Energy supply unlooping for EV

neilied

Hey all, apologies if this is the wrong forum area. I have made a purchase through octopus for an EV charger. Having received a timescale I then put my order in for a lease car. However I initially received an email from National grid saying that they would need to do retrospective work for compliance. The following day I received a second email from NG reversing the authorisation and informing that I have a looped supply. They contact to arrange a site visit. I spoke on the phone and they mention that my property is the lead supply and that it tails across to my neighbour so potentially the majority work will be on my neighbours property to run independent supply. 

Firstly I am now concerned that this may be declined as it appears that a 14ft long trench through concrete path would be needed and if they need to go to the level of the meter it would take them into a lean to which they said they could not do anyway.

secondly they say they cannot uprate the fuse until the work is carried out. But this can be retrospective. Octopus energy however said they cannot install an EV charger even on restricted power until the fuse is uprated. This now looks a stalemate and potentially means a charger install may take until January with the car due at the end of October.

NG recommended searching for another installer as they insist the charger can be installed with reduced power on the current 63a fuse until either planned works or alternative method completes the upgrade.

arrgghhh… apologies for the overload of info. Panicking now that I might need to cancel my car order.

im sure I’m not the only one to go through this. Would be great to hear others experiences.

thanks in advance.

Netexporter

You could charge the car with a granny charger until the other works are sorted out.

born_again

Strange as many people have a charger installed on a looped supply. All that happens is they limit the charger. Usually to 16 Amp.
Which is what happened to a neighbour. They then had to contact charger company to reset charger to 32 Amp. 

QrizB

neilied said:

arrgghhh… apologies for the overload of info. Panicking now that I might need to cancel my car order.

We made do with the 13A plug-in charger for the first week's of EV ownership. One of the forum regulars has been using his for a couple of years now.

Do you have an outdoor socket you can use in the meantime? Or inside a garage? Or a convenient window you can pass the cable through?

squirrelpie

Or you can always use a nearby public charger and accept the increased cost for a while. Multiple options.

born_again

squirrelpie said:

Or you can always use a nearby public charger and accept the increased cost for a while. Multiple options.

Checking for any Tesla is usually the cheapest. 👍

neilied

Hi all. Wow many thanks for the responses. Am going to pop a reply to them here.

Netexporter: absolutely an option but would have to purchase one for now. Also trying to calc time on charge for the battery size.

born_again: not sure of ampage but yes both National grid and octopus said it would be restricted to just under half power, I wonder if the reluctance to install is down to having to revisit.

QrizB: yes I have a small side window from laundry room with a spare 13pin so is an option all be it very slow one and as mentioned additional cost for lead.

Squirrel pie: have considered it but having had a plug in courtesy car I have some Kw/h pricing at hand. The osprey fast charge nearby is £0.89/kw/h so I assume is a multiplication to size of battery making it £65 to fill for around 270 real world miles. Not more than a very short term fix.

born_again: interesting. A couple of option near to me will check rates.

am also considering plan b much to the death stare from wife which is sod the environment and low running costs, and just a little more per month on a personal loan plus trade in gives a £20k budget and am looking at around a 63 plate panamera 4.8 V8 turbo.🥴🤣

matt_drummer

neilied said:

am also considering plan b much to the death stare from wife which is sod the environment and low running costs, and just a little more per month on a personal loan plus trade in gives a £20k budget and am looking at around a 63 plate panamera 4.8 V8 turbo.🥴🤣

So you'll spend a small fortune running a really expensive petrol car for years but turn your nose up at public charging an ev for a few weeks?

Really, a 12 year old Porsche and all that entails?

Seems odd to me!

neilied

matt_drummer said:

neilied said:

am also considering plan b much to the death stare from wife which is sod the environment and low running costs, and just a little more per month on a personal loan plus trade in gives a £20k budget and am looking at around a 63 plate panamera 4.8 V8 turbo.🥴🤣

So you'll spend a small fortune running a really expensive petrol car for years but turn your nose up at public charging an ev for a few weeks?

Really, a 12 year old Porsche and all that entails?

Seems odd to me!

It’s more of an itch. Currently drive a DS5 diesel but my car past is far from diesel. Mazda 6 MPS played with to 400bhp, Impreza wagon STi exhaust I could put my head in, 2x alfa GTV V6 with the second one consuming £20k of my life over 7 years, Saab 9-3 turbo, escort RS mk5.

also I am working on assumption that what may be needed to sort a charger might ultimately not be free and require a hefty financial involvement. I, at the moment can’t see my neighbour agreeing to have a 14-16ft long 50cm wide trench dug through her garden and concrete 60’s path and then have to have her meter moved to an external location all for me to have a shiny car. I will also need the same, lifting a block paved driveway in addition.

so for the same cost of running long term public charging I can have a shiny go fast car with four seats.

that said hopefully the survey and or neighbour pans out and I can keep the original plan.

matt_drummer

Or you could have a Tesla Model 3 Performance that will wipe the floor with the dinosaur Porsche and cost miles less to run even if you have to use Tesla superchargers.

Guess what I have!

Netexporter

neilied said:

Hi all. Wow many thanks for the responses. Am going to pop a reply to them here.

Netexporter: absolutely an option but would have to purchase one for now. Also trying to calc time on charge for the battery size.

Most cars come with a granny charger (but best to check with the dealer) but they don't usually come with a Type 2 cable, so save your money for that!