Swap GTi plus for an electric VW

[Andy Beats]

The issue of connector types will soon be gone I think, also VAG use Type 2 on their current EVs and PHEVs.

Yeah, common sense is they'll go with type 2.
Rapid charging is a bit more confusing.
I must admit I thought everyone was plumping for chademo, but Renault are going CCS for the Zoe.
Doesn't really matter, I suppose, not when all chargers I've come across have both as a rapid option.

[Griff74]

Yeah once they pull their finger out make Type the standard all EU sold EVs must have the better, Chademo was designed by the Japanese manufacturers and tbh was never going to widely used once most others started going with Type 2.

[Andy Beats]

Yeah once they pull their finger out make Type the standard all EU sold EVs must have the better, Chademo was designed by the Japanese manufacturers and tbh was never going to widely used once most others started going with Type 2.

They're separate things though.
An EV will have type 2 for 'trickle' charging.
But it still needs a separate option for rapid charging, and that's where the chademo/CCS argument starts.
EDIT - the VW will be type 2 and CCS.

[alexperkins]

For all concerned - this behaviour needs to to stop. It’s out of keeping with forum rules and the atmosphere here is becoming very fragile

Any members contravening the above will be banned and their posts removed

It’s a shame it’s come to this, but guys please get along. This is a community for collaboration. If you want an argument, find somewhere else to have it.

Alex, Just because members have failed to agree, you going to ban them? What about one of your "bling bling diamond member" "rum4mo" who has 3752 posts, can call other members "PUPPETS" and you don't say a word about him, is there one rule for one and another rule for "bling bling" members?
It would be nice if "rum4mo" gave an apology to the two members in the forum, if he finds this too embarrassing I would accept if he PM'd me as well as the other member.
Don't make this forum into a clicky forum, if you have some members who have a mind of their own, and stand up to their thoughts, ban them, is that the correct answer?

Remember, members can stop seeing what other members have posted, by just clicking a button.

My point above, and it goes for all involved (rum included) - please don't call people names or incite arguments on a public forum. If you have beef, do it in PMs, and if its a problem, get me involved.

I have absolutely nothing against people having opinions, but there is a line between an opinion, and a personal attack

Ban is a perhaps a strong word, but coming into threads again and again which are just spiralling out of control and off topic is to be frank unpleasant, and puts people off wanting to be part of a forum like this. We are meant to be a collective of like minded individuals. Whilst we might not always agree, there is a line between a debate and an argument.

Anyone else wanting to discuss this please PM me.

[RUM4MO]

With some driveway work and garage extending work planned, it is a no brainer for me not to consider fitting a charging point as the garage is remote to my house - some a new run of supply cable required.

Maybe half of this thinking about fitting an EV charger facility is aimed at maximising house appeal when some years later we sell up and down size.

That leads to which charger capacity to get, as I have no experience of EV and have admitted that I will start off with range worries, and I like to buy things once with the idea of getting it right for me first time.

I'd think that at this point in time that I could not guess the correct future proofed charger with rapid charge option to fit - or could I?

The smartest thing to do would be to provide any area that I had in mind for an EV charger with 3Phase mains I'd guess.

[alexperkins]

Friend of mine has EVs, and has just had 2x 32A charging points installed for his Golf GTI and his wifes Nissan Leaf

Makes a huge difference with regards to the charging. 13A charging is so slow compared.

[Andy Beats]

With some driveway work and garage extending work planned, it is a no brainer for me not to consider fitting a charging point as the garage is remote to my house - some a new run of supply cable required.

Maybe half of this thinking about fitting an EV charger facility is aimed at maximising house appeal when some years later we sell up and down size.

That leads to which charger capacity to get, as I have no experience of EV and have admitted that I will start off with range worries, and I like to buy things once with the idea of getting it right for me first time.

I'd think that at this point in time that I could not guess the correct future proofed charger with rapid charge option to fit - or could I?

The smartest thing to do would be to provide any area that I had in mind for an EV charger with 3Phase mains I'd guess.

I wouldn't bother self-funding a charge point.
My podpoint came free with the car, I only had to pay another £90 because I wanted the higher output 7kw version (the free one is 3.6kw).
I would assume future deals, where the charger comes with the car, will be the same.
In my year of being on an EV forum, I've never heard of anyone fitting a home charger greater than 7kw, although I believe podpoint do a 22kw one.
Certainly never heard of anyone fitting a rapid charger at home.

[Andy Beats]

Friend of mine has EVs, and has just had 2x 32A charging points installed for his Golf GTI and his wifes Nissan Leaf

Makes a huge difference with regards to the rapid charging. 13A charging is so slow compared.

32A charging is 7KW, which is what I have at home.
I also need to point out this isn't rapid charging.
It's fast charging.
Rapid charging is at least 43kw and isn't available to fit at home, to my knowledge.

[alexperkins]

My bad, i forget rapid charging is literally dumping the grid into your car

[Andy Beats]

To clarify, there are very basically 3 levels of charging, depending on your car.
From slowest to fastest;

1. Mains cable (also termed as granny charging) - this just uses any old normal 13A socket and takes ages - but OK for emergencies and people who can't install a fast charger
2. Fast charger installed at home or a public post - up to 7KW - if your car cannot accept 7kw then it will simply give the car what it can accept.
3. Rapid charging - this is the one that can whack your car up to around 80% charge in 30 minutes - as far as I know this isn't available for anyone at home.

Basically, my leaf only charged at 3.3kw and, if low on charge, would take 6-7 hours to charge to full on my 7kw home charger.
If I'd had a 6.6kw Leaf it would obviously have taken less time.
Plug it in when I get home, leave it all night (it switches off automatically when charged).
God knows how long it would take on the granny charger, I never used it.

[alexperkins]

I had a BMW i3 for a while - on the granny charger (as no fast charge point at home) it took almost a day to get to 80%. Useless really!

[Andy Beats]

I had a BMW i3 for a while - on the granny charger (as no fast charge point at home) it took almost a day to get to 80%. Useless really!

Yeah, I think I only used mine once to see if it worked.
Yet, conversely, granny cables are in huge demand and can command a hefty price tag.
People obviously value the emergency aspect.
You would only use the granny cable to boost you enough to get to the nearest rapid charger, then you'd be laughing.
I have heard funny stories of people 'pushing the envelope' and grinding to a halt 50 yards from their house, so then running an extension lead and using the granny cable to gain 2-3% to get them into their drive.
I never pushed the envelope in my Leaf, I think the lowest I got was 7% and that was very close to home.

[barrywi]

You can fit 22 kw at home but you need three phase electricity which most homes do not have. It is generally used for heavy machinery in a garage or workshop. Not sure if you can ask your electricity supplier to provide it.

[Andy Beats]

You can fit 22 kw at home but you need three phase electricity which most homes do not have. It is generally used for heavy machinery in a garage or workshop. Not sure if you can ask your electricity supplier to provide it.

There's so few cars can take the 22kw, I don't see the attraction given the massive cost.
Basically just Zoe, Tesla, Smart.
The i3 can take 11kw, but debatable whether you'd save much time over a 7kw charger.
A bit of a sledgehammer to crack a walnut situation.

[barrywi]

Butwith larger batteries becoming available to ensure you can fully charge overnight you would need that sort of capacity. I would always want to charge at home( if I bought an electric car) as the electricity is off peak at night and therefore cheaper. I believe the cost after grants is around £1000 assuming you have three phase.
I suppose this for me is a hangover from petrol tanks where I hate to let the tank get below 1/4 full so would always want to drive from the house with the batteries fully charged.