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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg Utilities to push overnight charging (http://www.freep.com/article/20100811/BUSINESS01/8110320/1210/BUSINESS/DTE-offers-a-d)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2011_Chevrolet_Volt_on_Earth_Day.jpgJewel Gopwani - FREEP (http://www.freep.com) - August 11, 2010

Will people be most likely to charge over-night? Can they be persuaded? --Ed.

Just before the first wave of electric vehicles hits the market, DTE Energy is offering incentives to 2,500 early adopters to help the company learn when and how often drivers will charge their cars.

DTE is trying to understand electric vehicle owners' habits and how much of a burden the vehicles will be on the grid.

In a pilot program that launches today, DTE also is trying to steer drivers toward charging their plug-in cars overnight.

DTE is offering volunteers a $2,500 incentive toward a separate meter, which tracks only vehicle charging, and a high-voltage charger.

As many as 250 people can choose from a monthly rate of $40 to charge their vehicles or a lower rate for charging during off-peak hours, between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m.

DTE will be offering the incentives through 2012.

Special charging rates are trickling out across the country in anticipation of the nation's first... http://www.freep.com/article/20100811/BUSINESS01/8110320/1210/BUSINESS/DTE-offers-a-d

$40/month seems like a rip-off to me.

According to the government, the average cost per kWh in Michigan is $0.1277 per kWh, and the Volt's pack only has a usable charge of around 9kWh, so:

31 days/month * 9kWh/day * 0.1277/kWh = $35.62/month

That's assuming that the person fully discharges their car every day of the month. In reality, many people may only discharge their cars on work days, (average of 20 days per month).

So if we assume the average person only does a full discharge 20 times a month we get:

20 days/month * 9kWh/day * 0.1277/kWh = $22.99/month

Not a very good deal.

You can find the average retail cost of electricity for your state here:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/electricity/epm/table5_6_a.html

Dave

$40/month seems like a rip-off to me.

According to the government, the average cost per kWh in Michigan is $0.1277 per kWh, and the Volt's pack only has a usable charge of around 9kWh, so:

31 days/month * 9kWh/day * 0.1277/kWh = $35.62/month

That's assuming that the person fully discharges their car every day of the month. In reality, many people may only discharge their cars on work days, (average of 20 days per month).

So if we assume the average person only does a full discharge 20 times a month we get:

20 days/month * 9kWh/day * 0.1277/kWh = $22.99/month

Not a very good deal.

You can find the average retail cost of electricity for your state here:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/electricity/epm/table5_6_a.html

Dave

Can just use their regular
day/night program (http://www.dteenergy.com/residentialCustomers/productsPrograms/electricVehicles/pevRates.html) instead.

Don't forget charging efficiency. Let's say 90%.

I guess they're just setting a price ahead of time for night-shift LEAFers:

Plug in 16kWh / .9 (say) and you get

16 * 0.11703 * 20 / .9 ~= 41.6

Terrible deal for most people and Volt owners. Maybe they figure some people won't do the math properly and will pay for piece of mind, like many cellphone owners.