep their options open. They bought the technology from Greenlots, so I'm not sure these particular chargers are a Shell design. But yes, they are a bit wonky which is part of the reason I made the video. They do work and the 1 hour for free is kind of a nice perk at Michigan Meijer stores.