Electric cars

RichardD1970

Stoke wrote: »

I'm confused. I know the high power fast chargers have to be properly 'plumbed in' by an expert, but I thought the low power ones are like standard wall plugs? You could practically run one through your letterbox to your car (especially in this weather)?

Maybe I need to read up more.

Yes, some will plug into a standard wall socket, but a lot of people would need a very long extension lead and imagine all them cables running over the footpaths, tripping people up and getting tangled.:rotfl:

For me I need to get a hard standing on the front (which we are looking at anyway) and a dropped curb, which is questionable because it would partially encroach onto a parking bay

Car_54

Stoke wrote: »

I'm confused. I know the high power fast chargers have to be properly 'plumbed in' by an expert, but I thought the low power ones are like standard wall plugs? You could practically run one through your letterbox to your car (especially in this weather)?

Maybe I need to read up more.

If (like me) you live in an upstairs flat, with a reserved parking space 30 yards away, it's a non-starter.

Martyn1981

Car_54 wrote: »

If (like me) you live in an upstairs flat, with a reserved parking space 30 yards away, it's a non-starter.

A great solution might be chargers installed next to 'flat' parking spaces.

Stageshoot

Stoke wrote: »

How do you pay for the energy you consume at a charging point?

On Account (Polar Plus) Charged Monthly or via App linked to Credit Card EcoTricity, others are free depends on the location

Stoke

Stageshoot wrote: »

On Account (Polar Plus) Charged Monthly or via App linked to Credit Card EcoTricity, others are free depends on the location

Interesting. How does it compare financially to say an equivalent 'efficient' petrol or diesel?

Obviously the initial outlay for an EV is still quite high at the moment. Would you say you are starting to notice the savings or are you still approaching breaking even?

almillar

I know the high power fast chargers have to be properly 'plumbed in' by an expert, but I thought the low power ones are like standard wall plugs?

The rapid ones are massive AC/DC converters. Slower home ones are basically just AC outlets as you say, with some electronics. Same stuff as your home electric but heftier. A 7kW charger is 240v 32A AC - much more than anything in your home. My installation, on a nice modern house with a 100A main fuse, invovlved a separate fuse box and cable all the way from meter to charger. Completely separate from the rest of the house.

Just using a 'granny' cable - one that plugs into a 3-pin outlet, will get you 240v 10A (2.4kW) (you COULD get 13A but that isn't considered safe for long periods on home wiring) and will be much slower to charge, and less efficient too due to the losses lasting longer. It's called a granny cable because you only use it in emergencies when you get to your granny's house with barely any charge!

Interesting. How does it compare financially to say an equivalent 'efficient' petrol or diesel?

If you pay 15 per kWh at home to charge your car, and get, say 4 miles per kWh, that's 3.75p per mile. How does that compare to your car?

Obviously the initial outlay for an EV is still quite high at the moment.

Compared to what? Compare a new Zoe vs a new Clio. A Leaf vs a Focus. A Tesla Model S vs a 5 Series. You can't compare against your current car, because you've already spent that money!

I spent £4,000 driving a Renault Zoe 15,000 over 2 years. I think that's pretty good for 2 years motoring in a well specced small 5 door hatchback. Chargers here in Northern Ireland are currently free though, so there's no electric cost in there.

NigeWick

silverwhistle wrote: »

Let us know when you upgrade to the 60.:-)

Not going to happen. I have accepted the vehicle I chose has its limitations and will (unless I win the lottery) live with my mistake. It's only another ten years or so until we have Transport as a Service and I shan't need to own a vehicle at all.

Stoke

almillar wrote: »

The rapid ones are massive AC/DC converters. Slower home ones are basically just AC outlets as you say, with some electronics. Same stuff as your home electric but heftier. A 7kW charger is 240v 32A AC - much more than anything in your home. My installation, on a nice modern house with a 100A main fuse, invovlved a separate fuse box and cable all the way from meter to charger. Completely separate from the rest of the house.

Just using a 'granny' cable - one that plugs into a 3-pin outlet, will get you 240v 10A (2.4kW) (you COULD get 13A but that isn't considered safe for long periods on home wiring) and will be much slower to charge, and less efficient too due to the losses lasting longer. It's called a granny cable because you only use it in emergencies when you get to your granny's house with barely any charge!




If you pay 15 per kWh at home to charge your car, and get, say 4 miles per kWh, that's 3.75p per mile. How does that compare to your car?


Compared to what? Compare a new Zoe vs a new Clio. A Leaf vs a Focus. A Tesla Model S vs a 5 Series. You can't compare against your current car, because you've already spent that money!

I spent £4,000 driving a Renault Zoe 15,000 over 2 years. I think that's pretty good for 2 years motoring in a well specced small 5 door hatchback. Chargers here in Northern Ireland are currently free though, so there's no electric cost in there.

Significantly better, but I paid less for my car.

I wouldn't touch a 'brand new' petrol or diesel, so the comparison with the Clio is kind of pointless. I would only ever go electric or plug-in hybrid, if I was to buy new from the forecourt. I don't tend to buy new cars though. However, when you consider the cost of a new(ish) second hand car vs an electric car. You can buy a lot of petrol/diesel etc. It depends whether that new car 'feels' is that important to you.

I'm asking out of curiosity, rather than to be difficult btw. Not looking for an argument :P

We all want the cheapest motoring possible. I would still say bangernomics offers that, but there's a whole middle ground where it's EV vs Second Hand IC.

silverwhistle

NigeWick wrote: »

Not going to happen.

Drat!:D


My GF recently got an additional (diesel) van for her business which was three years old, so we assume an ex-lease vehicle. Hopefully the numbers into the s/h market from similar sources will increase significantly in the next couple of years and not everybody keeps them!

Car_54

almillar wrote: »

The rapid ones are massive AC/DC converters. Slower home ones are basically just AC outlets as you say, with some electronics.
.

"Some electronics" = "AC/DC converter"!