u/Boba_ferret

We acquired a VW E-transporter last week and have been a bit surprised at how little distance the estimation is, based on the charge level. VW quotes 225 miles for the 70kwh version (at 100% charge), which is 3.2miles per kwh. Ours is the 64kwh versions, so should be able to do 205 miles.

However, even being parked on our driveway, it's only estimating 165 miles at 100% charge, which is quite the difference, at 2.5miles per kwh. In real terms, this is probably going to be even less. Is this normal, or does it take a few charges for the vehicle to get more accurate range prediction?

Obviously, we knew that 205 miles would be under ideal conditions, but having 20% less range than advertised is not ideal.

I've just heard from my Installer that National Grid, which is my DNO, wants £360 inc, to approve the G99 for an 8KW inverter!

I was told by another installer, that this charge was for anything over 7.6kw, but can't find any info on this, as I guess, National Grid don't publish this info.

Has anyone else heard about this?

I can downrate to a 7kw Inverter and suffer some clipping, as I've only got 7.6kwp being installed anyway, but wondering if that will still be charged for by NG.

Does it have anything to do with the ampage? I've seen talk of 16A export (3.68Kw for G98) and 7.6kw would be 32A.

Had my site survey yesterday and asked if the installer would be spitting the mains or running the EV charger from the consumer unit. He said he'd advise against splitting, as he knows I'm going to be using Home Assistant to control the battery, so can stop the battery discharging to the EV.

He said that export prices are dropping and he thinks that in a few years time, we may get to the situation that they have in Australia, where you actually get charged to export solar sometimes, as there's too much power in the grid. If you split the mains, you'd be wasting your solar, as there's no where for it to go, so you might as well divert it to the EV.

What do you think?

Previously, Octopus have refused to upgrade our SMETS 1 meters and while they can read them, they are really unreliable. We're getting solar panels & battery in July, so would be good to have the meters updated to SMETS2

I apologise if this isn't the right place to ask, but we've just taken delivery of a VW T34 E-Transporter and would like to move the dashcam from our previous vehicle, into this one. However, it looks like the 12v socket & USB sockets on the dash, are permanently live.

The only fuse box in the manual seems to be under the bonnet, so I can't use a piggy-back fuse.

As it's a leased vehicle, I can't go tapping into wires, either.

Has anyone got a solution to this?

Thank you

Been trying to get a charger fitted for a month now and just getting the run around by various installers. We'll have our EV on Thursday, with no way to charge it for the foreseeable future. What's the cheapest way to charge it? Public charging with Electroverse? We have a Tesco with Pod points 1/4 mile away, but don't thnk that's compatible with Electroverse.

Or, do I just get a granny charger and accept the fact that it will take ages to charge?

Thankfully our mileage is quote low, so we can probably just top up the charge every day.

We're not an an EV or smart tariff at the moment.