EV ownership without ability to home charge?

Souness

Firstly I appreciate that this thread has been done before but the one I found was 2 years ago and Dublin based.

Ok, so I would really like to make my next car an EV but as I live in Limerick city in a mid-terrace with street parking I cannot install a home charger. From just being around the city I always see free charge points (Bishops and Harvey quays) so I do not think there’s the large imbalance in the ratio of EVs and public charge points that seems to be the case in Dublin. But how practical would it be to depend on these for all my charging needs. I am aware that there will be charges from next year for using these, does anyone know what ESB are proposing to charge per KWH. I have no issue paying a fair rate, ie similar to domestic rate (~20c), but a higher rate like the 35c that is being charged by private operators in Dublin would make the proposed switch unviable for me. There are no charge points where I work.

So in summary my questions are

1. Is using only public infrastructure for charging workable? Is anyone doing this already in Limerick that could share their experience.

2. Anyone have any idea what ESB charges will be for using their network of chargers from next year

3. With a daily 50km round trip commute and annual mileage of 15,000km, 70% of which will be on dual carriageway, would a 30kwh LEAF be a good option

Appreciate any feedback, thanks.

Mickeroo

Do you have a dedicated parking space? People have managed to get on street chargers installed in similar set ups but it's expensive as it involves digging up a bit of the foot path.

I wouldn't recommend anyone buy an EV if they are going to need to depend on the public infrastructure at the moment.

ELM327

Dont do it.
Not unless you can get home charging

KCross

Souness wrote: »

1. Is using only public infrastructure for charging workable?

No, is the simple answer.
You'd need to at least wait until they complete their expansion plans and then you would need to buy a car that you only need to charge once or twice a week (i.e. a long range EV which will be big money).

Souness wrote: »

2. Anyone have any idea what ESB charges will be for using their network of chargers from next year

Not known but I think they were initially talking about leaving the AC charge points free and only introduce charges for the rapid DC charging first.

Souness wrote: »

3. With a daily 50km round trip commute and annual mileage of 15,000km, 70% of which will be on dual carriageway, would a 30kwh LEAF be a good option

Yes, but you really need reliable charging where you park each night first.

You cant realistically be relying on a free charge point in the city a few times a week. You'll get sick of driving to those charge points and finding them blocked or out of service etc. It just wont work long term until they expand the network.


Another option, is work charging. Would they install a charge point for you. That would ease the pain alot.

Souness

Thanks for your quick and unanimous responses is what I was thinking unfortunately.

The parking is on public road so no designated spot. Will ask with workplace landlords if they have any plans to install charge points. So its petrol driving for the foreseeable for me.

unkel

I do about the same mileage as you and I own the EV with the smallest battery you can buy now (28kWh). Yet I only charge about twice a week. Just to give you an idea of the scale of things

A. If you can get work charging, you're laughing. Talk to your employer. A charger only costs them about a grand and electricity is cheap. They can expense the full cost of the charger. In my own place of work, a small business park with maybe 10 companies in it and 100 car parking spaces, 3 Zappi chargers were installed in the last few weeks alone. Before this there were none. These work chargers will be everywhere soon

B. If there is a multipoint public fast charger going to be installed near you, you'll be fine too. Several commercial companies are doing this right now. Also the ESB is planning many new multipoint fast chargers

But until either A or B happens, don't buy an EV,. Unless you can afford one with a big battery (>60kWh)

Souness

unkel wrote: »

I do about the same mileage as you and I own the EV with the smallest battery you can buy now (28kWh). Yet I only charge about twice a week. Just to give you an idea of the scale of things

A. If you can get work charging, you're laughing. Talk to your employer. A charger only costs them about a grand and electricity is cheap. They can expense the full cost of the charger. In my own place of work, a small business park with maybe 10 companies in it and 100 car parking spaces, 3 Zappi chargers were installed in the last few weeks alone. Before this there were none. These work chargers will be everywhere soon

B. If there is a multipoint public fast charger going to be installed near you, you'll be fine too. Several commercial companies are doing this right now. Also the ESB is planning many new multipoint fast

But until either A or B happens, don't buy an EV,. Unless you can afford one with a big battery (>60kWh)

A is happening, spoke to site management and they're putting in 4 chargers this summer☺ So think that based on your experience this is doable for me by charging in work twice a week and using the public charge points when needed. Is it worth pay the extra for the 40kwh leaf

seannash

Can I ask a stupid question but is there a portable charging option. So you would charge it in your home during the day and then when you park up you would bring it to the car and charge it from that(lock the battery in the car)

unkel

Not sure I understand your question seannash.

Pretty much all EVs can be fast charged on a fast / rapid charger. You can charge the car with a dedicated home charger or public slow charger with the cable that came with the car and most also come with a "granny cable" that you can plug in to any 3 pin socket for say if you are in a holiday home or staying overnight with friends / family who don't have an EV charger installed. Hope that helps!

seannash

unkel wrote: »

Not sure I understand your question seannash.

Pretty much all EVs can be fast charged on a fast / rapid charger. You can charge the car with a dedicated home charger or public slow charger with the cable that came with the car and most also come with a "granny cable" that you can plug in to any 3 pin socket for say if you are in a holiday home or staying overnight with friends / family who don't have an EV charger installed. Hope that helps!

I guess I'm wondering if there is a portable powerbank style charger, similar to what you have with a phone, that you can leave plugged in at home and bring to the car to charge the car battery from

JohnC.

There is something, but it isn't something you would carry around in your own car. More of a rescue van type deal. It has 5kW for emergencies and costs €11k. Not including VAT.

https://www.jtmpower.com/products/ev-rescue-portable-electric-vehicle-charging-system

DesperateDan

It's a nice idea but even a tiny little 12kwh battery would probably cost several thousand. Next best thing would be a diesel generator but don't let anyone here see you suggesting that :D

DesperateDan

JohnC. wrote: »

There is something, but it isn't something you would carry around in your own car. More of a rescue van type deal. It has 5kW for emergencies and costs €11k. Plus VAT.

https://www.jtmpower.com/products/ev-rescue-portable-electric-vehicle-charging-system

That is crazy :eek:

unkel

Build yourself a 24v battery pack from a few 18650 cells you took out of old laptop batteries and buy a 2kW 24V inverter. It will do the trick

Damn' I'm tempted now to go down this route myself. A half kWh capacity would be a life saver to get you to the nearest charge point or home. It will give you about 5-7km range if you take it handy.

CIARAN_BOYLE

unkel wrote: »

Not sure I understand your question seannash.

Pretty much all EVs can be fast charged on a fast / rapid charger. You can charge the car with a dedicated home charger or public slow charger with the cable that came with the car and most also come with a "granny cable" that you can plug in to any 3 pin socket for say if you are in a holiday home or staying overnight with friends / family who don't have an EV charger installed. Hope that helps!

People underestimate the value of this all the time. There may well be a granny cable spot in a multi story car park where you work that you would be able to get value out of.

Heroditas

From discussing this with people in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co Co, they told me they were obliged to provide on-street charging facilities (where possible) to EV owners where possible if a resident could not avail of a home charger.
That typically means a lamppost charger so long as the lamp post is by the kerb.
Worth a discussion with your local authority to see what their stance is.