Charger confusion

Andrew33

Hi all, there’s a strong possibility of me jumping into the EV pool (before we’re all pushed in) and want to install the charging point at the house.
I contacted Electric Ireland and was none the wiser after 10 minutes on the phone.
I want to buy a used low mileage Leaf (24kwh) just for short journeys.
I was told that I should install the latest charging point but that it might damage the battery on the older Leaf.
I want a charger than can charge most/all of the EVs available. Is this possible?
Also, is the SEAI grant available retrospectively as it seems daft that you must own an EV before you can apply for the grant!

Thanks in advance.

Old diesel

I *think* what you do is use a type 1 to type 2* charge cable for the Leaf.

You would then be able to have a home charger with a type 2 socket for any future EVs you own.

Can't see why the latest chargers create a battery issue for the 24 kwh Leaf. No changes that would create an issue appear to have been made.

Car will take the power based on the capacity of on board AC charger - 3.3 or 6.6 kw on Leaf 24 - and the home charger capacity.

Hopefully someone else will be along to further confirm

*a cable with type 1 at one end - that goes into the Leaf - and the type 2 goes into your home charger socket. The norm on 2019 new EVs is a type 2 socket on the car.

Gumbo

Andrew33 wrote: »

Hi all, there’s a strong possibility of me jumping into the EV pool (before we’re all pushed in) and want to install the charging point at the house.
I contacted Electric Ireland and was none the wiser after 10 minutes on the phone.
I want to buy a used low mileage Leaf (24kwh) just for short journeys.
I was told that I should install the latest charging point but that it might damage the battery on the older Leaf.
I want a charger than can charge most/all of the EVs available. Is this possible?
Also, is the SEAI grant available retrospectively as it seems daft that you must own an EV before you can apply for the grant!

Thanks in advance.

You were badly advised by ESB or at the very least, you misunderstood what they were saying.

Any home charger on the market will charger any EV on the market. Think of it like the plug socket. What car you buy will then depend on what cable you use.

The charger is universal Type 2 socket. Leaf is Type 1 so the cable you use is type 1 to type 2. It should come with the car.

That’s the basics. You can buy chargers with cables already attached but you need the car first so as to make sure the cable suits. Then I’d you ever change the car then the cable that’s attached may not suit so I opted for untethered charger as I talked about in the first paragraph.

Here’s one example for sale - https://www.donedeal.ie/view/21165485

I have the same one. I have it installed over 2 years but I paid €200 for mine so keep an eye out for sale ads.

Andrew33

Thanks guys. I suspected it couldn’t be as complicated as the the sales guy was making out, I reckon he wasn’t up to speed with the tech.
While we’re on the subject, if I install the 3.6(?) charger and somebody visits me with a newer EV (40+kWh) will they be able to hook up and charge?
Sales guy said the smaller charger would be useless and said they might as well plug in to a normal socket.
Actually, I see you’ve pretty much answered that question above!

Gumbo

Andrew33 wrote: »

Thanks guys. I suspected it couldn’t be as complicated as the the sales guy was making out, I reckon he wasn’t up to speed with the tech.
While we’re on the subject, if I install the 3.6(?) charger and somebody visits me with a newer EV (40+kWh) will they be able to hook up and charge?
Sales guy said the smaller charger would be useless and said they might as well plug in to a normal socket.
Actually, I see you’ve pretty much answered that question above!

Sales guy was a plonker.
Any new car and can use any charger.

The size of the battery is irrelevant.

It’s like asking if my friends 3.0 liter petrol car can use the same pump as my 1.2 corsa. Of course they can.

Your 3.6kw charger will take longer to fill the 40kwh car as opposed to a 7.2kw charger of course.

The 3 pin connection is like 2.1kw at best.

Old diesel

Andrew33 wrote: »

Thanks guys. I suspected it couldn’t be as complicated as the the sales guy was making out, I reckon he wasn’t up to speed with the tech.
While we’re on the subject, if I install the 3.6(?) charger and somebody visits me with a newer EV (40+kWh) will they be able to hook up and charge?
Sales guy said the smaller charger would be useless and said they might as well plug in to a normal socket.
Actually, I see you’ve pretty much answered that question above!

If it's a type 2 socket on the home charger then yes they will. Type 2 unthethered (doesn't have its own cable - use the cars) is what you want.

However it will be a slow charge - and if possible go with a 7 kw charger - even if the Leaf you get is a 3.3 kw AC charger one.

It's about future proofing as much as possible.

(The 3.3 kw Leaf will do fine on a 7 kw charger - it won't cause it a problem - it will just charge slower vs the 6.6)

Andrew33

Old diesel wrote: »

(The 3.3 kw Leaf will do fine on a 7 kw charger - it won't cause it a problem - it will just charge slower vs the 6.6)

Thanks. I presume the 24kwh leaf will be fine as well.

Old diesel

Andrew33 wrote: »

Thanks. I presume the 24kwh leaf will be fine as well.

Yes it will.

n97 mini

kceire wrote: »

Sales guy was a plonker.

That's telling it as it is

Seriously, don't take advice from the likes of electric Ireland on EV matters.

I had a flaming row with one of their staff a few years ago who insisted that night rate electricity is different to daytime. She refused to accept the electrons are the same, and it's just a matter of how we're billed.

Andrew33

n97 mini wrote: »

That's telling it as it is

Seriously, don't take advice from the likes of electric Ireland on EV matters.

I had a flaming row with one of their staff a few years ago who insisted that night rate electricity is different to daytime. She refused to accept the electrons are the same, and it's just a matter of how we're billed.

That’s why you don’t argue with stupid people.
They’ll drag you down to their level and beat you.