which home charger?

[vini]

I'm very interested in the MG4, and also new to electric cars, I was wondering what type of home charger I should be looking for?
my house was built in 1987 if that helps?

 

[BugEyed]

That's an open ended question and the only answer is it depends. How many miles a year will you do that you'll charge at home for? Do you have solar panels and/or battery storage. Are you planning on getting a second EV? Which provider do you use and do you have/will you have a dual rate tariff? Do you keep the car indoors or outside, and how visible from the road will the charge point be? What capacity main fuse is fitted, where's your meter and what other electrical loads do you have (e.g. electric heating, shower, cooking etc).

 

[D1no]

I'm very interested in the MG4, and also new to electric cars, I was wondering what type of home charger I should be looking for?
my house was built in 1987 if that helps?

Anything with a type 2 connector or untethered so you can use your own cable (bought separately). Think all tethered chargers now are Type 2 anyway. You could also just use a 3 pin socket with the provided granny charger, but make sure it's rated properly as it'll pull a lot of load through it for a number of hours

 

[PHB2801]

Mine's an Ohme and perfectly happy with it

 

[siteguru]

I have a Wallbox charge point with a 7m (I think) tethered Type 2 plug.

No EV yet though ... was supposed to be getting a Volvo V60 T6 PHEV (ordered last October) as my new company car, but Volvo cancelled the order in May. I've now decided I'm going to take early retirement in January so I'll need to replace my current company car (diesel Insignia) ... the MG4 is taking my fancy.

 

[AdamMGEV]

I have a wallbox and worosk well and was the cheapest, does scheduled charging etc.
Personally I would get one with a cable attached so you don't have to get the cable out of your car when you charge.

 

[wandle MG4 trophy]

I have booked a survey visit and quote by Octopus for a home charger next week. Octopus has already allowed me to switch to their Octopus Go tariff which is designed for EV drivers even though I do not yet have an EV or a charger. You are eligible for this tariff if you already own an EV or have ordered one and you plan to use a home charger.

Switching to this tariff from an existing Octopus tariff was easy and I did not even need to show my MG4 order form as proof of my intention to buy an EV.

The rate is 7.5p (including VAT) for 4 hours every night and 39.34p per kWh at all other times. The cheap rate applies to all energy used not just EV charging. The tariff is fixed for a year with no exit fees or tie ins.

I don’t know what will happen if my new MG4 is delayed and Octopus detect that I am not using a charger but I would refer them to the long lead times for this car

Who knows what electric prices will be from 1 October. Am hoping that the 39.34p will be cheaper than the new rates. Fingers crossed.

 

[siteguru]

The cap rates will be about 52p per unit (kWh) from October 1st. So if you can get a fixed rate deal still at 39.34p then go for it.

 

[vini]

I have booked a survey visit and quote by Octopus for a home charger next week. Octopus has already allowed me to switch to their Octopus Go tariff which is designed for EV drivers even though I do not yet have an EV or a charger. You are eligible for this tariff if you already own an EV or have ordered one and you plan to use a home charger.

Switching to this tariff from an existing Octopus tariff was easy and I did not even need to show my MG4 order form as proof of my intention to buy an EV.

The rate is 7.5p (including VAT) for 4 hours every night and 39.34p per kWh at all other times. The cheap rate applies to all energy used not just EV charging. The tariff is fixed for a year with no exit fees or tie ins.

I don’t know what will happen if my new MG4 is delayed and Octopus detect that I am not using a charger but I would refer them to the long lead times for this car

Who knows what electric prices will be from 1 October. Am hoping that the 39.34p will be cheaper than the new rates. Fingers crossed.

thanks, currently I'm on a fixed rate with octopus at 18p per kWh so I don't want to rock any boats there until next July, by which time who knows what prices will be like (cry)
I may try and get a quote for fitting from octopus, as long as I can maintain my current tariff

 

[vini]

That's an open ended question and the only answer is it depends. How many miles a year will you do that you'll charge at home for? Do you have solar panels and/or battery storage. Are you planning on getting a second EV? Which provider do you use and do you have/will you have a dual rate tariff? Do you keep the car indoors or outside, and how visible from the road will the charge point be? What capacity main fuse is fitted, where's your meter and what other electrical loads do you have (e.g. electric heating, shower, cooking etc).

thanks, I wasn't too sure as to what info was needed. no solar panels or battery storage here. I'm expecting to do 99% charging at home. no plans for a second ev. provider is octopus dual fuel. car will be kept on the drive, potentially 3-5 metres from charge point to car. charger would not be visible from pavement or road.main fuse is 100amps. meter will be next to charge point. gas central heating, electric cooker, shower, etc.

I hope this info helps, and thanks again for replying

 

[Werneroeder]

I have booked a survey visit and quote by Octopus for a home charger next week. Octopus has already allowed me to switch to their Octopus Go tariff which is designed for EV drivers even though I do not yet have an EV or a charger. You are eligible for this tariff if you already own an EV or have ordered one and you plan to use a home charger.

Switching to this tariff from an existing Octopus tariff was easy and I did not even need to show my MG4 order form as proof of my intention to buy an EV.

The rate is 7.5p (including VAT) for 4 hours every night and 39.34p per kWh at all other times. The cheap rate applies to all energy used not just EV charging. The tariff is fixed for a year with no exit fees or tie ins.

I don’t know what will happen if my new MG4 is delayed and Octopus detect that I am not using a charger but I would refer them to the long lead times for this car

Who knows what electric prices will be from 1 October. Am hoping that the 39.34p will be cheaper than the new rates. Fingers crossed.

Can you check which version of Octopus Go you have? It should say whether it’s a 2022 or 2023 rate. 7.5p is the new rate, and I got that fixed for a year..

 

[meangreen]

If I was getting a charge point installed now I'd not go for a standard install.

Get an electrician to install a commando socket and then get an Ohme Commando version from Ohme Octopus discount offer

 

[Deleted member 9692]

If I was getting a charge point installed now I'd not go for a standard install.

Get an electrician to install a commando socket and then get an Ohme Commando version from Ohme Octopus discount offer

I had commando socket installed and then went for the Ohme and got it cheap with an Octopus sign up. For me, the Ohme has been unusable as a smart charger with my BMW i3. Any time BMW make a change to their app API (quite often) then the Ohme stops communicating with it and I am several days with Ohme support getting it to work again. In the end, I gave up and just use it as a dumb charger and use the on board timer of the car. I wonder if the MG4 app API will suffer similar problems with Ohme (I know many other brands have been affected with this) I hope the MG4 has the same on board timer options (in case Ohme smart charging problematic), can't see why it wouldnt . @meangreen - do you use your Ohme as smart or dumb charger?

 

[Silver estate]

thanks, currently I'm on a fixed rate with octopus at 18p per kWh so I don't want to rock any boats there until next July, by which time who knows what prices will be like (cry)
I may try and get a quote for fitting from octopus, as long as I can maintain my current tariff

I’m with Octopuss and had my charger fitted by them , I’m staying on my standard tariff as I Wont be charging that much and the go one is to expensive for our daily usage as my mum is hime in the day time

 

[BugEyed]

I wonder if the MG4 app API

What API? There's not one for the iSmart supported ZS Trophy Connect nor the MG5 facelift on the Continent.

The Commando version of the Ohme is only appropriate if you want to regularly move it from location to location - Porsche sell a similar product on the basis of say taking it from home and using it at work or your holiday home. If you install a Commando socket for even occasional EV charging you need to do so to EV regulations and hence cost and safety.

The Ohme integration with Intelligent Octopus is worth considering.

 

[Daffyd]

I have an Easee charger, which I've found easy to use with a good app.

 

[Deleted member 9692]

The Commando version of the Ohme is only appropriate if you want to regularly move it from location to location

I disagree, mine is screwed to the wall, no problem. When I move, I take it with me.

 

[meangreen]

@meangreen[/USER] - do you use your Ohme as smart or dumb charger?

I don't have an Ohme charger, I'd like one but I had a free charger installed 5 years back as part of the electric nation project and is still working perfectly. It's meant to be smart but when the project ended it was changed over to dumb.

 

[Deleted member 9692]

What API? There's not one for the iSmart supported ZS Trophy Connect nor the MG5 facelift on the Continent.

Do you think this is just because Ohme cant be bothered to support or do you think the car/app lacks necessary hardware/functionality?

 

[BugEyed]

The issue is MG/iSmart. Let's hope they introduce an API soon.