Best EVSE Setup for Two EVs on One Circuit?

[Vulnox]

First, remember that DTE will give you a $500 rebate, and then you MAY qualify for 30% tax credit on the remaining cost and install cost, location dependent.

Juicebox left the US. Currently the only way to get power sharing with them is to replace the boards with OpenEVSE boards, then a bunch of coding with Home Assistant.

Tesla is the way to go if you are OK with selling your ChargePoint.

Thanks! I will have to see if DTEs rebate is per year or something to that effect. We already had the circuit and line run because we had a Juicebox 40 (original all silver model) years ago we used for our CMax. When we got the Mach-e I changed us to time of use rate and got the ChargePoint and used the DTE rebate.

If it isn’t a one and done with them I will have to give that a try with the Lightning. It has been about three years since I did the last rebate.

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[RickLightning]

Thanks! I will have to see if DTEs rebate is per year or something to that effect. We already had the circuit and line run because we had a Juicebox 40 (original all silver model) years ago we used for our CMax. When we got the Mach-e I changed us to time of use rate and got the ChargePoint and used the DTE rebate.

If it isn’t a one and done with them I will have to give that a try with the Lightning. It has been about three years since I did the last rebate.

It is per charger. I got 2 rebates, one in 2022 and one in 2023. Just installing the charger qualifies it. Make sure you read the rebate requirements as they keep tweaking them. It needs to be Energy Star Certified OR made by the manufacturer of your vehicle. Free chargers or chargers included with the vehicle purchase don't qualify.

In fact, it's really per charger per vehicle. So, technically, you could have 2 chargers and 2 vehicles, then buy a new vehicle, and another new charger.

Don't forget about DTE Smartcharge. Latest is signup until 6/30 and get $25 (I think they're going to do something different on 7/1, as past years were $50 at the start, and $50 at the end. I think we've passed $600...

 

[Vulnox]

It is per charger. I got 2 rebates, one in 2022 and one in 2023. Just installing the charger qualifies it. Make sure you read the rebate requirements as they keep tweaking them. It needs to be Energy Star Certified OR made by the manufacturer of your vehicle. Free chargers or chargers included with the vehicle purchase don't qualify.

In fact, it's really per charger per vehicle. So, technically, you could have 2 chargers and 2 vehicles, then buy a new vehicle, and another new charger.

Don't forget about DTE Smartcharge. Latest is signup until 6/30 and get $25 (I think they're going to do something different on 7/1, as past years were $50 at the start, and $50 at the end. I think we've passed $600...

Wow, that’s a lot of great info. I appreciate your time! Yeah I need to check in on all these new DTE programs as I haven’t been paying close attention since we made the changes a few years ago.

 

[LHoffmanjr22]

My wife has a Wrangler 4xe so we have one 50 amp circuit run to our garage for that. I bought the Lectron Socket Splitter and plugged that into the wall outlet. Then our Grizzl-e charger is plugged into one side of the splitter, and I use the Ford mobile charger with the NEMA 14-50 socket attached to plug into the other socket. Whenever the Wrangler is done charging (usually takes about 2 hours), the splitter automatically switches over to my Lightning and it tops off overnight. It's worked exceptionally well in my situation.

https://ev-lectron.com/collections/socket-splitter

 

[Vulnox]

My wife has a Wrangler 4xe so we have one 50 amp circuit run to our garage for that. I bought the Lectron Socket Splitter and plugged that into the wall outlet. Then our Grizzl-e charger is plugged into one side of the splitter, and I use the Ford mobile charger with the NEMA 14-50 socket attached to plug into the other socket. Whenever the Wrangler is done charging (usually takes about 2 hours), the splitter automatically switches over to my Lightning and it tops off overnight. It's worked exceptionally well in my situation.

https://ev-lectron.com/collections/socket-splitter

Whoa, that is really cool. I wish they had a version where you hardwired the connection to the house. I know it's rare, but that seems to provide more chances for heat/fire issues with all the plugs. At least having the unit itself hardwired would cut it down a bit. But again, low chance regardless so it's something I will keep in mind.

 

[drjones]

I offer this somewhat tongue in cheek, but if you're not looking for frequent charging, perhaps daisy-chaining the Mach E off the Lightning could work for you.

 

[Keith2230]

Would 16 extra feet on you existing charger allow you to hook up to the truck? A2Z sells an extension cord that you could run under the garage door. Not as slick as putting a charger outside for the truck, but it is the least expensive option.

 

[hturnerfamily]

while our KIA EV9 and our LIGHTNING park side-by-side in our drivethru carport, and both ports are within 6' of each other - the hanging J1772 plug serves both of them, easily... depending on which needs the charge on any given night. This is also hung from an outlet high in the corner of the carport, using a 240v extension for the EVSE to easily reach either...

sometimes, if I park my LIGHTNING outside of the carport, the extension cord still allows the EVSE to easily reach it's charge port... an extension cord is really a lifesaver, of sorts. It's also nice if one of my several sons with EVs come to visit. Generally, neither the EV9 or the LIGHTNING 'need' a charge each and every night, either. And my wife commutes 65 miles per day.

 

[Vulnox]

Would 16 extra feet on you existing charger allow you to hook up to the truck? A2Z sells an extension cord that you could run under the garage door. Not as slick as putting a charger outside for the truck, but it is the least expensive option.

Yeah it definitely would be enough. Our current EVSE cord will reach outside the garage as-is, but only if I park behind the MME, which is what I was trying to avoid. The extra 17 feet would let me park in my normal spot in the driveway and charge.

I think it's a good approach for now and if I end up driving into the office more in the future where I start charging more frequently I can install a second EVSE.

 

[Joe Dablock]

Well, when I bought our MME, I had a 100 amp sub panel installed in the garage and I then installed a charger in the middle of the side wall of the garage that could reach the car wether it were parked inside the garage or outside the garage. I also had a 220v plug installed at the sub panel so the car portable 220v charger can be plugged in and used. When I got the Lightning with the 80 a charger, I installed that outside from the sub panel. (I did have to limit the outside charger to about 48 amps to prevent the sub panel breaker from tripping when both vehicles are charging at the same time.)

It cost a little more up front, but it made adding a second ev relatively easy.

 

[Adventureboy]

I had the Grizzl-E Duo on a 50 amp ciruit but it didn't work reliably with my Lightning and MME. It errored out most nights and I'd have to go unplug the EVs, flip the breaker on the EVSE and replug them. When it worked, it was good. I worked with United Chargers for a year with two separate DUOs to iron out the bugs but in the end, they couldn't stabilize it and refunded. I wish the Duo would have worked.
Now I use Emporia (set to 32 amps) and a small 16 amp for the MME on a 60amp subpanel. It does the job well enough and I can bump the Emporia up to 48 amps if I don't need to charge both.

 

[reddog21]

We use the Autel maxicharger. It works fine, it split's the load with both cars are connected. When one vehicle is fully charged it sends the full load to the other.

 

[silverlightning]

Im also curious about this, but I currently have a single 100 amp circuit for the lightning with CSP. If/when we get a second EV, it seems like it may be more cost effective to share this circuit than run a new one, although it isn’t far. I don’t really need the full 80amps either for the Lightning.

Two tesla wall connectors make sense with this setup too? Looks like you could set up each to charge at 48 amps? Or is the 100 amp circuit a problem?

I believe that on a 100 amp circuit you only can use 80 amps just as in a 60 amp circuit breaker you can only use 48 amps

 

[Al_V]

 

[pjell]

I believe that on a 100 amp circuit you only can use 80 amps just as in a 60 amp circuit breaker you can only use 48 amps

I'm aware of this, so the setup would need some power sharing/limiting capability.

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