Audi e-tron & EV surge protection?

ComicGeek

The Pod Point units have a Type 3 surge protection device, which will deal with most things except for lightning strikes. A separate lightning protection system would be required to deal with lightning strikes, but that is hardly ever needed for houses (although a handful of houses do get directly struck by lightning each year). The issue you described re voltage strikes would have been covered by a surge protection device.

The Rolec unit states it has all the normal overload and fault current protection, but doesn't note anything about surge protection. The larger Rolec units specifically state they have surge protection, so perhaps the smaller ones don't.

mateus

The electrical inspection at my home after the incident stated that type 1 or type 2 would have protected the house content items and car damage. Also I found that type 3, whilst not being adequate in my case (not a direct strike btw) are only effective when combined with type 2 device. So that would suggest minimal protection, if any, on a Pod Point too?

mateus

The Motor Ombudsmen have finally picked this up and had an official response from VAG. Now need to wait up to 90 days to get a decision. 

Grumpy_chap

I'll be interested to see how it resolves

mateus

We have some progress in this issue...
The issue/fault has now been resolved by Audi Leeds - total cost is £1300. The insurance assessment process is automatically processed in this (and other?) case/s, something I have raised with the insurance company as I was expecting the analysis of the fault to determine a 'fault' from the car manufacturing point of view before progressing to a repair/claim - at present there is no 'root cause' diagnosis and it's under further discussions with them.

The good news for the lease company is that the car is repaired and a viable asset for them.
However, I am now left with 4 possible choices from what I can see:
1) Hope that the insurance company determine root cause is car manufacture fault and chase Audi for the bill, no cost to me.   
2) Agree to take the hit on my insurance policy (excess/no claims etc.) OR Insurance determine they cannot get Audi to cough up. Same result to me..  
3) Cancel the claim and refuse to settle the outstanding bill to Audi - likely to end up in small claims court? - any advice appreciated..
4) Pay the full bill 'under protest' and pursue my own claim against Audi to recoup costs.

The case with the Motor Ombudsmen is ongoing - result should be determined in approx. 2 months
Additionally any BMW i3 owners with BMW branded charge points may be able to breathe an additional sigh of relief as it would appear they are one of the only ones confirmed as having RCBO installed as standard.

mateus

Latest update is that due to Aviva not willing to invest time/money on the investigation (this being the first time it's happened) I have been left with choice 2 and paid the excess as a claim on my car insurance.
Next step is to update the Motor Ombudsmen with the additional costs I've now incurred and look to raise a claim in the small claims court process against Audi in due course. 

Any other suggestions on elevating this issue are appreciated.

[Deleted User]

Keep us updated

mateus

Car returned today. 
Further discussions with charger supplier also, seems there is no plan to fit any surge devices in domestic installations and only option is to have new consumer unit installed with it or have specific protection on the charger itself. Something they dont want to offer as it makes the chargers more expensive!

Seems the immediate advice for anyone with an EV is get some surge protection either via a new consumer unit or dedicated SPD! 

NottinghamKnight

mateus said:

Car returned today. 
Further discussions with charger supplier also, seems there is no plan to fit any surge devices in domestic installations and only option is to have new consumer unit installed with it or have specific protection on the charger itself. Something they dont want to offer as it makes the chargers more expensive!

Seems the immediate advice for anyone with an EV is get some surge protection either via a new consumer unit or dedicated SPD! 

I'm sure parts of the media would be very interested in this.

mateus

NottinghamKnight said:

mateus said:

Car returned today. 
Further discussions with charger supplier also, seems there is no plan to fit any surge devices in domestic installations and only option is to have new consumer unit installed with it or have specific protection on the charger itself. Something they dont want to offer as it makes the chargers more expensive!

Seems the immediate advice for anyone with an EV is get some surge protection either via a new consumer unit or dedicated SPD! 

I'm sure parts of the media would be very interested in this.

No doubting that, but seems a conflict of interests from the responses I've encountered ie the Audi and other manufacturers advertising budgets?