Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) Time for Electric Power?

I am up to 200,000 miles now on electric. I will stick with Tesla until such time as another manufacturer opens up their own network of fast chargers. I have the Model S. I don't like the 3 as it isn't compact enough to go for instead of the S and doesn't have a hatchback and the X is ugly and too big. I would love a Cybertruck (have had a deposit down since original reveal date) but it is unlikely to make it to UK for some time if at all and I have now committed to a big panel van (which I may look to electrify in the future) for hauling bikes around.

If I didn't rack up so many miles so I could just rely on my charger at home at the moment I wouldn't look beyond Kia.

I've joined the future....
(Perhaps...)

Based on the distances we drive and use pattern it makes sense.
I agree with Shooter, the other charging networks are not fit for purpose: 7kw home charge will do 90%, occasional Supercharger use on longer hauls.
The C43 Coupe is always there for longer trips and the Plus 8 when it is "just for fun".

Model 3 Long Range (Dual Motor) ordered, in Brilliant Blue.
Expected in early June when it arrives from China. Yes, all 3s for the UK this year are from Shanghai. The gossip is that they are better finished than the Freemont ones.
No model S or Model X cars expected in the UK until Q3.... according to the Tesla advisor.

The C63 is going this week to WBAC. Better offer than Tesla part ex.

Be prepared for the online offer to be reduced when you present the car! Don't let them have the paperwork until they have done the inspection and come up with a final figure

No that's not a good outcome. There needs to be a world wide unified charging system, if not it's the VHS vs Betamax row all over again and the best one might not win.

Me, I'm waiting for Electricgate to happen.
Cheers
John

Ecotricity have partnered with Gridserve and the sites are being upgraded significantly with tritium 350kW chargers, significantly cheaper than ionity(VW) chargers too.

In Europe CCS is the standard for DC rapid charging even Tesla had to cede to this.

When lucid come out in the US they are going to have their own network, Hyundai have brought out there own charging stations in Korea. So standards are far from settled world wide, but in Europe at least there is a standard.

Even the Japanese cars on the whole new ones are coming with CCS rather than chademo which is popular in Japan as it has already got two way ability or is vehicle to grid capable.

Congrats on the new purchase Peter - I really do think you'll enjoy owning one.

Having a Tesla (or any EV) is not about abandoning petrol - it's simply a new and amusing way to travel. As a daily barouche they are very hard to beat - extraordinarily low running costs, silent and comfortable. I do find myself thinking 'what's not to like?'.

Were you to do a 400 mile round trip there is currently about 3 minutes worth of planning required - using this site is useful https://abetterrouteplanner.com

There is a unified system and Tesla lost.

All of Europe decided to go CCS rather than Type 2 which is what BMW and Tesla were using originally in Europe. From the model 3 onwards all Tesla's in Europe use CCS (including newer S & X) and all new Tesla fast chargers that are being opened are are CCS only. Those of us that supported Tesla from when they Launched in Europe in 2014 still have a good range of type 2 fast chargers and it is possible to get an adaptor to charge an older Tesla on CCS.

What I was referring to is the lack of good reliable charging (besides Tesla). Many of the early adopters of Tesla, myself included, paid extra to help support the roll out of the Tesla supercharger network. Currently, every other brand of EV has to rely solely on home charging and /or the public network of chargers. I believe the public network is growing and may be getting more reliable (I no longer need to use it as there are enough Tesla units for my needs across Europe). Back in 2015 I would have to use the Ecotricity network, particularly at Chievely Services to have enough to complete one of my regular journeys. It was always a bit like playing Russian roulette as to whether it would work or not :-)

My first Euro EV trip was in March 2015 to the Geneva motor show. Managed it all on Tesla chargers and overall journey time was 1.5 hours longer than the previous year by Range Rover (in part because I was driving a bit quicker in the RR for most of the trip).

Shooter, thanks for that info, just shows how behind the times I am.
Although I had seen in road test reports that the reliability of the non-Tesla network was an issue.
Cheers
John

An interesting discussion.

Whilst I wait I've been exploring the "home charging options".

It seems that our Government wants all EV home charging stations to use "Smart" chargers and is supporting the cost with grants.
I'm deeply cynical of "smart electrical devices"..... Smart Meters anyone?

The Tesla home charger is dumb, in that it connects the car to the power source and relies on the inbuilt charger to control charging. So it doesn't qualify for a grant.

After a lot of digging it seems that the reason why HMG want me to spend £600 or so is so that my house has a device that allows "them" to manage power consumption and in the future harvest power from an EV.
I can achieve a dumb charging point delivering 7KW through a type 2 connection for about £100.00 of materials. Labour? I'd estimate about 1 hour for an electrician to connect it all up and check it for continuity.

Talking to installers there is a lot of "scare pressure" to get me to go Smart. Why? they want their £350.00 grant.

I'm going to go Commando and DIY and get my son's mate to check and sign it off.

We have a new latest format smart meter fitted this February in the basement (replacing the earlier series smart meter) and like the old smart meter it can't send/transmit the meter reading thru the thick wall below ground level, requiring me to continue to manually read each month...........waste of time