[53]

If someone can measure the length of the cord, that's kind of important for my situation. Also, does the 120V cord only charge at 12A or is it like the Tesla one where you can put it into a 20A outlet and it'll charge 120V at 16A continuously? The 120V at 16A is a major increase in power when using 120V...

120V at 12A = 1.44 kW per hour, before AC to DC efficiency losses
120V at 16A = 1.96 kW per hour, before AC to DC efficiency losses, nearly 30% more power.

 

[53]

If it is the same part number as the Crosstrek PHEV, it is 29126AA000.
The cord is roughly 15-16 feet long. It has an MSRP of about $1000 to replace.

Curious, can you use Tesla mobile connectors with other cars? Hmm.

 

[192]

Was looking at chargers, the Grizzle-E is well-reviewed and capable of up to 40A Level 2 charging. Cord is 24 feet and the unit costs less than $500. https://www.amazon.com/Grizzl-Charger-Premium-Regular-Charging/dp/B08Q22651D/

Also came across the Wallbox which will go up to 48A for the hardwired version (25' cord), currently $699:

Amazon.com: Pulsar Plus Level 2 Electric Vehicle Smart Charger - 48 Amp Hardwired Ultra Compact, WiFi, Bluetooth, Alexa and Google Home - 25 Foot Cable - UL Certified - OCPP Enabled - Indoor/Outdoor - by Wallbox : Automotive

Buy Pulsar Plus Level 2 Electric Vehicle Smart Charger - 48 Amp Hardwired Ultra Compact, WiFi, Bluetooth, Alexa and Google Home - 25 Foot Cable - UL Certified - OCPP Enabled - Indoor/Outdoor - by Wallbox: Automotive - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[JayEM]

If it is the same part number as the Crosstrek PHEV, it is 29126AA000.
The cord is roughly 15-16 feet long. It has an MSRP of about $1000 to replace.

Curious, can you use Tesla mobile connectors with other cars? Hmm.

$1,000 for a 120v "emergency use" EVSE is insane!

I'm currently using the 240v AeroVironment TurboCord which charges at 16 amps (= about 3.5 kW), and cost about $450 5 years ago (now marketed as Webasto TurboCord). It plugs into a NEMA 6-20R outlet. 3.5 kW gets my 2019 i3 from 20 to 100% in about 10 hours which is less than how long it typically sits in the garage overnight... but the Solterra has almost 2x the battery pack.

If I buy the Solterra I might upgrade to a 32-40 amp 240v unit (requires NEMA 14-50R outlet).

 

[Commodore]

OK. What's the best?

 

[JIm_in_PA]

OK. What's the best?

The "best" is a high-end DC charger, but that's not something you'll find for home use. For home charging, 240v, 50a is about top of the food chain for EV charging.

 

[KSchneider]

The 6.6 kW max charge rate for the Solterra means the max amps it can use is 27.5. Chargers that deliver 30, or 32 or 40 or 48 amps will charge the battery at the same rate. Chargers under 27.5 amps will charge more slowly.

Are there any indications Subaru will provide an app to monitor battery level and manage charging? If so one may not need a smart charger unless one wants extra data.

 

[192]

Came across this article on chargers: Best home EV charger 2022: Fuel up your car at home | ZDNet

The 6.6 kW max charge rate for the Solterra means the max amps it can use is 27.5. Chargers that deliver 30, or 32 or 40 or 48 amps will charge the battery at the same rate. Chargers under 27.5 amps will charge more slowly.

Looks like you are correct, that is a huge downside, almost doubling the potential Level 2 charging time... might be best to wait until they upgrade that before purchasing.

Subaru Solterra AWD

All details and specs of the Subaru Solterra AWD (2022). Compare price, lease, real-world range and consumption of every electric vehicle.

ev-database.org

 

[R P]

6.6 - 7.4 kw is normal for L2 charging. At home, unless you have a long commute, just the L1 120V works for most people. And on trips you would use the L3 chargers, max 150 kw charge. That's where it matters.

 

[JayEM]

Came across this article on chargers: Best home EV charger 2022: Fuel up your car at home | ZDNet

Looks like you are correct, that is a huge downside, almost doubling the potential Level 2 charging time... might be best to wait until they upgrade that before purchasing.

Subaru Solterra AWD

All details and specs of the Subaru Solterra AWD (2022). Compare price, lease, real-world range and consumption of every electric vehicle.

ev-database.org

Upgrade what? The specs of the car? I doubt future Solterras will support faster than 6.6 kW AC charging (in North America). Around 7 kW is pretty standard for "non high-end" EVs. Cars that support 11 kW on 240v (2 phase) tend to be a lot more expensive.

For what it's worth, 6.6 kW will replenish a 72 kWh battery pack from 10% to 100% in about 10 hours. I'd wager most of the time your car will be in the garage longer than that every night, and in any case you wouldn't need to recharge to 100% unless you were about to take a long trip.

 

[jmajid]

For those who might be interested, Tom Moloughney on YT does a decent job of reviewing home chargers for EVs.
He goes into all sorts of details from size, wall mounting options, cord length and even puts the cord into a cold temperature test to see how easy it is to use and handle when its cold.
His YT channel is : Tom Moloughney - YouTube

 

[192]

Upgrade what? The specs of the car? I doubt future Solterras will support faster than 6.6 kW AC charging (in North America). Around 7 kW is pretty standard for "non high-end" EVs. Cars that support 11 kW on 240v (2 phase) tend to be a lot more expensive.

For what it's worth, 6.6 kW will replenish a 72 kWh battery pack from 10% to 100% in about 10 hours. I'd wager most of the time your car will be in the garage longer than that every night, and in any case you wouldn't need to recharge to 100% unless you were about to take a long trip.

Looks like you are correct. Going over that website I referenced, even the Tesla is limited to 32A 240V AC charging. I was hoping to max out the circuit but it looks like that is not an option. I also realize I may not ever need that extra charging capacity, but more is always better, right?

 

[KSchneider]

Looks like you are correct. Going over that website I referenced, even the Tesla is limited to 32A 240V AC charging. I was hoping to max out the circuit but it looks like that is not an option. I also realize I may not ever need that extra charging capacity, but more is always better, right?

There are many different individual situations. We are retired, live in a new high performance house built to German Passive House standards. Our solar panels are rated at 5.4 kW and produce enough to make the house Net Zero. We buy power from the grid at night and sell power during the day. I want to maximize charging in the day time and use the least expensive power which is what we ganerate. Charging during the day will be possible as well as preferable. The peak generation from the panels so far is 5.98 kW but 5 kW is a good output. I may choose to charge at below the 6,6 kW max of the Solterra.

 

[Commodore]

There are many different individual situations. We are retired, live in a new high performance house built to German Passive House standards. Our solar panels are rated at 5.4 kW and produce enough to make the house Net Zero. We buy power from the grid at night and sell power during the day. I want to maximize charging in the day time and use the least expensive power which is what we ganerate. Charging during the day will be possible as well as preferable. The peak generation from the panels so far is 5.98 kW but 5 kW is a good output. I may choose to charge at below the 6,6 kW max of the Solterra.

@KSchneider Welcome! I'm envious... What state are you in?

 

[KSchneider]

@KSchneider Welcome! I'm envious... What state are you in?

OH, SW near Dayton

 

[Commodore]

OH, SW near Dayton

That's gooood sunlight numbers for Ohio!

 

[KSchneider]

That's gooood sunlight numbers for Ohio!

Panels face S. 5.4 kW produce 7 MWh annually, ca 500kWh more than the entire all-electric house uses.

 

[StevenH]

The 6.6 kW max charge rate for the Solterra mea
Are there any indications Subaru will provide an app to monitor battery level and manage charging? If so one may not need a smart charger unless one wants extra data.

I'd be interested in knowing that, too. Perhaps through the Solterra Connect app?

 

[Damon D.]

Panels face S. 5.4 kW produce 7 MWh annually, ca 500kWh more than the entire all-electric house uses. View attachment 451

We are in a similar situation- mostly retired and have a modest 4kW sized net-zero PV setup for our 100 y.o. house in very sunny San Diego. We are in the first gen, most advantageous Net-Metering program so even though our city has the highest electricity rates in the country we’re locked in to steady, low rates and receive that same retail rate for pushing energy out - it doesn’t matter the time of day we charge - its just a net positive or negative for the day. But we don’t have a useable sized garage or driveway so will have to plop a cord across the narrow sidewalk and parkway to the car on the street. Called the power company and he estimated a ~$150 additional electricity charge per year for our minimal driving/charging cycle. Since it’s costing $60+ to fill up my WRX wagon these days it sounds like a deal! Our charging infrastructure is not ideal but think we can swing it.

That’s a great looking house BTW! I’m an architect.