Should I get the lucid home charger or something else?

[RAF42]

This really caught my attention
Do you get 12kw delivered to each car when charging both at the same time?

Sorry for the delayed response, currently on a cruise in Alaska

If you charge both cars at once, each gets half the available power. Since we have a 50 amp breaker, the max usable is 40 amps, or around 9.6kW. If charging both at once each vehicle will get about 4.8kW. If we had a 60 amp breaker (the unit tops out at 50 amps if using a 60 amp breaker) you would get around 11.5kW for a single vehicle or around 5.75kW per vehicle if charging both at once.

We usually only have one vehicle that might need a bigger charge/day, so if both start charging at midnight, one will be done in an hour or two leaving the other to get the full 9.6kW, which is almost always enough to have both fully charged by 7 or 8 am.

 

[bcjenkins]

I agree with @petergottlieb about evaluating your true needs.

When we bought our 2015 Nissan LEAF, we lived in Montgomery, AL and could take advantage of reduced electricity rates if we charged after hours. I installed a 240V circuit and built a 28A kit from OpenEVSE (https://www.openevse.com/). Because we were charging during limited hours, the 28A circuit was useful.

We've been in the Chattanooga, TN area for 10 years, and the 2015 LEAF has been replaced with the 2020. We do not get a reduced rate on our electricity here, so we just use the 110V trickle charger to add juice to the battery overnight when we need it. That approach satisfies virtually all of our daily commuting needs. When we need to top-off the battery more quickly--to prep for a short-notice trip, for example--I plug in the 28A equipment, which has been used only a dozen-or-so times this past decade.

I'm in the process of purchasing a new AGT and have thought deeply about installing an 80A circuit. It would be fun having fancy new EVSE with WiFi and all that jazz, but after crunching the numbers associated with my expected charging needs, it makes the most sense to stick with what I have: either use my already-installed 28A equipment or the 110V trickle circuit. If I ever need a super-fast fill, Electrify America has 350kW equipment at the VW plant about 20 minutes away.

I may change my mind after getting the AGT, but what I've outlined above makes the most sense for me at this time.

 

[prgarg]

Sorry for the delayed response, currently on a cruise in Alaska

If you charge both cars at once, each gets half the available power. Since we have a 50 amp breaker, the max usable is 40 amps, or around 9.6kW. If charging both at once each vehicle will get about 4.8kW. If we had a 60 amp breaker (the unit tops out at 50 amps if using a 60 amp breaker) you would get around 11.5kW for a single vehicle or around 5.75kW per vehicle if charging both at once.

We usually only have one vehicle that might need a bigger charge/day, so if both start charging at midnight, one will be done in an hour or two leaving the other to get the full 9.6kW, which is almost always enough to have both fully charged by 7 or 8 am.

Thank you, that makes sense. Thanks for explaining it and enjoy the rest of the cruise!

 

[L-Dude]

I forgot to mention that one of the reasons I wanted the LCHS (other than it being free ) is I was hoping to use it for V2H. We live in hurricane country and it would be nice to have the Air as a backup battery.

 

[doubletwist]

We've been in the Chattanooga, TN area for 10 years, and the 2015 LEAF has been replaced with the 2020. We do not get a reduced rate on our electricity here, so we just use the 110V trickle charger to add juice to the battery overnight when we need it. That approach satisfies virtually all of our daily commuting needs. When we need to top-off the battery more quickly--to prep for a short-notice trip, for example--I plug in the 28A equipment, which has been used only a dozen-or-so times this past decade.

You might be getting enough charge from the level 1 charger but you're spending more on electricity to do it. The L1 charging is significantly less efficient than even a 28A L2 charger. It would save you money (not a ton mind you, but every little bit helps) to just plug into the 28A charger for everything.

 

[bcjenkins]

You might be getting enough charge from the level 1 charger but you're spending more on electricity to do it. The L1 charging is significantly less efficient than even a 28A L2 charger. It would save you money (not a ton mind you, but every little bit helps) to just plug into the 28A charger for everything.

I agree with you. The L2 is potentially 20%+ more efficient. We're using the L1 mostly out of my laziness.

The contacts "kerchunk" on the L2 make my wife nervous, so she'd rather plug in the relatively quiet L1. If I programmed the LEAF for charging from, say, 01:00-05:00, which nets about 80 miles, she could plug in the L2 when she gets home from work (every other day). At 01:00, the LEAF will declare it's ready for juice, and my wife won't have to listen to the EVSE contacts close.

Thanks for your comments. I'd forgotten that I can program the LEAF's charging period.

For the AGT, I'll set the max charge to 70 or 80 percent and simply plug in the L2 when the LEAF isn't charging. (Sometime in 2027, I hope that this statement will read, "For the AGT, I'll set the max charge to 70 or 80 percent and simply plug in the L2 when the Cosmos isn't charging.")

 

[Rhinoww]

I just picked up a 2025 Air Touring. Before purchase I spoke with a number of electricians who install home chargers - to evaluate my use case, my panel, and costs.

I have a 200A system that has a lot of circuits that are rarely used. The electrician who recommended

EMPORIA Pro Level 2 EV Charger with PowerSmart​

Got my business (after a rec here as well). With the smart WiFi I don’t need to upgrade my service to get full power. The WiFi smart unit monitors other usage so if say I had my four commercial IR porch heaters going and was charging my car, the car charger would get throttled. Saved me from getting a new panel. Electrician said he installs this unit on a lot of 100A houses.
I have been interested in V2H, but since that isn’t real yet for lucid, I wasn’t going to spend the money on a new panel and a lucid charger. I have a fast DC charger 5 minutes from my house so if I am in a jam I’ll have options. When V2H is real for lucid I’ll look into it. For GM the hardware and install was around 15k, so not worth it for me (and I really did t love the lyriq).
Hardware should arrive on weds, and then install next week.
Every situation and budget is different. Figure out what is most important to you on a cost benefit. I drive less than 10k miles a year around town and overnight 48A is plenty.

 

[borski]

I just picked up a 2025 Air Touring. Before purchase I spoke with a number of electricians who install home chargers - to evaluate my use case, my panel, and costs.

I have a 200A system that has a lot of circuits that are rarely used. The electrician who recommended

EMPORIA Pro Level 2 EV Charger with PowerSmart​

Got my business (after a rec here as well). With the smart WiFi I don’t need to upgrade my service to get full power. The WiFi smart unit monitors other usage so if say I had my four commercial IR porch heaters going and was charging my car, the car charger would get throttled. Saved me from getting a new panel. Electrician said he installs this unit on a lot of 100A houses.
I have been interested in V2H, but since that isn’t real yet for lucid, I wasn’t going to spend the money on a new panel and a lucid charger. I have a fast DC charger 5 minutes from my house so if I am in a jam I’ll have options. When V2H is real for lucid I’ll look into it. For GM the hardware and install was around 15k, so not worth it for me (and I really did t love the lyriq).
Hardware should arrive on weds, and then install next week.
Every situation and budget is different. Figure out what is most important to you on a cost benefit. I drive less than 10k miles a year around town and overnight 48A is plenty.

FWIW, the Wallbox Pulsar Plus also has a meter attachment for monitoring the panel and adjusting current in real-time.