I'd like to know more about what kind of Type2 home charging stations are available for us Europeans. I'll list a few I know about, which I'm considering for my garage, since the blue UMC-adapter is delayed. (I have no affiliation with any of those mentioned.) Does anyone know about any other interesting Type2 home charging stations? UK: http://shop.zerocarbonworld.org/charging-stations/ Germany: Keba KeContact: http://www.kecontact.com/en/ http://www.conrad.de/ce/de/overview/0809062/Ladestationen-fuer-Elektroautos Slimbox: http://www.sedlbauer.de/en/services/products/e-mobility/slimbox.html Norway: Salto is selling ABL Sursum products for the Norwegian market: http://www.salto.no/
In the Netherlands you also have EV-Box: Home - EV-Box bv I'd stay away from using the UMC for every day use anyway. A lot of Dutch owners bought the Keba which seems to be a very good choice.
I ordered mine from ratio.nl the 3x32A charger with permanently attached Type-II cable cost 782 eur + shipping (40 eur for me to Estonia). http://www.ratio.nl/en/catalog/articlegroup/4717/home-chargers-mode-2
Agreed. I've been using my UMC daily or 5 months, and 13,500 miles. My first one failed after 2 weeks of ownership. It was just a defective unit, and the replacement has had absolutely no issues what so ever. Just dont go dropping it on the concrete and you should have no problem.
In Norway, which probably has the highest number of EVs per-capita in the world, the Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Veivesenet) and the Norwegian Directorate for Civil Protection (DSB) has published the following recommendations to EV owners (my translation): http://www.vegvesen.no/Kjoretoy/Eie+og+vedlikeholde/Elbil/Fast+biloppstillingsplass Charging electric vehicles will normally require a lot of power and a normal electrical outlet is not designed for such high loads over time. There is a risk of overheating and at worst fire in both contact or plug. Newer electric cars is therefore equipped with a function that monitors the charging connection and limits the charge current depending on your connection. In addition, security features of the cable and connector (typically ground connection) are monitored and if a fault occurs charging will be stopped. The function is controlled from a control box mounted on the charging cable outside the vehicle. If the control box is mounted on the charging cable it is called Mode 2 charging. If the control box is mounted on the wall and have a wired connection to the electrical installation it is called Mode 3 charging. A Mode 3 charging system provides great security against overheating and fire, as this charging system is permanently connected to the mains. For permanent parking spaces (typical home in the garage) a Mode 3 charging system should be installed to prevent overheating due to high load over time. Mode 3 also allows higher charge current (higher power) than charging from regular contact and hence shorter charging time. The charging plug in an electric car is sized and adapted to high loads. For Mode 2 charging the charging current should be limited to avoid the standard electrical outlet and plug to be put under too much load over time. Mode 2 charging should be limited to emergency charging or charging at specialized charging points. Charging without monitoring of the charging should be avoided. They also sent the following brochure in the post to all Norwegian EV owners: http://www.vegvesen.no/_attachment/356107/binary/619790?fast_title=Til+deg+som+eier+elbil.pdf That being said, I've had another EV - Mitsubishi i-Miev - since early 2011, and always only charged with the UMC. It only charges at 13.37A. It has worked out fine, but I have had moments where the connector and electrical outlet has been extremely hot. There have been places where I could only charge for half an hour, cool the cable and outlet for half an hour, etc. In Oslo, I've seen a number of charging poles with burnt out outlets. Probably due to Leaf owners trying to charge at the full 16A from a 16A outlet.