EV Charging point - doing it properly?

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I’ve ordered a plug-in hybrid as my new company car, the tax saving was phenomenal and I like the idea of short journeys on electric power only.
However I’m seeing a lot of mixed advice on car forums etc. about charging points. Initially I was thinking the government grant would cover the cost, but it seems that a lot of the companies that advertise as ‘specialists’ just pocket the £350 and then charge upwards of £1000 on top (and unsurprisingly don’t like turning up to give a quote for this ‘extra’ work).
My first question is whether the average local ‘sparky’ is happy to do the work (with or without the grant)? I can see that a 7KW feed would need to go back to the consumer unit (which in my case is in the middle of the house, so it would take a bit of work (but doesn’t seem particularly difficult/costly).
Second question is, what would be wrong with an external 13A socket taken from existing circuit (apart from taking a long time to charge)?
 
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The £350 grant won't even cover the cost of buying a cheap charge point. Decent ones are far more, and the cheap ones often require additional protection devices to be installed, so they aren't as cheap as they first appear.
A proper EV charge installation can very easily exceed £1000.

A 13A socket is entirely inappropriate, as they are not designed for high loads continuously, it won't have the correct type of RCD or other protection devices, and it will take forever to charge even a small sized EV battery.
The 'granny leads' which connect the car to a 13A socket are intended for short term temporary use only when there is no other option available.
Specific 'EV' rated 13A sockets do exist, but they still require a dedicated circuit, the correct type of RCD and all the rest.
 
Have a look on Youtube...plenty of reviews of the different chargers out there...Artisan Electrics etc
 
Thanks for the reply. However, looking at the SKODA website they seem quite happy with the idea of using a “regular three pin domestic socket”, saying that it would charge the SUPERB PHEV (what I have ordered) in about five hours, as opposed to three and a half for a “home wall box”.
Are they out of order in claiming this? Or has the technology moved on?
 
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Surely it should be possible to charge an all electric car from a normal 13 Amp socket ( via a suitable charger ) for those times when the journey to visit someone uses more power than normal ( traffic jam / diversion etc ) and as a result there is not enough charge left for the return journey,
 
Surely it should be possible to charge an all electric car from a normal 13 Amp socket ( via a suitable charger ) for those times when the journey to visit someone uses more power than normal ( traffic jam / diversion etc ) and as a result there is not enough charge left for the return journey,

Mode 1 charging install is no longer allowed in UK. (According to a note in IEC 61851).

Some cars don't have any mode 2 cable option endorsed by the manufacturer at all.

Doing this property is as the others have said.
 
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EVs can be charged from a 13A socket, but the intent is to only add enough charge to get to a proper charging point. Not to use that as the sole means of charging every day. Melted sockets and damaged charge leads will be inevitable if that is done.

Traffic jams are irrelevant, an EV doesn't use power when it's not moving.
 
Initially I was thinking the government grant would cover the cost
Aside from the fact that it will come nowhere near covering the cost, you appear to have missed the part where it is for a maximum of 75% of the cost, i.e. you will always be required to pay a minimum of 25% of the cost.
 
However, looking at the SKODA website they seem quite happy with the idea of using a “regular three pin domestic socket”
Marketing tripe from people who wrote the website, or the operating instructions from the vehicle manufacturer?
 
that's a pity. So if you have a break with a friend or relative with no special socket, you have to go to a charging station.

Also, I had been thinking that a person with PV solar panels could charger their car (slowly) for free.
 
Also, I had been thinking that a person with PV solar panels could charger their car (slowly) for free.
I would imagine that would probably be "very slowly" - and, obviously, "not at all" during the hours of darkness, when most people seem to want to charge their EVs.

Kind Regards, John
 
Here’s a screenshot from the official Skoda UK Website.
I’m not doubting anyone on here, but it seems they might be storing up a few lawsuits if this is incorrect/dangerous.
1061C3FB-398B-4290-A19E-17269A47FB30.png
 
I would imagine that would probably be "very slowly" - and, obviously, "not at all" during the hours of darkness, when most people seem to want to charge their EVs.

Kind Regards, John

there are some people who don't drive their car away from home every day.

Consider a person who takes kids to and from school, or goes to the shops twice a week and church on Sundays, or travels to work by train.

I'm told there are even some people, or families, with two cars.
 
Here’s a screenshot from the official Skoda UK Website. I’m not doubting anyone on here, but it seems they might be storing up a few lawsuits if this is incorrect/dangerous.
It sounds as if the vehicle you're getting must have a very small battery, if it can be charged in less than a third of the time it takes to charge a "SKODA CITIGOe iV". I presume that it must be a 'hybrid' - what is it's alleged 'electric range'?

Kind Regards, John
 
there are some people who don't drive their car away from home every day. Consider a person who takes kids to and from school, or goes to the shops twice a week and church on Sundays, or travels to work by train. I'm told there are even some people, or families, with two cars.
All true. I imagine that there are also some people/families who would be inclined, and able, to spend a not inconsiderable amount of money on an EV just, with which to "... take kids to and from school, or go to the shops twice a week and church on Sundays".

Kind Regards, John
 

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