Would I really need an EV Home Charger?

QrizB

Mr.Generous said:

Is there an option to charge from a 16a type socket?

Just to put the cat among the pigeons, you can also buy 7kW granny chargers that plug in to a 32A CEE socket. Here's a random example:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Charging-Adjustable-Funtion-Waterproof-7-2KW-32A-Single-phase-Blue-CEE/dp/B0BQYDSJLZ/ref=mp_s_a_1_17

Keep_pedalling said:

Octopus Go is the alternative option with 4 hours @ 9p pkWh.

I've got Go. It renews this month from 7.5p to 9.5p/kWh. Not that 0.5p makes a huge difference.

You also only get four hours a night, not the six+ that you get with Intelligent.

Keep_pedalling

QrizB said:

Mr.Generous said:

Is there an option to charge from a 16a type socket?

Just to put the cat among the pigeons, you can also buy 7kW granny chargers that plug in to a 32A CEE socket. Here's a random example:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Portable-Charging-Adjustable-Funtion-Waterproof-7-2KW-32A-Single-phase-Blue-CEE/dp/B0BQYDSJL

Keep_pedalling said:

Octopus Go is the alternative option with 4 hours @ 9p pkWh.

I've got Go. It renews this month from 7.5p to 9.5p/kWh. Not that 0.5p makes a huge difference.

You also only get four hours a night, not the six+ that you get with Intelligent.

The rate dropped to 9p on the 16th of this month.

Grumpy_chap

I think the OP could certainly survive on the basic granny charger given the use profile they describe.  It just means the discipline of charging regularly.

LunaLater

We had a model S, which we charged from a normal three-pin socket, and it did my head in, taking two days to charge. Getting back nearly empty from a long journey and then knowing that if I needed it the next morning it’d still be less than a quarter full was stressful.

Nowadays we have an electric Smart that only gets used for shorter trips (which is good, as it only has a fifty mile range) and the domestic socket is absolutely fine for that. No stress, no anxiety, and overnight is more than enough to get it back to 100%

eyeofthetiger999

I recently purchased an EV and decided to get a home charger for 1k.  Don't have any regrets so far.  It just makes life easier and avoids the hassle of finding an extension lead, having to worry about rain or overloading the system.

Grumpy_chap

A point for the OP (or anyone) to note is how easy it will be for their home electrical install to support the EV charge point at 7kW.
I purchased an EV in June and the offer included a free home charge point.
However, to get that home charge point installed I have had to have a new meter (by the electricity supplier) plus a new cut out fitted with 100 Amp fuse (by the DNO - District Network Operator).  That has take all the way until today to get sorted.
The actual charge point is scheduled for install in another week's time.
In the meantime I have been using a granny charger.
It is worth anyone understanding what the main incomer to the house will support before making a decision to install a home charge point.

Petriix

Just be aware that 'average' doesn't equate to 'maximum required'. You may find there are times when you really need that 7kW charging e.g. when you return from a rare long trip on a very low state of charge and need to use the car again the next day.

I mostly don't need 4 hours on Go, but sometimes I need every minute of cheap charging I can get. 

1961Nick

Reed_Richards said:

It seems for Octopus Intelligent you don't just need a Home Charger but the right make of Home Charger?  You get 6 hours at 7.5p per kWh.  If that's saving, say 22.5p per kWh but the Home Charger costs £1000 that would be 4444 kWh to cover the cost of the Home Charger.  So using my initial assumption of needing 50 kWh per week then it would take 89 weeks to cover a £1000 cost.  But that's only by comparison with paying the full day rate; can I not have another EV charging tariff that just goes by hours and doesn't need some wizzo Home Charger?

Intelligent can either connect to your car or to your charger. There's a list on the octopus website of compatible vehicles so if yours is one of them you can use a granny charger instead of a wallbox.

Qyburn

Reed_Richards said:

...  There's no benefit that I can see of charging in one hour rather than 3.  

I guess it's going to vary between cars but I saw some data about Tesla showing a greater efficiency from fast charging. The issue is that during charging the car is "awake" and consuming power. So it wastes less by charging over a shorter time.

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/threads/charging-efficiency.122072/

Reed_Richards

1961Nick said:

Intelligent can either connect to your car or to your charger. There's a list on the octopus website of compatible vehicles so if yours is one of them you can use a granny charger instead of a wallbox.

My car (to be) is not compatible and it looks as if the chargers need mobile phone network connectivity.  Since the mobile phone signal is very weak where I live, it looks as if I can rule out Octopus Intelligent completely.