Newbie

[awbugritt]

Hi everyone,
Had a test drive in the E5 long range for about 20 miles of varied roads/ conditions and ordered one upon returning, hopefully delivery at the end of March. I was very impressed with this forum, it's been a source of great interest and information. I'm not entirely unfamiliar with the ev concept as I have owned a Zero electric motorcycle since 2017. My main concern is a lack of proof of my intention to purchase to show whoever installs the home charging unit, and as there is a backlog and a delay of at least 6 weeks time could be an issue. I've contacted my local MG dealership with this in mind, but to date have had no joy. Hopefully this morning's phone call will produce the desired result!
Any advice on what unit is best would be welcome. I'm with Octopus, so there are several chargers they recommend and indeed the same applies to MG. However I prefer to take advice from real world people like forum members.
Thank you for your patience in advance if I post questions/ observations that have already appeared!

 

[Jomarkh]

Hi, I use an OHME EVSE and it works great with my Octopus Energy account. They did offer them at a discount but sure if they do for the new type. If you are likely to get solar panels or a home battery then have a look at the Zappi.

 

[biffo]

Couple of thing to consider about choosing a home charger - such as amount of money you want to spend, whether you need a smart charger that allows scheduling (or even a 'dumb' charger with a smart switch to control), whether you have (or will be getting) solar and how the charger integrates with this.

I've got a Hypervolt - it's possibly the most extendable smart charger due to having a raspberry pi as it's internals so has a lot of processing power available for functional upgrades via software. On the other hand, the Zappi was another consideration as it integrates very well with their other products for using solar energy. There are probably a dozen+ different units used by folks on the forum - all have pros and cons depending on your needs.

Often a copy of your order and deposit receipt is enough to allow an installer to order your charger and apply for various grants, etc.

 

[Ozzie1989]

I supplied an email to my installer that confirmed my order number from the dealer, that was enough

 

[Dt99idr]

Couple of thing to consider about choosing a home charger - such as amount of money you want to spend, whether you need a smart charger that allows scheduling (or even a 'dumb' charger with a smart switch to control), whether you have (or will be getting) solar and how the charger integrates with this.

I've got a Hypervolt - it's possibly the most extendable smart charger due to having a raspberry pi as it's internals so has a lot of processing power available for functional upgrades via software. On the other hand, the Zappi was another consideration as it integrates very well with their other products for using solar energy. There are probably a dozen+ different units used by folks on the forum - all have pros and cons depending on your needs.

Often a copy of your order and deposit receipt is enough to allow an installer to order your charger and apply for various grants, etc.

The eo mini Pro2 runs off a pi as well.

 

[AnonymouseDriva]

I spent a lot of time researching charge points too, and read far too many reviews. They all seem to have their evangelists and their haters.

At the time of looking, my impression was that Zappi and Hypervolt seemed to have the most vocal evangelists.

I went for the Hypervolt in the end. It seems to be a fairly newish product with a couple of minor bugs here and there (such as the app calculating costs from a base rate instead of your entered tariff) but nothing major there. It's clearly being continually improved.

The big one that really swayed it for me was the support response and the facebook group. They seem to care about genuinely getting involved to resolve any issues, and also have a good user community base that will tend to advise too. (someone is always ready to post 'try unplugging your powerline network extender!')

(FWIW - I use powerline extenders with no issues charging the car, but my wife's treadmill kills the network...)

 

[AdamMGEV]

I have the Wallbox Pulsar Plus. Cheap and does scheduled charging on my Octopus Go rate. I just set the scheduled charge and of its plugged in it'll charge and if not it doesn't so i never think or look at the app as once set it's done. I got it under the grant scheme and waited a few weeks.

I also liked it because its small unlike zappi and others... fairly discreet apart from the glowing LED light.

 

[neilp7865]

I have BP Pulse- charger works but scheduling doesn’t. Despite repeated calls to BP still can’t get it to schedule meaning we can’t take advantage of the Octopus Go tariff

 

[Lguk]

Octopus wanted, on headed paper. full name, full address, vehicle details, lease length if applicable. In a PDF. They rejected a copy of an email with my order number or a scan of the handwritten order form for the dealer. Getting it out of the dealership in the correct format was like pulling teeth. But eventually got it and I ordered the EO Mini Pro2 as well, living in a conservation zone a minimalist plug socket on the wall gives me the least issues, and as I have to reverse in, I'll need a 10m lead, so tethered was also not ideal.

 

[biffo]

Octopus wanted, on headed paper. full name, full address, vehicle details, lease length if applicable. In a PDF. They rejected a copy of an email with my order number or a scan of the handwritten order form for the dealer. Getting it out of the dealership in the correct format was like pulling teeth. But eventually got it and I ordered the EO Mini Pro2 as well, living in a conservation zone a minimalist plug socket on the wall gives me the least issues, and as I have to reverse in, I'll need a 10m lead, so tethered was also not ideal.

I reverse into drive too - the tethered 10m option on Hypervolt was a better option for me than some of the 5m and 7.5m units. Must admit, didn't really explore untethered as I got the 5m cable free with car so would have needed to buy a 10m lead in addition - sounds like a perfectly workable solution though

 

[AdamMGEV]

Octopus wanted, on headed paper. full name, full address, vehicle details, lease length if applicable. In a PDF. They rejected a copy of an email with my order number or a scan of the handwritten order form for the dealer. Getting it out of the dealership in the correct format was like pulling teeth. But eventually got it and I ordered the EO Mini Pro2 as well, living in a conservation zone a minimalist plug socket on the wall gives me the least issues, and as I have to reverse in, I'll need a 10m lead, so tethered was also not ideal.

Yes the mini pro 2 is a nice small box, that was my choice until the wallbox was offered cheaper and I wanted tethered to save plugging in the cable.

 

[Ozzie1989]

I went for Sync EV in the end because I also needed 10m cable and settled for un-tethered.

I wanted Hypervolt originally but their installer wouldn't converse with me on how I wanted the install completed and instead offered a highly inflated quote based on assumptions (£1200)

When I complained to Hypervolt and asked if I could use my own electrician or an alternative I didn't get a response.

Annoyingly they then emailed me a week later to ask why I hadn't accepted the installers quote.

Sync EV isn't the best on the market but it does what I want, is good to look at and both Sync EV themselves and the installer have been great. They upgraded my firmware for me within 30 mins of emailing them the other day as an example.

It was fitted for £600 (half Hypervolt) and then I purchased a 10m cable with waterproof bag etc. for £160.

They also do a tethered version now (black and white) and chatting to the installer it would be possible to swap the front half very easily should I want to change it in the future.

 

[Lguk]

Free charging at work and location of the twin-port charger means the far car needs a long lead. So all in just makes sense to have untethered at home and a single 10m cable.

The other reason for untethered at home is a small socket is somewhat discrete, 10m of cable spooled around/under it isn't and I really don't need grief off planning enforcement. I already have to park big yella on grass as I can only have 2 concrete wheel strips as a driveway.

 

[awbugritt]

Many thanks one and all, certainly food for thought. Think an untethered unit will have to be the type as our meters are about one and a half metres to an outside wall which should make an installation fairly straightforward. It would mean a 7.5 or 10 metre cable across the lawn to the vehicle but I could live with that I guess.

 

[Deleted member 7171]

I have the Wallbox Pulsar Plus. Cheap and does scheduled charging on my Octopus Go rate. I just set the scheduled charge and of its plugged in it'll charge and if not it doesn't so i never think or look at the app as once set it's done. I got it under the grant scheme and waited a few weeks.

I also liked it because its small unlike zappi and others... fairly discreet apart from the glowing LED light.

Same here! Great charger.

Be aware grant for chargers in private residences ends 31 March, that is installed by date not ordered by!!!

 

[Dt99idr]

Yes the mini pro 2 is a nice small box, that was my choice until the wallbox was offered cheaper and I wanted tethered to save plugging in the cable.

I think it's the only one I would have got passed the wife... I'm quite happy with a non tethered cabled, one less thing for the children to fiddle with and break!

 

[awbugritt]

I know, that's another reason I need MG to pull their fingers out!

 

[biffo]

I know, that's another reason I need MG to pull their fingers out!

I wouldn’t be surprised, if like car prices now that the grant is reduced, we find that charger & installation prices drop when the grant vanishes.

 

[awbugritt]

They've done the same on new Zero motorbikes, it's been dropped to £500, however Zero have made up the difference. It's a peculiar action if government is wanting folk to go the EV route, particularly as it was done so precipitately and no warning.

 

[awbugritt]

I was sent this link regarding extra cables from my MG dealer:
evcableshop.co.uk/mg-ev-charging-cables/ Hope I've got that right! Some were for the MGev5. although I would have thought a cable was a cable was a cable!