When does Tesla NOT make a splash? Elon Musk’s ability to continually remain top-of-mind, whether it’s for his personal exploits or his companies, often comes across as more of an ongoing publicity stunt than real substance. But this is one of those times where the news has some real impact for us.
In the last few weeks, several of the major auto brands have jumped on the bandwagon to adopt Tesla’s NACS connector on their upcoming electric vehicles. To date, Ford, GM, Rivian, Polestar, and possibly VW have made moves to Tesla’s port. So what’s the impact?
The adoption of the NACS charge port has the potential to open up most or all of Tesla’s massive Supercharger network to non-Tesla vehicles. This has two distinct advantages for the would-be EV buyer:
With more than 40,000 charging locations – including Superchargers and destination chargers – Tesla easily has the largest network for charging in North America.
The reliability of Superchargers is dominant. According to JD Power, over 1 in 5 EV drivers cannot charge at a non-Tesla charging station; for Tesla, that number is as low as 4 percent.
And that doesn’t even count the fact that the NACS standard has a specification that is approved for up to 500 kWh!
Between the pervasive existence of Tesla chargers, and their overall higher reliability, this is a win-win for EV drivers everywhere.
We know if you’re into electric vehicles, chances are you have thought about cleaner ways of living. One easy way we’ve found is through a great service called Arcadia Power.
They partner with wind and solar farms around the US to make it easy and affordable to power your home with renewable energy. It means no solar panels or turbines, no messy installation – it’s as easy as just signing up.
How it works
Sign up with Arcadia Power, and give them access to your electric utility account. That’s it! Arcadia integrates with your existing utility to make sure your electricity comes from one of their wind or solar farms.
Join now and your home (and EV) can be powered by 100 percent wind power. It’s free for 30 days, and only $5 a month after that. Use the code paul93940 for possible credits to your account.
We had the opportunity to meet up with Daphne and Alyssa from the Connecticut Clean Cars group, a few days into their nationwide EV Road trip. Their trip began on June 1 in San Francisco, and they will be on the road until the end of June.
We all got a chance to connect with Nicole Wargo, from the Clark County Office of Environment and Sustainability, to talk about electric vehicle advocacy for the city, and ways to work together.
From L to R: Alyssa from EV Road Trip; Paul Bordenkircher, Jim Katzen, Paul Scott and Lloyd Reece, Las Vegas EVA; Nicole Wargo, Clark County; Daphne, EV Road Trip.
We spoke for a while about their trip, and where they were headed next. A text that evening said they made it all the way to Bryce Canyon in Utah. They had concerns about the 3,000 foot elevation change and less than comfortable number of chargers on the way. But it turned out their Hertz-rented Chevy Bolt made it with plenty of juice to spare.
We wish Daphne and Alyssa the best of luck with their trip!
If you want to keep up with their journey, check out their website at EVRoadTrip.org
Since an EV uses electricity and not gasoline, the common question is, “How do I fill it up?” In essence, it’s really not that complicated. But just like you had to learn the difference between gasoline and diesel, or low octane versus high octane, EV charging has a few different levels available – three, to be exact.
Every EV sold comes with what’s referred to as a Level 1 charger. These chargers plug into a normal wall outlet, just like your TV or vacuum cleaner. They use a standard 120 volt outlet common to all households in the US. Because it’s not that powerful of an energy source – delivering a maximum of 15-20 amps – charging an EV this way can take a while. In the case of a short range EV like a Nissan Leaf, the battery can often be charged overnight (approximately 10 hours or more). Longer-range vehicles like a Chevy Bolt or Tesla will take significantly longer to fully recharge an empty battery.
The next step up is a Level 2 charger. This is the equivalent power of an electric dryer outlet, delivering 220 volts of power at 32-40 amps. It’ll work roughly 3-8 times faster than a Level 1 charger. A short range EV would be fully charged in a few hours. Longer-range vehicles may be fully charged overnight, and for that reason, people who own these models often install a Level 2 charger at home.
In many areas of the country, Level 2 charging stations are available in a number of public areas including shopping malls, public buildings, universities and more. In Las Vegas, any Level 2 charging station in a public area is available to use free of charge. You’ll need an account with ChargePoint to use them, but that’s free too. (We’ll discuss that in detail farther down the page.)
Level 3: Maximum power
Electrify America Level 3 Charging Stations.
Level 3 charging stations – also known as DC Fast Charging – offer the highest levels of power available. These outlets exceed 400 volts and over 60 amps of power to deliver charge very quickly. It’s commonly quoted that even long-range EVs can charge to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes. All Tesla Superchargers fall into this category, along with offerings from EVGo, Electrify America and others.
As a trade-off versus Level 2 chargers, all Level 3 chargers require payment to use. In Las Vegas, we have a total of 12 DC Fast chargers not made for Tesla. The Linq Casino here just opened a new Tesla Supercharger with over 20 charging stations, so they continue to grow very rapidly as well.
Another important note: Not all EVs come with Level 3 charging by default. If you’re EV shopping, ask specifically about DC Fast Charge capability.
So now that you know the charge levels, what about actually connecting your car to the charging station? Yes, unfortunately, there are a number of different port configurations, which means you can’t charge just anywhere. Fortunately, this is a much smaller problem in the US in recent years. We’ll talk about the ones that are most common here.
CHAdeMO port
The CHAdeMO port was most common on the earlist versions of the Nissan Leaf. Newer versions now include this port along with the now-more-common CCS combo port, which we’ll talk about next.
The CCS Combo port (also known as a J-1772 port) is the common standard among Level 2 chargers in the US. Its advantage is that a vehicle with this port and Fast DC Charge capability can also do Level 3 charging using the same connector.
Tesla Charge port
Tesla charge port. Image courtesy Wikipedia.
Tesla is one of the leading brands of electric vehicle, and their commitment to building Supercharger stations across the world is remarkable. But, they use a proprietary connector, so only Teslas can use their Supercharger stations. BTW, using these chargers is definitely not free, even for Tesla owners.
UPDATE: Ford recently announced starting in 2024, their EVs will come with the Tesla charging port, and access to a large portion of Superchargers.
How can I find a charging station?
There are a few different phone apps and websites to help you find a charging station, should you need to fill up away from home. The three most common are:
PlugShare. PlugShare’s website and app offer the ability to filter locations based on your car’s connector, and other criteria which is brand-agnostic. That way you won’t pull up to a charger with the wrong port. PlugShare.com
ChargePoint. ChargePoint has probably the largest network of charging stations in the US. Their website is very useful, but you’ll probably find yourself in the car when you need it, so the app is a must have. You’ll need to register for a ChargePoint account in order to use them, but signup is free. (Here’s a hint: get the physical charge card mailed to you as well. Some stations don’t respond well to the app.) ChargePoint.com
EVGo. EVGo is the owner of all Level 3 (or DC Fast Charge) stations in the Las Vegas area. A total of 12 EVGo stations are available as of this writing, and all are located at Terrible Herbst locations. There’s a cost to use based on subscription plans and time of use, but when you need a fast fill up it’s your fastest option. EVGo.com
Tesla Superchargers. If you own a Tesla, you already know about their extensive network of Superchargers. Apps for locating those stations are built into the car’s software, so no additional effort is needed.
See? It’s a lot of information, but no matter what EV you drive, you don’t have to know everything. But if you still have questions, don’t be afraid to ask us about it.
The Las Vegas EVA is a chapter of the Electric Vehicle Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. All donations are tax deductible.
There’s no doubt there’s been plenty of confusion regarding the new tax credits for EVs. We’ve culled a number of sources for the most up to date information, so you can be well informed.
Keep in mind, manufacturers are continually making changes to take advantage of the new rules – or introduce sales incentives that match or beat them – so you’ll want to stay vigilant as you go car shopping.
MSRP limit on vehicle price – $80,000 for SUVs, Pickup Trucks and Vans – $55,000 for all other vehicles
Income limits: – $300,000 for joint filers – $225,000 for head of household – $150,000 for single filers
Only one taxpayer can claim the tax credit
Your tax credit can be signed over to the dealer, lowering the vehicle price. A certified dealer will give you a tax rebate document with your purchase papers.
Must be purchased for personal use, not for resale
Must be primarily used in the U.S
Must be new
Seller must report required information (your name, tax ID# and VIN) to you at the time of sale and to the IRS
You WILL still be required to file the credit on your taxes, showing you transferred it to the dealer, using the document received at the dealership.
How The Credit Works
$3,750 for minerals; $3,750 for battery components
Applies to vehicles purchased on April 18, 2023 and onward
Based on receipt of the vehicle, not the date you ordered
Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for 2023 or 2024 can be used
Pricing based on MSRP, not extras like destination charges, taxes, fees
Prior sales limits do not apply, so brands like Tesla and GM are eligible
Used EVs are eligible too!
The new law also allows up to $4,000 tax credit for a used EVs meeting eligibility requirements.
Tax credit can be up to 30% of sales price, up to $4,000
– $150,000 for joint filers – $112,500 for head of household – $75,000 for single filers
Your tax credit can be signed over to the dealer, lowering the vehicle price. A certified dealer will give you a tax rebate document with your purchase papers.
Purchaser is eligible once every 3 years
Must be purchased for personal use, not for resale.
Can’t be the original owner of the vehicle.
Can’t be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return.
Must be primarily used in the U.S.
Each vehicle is only eligible for one tax credit
Dealer must report required info to you and to the IRS.
Businesses, non-profits, and fleets not eligible
The dirty little secret: Leasing!
Due to what is considered a loophole in the new law, virtually any EV can receive the full tax credit if it is leased through a commercial lessee. Many of the vehicles not subject to the purchase tax credit can receive it via this leasing method. A list of current brands and models eligible for the leasing credit are listed on this Electrek article.
Vehicles who do not qualify, such as the Kia EV6, the company is already changing incentives to match or beat the federal credit. But here’s how it stands right now:
Must be made by a qualified manufacturer.
Must be propelled by an electric motor of at least 7kWh and be able to charge
The credit amount is the lower of:
– 15% of the sales price for Plug-In Hybrids – 30% of the sales price for all electric vehicles
Lessee will get the credit; make sure they pass it on to you, and that you receive your IRS document for tax filing!
Commercial EV Credit
With the advent of larger vehicles like the Tesla Semi, the bill also includes incentives for large-scale commercial vehicles users to benefit.
Must be made by a qualified manufacturer and be able to charge from an external source of electricity
Vehicles under 14,000 lbs: 7kWh motor
Vehicles over 14,000 pounds: 15kWh
Rebate maximum:
– $7,500 under 14,000 lbs – $40,000 over 14,000 lbs
Must be new
Must not be acquired for resale.
Only eligible for one tax credit.
Must be used for business purposes.
Seller must report required information to you and the IRS
I can’t stress it enough: the rules – and manufacturer’s moves to work around these restrictions – may change. So please double-check details before you sign on the dotted line.
In the July 25, 2021 edition of the Las Vegas Sun, I had the opportunity to share my experience purchasing my first electric vehicle, and how new clean cars standards proposed for the state of Nevada could make it much easier for future EV buyers.
The current administration’s policies to roll back many standards, including fuel efficiency, may affect sales of electric vehicles, and the car companies’ incentive to make them.
The problem of finding a place to charge your EV continues to get smaller, with the partnership between DC Fast charger EVGo and VW’s Electrify America program. Details below from Green Car Reports:
Since both the Kia Niro and Hyundai Kona are recent newcomers to the EV marketplace, stories are fast and furious showing recent drives and initial driver impressions.
This one gives driver reviews of each vehicle and their unique features (spoiler alert: since Kia and Hyundai are sister companies, both rank pretty highly). Here’s the link to review them for yourself:
