proud new owner of an 'i'

[MtnViewMark]

We just drove ours home (in Mountain View, CA):

Still no EVSE installed, leaning toward the Legrand.

 

[JoeS]

MtnViewMark: congratulations! When did you place your reservation, how long did it take for GeekSquad/Mr. Electric to 'inspect' your power source adequacy, and did you have a Level 2 EVSE installed?

RickMaz: when you gently start applying the brakes, is there any modulation of the regen, or is regen simply max'd out immediately? Is it more than using "B"? My own very short test drive impression was that it could be modulated with travel of the brake pedal, but perhaps it is also a function of vehicle speed. ... hmmm, maybe we should start a separate thread and also have a technical section in this Forum.

 

[MtnViewMark]

I think we placed our reservation last May! I had forgotten it was so long ago!

I finally got around to call about a site survey in September, and they came in early October. They were useless: The inspector barely had a clue what he was looking at, and mostly measured distances from the various electrical panels. He wrote a "report" that contained almost no information. Then - Mr. Electric just never called or sent a quote. Last week, just before we were called to be told the car was here, I got a call from Mr. Electric's office asking "had we received a quote?" So, apparently they don't even know if they've processed that "report". I called back twice, both times getting an answering machine, and I said that we hadn't received anything. Still, no word from them.

Based on that experience, I researched my EVSEs on my own, selected one (the Legrand L2EVSE16), and will just hire a local electrician to do the work. After all, it's a pretty simple job: Extend our unused 240v. circuit in the garage to near the door, and wire the EVSE: three wire nuts and we're done. I also called the electric company myself, and in 15 min. they had me scheduled for the EV rate service, and for the local technician to do what he needs.

 

[jjlink]

Congratulations MtnViewMark, That must be the Silver one I saw listed on Capitol Mitsubishi's website. I also ordered a silver one also, but mine is not there yet.

I had the same experience with the Geed Squad back in early October and had heard nothing from Mr. Electric. So I had the Leviton L2 EVSE installed last week by a local electrician. Yes, the day after I filled out the rate change form for PG&E they showed up at the house to check the existing service to the meter (wow PG&E was fast). Now I just waiting for the car to show up.

Its funny Mr. Electric just sent me a E-mail last night saying if no one calls you to setup an appointment in the next two days to E-mail them (Sorry guys that ship has sailed away.)

 

[Dan O]

Everyone is having the same experiance with The Geek Squad. Mitsubishi is not at fault however they should have researched The Geek Squad before aligning themselves with them. It makes Mitsubishi look bad. You are doing the right thing by having your own electrician install your level 2 charger. I did that three weeks ago. I chose the Leviton unit but I'm sure that any of them are good. My only recommendation is that you try to get it installed next week. There is no guarantee that the Feds are going to extend the 30% tax credit on the charger and installation. I would hate to see you miss out on four or five hundred dollars.

 

[MtnViewMark]

I'd love to have the EVSE installed by the end of the year to get in on the Federal credit. However, the unit we want is "backordered" at Home Depot by three weeks, and they won't charge us for it until it ships! Going to go talk with them about it in person.

 

[jjlink]

You could have the Leviton or GE EVSE delivered with one or two day shipping from AMAZON.com. That is what I did.

Does anyone know if the 30% tax credit includes the installation cost or not? The IRS form does not seem to address it.

 

[freqflyer]

I'd love to have the EVSE installed by the end of the year to get in on the Federal credit. However, the unit we want is "backordered" at Home Depot by three weeks, and they won't charge us for it until it ships! Going to go talk with them about it in person.

My contractor ordered directly from Eaton. They said that it was in stock and would take a couple days to deliver. I don't know the price difference between going through Home Depot or the contractor. It will be full installed next week so I will hit the 2011 tax requirements. Now if I can only get the car to plug it in.

 

[jjlink]

I just logged into http://i.mitsubishicars.com/myi

and it gives me the following information -


Car Status:

Shipped ("On the high Seas").

Your Order:
To change your order, please contact your preferred Mitsubishi i-certified dealer.

SE Trim


Cool Silver Metallic
Packages and Accessories Selected:

Premium Package
- 40gb HDD Navigation w/ Music Server & Real-time Traffic (RDS)
- Fuse Handsfree Link System™ w/ USB Port
- Steering Wheel Audio Controls
- Quick Charge Port
- Rearview Camera System
- Battery Warming System
- Heated Sideview Mirrors

 

[rickmaz]

Looks cool MtViewMark! Congrats!

JoeS=> Yes the brake pedal does modulate the regen. Also, if in B mode and going down a steep hill, touching the accellerator pedal also modulates the regen!

Here's some more photo links:

https://secure.flickr.com/photos/69569729@N00/6579963551/lightbox/

https://secure.flickr.com/photos/69569729@N00/6579965241/lightbox/

https://secure.flickr.com/photos/69569729@N00/6579961775/lightbox/

https://secure.flickr.com/photos/69569729@N00/6579962717/lightbox/

Have really been enjoying driving electric! My friends are all having fun taking it around the block too. I think I have solved the minor problem of starting down my 1400' hill without a totally full battery, so I can use regen for braking instead of friction brakes. Using the key fob communicator I set a stop time that will leave 1 or two bars uncharged when the stop charge is reached based on this formula: Every hour charges up about 0.8 of a bar. So for example if I want to charge up six bars, I'll set the stop time for 8 hours after the start time. (Still using the 110V charger...hopefully I will get the Eaton L2 charger hooked up soon). Have been getting lots of looks and thumbs-up, and a few curious folks asking about the car.

 

[freqflyer]

Can you get the charger installed in the next few days? According to usatoday the congress has not extended the tax credit on the chargers.

Electric-car charger tax breaks ending as more EVs arrive
http://usat.ly/vD3LKZ

 

[jjlink]

I just got this E-mail from Plug In America, so you may still have time for the 30% EVSE purchase/installation tax credit.


Plug In America (http://www.pluginamerica.org)

In just four days, three of our key federal electric vehicle tax credits will expire: incentives for consumers and businesses installing charging stations, affordable two and three-wheeled EVs, and those for plug-in conversions will all be left behind. But what keeps me awake at night are ongoing challenges to the overall plug-in car tax credit. I am sure you have heard all of the major media talking about the Payroll Tax Extension; but what you may not have known is that EVs are part of the political football, too. Here’s what is going on:

We fought hard (and won!) to get all of these expiring electric vehicle tax credits included in the “energy tax credit extenders package,” covering items like the production tax credit for electricity (wind/solar) and the 30% investment tax credit for manufacturing equipment. And with support on both sides of the aisle, we made it onto the list under consideration by the Senate Finance committee.

Now the House has finally joined the Senate in passing a two-month extension on the Payroll Tax Holiday, Unemployment Insurance, and Medicare reimbursement; but at the final moment all other extenders (including ours!) were pushed aside. These EV tax credits are now in play for the full fix, which could come at the end of the two-month extension.

We need your support to make sure that EVs are fully included as part of the package and we don’t lose these key incentives forever. We can’t ensure our spot in the upcoming payroll tax negotiations unless we are in DC advocating for EVs. Your $50 donation will keep us on the hill fighting for EVs until the Senate and House vote at the end of the two-month extension and we win. Make your contribution today!

This is an exciting time for electric vehicles. The upcoming vote could halt production and lower buyer confidence, or it could boost it—we need your help right away!

From our nation’s capital,


Jay Friedland

Plug In America Legislative Director

 

[rickmaz]

Yea! got my Eaton L2 240V charger installed and working! here's links to the photos:

i hooked up to charger and charging:

https://secure.flickr.com/photos/69569729@N00/6591521053/in/photostream/lightbox/

Eaton charger mounted on wall and charging (two blue lights):

https://secure.flickr.com/photos/69569729@N00/6591520373/in/photostream/lightbox/

I figure it's about one bar added ever 0.4 hour now.

 

[jjlink]

Republican Congressman calls for end of $7,500 plug-in vehicle tax credit.

http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/03/republican-congressman-calls-for-end-of-7-500-plug-in-vehicle-t/

Remember Republican Congressman Mike Kelly.

 

[Dan O]

The federal Government has given each manufacture of electric vehicles an allocation of the $7,500.00 tax credit. This allocation applies to the first 200,000 electric vehicles that they sell in the United States. In other words, Nissan has 200,000, Chevy has 200,000, Tesla has 200,000, Mitsubishi has 200,000 etc, etc. My dealer has assured me that this cannot be taken away and that when my car arrives as long as I am in the first 200,000 in the United States to purchase the I MIEV I will get the tax credit. The other thing that should be understood is that this is a Tax Credit not a tax decuction or a rebate. That means in order for you to get the $7,500.00 credit, you will have to owe the Fed's at least $7,500.00 in taxes. Then you can deduct it right off of the bottom line of the tax that you owe. Congress can certainly change the laws for EV cars sold in the future and eliminate the Tax Credit but for us that got into the first tier electric cars, we will be able to claim it. Who says that it doesn't pay to be a pioneer!

 

[rickmaz]

Test photo of my 'i' in the wild here in Hilo, parked next to McD's while I go to the gym for my workout.

------------
I found out that another couple will be picking up their 'i' at the docks today here in Hilo! I will be meeting with them for a cup of coffee Thursday afternoon and will post a picture of the two i's together here on the Big Island!

Everything is going well, I'm really enjoying electric driving, my EV license plates came in and are now installed on the car. The L2 charger makes it very fast and easy to recharge. Incidentally the key fob works with scheduling either the L1 or the L2 charger with no problems (once you figure out how to use it). One minor thing that I discovered: The windshield washing fluid container is VERY tiny...I'll be filling it up all the time, since it's so rainy and muddy and salty here in Hilo.

Just for fun I tried driving around in 'D' mode, it's really incredibly peppy if you want to jump on it...also, you still get a surprising amount of regen in D mode. Mostly though I have enjoyed the challenge of being as economical as possible, but not holding up traffic. With a full battery, the highest "range" gauge readout I've seen so far has been 80 miles...I guess it makes its prediction based on my driving habits. So that's pretty good despite climbing my hill at least twice a day! For my normal driving I don't worry about range at all now that I've had a chance to see what it will do.

 

[jjlink]

Here is my guess what ship the 2ed wave of 'i's are on.

I am guessing this is the ship they are on (SEIJIN). Its in TACOMA WA today. Its just a guess but its bound for Port Hueneme, California and it has the name Mitsubishi on the ports schedule for arrival on January 11th.

SEIJIN
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=356972000

http://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Seijin-8417572.html?show=position

http://shipfinder.co/ship/356972000

This is just a guess.

Anyone else have a guess?

 

[Dan O]

That's pretty cool! Is your car on that ship? What state do you live in?

 

[jjlink]

I suspect my car is on the SEIJIN since the status page (i.mitsubishicars.com/myi) says its been on the ship since at least December 26th. I live in northern California and the dealership is in San Jose CA.

I did some Google searches and for Port Hueneme (where the cars get delivered by ship in California) and found the Vessel schedule showing Jan 11th with this note "SEIJIN/miitsu/inch/ceres". So it looks likely that's it.

http://www.fleetmon.com/ports/Port_Hueneme_United_States_3564

We will know for sure if someone in Washington state gets their cars status changed from Shipped to "Arrived at Port" in the next day or two.

 

[jjlink]

The ship has cleared the west coast and is heading south:

SEIJIN
Position Recorded on: 2012-01-07T12:48:00 (UTC)
Lat/Lon: 48.510071 / -124.7986
Speed/Course: 14.3 kn / 276°