Nissan Leaf on order - what now?
Discussion
Specifically, not sure where to go on the home charging front. I realise that perhaps I ought to have given this a little more thought by now, but we are where we are.
To begin with, I'm not entirely sure what comes fitted on or with the Leaf. The 6.6kw thing has thrown me. Is this still an option, or does it come as standard?
Either way, I'm expecting to get a cable with a three pin plug at one end that I can charge slowly overnight with.
To improve on this, I'd like to install a charge point. I've read about a few different firms on here. Nuworld, Rolec, podpoint, British Gas, phoenixworks to name a few. Then there are the different power options. Will they all work with my car even if it isn't te 6.6kw version?
Do each of these use a proprietary unit, or do they install the same equipment? British Gas seem to be comparatively expensive, is there a marked difference in the unit that warrants the extra cash, or is it the standard BG price inflation? Is there a generally well regarded one to go for?
As we are expecting to love living with an electric car, I would half expect to replace this one in time with another. Is there a charger that would be better in terms of future proofing?
Sorry for so many questions/stream of thoughts, it all seems a bit more complicated than I thought it would be.
To begin with, I'm not entirely sure what comes fitted on or with the Leaf. The 6.6kw thing has thrown me. Is this still an option, or does it come as standard?
Either way, I'm expecting to get a cable with a three pin plug at one end that I can charge slowly overnight with.
To improve on this, I'd like to install a charge point. I've read about a few different firms on here. Nuworld, Rolec, podpoint, British Gas, phoenixworks to name a few. Then there are the different power options. Will they all work with my car even if it isn't te 6.6kw version?
Do each of these use a proprietary unit, or do they install the same equipment? British Gas seem to be comparatively expensive, is there a marked difference in the unit that warrants the extra cash, or is it the standard BG price inflation? Is there a generally well regarded one to go for?
As we are expecting to love living with an electric car, I would half expect to replace this one in time with another. Is there a charger that would be better in terms of future proofing?
Sorry for so many questions/stream of thoughts, it all seems a bit more complicated than I thought it would be.
The charger can be a socket or a attached cable, I would get the socket as it's future proof.
You need to buy a 2-1 cable
Call anyone of them I used nuworld and they will ask the vin number and proof of order you then get a discounted point fitted.
Apply for a free ecotricity card and a charge your car one may be handy
I have never charged away from home as mine us just a commuter
You need to buy a 2-1 cable
Call anyone of them I used nuworld and they will ask the vin number and proof of order you then get a discounted point fitted.
Apply for a free ecotricity card and a charge your car one may be handy
I have never charged away from home as mine us just a commuter
So picking up on a few terms I've learnt so far, a tethered cable is one attached to the point, so you say go for one with just a socket so you can just change the cable rather than the whole point depending on what car you buy. Makes sense.
Is the nuworld one the green and white unit that's taller than it is wide? I've seen one locally, a guy has one of the Renault vans attached to one. He seems quite happy with the whole EV experience so far.
About the power rating though. There seems to be 16a, 32a and something else? Does it matter? Is bigger necessarily better? Especially thinking ahead?
Weren't you going to start shipping the cables over and selling them? Did that come off?
Really looking forward to getting the car (four weeks or so they reckon) but feeling a bit pressured to do the groundwork we should already have done.
Is the nuworld one the green and white unit that's taller than it is wide? I've seen one locally, a guy has one of the Renault vans attached to one. He seems quite happy with the whole EV experience so far.
About the power rating though. There seems to be 16a, 32a and something else? Does it matter? Is bigger necessarily better? Especially thinking ahead?
Weren't you going to start shipping the cables over and selling them? Did that come off?
Really looking forward to getting the car (four weeks or so they reckon) but feeling a bit pressured to do the groundwork we should already have done.
vladcjelli said:
Really looking forward to getting the car (four weeks or so they reckon) but feeling a bit pressured to do the groundwork we should already have done.
Don't worry about charging too much, I found the 3 pin plug one to be perfectly fine for charging the car overnight.Tesla's website actually have a nice section on charging options, essentially here in the UK the best you can get is a 240Volts 32Amp charger, which should be able to deliver about 7kWh into your car. Though on the Leaf the standard model can only take 3.3 kWh, but you can pay for the upgraded 6.6 kWh version. But both versions can use the 50 kWh rapid chargers with no problems.
http://www.teslamotors.com/en_GB/charging#/outlet
I got the NuWorld 32amp socketed box because when the Leaf goes I'll be replacing it with a Tesla, so been able to charge at 7kWh rather than 3kWh will be useful given the size of the battery on the Tesla.
gangzoom said:
Don't worry about charging too much, I found the 3 pin plug one to be perfectly fine for charging the car overnight.
Exactly. My opinion remains that the 6.6kw charger is a pointless option. If you need to charge at home during the day you've bought the wrong car.13A overnight, rapid charger better still if you have one nearby. (I have 3, that's one of my many reasons for buying a Leaf).
I agree that the 6.6kw is a pointless option. It comes instead of the 'brick' adapter that you can use to charge the car from a 3 pin adapter, which is far more useful.
If you need to charge during the day, find a rapid and get the power for free. I don't bother with the standard and fast chargers, either.
Two final points: Carwings isn't all it's cracked up to be. Use https://www.zap-map.com/ to find the location of chargers and check whether they are working. Carwings only stores the location of a charger after you've used it.
Secondly, see if you can achieve 100 miles between charges. It's harder than you think.
If you need to charge during the day, find a rapid and get the power for free. I don't bother with the standard and fast chargers, either.
Two final points: Carwings isn't all it's cracked up to be. Use https://www.zap-map.com/ to find the location of chargers and check whether they are working. Carwings only stores the location of a charger after you've used it.
Secondly, see if you can achieve 100 miles between charges. It's harder than you think.
Without wishing to sound too stupid, I don't think we have the 6.6kw option, I certainly didn't ask for it. I wasn't sure if it came as standard nowadays.
With regards to the charger installation, I agree that in pure terms, for overnight charging we don't really need it. But for the following reasons, I would like one.
Future proofing if we go for another EV after this one.
Neater/cooler. Where does the brick sit on the cable when in use?
Easier to use?
Faster in the event of unforeseen problems.
No compelling reason, but feels like part of the ownership experience we ought to embrace.
With regards to the charger installation, I agree that in pure terms, for overnight charging we don't really need it. But for the following reasons, I would like one.
Future proofing if we go for another EV after this one.
Neater/cooler. Where does the brick sit on the cable when in use?
Easier to use?
Faster in the event of unforeseen problems.
No compelling reason, but feels like part of the ownership experience we ought to embrace.
Edited by vladcjelli on Wednesday 13th May 22:13
Okay, application for nuworld submitted, will see what they have to say. Have taken the advice and requested the type 2 30a socketed version.
Which then raises the next question, where's best to buy cables from?
Evconnectors looks like it'll be about £160. Does this sound about right? Any better options?
Which then raises the next question, where's best to buy cables from?
Evconnectors looks like it'll be about £160. Does this sound about right? Any better options?
Still waiting for for nuworld to get back to me. Must be patient...
In the meantime, can anyone point me in the direction of installing a charging point at my wife's place of work.
It's a school, so wondered whether local authorities are providing funding towards installing them on their property?
As EV converts, this isn't (just) for our benefit, we like the idea of providing another charging point to add to the ever expanding network. They had started tentative research into solar panels too, so wondered if there is a company that would be able to supply a neatly packaged solution.
Any pointers?
In the meantime, can anyone point me in the direction of installing a charging point at my wife's place of work.
It's a school, so wondered whether local authorities are providing funding towards installing them on their property?
As EV converts, this isn't (just) for our benefit, we like the idea of providing another charging point to add to the ever expanding network. They had started tentative research into solar panels too, so wondered if there is a company that would be able to supply a neatly packaged solution.
Any pointers?
Edited by vladcjelli on Wednesday 13th May 22:13
Good luck with the workplace charging - I think the politics will be your big challenge. There are sometimes grants around from local councils who have been given money by OLEV and don't know what to do with it, but really ... it's probably dip in your own pocket time if you really want it.
In which case a 13A outdoor socket is the easiest option :-)
In which case a 13A outdoor socket is the easiest option :-)
Sorry being a bit dense here.
Re Leaf comments that the 6.6kw charger is pointless.
Considering one of these, Zoe vs Leaf usual conundrum, and have discovered tucked away in one of the uni car parks a charger ( all electricity free to me apparently) with 1 x 13A 3kw 3 square pin and a Mennekes type 2 7kw 32A socket.
Aiui the Zoe would go in the Mennekes and the Leaf would go in the 13A 3 pin. But again aiui the Leaf with a 6.6 comes with a type 2 and the brick. Have I got that right?
Alternatively just keep the standard charger. Would need a 2-1 lead, or have I got that wrong?
Rapid charging isn't really an issue under normal use but could be helpful if used on longer runs. Eg Cheltenham and back on one charge is a stretch which could be one. There would be no need to rapid charge at home unless no 1 daughter showed her usual inability to plan ahead. :sigh:
Basically looking for opinions / advice on options for vehicle spec and setting up home charging. No problem to make a properly wired 13A socket available for the occasions that need to charge at home. Obviously the plan is to charge up as much as possible for free at office. Again if we opt for Zoe we would get the charger installed. Presumably if opt for Leaf best to have a discounted charge point as future proof.
We have other vehicle for longer trips and load lugging.
Re Leaf comments that the 6.6kw charger is pointless.
Considering one of these, Zoe vs Leaf usual conundrum, and have discovered tucked away in one of the uni car parks a charger ( all electricity free to me apparently) with 1 x 13A 3kw 3 square pin and a Mennekes type 2 7kw 32A socket.
Aiui the Zoe would go in the Mennekes and the Leaf would go in the 13A 3 pin. But again aiui the Leaf with a 6.6 comes with a type 2 and the brick. Have I got that right?
Alternatively just keep the standard charger. Would need a 2-1 lead, or have I got that wrong?
Rapid charging isn't really an issue under normal use but could be helpful if used on longer runs. Eg Cheltenham and back on one charge is a stretch which could be one. There would be no need to rapid charge at home unless no 1 daughter showed her usual inability to plan ahead. :sigh:
Basically looking for opinions / advice on options for vehicle spec and setting up home charging. No problem to make a properly wired 13A socket available for the occasions that need to charge at home. Obviously the plan is to charge up as much as possible for free at office. Again if we opt for Zoe we would get the charger installed. Presumably if opt for Leaf best to have a discounted charge point as future proof.
We have other vehicle for longer trips and load lugging.
Leafs with a 6.6 charger come with both a 13A "brick" for normal sockets and a Type2 (mennekes) to Type 1 cable - so the Leaf could use either socket at the University.
Zoe can use any Type-2 socket, but the first version is a little bit slow if you use a "brick" charger - long story to do with making one charger adapt to any power from 2kW to 42kW (the leaf one only has to cope with 2kW to 7kW and has separate circuitry for the high speed chargers).
Zoe can use any Type-2 socket, but the first version is a little bit slow if you use a "brick" charger - long story to do with making one charger adapt to any power from 2kW to 42kW (the leaf one only has to cope with 2kW to 7kW and has separate circuitry for the high speed chargers).
You see I knew was being dense as had forgotten about the separate circuitry for the high speed DC charge on the Leaf.
As it could be parked for most of the day anyway a slow charge over a morning / afternoon could top up fairly effectively even with the standard 3.3kw charger.
Out of interest, seeing as they are so expensive, do these brick chargers get nicked or do the plugs lock in? Or are they just an at home solution?
As it could be parked for most of the day anyway a slow charge over a morning / afternoon could top up fairly effectively even with the standard 3.3kw charger.
Out of interest, seeing as they are so expensive, do these brick chargers get nicked or do the plugs lock in? Or are they just an at home solution?
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