Charger FAQ/Explanation

[Cosmo Cruz]

I just want to add that there is nothing wrong with aluminum wiring (lol). The feed to your house is most likely aluminum.

 

[Cosmo Cruz]

I had a 14-50 installed with about 60’ feet of wire for $315 and a bottle of Tito’s.

Oh. Shit. Looks like I'm doing too much trickle-down.

 

[Bockius]

I had planned to buy a ChargePoint Flex home charger but my electrician is suggesting I buy a Tesla home charger (which he says works with a Lucid). Bad idea?

 

[DeaneG]

I had planned to buy a ChargePoint Flex home charger but my electrician is suggesting I buy a Tesla home charger (which he says works with a Lucid). Bad idea?

I've had both. The Chargepoint is much nicer to use on a daily basis, and can handle charge scheduling. You'd need an adapter to use Tesla's charger with anything but a Tesla, one more thing to fumble with/go wrong.

 

[borski]

I had planned to buy a ChargePoint Flex home charger but my electrician is suggesting I buy a Tesla home charger (which he says works with a Lucid). Bad idea?

Don’t. Buy a non-Tesla one instead, as it will have a CCS cable and you won’t need an adapter.

 

[cplewes]

I installed the Chargepoint for my Volvo a year before my Lucid showed up. Works great. I like the superior monitoring it offers, the scheduling features, and the history it stores I have found useful. Note is you must replace the plug back on the charger in-between charging different cars. It needs to clear the old car's settings and learn the first charge has ended. I learned this the hard way. They have fabulous support

 

[DeaneG]

I installed the Chargepoint for my Volvo a year before my Lucid showed up. Works great. ...

Interesting, I installed the Chargepoint for my Volvo as well. When Lucid's EVSE becomes available, I'll have one of each. Wish Lucid would at least release the installation instructions.

 

[cplewes]

Why would you want two?

 

[DeaneG]

Why would you want two?

We have two EVs in non-adjacent garage spaces. The Chargepoint, being limited to 50A, has a nice light cable that is easy for my wife to handle for her XC40 EV. I'm assuming that Lucid's 80A EVSE will have a cable more like a garden hose. I'll deal with it for my car.

 

[Sandvinsd]

Don’t. Buy a non-Tesla one instead, as it will have a CCS cable and you won’t need an adapter.

^^^^ ditto. Don’t.

 

[Jivor]

Could you install a Nema 10-30 and limit the amps to 24?

 

[emoylv]

Could you install a Nema 10-30 and limit the amps to 24?

Yes. Amazon sells several 24A NEMA 10-30 EVSEs.

 

[emoylv]

I just want to add that there is nothing wrong with aluminum wiring (lol). The feed to your house is most likely aluminum.

Yes, but ChargePoint specifies that circuit wiring be 90C COPPER. Don't know about other EVSE manufacturers.

 

[LucidNC]

According to my Delivery Specialist, using a Tesla adapter (like the one I purchased = Lectron Tesla to J1772 adapter) voids the warranty as it can damage the battery.
I don't know how true that is (that it can damage the battery) OR how they would know, but I bought a ChargePoint Flex (since my Tesla Connector is in my wife's garage anyway).
Electrify America stations are "rare" in my area (NC/SC), but plenty of Chargepoint stations, so I figured it can't hurt to have a ChargePoint account/app.
That said, I will be receiving the Lucid [again] today, so I can't attest to how well it charges (although the scheduling is nice .. and takes into account my utility company).
I do have a small pet-peeve with the Chargepoint .. I can't add more than one to my account. (in other words, if you have multiple garages or a second home, you'll need additional accounts).
Good luck.

 

[Cosmo Cruz]

Yes, but ChargePoint specifies that circuit wiring be 90C COPPER. Don't know about other EVSE manufacturers.

Wow....I did not know this. The electrician was going to offer Al (cost saving, easier to carry) but I insisted on copper, whew.
Waiting on a Juice Box 40 hardwire; has 25 foot cable that will reach all 3 bays and allow outside charging...programmable, etc.

 

[Bel]

Thanks to @borski

1) The Lucid “charger” is the Wunderbox charger that is built into the car. However, you’ll hear “charger” overused to mean EVSE because EVSE is so much more annoying to say.

2) EVSE is “Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment.” It is the generic term for the device that regulates the charging, typically third party. For example, Electrify America has lots of EVSEs all around the country. You may hear them called “charging stations”; same idea. There are also home EVSEs you can install, which are the ones like Wallbox pulsar plus, JuiceBox, Chargepoint, etc. *Technically*, the cable the Lucid comes with is also an EVSE, just a relatively dumb one.

3) the Lucid comes with a charging cable (or basic EVSE) in the trunk. It can be used to plug into any NEMA 14-50 outlet (where it will charge at 40 amps) or a 110v outlet (where it will trickle charge *extremely* slowly).

4) the reason to install a home EVSE is two-fold: a) if you hardwire it, it can charge at 48A on a 60A circuit (which is faster than the 40A you’d get on a 50A circuit), and b) you can schedule charging and control it remotely. If you have “time of use” pricing from your utility, the latter point is important so you don’t have to manage plugging in or unplugging manually. You do not *have* to hardwire a third party EVSE and can just plug it into a 14-50. If you do, you don’t get the extra speed but still get the charging automation.

5) if you install an EVSE, you can leave the charging cable or mobile EVSE in the trunk and use it for road trips or emergencies.

6) the Lucid Wallbox EVSE is not out yet, but we are expecting it this month or next month. It will be able to support 80A charging on a 100A circuit (assuming your wiring supports it), and will eventually support V2H (or vehicle 2 home) backup, but not at launch.

7) the charging cable the Lucid is supplied with will work just fine if you have a 14-50 and is all you need; however, be aware that most residential 14-50 outlets are not made for constant plugging and unplugging and are likely to wear out over time. You can install an industrial 14-50 outlet, but those are a bit more expensive.

Just a minor comment on 4 and hardwired. For using the full 50 A, instead of 48, use a 70 A CB. By NEC requirements, 50x1.25 = 62.5 A CB is needed and next standard size CB is 70 A. Although NEC allows for the next size up wire gauge rule, its best to size the wire for 70 A as well for long life and less heat build up at terminations. Cost add is minimal as compared to the entire new installation.

 

[borski]

Just a minor comment on 4 and hardwired. For using the full 50 A, instead of 48, use a 70 A CB. By NEC requirements, 50x1.25 = 62.5 A CB is needed and next standard size CB is 70 A. Although NEC allows for the next size up wire gauge rule, its best to size the wire for 70 A as well for long life and less heat build up at terminations. Cost add is minimal as compared to the entire new installation.

Sure. Most chargers only go up to 48 continuous, but yeah there are some that can do 50. The difference isn’t very much in terms of charge time, but you’re totally right.

 

[borski]

According to my Delivery Specialist, using a Tesla adapter (like the one I purchased = Lectron Tesla to J1772 adapter) voids the warranty as it can damage the battery.
I don't know how true that is (that it can damage the battery) OR how they would know, but I bought a ChargePoint Flex (since my Tesla Connector is in my wife's garage anyway).
Electrify America stations are "rare" in my area (NC/SC), but plenty of Chargepoint stations, so I figured it can't hurt to have a ChargePoint account/app.
That said, I will be receiving the Lucid [again] today, so I can't attest to how well it charges (although the scheduling is nice .. and takes into account my utility company).
I do have a small pet-peeve with the Chargepoint .. I can't add more than one to my account. (in other words, if you have multiple garages or a second home, you'll need additional accounts).
Good luck.

I think this is just what they have to say for liability, particularly since those adapters aren’t UL-listed.

 

[Thinjake]

Not sure if this has been asked/answered as I couldn't find it, but....

We can set the charge limit(say, to 80%) and the charging stops there. But what if 8 hours later it drops to 79%...will it start charging again?

Is there a way to set a lower threshold, like say 60%? So it charges up to 80% then lays dormant until it drops down to 60% and then charges back to 80%.

 

[hydbob]

Not sure if this has been asked/answered as I couldn't find it, but....

We can set the charge limit(say, to 80%) and the charging stops there. But what if 8 hours later it drops to 79%...will it start charging again?

Is there a way to set a lower threshold, like say 60%? So it charges up to 80% then lays dormant until it drops down to 60% and then charges back to 80%.

Currently, no. Also, when it reaches the charge limit, even if the car drops, it will not charge again unless you "wake" the car again and it realizes it's lower than expected.