Multiple EVs on a Zappi charger

spud

hi all. I’ve been happily running a first EV using a Zappi and IOG for the past 9 months, with IOG linked to the Zappi (not the car). We’re now thinking of adding a second EV - a MINI (since my wifes car was recently written off). To my mind there would be no issues charging either car in.
Anyone confirm that I’m not missing anything here?
TIA.

Woodstok2000

No issues - we previously had IOG running through my car, when my wife got an EV we switched to manage it via the charger and it works fine.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6671103/multiple-evs-on-a-zappi-charger

Certainly possible, just make sure the EV with the largest battery is the one you list when you integrate the Zappi with IOG.

Then work out the ratio of the battery sizes and adjust accordingly when you enter the amount to add when charging the smaller EV.

The only other issue is if there is a significant difference in the charging rate between the 2 EVs…

Keep_pedalling

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82023053#Comment_82023053

There should be no difference with the AC charging rate with modern EVs unless the OP has a 3 phase supply. If there is a big difference in battery size between the two cars you just need to compensate the percentage asked for on the app when charging the smaller battery or rely on the car stopping the charge at whatever % set on the car.

FreeBear

The only other issue is if there is a significant difference in the charging rate between the 2 EVs…

Only noticed a difference in charge rates when plugging a hybrid in (~3.2kW) or a full blown EV (~7kW).

MWT

Try a 2 year old Nissan Leaf, peak charge rate is only around 6.6kW, only about 10% lower than most other EV's but it does cause IOG some issues as it tries to learn the typical charge rate for the registered vehicle.

…or rely on the car stopping the charge at whatever % set on the car.

Please don't do that, if you regularly stop the charge before the percentage you've asked for is reached then on the one hand it causes IOG to make a sub-optimal allocation of charging slots, and on the other-hand is likely to attract some question from Octopus about why your car is preventing the charge.

spud

thanks for all the thoughts and advice. The only potential issue then is the battery size difference. Main car is around 90kwh vs the mini at 30kwh. So I appreciate the fact that the charge rates between the 2 cars will be different. I do struggle with how suppliers expect households with more then one car to effectively use the charging hardware, and having two different charging units is frankly ridiculous. Practically I expect the main car to continue to be charged daily, with the second car charged every 3 or 4 days (instead of the main car).
Thanks again.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82023884#Comment_82023884

Technically IOG is still advertised as a single car tariff, hence there being no direct support for multiple cars on single Zappi, but …

You have two choices, the Mini does still charge at the full 7.4kW roughly so the rate is the same between your two vehicles, so as a rough starting point just divide by 3, so if the mini needs to add 60% then tell IOG you need to add 20%…

Alternatively, turn off smart charging in the Octopus app and charge the Mini between 23:30 - 05:30 using the schedule in Zappi or the car.

QrizB

FWIW, the Ohme app (which is how Ohme chargers integrate with IOG) allows you to register several vehicles and select which one you're trying to charge.

MWT

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82024113#Comment_82024113

Several people have reported successfully integrating more than one EV to IOG at the same time as well, but it doesn't alter the official stance that IOG is a single EV tariff when you integrate via the EVSE.

Hopefully that will change at some point and IOG will properly manage the cars used with an EVSE integration as even the Ohme approach has its issues as it depends on the EV manufacturer integrations which remain somewhat unreliable in many cases.

spud

Just to follow up, we have successfully been running and charging the Mini (as a second EV) for a month or so now without issues, as described above, without needing to change any settings. The charge just finishes sooner than predicted, as described, as it bases calculations on the larger battery EV. All in all very happy and glad we made the move.