EV Life, Two Years On (No Home Charger)

[slmorgan42]

Having owned an EV for just over two and a half years, I realised the other day how much my concern about range and charge level has dropped (pardon the pun). For those with home chargers this might not seem such a big deal, but I’m one of the few living in a London flat and relying entirely on public charging, which requires a little more planning. For context, I only use local AC chargers for regular use.

I started with an MG5 Facelift LR, which was a great introduction to EV life. Then at the start of this year, I swapped it for an MG4 Trophy LR (got an amazing part exchange deal). As much as I liked the 5, the 4 is brilliant. The slightly longer range and the way it handles really sealed it for me. I do sometimes miss the MG5’s three-phase AC charging, but thanks to the extra range and confidence the MG4 gives me, I barely think about charge levels and range anymore.

 

[MG Clive]

Thanks @slmorgan42, next time somebody moans about range, or only having access to public charging, I'll direct them to this post, very positive.

 

[slmorgan42]

Thanks @slmorgan42, next time somebody moans about range, or only having access to public charging, I'll direct them to this post, very positive.

I’m also lucky that Hackney Council has been making a big push to roll out chargers across the borough. There’s a mix of 3kW lamppost chargers and 22kW freestanding ones, with six lamppost chargers on my street alone. That said, I usually prefer using the 22kW units on the next street over as they tend to be slightly quicker.

 

[Everest]

Out of interest, what are the prices like for the lamppost chargers?

 

[slmorgan42]

Out of interest, what are the prices like for the lamppost chargers?

For 3kw and 22kw it is same price 54p/kw

 

[siteguru]

You can get rapid charging at a Tesla supercharger for less than that. Just means that you're not stuck if you can't get a kerbside charge point for any reason.

 

[slmorgan42]

You can get rapid charging at a Tesla supercharger for less than that. Just means that you're not stuck if you can't get a kerbside charge point for any reason.

True but not near me anymore they closed the local Tesla chargers to Tesla. They were also a 20 min drive away. The ones I use are 1 mins walk away .

I know it higher than home charging but price was not the main reason I got an EV and is still cheaper than my old ICE

 

[siteguru]

That's true ... even at "motorway services" prices for charging an EV, the "fuel" running costs are still comparable or less than running an ICE at "local services" fuel prices. Factor in home charging (even at standard variable price at around 25p per kWh) and the cost per mile is noticeably lower.

 

[JohnV6]

Out of interest, what are the prices like for the lamppost chargers?

Where son is in Walthamstow 54p per kWh but the lamposts get blocked by ICE cars parking.
Not an issue for us as we can get here & back with electrons to spare. There are some others from another company where you can only park to charge & they cost a simlar amount but are a 5 min walk.

 

[Gomev]

T

True but not near me anymore they closed the local Tesla chargers to Tesla. They were also a 20 min drive away. The ones I use are 1 mins walk away .

I know it higher than home charging but price was not the main reason I got an EV and is still cheaper than my old ICE

There's an open to all Tesla at North Greenwich, 51p peak prices non member, don't know how far that is from you exactly.

 

[Bam Bam]

T

There's an open to all Tesla at North Greenwich, 51p peak prices non member, don't know how far that is from you exactly.

Distance isn't really the same when driving in London, from what I understand.

The convenience of plugging in and going home is a massive benefit. Not worth wasting hours to save a few pence.

 

[Tangoed Man]

Thanks @slmorgan42, next time somebody moans about range, or only having access to public charging, I'll direct them to this post, very positive.

Don't bother doing so to anyone living in the rural shire counties ........

 

[salty]

Don't bother doing so to anyone living in the rural shire counties ........

That's different again, though. Doubt you'd get an EV in the first place, if you lived, in the back of beyond. And if you did, then you knew from the outset, what you where getting into.

 

[Tangoed Man]

That's different again, though. Doubt you'd get an EV in the first place, if you lived, in the back of beyond. And if you did, then you knew from the outset, what you where getting into.

We do live in a rural county, with appalling charging infrastructure, but we are on our fourth EV. It just means that we have to keep an ICE vehicle and we enjoy using the MG4 as a runabout for short journeys and around town.

 

[Everest]

Doubt you'd get an EV in the first place, if you lived, in the back of beyond.

I did But then I have solar to charge it

 

[salty]

I did But then I have solar to charge it

There you go, it can be done.

 

[Rolfe]

I'm out in the countryside but with a home charger. I don't miss my petrol car and I'll never have another one. I don't need a charging infrastructure where I live, because of the home charger. If I'm driving a long distance it's inevitable I will come across chargers somewhere.

Of course if you don't have the ability to have a home charger and you're out in the country then you may not be well placed. But most people in rural areas have some sort of driveway, and quite a lot of rural areas have chargers. There's one five minutes walk from my house, although the nearest petrol station is 20 minutes drive away.