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Post by philip42h on Nov 6, 2024 11:18:14 GMT
Can you not 'pre-heat' the interior with the car 'plugged in' Philip? I realise that still uses energy but, presumably more cost effectively. Yes, of course I can - and I will as it gets colder!  If I engage pre-heating while the car is actually and actively charging it will effectively draw power from the mains with negligible effect on range. 👍 If the car is plugged-in but not actively charging (or not plugged-in) it will draw power from the traction battery that will not be replaced from the mains - so the range will drop in exactly the same way as if I'd warmed the car after starting the journey. In terms of cost, if I preheat the car in the morning at peak time I'd be paying for power at peak rate. Once I have a charger installed (and that's another story) and am on an EV tariff so that I can charge the battery at off-peak rates it will be cheaper to pre-heat the car using off-peak electricity stored in the traction battery. For local journeys, range isn't really important 'cos it would be more than enough for a day trip even at 1.5 miles per kWh - and I can recharge when I get home again in the evening. And the cost isn't really a significant issue either - it's just worth be aware of what it is so that I know that it isn't significant. This EV experiment is interesting - note that I appear to have started calling it an experiment ... oops! 😁 |
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Post by davrav on Nov 6, 2024 11:26:01 GMT
Out of interest Philip, what is the cost of having a charger installed?
We have had a charger since 2014 when the Outlander PHEV landed. Not been used since 2017ish and would need to be changed should we [possibly] have another PHEV from a different brand.
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Post by philip42h on Nov 6, 2024 13:14:33 GMT
Out of interest Philip, what is the cost of having a charger installed? We have had a charger since 2014 when the Outlander PHEV landed. Not been used since 2017ish and would need to be changed should we [possibly] have another PHEV from a different brand. Ah, now there's an excellent question ... 😠 With the current Toyota offer on PHEVs and EVs you get a Toyota HomeCharge unit, plus standard installation, included in the deal - i.e. for free! The Toyota HomeCharge unit is a rebranded ABB Terra wall box; installation is via British Gas / Hive but they've subcontracted mine to a third-party (ChargedEV). The 'catch' is the term "standard installation". If you have a modern property with the supply delivered via a 100A fuse to a meter box (outside) that is no more than a metre or so from where you want the charger installed (outside) and no more than a metre or so from your single consumer unit (inside) and you have decent WiFi or 4G at the proposed charger site then, and only then, do you qualify as a standard installation. And even if you do qualify as a standard installation they'll probably rush you for a surge protection device for another £150. If it wasn't 'free' I believe a standard installation of a decent modern charger would set one back around £1,000. I'm not sure why your current charger wouldn't work - it uses a standard Type 2 port. OK, it wouldn't conform to all the current regulations for a new charger install but who cares - it should work perfectly well and allow you to charge when you want to ... 😉 |
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Post by davrav on Nov 6, 2024 14:15:38 GMT
I suspect that a new charge cable or plug would need to be installed/swapped as a minimum as the Mitsi one won't mate with most other marques I believe. All a bit hypothetical just now but a new vehicle could be on the cards come the New Year. Not intending to replace the RAV though.
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Post by clarki on Nov 6, 2024 19:42:40 GMT
Looks great 👍 BIG!!
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Post by three5 on Nov 8, 2024 16:39:32 GMT
I suspect that a new charge cable or plug would need to be installed/swapped as a minimum as the Mitsi one won't mate with most other marques I believe. All a bit hypothetical just now but a new vehicle could be on the cards come the New Year. Not intending to replace the RAV though. I found a very interesting video on YouTube about charging electric cars both at home and on the public network. I certainly learnt a lot!
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