No off-street parking = no EV?
Discussion
I'm at the early stages of looking into EV, plug-in and hybrid options (see other thread).
As above really: is it going to be a killer not to have off-street parking? I live in a Victorian terraced house, with a parking space usually obtainable outside.
The front wall (bay) of the house itself is about 3m from the kerb.
As above really: is it going to be a killer not to have off-street parking? I live in a Victorian terraced house, with a parking space usually obtainable outside.
The front wall (bay) of the house itself is about 3m from the kerb.
I currently live in a top floor flat and have just picked up a new Nissan Leaf.
If the charging infrastructure around you is good enough, it's certainly a possibility.
I have a rapid charger 2 miles from my house, a type 2 charger at my gym and I can plug in my 3 pin EVSE cable at work so I've never really had any problems.
Yes, it would be handy to charge at home, but I can live without it for the cost saving.
If the charging infrastructure around you is good enough, it's certainly a possibility.
I have a rapid charger 2 miles from my house, a type 2 charger at my gym and I can plug in my 3 pin EVSE cable at work so I've never really had any problems.
Yes, it would be handy to charge at home, but I can live without it for the cost saving.
I live in a flat with no dedicated charging facilities and have done over 6k miles in my Leaf so far. It all depends on what (if any) public charging infrastructure you have nearby.
I have a public station about 10 minutes walk away for the occasional overnight charge, another about 10 minutes walk from my office plus a rapid charger recently installed next to where I go to the gym/cinema. So far it's been ok.
I have a public station about 10 minutes walk away for the occasional overnight charge, another about 10 minutes walk from my office plus a rapid charger recently installed next to where I go to the gym/cinema. So far it's been ok.
The tethered charge cable lead is nearly 5m long so it would reach the car. It's quite a thick cable though so you would need to use a heavy duty pedestrian cover and it will obviously present as a trip hazard to some degree and will probably contravene local byelaw 14.3 section 8.5c or something.
I can't see any govt funded provider putting one in for you, worth asking though as it's not just BG that do it. Ultimately there's nothing stopping you buying the charge point kit yourself and getting a sparky in.
There's also the EVSE 3p pin mains lead option, the one I've got is 4m+ long (I think) and the cable is a bit thinner but still not ideal to have is over a footpath. Also it has a control box built into the plug end and you can't have this out in the rain/snow. they charge up very slowly and very ineffeciently too apparantly. Ideally you're not supposed to use extension leads with them but I would if I had to, as long as it was a quality lead and rated at 13A minimum. You could run that from the house and make up a little weather enclosure for the control box - I'm thinking a bucket with a couple of slots cut in it and a brick on top - max IP rating evah!
I can't see any govt funded provider putting one in for you, worth asking though as it's not just BG that do it. Ultimately there's nothing stopping you buying the charge point kit yourself and getting a sparky in.
There's also the EVSE 3p pin mains lead option, the one I've got is 4m+ long (I think) and the cable is a bit thinner but still not ideal to have is over a footpath. Also it has a control box built into the plug end and you can't have this out in the rain/snow. they charge up very slowly and very ineffeciently too apparantly. Ideally you're not supposed to use extension leads with them but I would if I had to, as long as it was a quality lead and rated at 13A minimum. You could run that from the house and make up a little weather enclosure for the control box - I'm thinking a bucket with a couple of slots cut in it and a brick on top - max IP rating evah!
Would a range extender, e.g. an i3, would be an "ok" solution?
At the risk of repeating my other thread... Our annual mileage is around 8-9k, with 5k of that being a mix of urban trips and moderate (50-100 miles per leg) family visits - but not commuting as we cycle to work. The longer-distance stuff would presumably be fine due to charge points and the range extender, but I'm most concerned about the short-range stuff.
Assuming that home charging would remain sketchy in the short term, could I rely on the range extender and public charge points? I live in central Bristol, which has decent public charging point availability.
At the risk of repeating my other thread... Our annual mileage is around 8-9k, with 5k of that being a mix of urban trips and moderate (50-100 miles per leg) family visits - but not commuting as we cycle to work. The longer-distance stuff would presumably be fine due to charge points and the range extender, but I'm most concerned about the short-range stuff.
Assuming that home charging would remain sketchy in the short term, could I rely on the range extender and public charge points? I live in central Bristol, which has decent public charging point availability.
All been said. I use a charger v close to work. If there are chargers in and around your normal routes then its fine. But if you have to make a special trip a mile from home it will quickly become tiring
Also ask your local authority if they have signed up for the OLEV grants that might allow for one on the roadside....
Also ask your local authority if they have signed up for the OLEV grants that might allow for one on the roadside....
The installer that called out to do my (failed) install measured my parking area outside the garage to ensure the lead wouldn't stretch onto the pavement . Not sure if he was serious about having to take a photo of him holding the cable at full extension to prove it wouldn't be a hazard though.
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