Tesla Model S charging at Tesla Store Paris

Shot at the New Tesla Store & Shop, Paris

DIY EVSE Build Day by Kevin Sharpe from Zero Carbon World in the UK

Kevin Sharpe, founder of ZeroCarbonWolrd.org, gathered with friends to present the build of a DIY EVSE for any Electric Car in Europe

Very professional build and very instructive video, thanks Kevin !

"On Sunday 20th October 2013, Founder & Patron of Zero Carbon World - Kevin Sharpe, joined David Peilow and Grant Thomas for the UKs FIRST Electric Vehicle Supply Equpment (EVSE) Build Day. They built 3 32 Amp PORTABLE EVSE chargers. The whole event was followed live on Twitter using the hashtag #EVSEBuildDay.

What?

The objective was to show just how simple an Electric Car Charging station is; essentially 3 components. The completed units can charge all current and future electric cars as you can choose what connectivity.

Why?

This Portable EVSE will allow an Electric Car driver to connect to 'normal' electrical outlets found on Camp Sites, yachting marinas, commercial and hotels as well as the early Zero Carbon World Charging stations. This 32 Amp Commando Connection will allow a BMW i3 or a Leaf Mk 1.5 or a Tesla to charge at the full 32 Amps. Equally you could choose to fit a 16A commando plug, or indeed anything else you would like. Or build a simple 32A to 16A commando converter - we'll show you that as well!

An electric car, like the Nissan LEAF, comes with a charging cable (AKA EVSE brick) that trickle charges a Nissan LEAF at 10 Amps, meaning about 10 hours for a full charge. Using a dedicated charging station, or this Portable EVSE Charger, the same car could charge 60% faster at 16 Amps from a commando plug connection, and hence charges 60% quicker. If you have a BMW i3, or if you have paid £800 for the 6.6kWh charger in the Mk1.5 LEAF, you can charge at a full 32 Amps using this Portable EVSE, from a 32A Commando Connection reducing charging time to 4 hours.

As a Nissan LEAF / BMW i3 / Vauxhall Ampera / Citroen C-Zero / Mistubishi iMiev driver this will give you the flexibility to charge where and how you want. It's an essential piece of kit for the roving EV driver!"

Looking for a solution to Charge the LEAF at an Autolib Station

Since last saturday, when we found out that an Autolib Charging cable is too short for a LEAF, I have been looking for a solution ....

All Autolib charging stations have a Type 3 outlet and plug, a J1772 to plug into the car, (and third party EV ones have a regular 220V outlet)


First I thought, let's get a Type 3 (only in France ...) to J1772 cable, 7 meters long at least to go from the back of the car to the front charge port; I found one on Yoann's Automobile Propre Online Store
But it is too pricy for me ...


Also found one on Leboncoin.fr, but it is also 300EUR and 5m long only ... and the LEAF is 4.5m long, so it is too short too




Then I thought: No this Type 3 will eventually come to an end since it is not used at all other than in France, and all Europe is using Type 2 / Mennekes
So let's stay with Autolib J1772, and extend it to the front of the LEAF with a J1772 Extension Cable, yes it does exist, in the US at least, and a good one



After requesting a quote, it comes to 385USD shipped to France, too pricy still, but looks very well built, and has been sold by hundreds I was told
Here is a picture of a user who charges his Tesla Model S with it in Hawaii



Finally this morning, I came across this French guy's website on his Opel Ampera (= Chevy Volt in Europe) and all his charging adpators (a lot)

I asked him and it looks like it has been made by a company in Germany, and I am trying to get in touch with them to get one 

I will use it on the Autolib charging station, unplugging their Type 3 plug, and plugging this one instead, and plug my regular LEAF EVSE ...


onto the European outlet using an inexpensive adaptor

Tesla Model S - Charging in Europe

Tesla Model S - Charging in Europe
The Model S comes with all kinds of adapters for charging

Here a 400V 32A 3-phase AC outlet

The Mennekes or Type 2 plug is the standard for EVs in Europe