Belize LifeStyle Homes

Types of Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations: 

Level 1 Charging Stations: Level 1 chargers are simple 120 VAC 20 amp outlets. They look like conventional AC outlets but with one blade turned 90 degrees. Level 1 chargers are limited to a maximum of 2,000 watts and take 10 to 20 hours to fully charge an all-electric car. This type of charger is great in an emergency when the driver is running low on charge and needs to plug into a readily available outlet.

 

Level 2 Charging Stations: Level 2 charging stations range from 6,000 to 12,000 watts and can fully charge a plug-in electric vehicle in 3 to 8 hours. They feed AC power to the vehicle’s built-in charger through a power cord with a J1772 plug at the end that looks like the nozzle of a gas pump. These chargers must be installed by a qualified electrician on a dedicated circuit. Many of these chargers communicate via Wi-Fi and can be set to charge when electricity cost is the lowest, usually at night. They may be controlled by the “smart grid” in the future.

 

Level 3 Charging Stations: Level 3 charging stations are high powered chargers that deliver 20,000 watts or more of 300+ volts DC power directly to the EV battery. These chargers will require three-phase power and be served by a large commercial service panel. When these chargers are available they will be in business locations and are more likely to be used for busses and commercial vehicles. Level 3 connectors are an option on the Nissan Leaf and other electric vehicles, even though the infrastructure to use them robustly is years away.

  

 

Renewable Energy: A Hedge Against an Uncertain Energy Future

Controlling The Total Cost of Home Ownership:

If historical data is any indication of future energy trends, the cost of electricity and transportation fuel will increase every year. Typical annual increase in energy cost is approximately 5 % to 7%. By controlling the cost of electric power, transportation fuel, marine fuel and home maintenance costs, the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for a Belize LifeStyle Home will be considerably less than comparable homes in Ambergris Caye. Since Renewable Energy Solutions are an integral part of our "Initial" Sustainable Development Platform and not an after-thought, our homeowners are assured that they will have energy security for the entire duration of their Belize LifeStyle Home ownership.

 

Benefits and Considerations of Electricity as a Vehicle Fuel (Visit U.S. Department of Energy Website)

• Hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles can help increase energy security, improve fuel economy, lower fuel costs, and reduce emissions.

• Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) typically use less fuel than similar conventional vehicles, because they employ electric-drive technologies to boost efficiency. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and all-electric vehicles (EVs) are both capable of using off-board sources of electricity, and almost all U.S. electricity is produced from domestic coal, nuclear energy, natural gas, and renewable resources.

• HEVs typically achieve better fuel economy and have lower fuel costs than similar conventional vehicles.

• PHEVs and EVs can reduce fuel costs dramatically because of the low cost of electricity relative to conventional fuel.

• PHEVs and EVs have the benefit of flexible fueling: They can charge overnight at a residence (or a fleet facility), at a workplace, or at public charging stations. PHEVs have added flexibility, because they can also refuel with gasoline or diesel (or possibly other fuels in the future) when necessary. Both types of vehicles can take advantage of distributed sources of renewable energy, such as solar panels on a rooftop.

• Hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles can have significant emissions benefits over conventional vehicles. HEV emissions benefits vary by vehicle model and type of hybrid power system. EVs produce zero tailpipe emissions, and PHEVs produce no tailpipe emissions when in all-electric mode.

• The life cycle emissions of an EV or PHEV depend on the sources of electricity used to charge it, which vary by region. In geographic areas that use relatively low-polluting energy sources for electricity production, plug-in vehicles typically have a life cycle emissions advantage over similar conventional vehicles running on gasoline or diesel.

• Like the engines in conventional vehicles, the advanced batteries in plug-in electric vehicles are designed for extended life but will wear out eventually. Several manufacturers of plug-in vehicles are offering 8-year/100,000 mile battery warranties. Test and simulation (PDF) results from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory indicate that today’s batteries may last 12 to 15 years in moderate climates (eight to 12 years in extreme climates).