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I wondered as a lot of EVs are on PCP deals if any of the final value would be affected by battery health. Hard to see tho how that could be blamed on the owner, unless there were specific 'rules' signed off around not fast charging it all the time (and even if that could be disputed depending on battery type, etc)
Tomorrow Octopus are going to install a smart meter so we can get to their cheaper overnight tariffs. Since I am 99.9% sure there is no 2g/3g signal where the meters are, I expect this to be a fruitless exercise.
Hopes and Prayers please 😉
You can however, fast charge it to 100% every time, compared to topping it up slowly overnight.
It's not uncontrolled though. Every kW into and out of the battery is monitored, so customers who do that will be accounted for in the calculation. (And depending on the car, they might even get warnings about the damage they're doing.)
I’ve also heard that adding a small amount of charge ‘counts’ as a charge/discharge cycle.
In most system they'll flag it as a "cycle start or finish" the actual charging process is monitored separately.
Tomorrow Octopus are going to install a smart meter so we can get to their cheaper overnight tariffs. Since I am 99.9% sure there is no 2g/3g signal where the meters are, I expect this to be a fruitless exercise.
Is there an option for a powerline network connection? Sounds like it would be a sensible feature if it could work.
Is there an option for a powerline network connection? Sounds like it would be a sensible feature if it could work.
I'm working away so won't be able to ask. We have really good wifi there and an external socket we could run a powerline off. I know when our neighbours tried to get a smart meter installed, the installers were not interested in trying anything except their cell connection.
I'd like a smart meter for the same reason. We've got one functional network in the village so hoping that would be enough.
Tomorrow Octopus are going to install a smart meter so we can get to their cheaper overnight tariffs. Since I am 99.9% sure there is no 2g/3g signal where the meters are, I expect this to be a fruitless exercise.
North or south of the country? Makes a difference as two competing companies (Arqiva and O2) delivered equally large bribes, which led to a split down the middle and two entirely different technologies.
Quick question - what's the home charge point of choice today? Tesla Model Y incoming!
I still like Ohme because it gives Octopus intelligent charging with any car, not just supported ones.
If you’re getting a Tesla then you’ll have access to Intelligent Octopus regardless of which charger you use.
I went for a Zappi on the basis that it integrates with solar PV panels, meaning I can home charge for free when it’s sunny. Can get about 40 free miles per full sunny day.
If you’re getting a Tesla then you’ll have access to Intelligent Octopus regardless of which charger you use.
Yes but the next car might not be Tesla.
Can get about 40 free miles per full sunny day.
Um....surely a lot more than that! Unless you're driving a tank perhaps.
Say a conservative 3 miles/kWh (most cars do better, I'm well over 4), that's about 13 kWh or 1kW average over the whole day.
My neighbour gets about 5kW from his standard solar installation through a large chunk of the day, and has invited me to plug in cos he's not getting paid at the moment.
My solar panels are max 3.2kw. So far - and of course it is only June - the maximum I have managed is to put about 11 kWh into the car in one day, which would be more like 50 miles. But on average it’s more like 8-9 hence my mention of 40 miles. Tesla is averaging about 4.5 miles per kWh at the moment. I don’t necessarily remember to plug it in immediately and our roof is at quite a steep angle so not the perfect position.
But it’s free so can’t be bad!
Also bear in mind the charger uses whatever is ‘spare’, so the house gets what it needs first and then whatever is left goes to the car. So eg if you turn the kettle on, the car stops charging.
It's not quite that stark as your house should have a 60 or 80 amp supply which is enough for the charger and the water heater and several other items.
house should have a 60 or 80 amp supply
The context was using the PV output that would have been exported. The Zappi charger can be set to only charge while there's sufficient export available.
Yeah but it's not free if you are drawing from the mains!
A 3.2kW array is a bit on the small size I think. I suppose once you take off some modest domestic usage it makes quite a difference to how much spare is left over. My neighbour also has a battery (possibly 8kWh, I'm not sure) which supplies the charger if the sun goes behind a cloud or domestic demand kicks in. In theory he could probably give me 3h at 7.4kW if his charger was working, but it's been sitting around outdoors for so long that the connector corroded!
Another ohme charger user here (ohme cable plugged into an untethered Rolec charger), I bought it for it's integration with octopus agile tariff. It has the ability to cherry pick the cheapest half hour segments. I think at the time (2019) it was the only charger that did it, there might be others now.
When I went to North Wales a couple of months ago we there were three charging locations on or near the route that I'd considered, each of which had one charger. I just checked now and two of those towns now have three chargers each, and there's another location in Dolgellau and Blaenau Ffestiniog with two chargers each. So quite quickly I've gone from having 3 possible chargers available on that route to ten. Awesome.
The one in Dolgellau is in the main car park by the bridge so there are coffee shops available and it's just opposite the park, so if you have kids they can have a run around, you can drink coffee whilst the car charges. Not a bad way to do your journeys!
Ohme E Pod here. Chose it because I wanted a longer cable than the tethered one came with and we also didn’t want a cable reel permanently at the front door. Got a 10m separate cable than coils up and fits nicely in the consumer unit cabinet at the front door.
Been working great so far. Lots of options for setting different schedules for smart charging from the app. Also set for approve charge every time. Not such a big deal where I am, but could see it being handy if you need on street charging.
Only downside is the cost of the sim is only covered for three years and chargeable after that. Not sure if that’s pretty standard practice or how much connection will be after that.
Zappi is set to use 100% solar on Eco+ mode - so yes it only charges the car if it is 100% free if I plug it in during the day on this mode.
Tomorrow Octopus are going to install a smart meter so we can get to their cheaper overnight tariffs. Since I am 99.9% sure there is no 2g/3g signal where the meters are, I expect this to be a fruitless exercise.
As expected, zero signal BUT Octopus have a solution via a Telefonica external antenna which boosts the signal. Should fix ours and the next door neighbours. Takes about a month to arrive, but happy with that as a solution... Octopus fella was excellent by all accounts.
What's an E-Golf like?
I found out the Hyundai is on a rolling contract, so we can hand it back when we want. It's £250/mo - so for that monthly spend we could borrow the money instead and buy something. Plenty of cars available now for £10-13k, including lots of e-Golfs and e-Ups.
Leased one for a couple of years, absolutely base spec.
The good:
- probably the most refined EV hatchback
- proper low driving position
- all very normal, intuitive controls - manual key, analogue dials, etc
- decent boot, room to fit a spacesaver spare under the floor and squeeze cables etc around it
- 75kg roof load rating
- excellent adaptive cruise, but not annoying lane assist. Probably the best combination of car tech
- preheat timing works well, including on battery away from home
The bad:
- range is pretty low, and no standard fit heat pump so motorway speeds is sub 100 miles if it's cold.
- slow CCS charging - 43kW is about the best you'll see.
- lack of any EV info - no battery % display (just the analogue fuel gauge), charging speed, etc
- terrible app
- it's *very* nannying at low state of charge, forces eco with 25 or so miles left, get to 10 miles left and it'll force the car into eco+ mode, no heating or AC and barely any throttle response.
Make sure you get a facelift (headlight have two kicked-up silver lines rather than one below) else it's an even smaller battery.
Overall I really liked it. As a commuter car / runabout doing less than 70 miles a day (50 if pre-facelift) it's brilliant and I'd have another for that. I did do some big long trips in it but the limited range and slow charging make that a bit tedious.
Yeah it would be a commuter car, currently would do about 26 miles a day. It would be used for local family duties - I think the back of a Golf would be fine for my 2 daughters max height 5'8. Some good prices on the e-Golfs currently circa 2014.
So in the space of June I've gone from a no EV household to an entirely EV household with 2 MGs. This wasn't entirely planned, actually in terms of timing it's been terrible.
I picked the second one up today and currently making my way to the south coast from the Lakes so at least by the return journey I'll be pretty familiar with it!
If anyone wants to ask any questions about yolo-ing into EV ownership on a badly timed and poorly researched whim just let me know...
you can drink coffee whilst the car charges.
I reckon a lot of EV drivers spend what they save on petrol or diesel on expensive coffee.
Get one of these
I think the back of a Golf would be fine for my 2 daughters
I've heard it's rather uncomfortable.
So in the space of June I’ve gone from a no EV household to an entirely EV household with 2 MGs. This wasn’t entirely planned, actually in terms of timing it’s been terrible.
That's a good effort. We ended up with one MG(4). For a mad minute I did consider swapping my Koraq for the MG estate! 1000 miles into our MG4 ownership, we're really happy with it. Both of us get it, hit the settings button and turn off lane assist tho!
I reckon a lot of EV drivers spend what they save on petrol or diesel on expensive coffee.
Heh. A lot of people I know complain about long car journeys. I enjoy them, because we stop for coffees, cakes, ice creams, food at every opportunity (and are fortunate to be able to afford this!) The car charging can happen whilst we stuff our faces.
Anyway, I'm going to return ours, because we can save £500 on lease whilst my wife isn't working over the summer. Then when she goes back we will maybe buy a "cheap" used one. Options are:
- e-Golf, decent car, short range, £10k
- Other first gen short range car e.g. Mercedes B-Class but these are rare, £13k last time I looked
- Cheap 1st gen car, Zoe or Leaf, £6-8k
- Hyundai Ioniq 28kWh £12k
- Same but 38kWh, £13-15k
- Hyundai Kona 62kWh, £16k min for a high mileage one but 330 mile range
- 2nd gen Leaf, £12k ish or a bit more for the longer battery
- Not bother with an EV at all, £4-5k
A real alternative is to get rid of both our cars and either commit both their expenditure to one car (that can tow) or just save money:
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 £27k
- PHEV Merc C-Class or Passat, £15-18k
- Regular boring old diesel, £10k or whatever.
I reckon a lot of EV drivers spend what they save on petrol or diesel on expensive coffee.
Good strategy- fill up on coffee at 1st charge stop then need the loo for the next!
I'm a bit concerned about buying a shorter range car - whilst their value has dropped nicely to make them an attractive purchase, I'm worried they'll continue to drop like a stone.
I would be very elated buying a used ev given how expensive replacement batteries are. How do you know what state the battery is in and what it’s likely remaining life span is
I’m a bit concerned about buying a shorter range car – whilst their value has dropped nicely to make them an attractive purchase, I’m worried they’ll continue to drop like a stone.
I wonder if the opposite will happen, many 'second cars' used for school runs/commuting which are not the first choice for taking on holiday, people will realise that actually, home charging is ample for their normal use. I'm 5000 miles and 9 months in with a company ev van and I've not public charged it since week 2. 50kw and 150 mile actual summer range and I'm basically topping it up each night rather than giving it a full charge. I hope the extended range cars are the exception rather than the norm, to avoid lugging around a heavier battery that was energy intensive to build.
I think prices are still inflated due to the covid supply issues.
I’ve half an eye in the market to replace an emergency buy “stop gap” Golf I bought 3 years ago but I’d have to be putting a fair chunk down for anything half decent.
I’m at best indifferent to the Golf, the fact it didn’t cost me anything to buy; it’s the second car mainly for my commute 1-2 days a week thanks to WFH and tax, insurance & servicing costs less than c 3 months of lease/loan repayments makes it a hard choice to replace.
My current use would suit an EV, when I have to commute it’s a 50 mile round trip so a 100 mile range would do but it doesn’t stack up paying a few £k just to save a few £.
I contract work, so Sod’s Law if I got such an EV, my next contract would be a longer drive!
My BMW i3S is coming up to the end of year 3.
It was originally on a 24 months lease through work, I extended it another 12 months because there was nothing available last year to replace it with for sensible money.
They want another £50 /month to extend it again so I think I’ll give it back, 300/month was good value, 350 is pushing it, especially now it’s not a new car anymore.
On our scheme the VW ID3 with the bigger (77?) battery is available sometime in September for about £315, which would be a much more practical car than the i3 - it’ll fit a bike in easily & go further so likely to use it for a few journeys that the diesel estate currently does.
The Cupra Born is also available for the same money, which I really like the look of, but 33wk lead time isn’t ideal 😞
Long term review of the i3S after 36k miles? It’s been awesome, done everything it is supposed to with no fuss & everything still works as it did on day 1. Not the best drive on the motorway is my only negative, it’s a bit twitchy & I’d rather take the much more relaxing 330D estate for any decent motorway miles.
How do you know what state the battery is in and what it’s likely remaining life span is
The car can report its battery health. Some early cars (Leaf gen 1) had air-cooling for the battery and that was a bit rubbish, so they'd get hot and that's what ruins the battery. Hyundai by all accounts are really good at battery management - I've read loads of reports of cars with 100% battery capacity after 100k miles or more. So I'm not worried about that particular brand.
There is good data on Teslas which have arguably worse management - they let you brim the battery to 100% unlike most cars, and the extra power also reduces battery life, and even then degradation is 10% ish after huge miles. There is loads of data showing how well the batteries last, and it's really only Gen1 Leafs that suffer badly.
My ID3 turns up next Tuesday. Must say between the lease company Novuna, the dealer Swans Way Group and VW are keeping me informed on everything including info about the app and all the vehicle info I need to get it up and running already.
Puts our previous lease company to shame where I did have a couple of issues with them.
Phill5556 I would have liked the 77kw battery but I couldn't justify the extra £100 a month for what I use my car for. Though it would have meant I would have gotten the new shape ID3 and not the old. But I can live with that for the money I'm saving.
Molgrips have have looked at what 4-5k or 10k gets you even in a lez complient diesel these days.
Plenty of cheap cars around but when you narrow it down to lez complient 10k appears to be the new 5k - full of either high mileage or old cars. No longer full of 3-5years old with average mileage. More like 5-8 years old with 100k on the clock.
I would have liked the 77kw battery but I couldn’t justify the extra £100 a month for what I use my car for.
For whatever reason it’s £50 cheaper through Tusker? 🤷🏻♂️🙂
As it's a company vehicle I don't get a choice of where to get it but I'm not grumbling for what I'm going to be paying for the 55KW ID3 as I'm getting a deal as its a pre ordered car.
Molgrips have have looked at what 4-5k or 10k gets you even in a lez complient diesel these days.
Yeah, I went looking when I considered changing the Merc but it just wasn't worth it. High mileage and/or old cars are still expensive, and given the commuter mileage savings from an EV I'd have to go right down to almost banger levels of car to save significant money.
I don't really need LEZ compliance though.
We are going the other way I think.
A 7 seater e rifter is coming in at about 400 a month/4 years with our berlingo and 5 down (not on forecourt finance - that's fixed at 13% and can do one)
Waiting on local garage to get the demo they are waiting on in - see how it is in the real world.
Our city is going to lez . Only in the centre doesn't really effect us but also what our city is good at doing is coralling you through bus /taxi zones and the like with no choice through bad diversions during the millions of continual disjointed road works.
On the plus side the lez doesn't effect the land Rover 😉
I approve trail_rat that looks great.
I just need to work out if we should have 1 car or 2, and if we go to 1 do we want to save cash or keep the expenditure the same. Or even split the difference.
Volkswagen, the UK's most popular car brand for the last two years, is cutting production of electric vehicles (EV) due to a decline in consumer demand.
In what has been dubbed an 'unprecedented move', the German car giant is set to scale back EV outputs at one of its biggest production facilities in Emden, northwest Germany, due to 'strong customer reluctance' to buy battery-powered models.
The move comes after company executives said demand for Volkswagen's fully electric cars is down 30 per cent compared with forecasts.
Manufacturing of petrol and diesel cars is said to be unaffected.
Now that diesel has dropped, people may be looking at 80p/kWh charging on the road and thinking it's not worth it. At that price, even my car is about equal to diesel in cost. But of course, don't pay that price.