[Misc] Electric Cars

[Lady Whistledown]

Another EV convert here coming in peace... new car is arriving in April. It may have already been mentioned on this thread but does anyone have any recommendations re the installation of a home charger?

I spoke to our usual electrician who said he didn't do them as didn't have the right testing kit, and he said most sparkies he's spoken to are saying it's not worth their while as Octopus are undercutting everyone. From what I can tell from their website they are charging around £400 for installation. Doesn't seem that low to me! But is this about right? If not has anyone got any other recommendations? Looking at an Hypervolt charger based on online reviews...

I'm getting one installed through Octopus as my gas & electric are with them anyway. They sent somebody out today who had a quick nose around at where the gas & electric meters are, as well as the stop cock (I was flummoxed by that but it's to do with earthing apparently), and have booked the installation for next week. Seems pretty painless: all I have to do is, er, trim the bush out the front.

It's an Ohme charger.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I'm getting one installed through Octopus as my gas & electric are with them anyway. They sent somebody out today who had a quick nose around at where the gas & electric meters are, as well as the stop cock (I was flummoxed by that but it's to do with earthing apparently), and have booked the installation for next week. Seems pretty painless: all I have to do is, er, trim the bush out the front.

It's an Ohme charger.

You need to trim your bush, ahead of ‘oh me’ time?

 

[Lady Whistledown]

You need to trim your bush, ahead of ‘oh me’ time?

Important to tidy it up when you've got a man coming round.

 

[Cordwainer]

I'm getting one installed through Octopus as my gas & electric are with them anyway. They sent somebody out today who had a quick nose around at where the gas & electric meters are, as well as the stop cock (I was flummoxed by that but it's to do with earthing apparently), and have booked the installation for next week. Seems pretty painless: all I have to do is, er, trim the bush out the front.

It's an Ohme charger.

Have they given you a price? With Octopus also so interested to see if it’s worthwhile ta.

 

[Audax]

Zappi is best option if any worry about good earthing.

 

[alanfp]

I keep hearing "about £1000" mentioned as the cost these days.
Was "about £600" two years ago, but I don't know if that was because there was a subsidy which has now been withdrawn, perhaps.

 

[Dave the OAP]

Quick question.

we are looking at a Renault Clio hybrid….as the mars only does 1000 miles a year if that!

to fit a charger point, digging up our newly laid wooden flooring etc..it would cost over £1k.

so would it be worth just using the charger lead straight into a normal three pin or do you have to have a specific changing feed?

 

[Fungus]

Quick question.

we are looking at a Renault Clio hybrid….as the mars only does 1000 miles a year if that!

to fit a charger point, digging up our newly laid wooden flooring etc..it would cost over £1k.

so would it be worth just using the charger lead straight into a normal three pin or do you have to have a specific changing feed?

You can buy a decent “granny charger” at Screwfix for less than £150 and plug it straight into a three pin socket, but it’s highly recommended to get an electrician to check your wiring, and fit a higher spec if necessary.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Quick question.

we are looking at a Renault Clio hybrid….as the mars only does 1000 miles a year if that!

to fit a charger point, digging up our newly laid wooden flooring etc..it would cost over £1k.

so would it be worth just using the charger lead straight into a normal three pin or do you have to have a specific changing feed?

That's just a hybrid, not a plug-in hybrid. So you wouldn't charge it (or plug it in) anyway. Bloody good car, though.

 

[happypig]

Quick question.

we are looking at a Renault Clio hybrid….as the mars only does 1000 miles a year if that!

to fit a charger point, digging up our newly laid wooden flooring etc..it would cost over £1k.

so would it be worth just using the charger lead straight into a normal three pin or do you have to have a specific changing feed?

3 pin plug is maximum 13A, so just under 3kw. It looks like the Clio has a 1.2kwh battery so you'll charge it in half an hour off a 3-pin.

Edit: didn't realise it wasn't plug-in

 

[Randy McNob]

That's just a hybrid, not a plug-in hybrid. So you wouldn't charge it (or plug it in) anyway. Bloody good car, though.

Yeah but it would be a great laugh if he ripped up his lovely wooden floor and only realised afterwards

 

[Audax]

I keep hearing "about £1000" mentioned as the cost these days.
Was "about £600" two years ago, but I don't know if that was because there was a subsidy which has now been withdrawn, perhaps.

Depends on the charger, and you may be right re: a withdrawn subsidy. When I had my Zappi installed it cost us approx £625, but that was *after* a £350 subsidy was taken off the original quote, as well as a special discount my installer had going at the time (as the business was still establishing). This was back in (late) 2020.

So if the subsidy is gone, quotes of around £1000 sounds about right. It looks like the RRP for the same Zappi I have has come down slightly (now under £800, it was over that when mine was installed) and while I expect install prices have gone up a little, I doubt they've soared as there's plenty of competition.

 

[DFL JCL]

Another EV convert here coming in peace... new car is arriving in April. It may have already been mentioned on this thread but does anyone have any recommendations re the installation of a home charger?

I spoke to our usual electrician who said he didn't do them as didn't have the right testing kit, and he said most sparkies he's spoken to are saying it's not worth their while as Octopus are undercutting everyone. From what I can tell from their website they are charging around £400 for installation. Doesn't seem that low to me! But is this about right? If not has anyone got any other recommendations? Looking at an Hypervolt charger based on online reviews...

I've just got an ohme installed. Very impressed so far.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Those of you who have taken the leap to an EV, how have you found the insurance costs? Have they gone up a bit?

 

[surrey jim]

Im sure this would tempt a fair few to convert to EV if true,

Two new BYD models will be capable of receiving peak charging power of 1,000 kilowatts (kW), enabling them to travel 400km (249 miles) on a five-minute charge

Chinese EV maker BYD says fast-charging system could be as quick as filling up a tank

BYD unveils platform with charging power of 1,000 kW, which would be twice as fast as Tesla’s supercharging

www.theguardian.com

 

[Driver 8]

If anyone wants a VW ID5 Style Pro Performance 72 plate with 31k miles on the clock in pretty much perfect condition let me know!

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Im sure this would tempt a fair few to convert to EV if true,

Chinese EV maker BYD says fast-charging system could be as quick as filling up a tank

BYD unveils platform with charging power of 1,000 kW, which would be twice as fast as Tesla’s supercharging

www.theguardian.com

It's a weird one, because a few years ago, I would've said this sort of technology would be a game-changer for all EV drivers. However, having lived with EVs for a good few years, a lot of the time (not all and clearly not everyone), there isn't the desperate need to fully recharge a battery as quickly as humanly possible.

Many EV drivers take advantage of cheap electricity overnight and, when not doing that, a lot of them fit in charging around work, meetings, natural breaks in their day or something else. Sure, there are ALWAYS going to be instances where people want to be able to recharge in a matter of minutes, but charging times are coming down naturally all the time as the technology matures and develops.

I dunno, I could be completely wrong, but I can't see them being the dominant form of charging, compared with the likes of 350kW units that are growing rapidly in numbers right now. Plus, I'm guessing you'll be paying a MASSIVE premium for the convenience and I think many drivers will be happy to take a bit more time

 

[chickens]

Those of you who have taken the leap to an EV, how have you found the insurance costs? Have they gone up a bit?

Mine went down, but I went from a Mercedes C Class to a Nissan Leaf, which probably explains it. The MG that replaced the Leaf hasn’t come out any more expensive either.

I think if you’re jumping into a performance EV insurance can jump quite significantly, as you’d expect being in a car with a sub 5 second 0-60 time. I’ve not had any nasty surprises, but I’ve not gone for one of the more outrageous models out there. I suspect Taycan owners pay a pretty penny.

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

Mine went down, but I went from a Mercedes C Class to a Nissan Leaf, which probably explains it. The MG that replaced the Leaf hasn’t come out any more expensive either.

I think if you’re jumping into a performance EV insurance can jump quite significantly, as you’d expect being in a car with a sub 5 second 0-60 time. I’ve not had any nasty surprises, but I’ve not gone for one of the more outrageous models out there. I suspect Taycan owners pay a pretty penny.

OK, not getting a really fast car. I'm trying to get a sense of whether a normal family EV will cost more than a comparable family ICE. If so, by what sort of percentage

 

[Nobby Cybergoat]

I'm also trying to get a sense of comparable maintenance costs.

I'm aware that there are fewer moving parts etc, so in theory , there should be fewer. But maybe as it's heavier the suspension might give way more often? I don't know?

Does anyone have experience of the sort of things that can go wrong on EV's? Also has anyone read anything about whether any makes are better than others in this regard? Thanks as ever