EV Without Home Charging
Discussion
Jonny_ said:
Public charging for all your usage would be horrendous, both in terms of cost and ballache.
We can charge at home, but as our car comes with free public charging and isn't the most efficient we use public charging for 95% of our needs as seems silly not to. If we were paying it would work out cost neutral with running an ICE of the same size and peformance. We've found a local pub with a 50kWh charger so charge there once per week on a Sunday morning when we pop in for breakfast and/or walk the dogs. Covers our 800-1000 miles per month very nicely.
Europa Jon said:
It's possible, but will probably be frustrating on a regular basis. Only Tesla could offer a hassle-free solution for you in your situation.
How about using the money that you were going to rent an expensive car with into a proper house with driveway where you can have EVSE installed?
As I suggested roughly the same and have now thought about it a little more...How about using the money that you were going to rent an expensive car with into a proper house with driveway where you can have EVSE installed?
Now is an excellent time, if a person can, to find a property with a driveway. The relative value of having a driveway could increase hugely over the next ten years. It's an uncertain world in many ways right now, but we do know that that the ability to charge at home is something buyers will increasingly value....
I've got space for another couple of cars and capacity for another charger...
I'm thinking that with so many people getting very cheap EV's as work cars those people really could start to consider moving to a more expensive home with a drive, or renting space on one with charging.
I have a driveway and garage but not connected to my house. Next door neognbhour has an attached garage, my garage is attached to that.
So how can I install a charger from "public" power lines in the ground nearby? Always assumed its not possible... I thought I could run power cables through my neighbours loft, out past his garage and into mine. But that may outweigh the cost of just continued public charging...
So how can I install a charger from "public" power lines in the ground nearby? Always assumed its not possible... I thought I could run power cables through my neighbours loft, out past his garage and into mine. But that may outweigh the cost of just continued public charging...
Edited by dino_jr on Thursday 1st December 08:59
I recently looked at this, until I'm in a position to have a charger at home it was a no go. There are probably quite a few other in the same boat who live in apartments, flats or old housing with no off street parking. Either that or extension leads hanging out of the windows of properties across the land 
It's madness...I'm 14 months & 24k miles into running an EV & could not contemplate doing it without home (cheap overnight) charging. Several colleagues have chosen EV's being tempted by the c.£300
per month income tax savings, but as they weren't "car people" did no research into what it means to run an EV & didn't get home chargers installed.
They are all moaning like f
k at the expense & inconvenience of public charging & waiting for home chargers to be installed (where they can) & those that can't are now stuck with unsuitable cars that they can't claim enough mileage allowance to cover the cost of public charging.
Don't do it!!
per month income tax savings, but as they weren't "car people" did no research into what it means to run an EV & didn't get home chargers installed.
They are all moaning like f
k at the expense & inconvenience of public charging & waiting for home chargers to be installed (where they can) & those that can't are now stuck with unsuitable cars that they can't claim enough mileage allowance to cover the cost of public charging.Don't do it!!
dino_jr said:
I have a driveway and garage but not connected to my house. Next door neognbhour has an attached garage, my garage is attached to that.
So how can I install a charger from "public" power lines in the ground nearby? Always assumed its not possible... I thought I could run power cables through my neighbours loft, out past his garage and into mine. But that may outweigh the cost of just continued public charging...
Surely in that case you could ask your supplier for an additional meter and connection directly in the garage. Sure it’d mean having two accounts and bills, but doable, surely?So how can I install a charger from "public" power lines in the ground nearby? Always assumed its not possible... I thought I could run power cables through my neighbours loft, out past his garage and into mine. But that may outweigh the cost of just continued public charging...
Edited by dino_jr on Thursday 1st December 08:59
PistonTim said:
I'm currently doing 1,200-1,500 a month in a 10 year old diesel BMW, so about £420ish in diesel.
I've seen you can HP a new MG EV for example for less than this which will also help with upcoming ULEZ expansion as I drive to Croydon quite often too.
However, I dont have any charging options at home or work (there are some nearby though).
Is this viable to *maybe* find public chargers to use as a lifestyle or would this be madness?
I have a friend who is doing similar mileage to you. He bought an EV and got rid in 6 months as it was a hassle and expensive to use public chargers. I've seen you can HP a new MG EV for example for less than this which will also help with upcoming ULEZ expansion as I drive to Croydon quite often too.
However, I dont have any charging options at home or work (there are some nearby though).
Is this viable to *maybe* find public chargers to use as a lifestyle or would this be madness?
baxb said:
It's madness...I'm 14 months & 24k miles into running an EV & could not contemplate doing it without home (cheap overnight) charging. Several colleagues have chosen EV's being tempted by the c.£300
per month income tax savings, but as they weren't "car people" did no research into what it means to run an EV & didn't get home chargers installed.
They are all moaning like fk at the expense & inconvenience of public charging & waiting for home chargers to be installed (where they can) & those that can't are now stuck with unsuitable cars that they can't claim enough mileage allowance to cover the cost of public charging.
Don't do it!!
Yea I know a guy that took an EV for the tax savings and spent ages using a mix of granny charging at home and public charging. Thank god public charging is now so expensive that they've finally decided to just get the proper charger installed at home! His previous excuse was that a sparky cam round to quote and it was £1800 because of the cabling route required. In the end he's got the charger installed down the side of the house instead of at the front, it was more like £1200 and he's bought a 10m cable for about £100, job done. But it's been over a year of coping without and who knows what total cost at public chargers..per month income tax savings, but as they weren't "car people" did no research into what it means to run an EV & didn't get home chargers installed.
They are all moaning like f
k at the expense & inconvenience of public charging & waiting for home chargers to be installed (where they can) & those that can't are now stuck with unsuitable cars that they can't claim enough mileage allowance to cover the cost of public charging.Don't do it!!
It blows my mind that there are people that live with an EV everyday and charge it like they would an ICE car by 'going somewhere' to do so, when they simply don't have too.
I'd also guess at least half daily EV drivers now paying the capped rate for electricity have no idea there are far, far cheaper EV tariffs available. Their bills are £200 more a month which they'll spend hours complaining about but won't spend 15 minutes researching an alternative.
People.
A random suggestion...
Why not give it a go for a month:
https://on.to/electric-cars/
All inclusive £500 gets you started £600 if you need something bigger but basically try it and you haven't wasted much finding out and you can actually answer the question "can I?" rather than guessing... Pretty low risk in the grand scheme of things all you have to do is find somewhere to keep you diesel for a month.
Why not give it a go for a month:
https://on.to/electric-cars/
All inclusive £500 gets you started £600 if you need something bigger but basically try it and you haven't wasted much finding out and you can actually answer the question "can I?" rather than guessing... Pretty low risk in the grand scheme of things all you have to do is find somewhere to keep you diesel for a month.
Moonpie21 said:
A random suggestion...
Why not give it a go for a month:
https://on.to/electric-cars/
All inclusive £500 gets you started £600 if you need something bigger but basically try it and you haven't wasted much finding out and you can actually answer the question "can I?" rather than guessing... Pretty low risk in the grand scheme of things all you have to do is find somewhere to keep you diesel for a month.
Exactly this - you can even try a couple of different cars to see what suits .. Why not give it a go for a month:
https://on.to/electric-cars/
All inclusive £500 gets you started £600 if you need something bigger but basically try it and you haven't wasted much finding out and you can actually answer the question "can I?" rather than guessing... Pretty low risk in the grand scheme of things all you have to do is find somewhere to keep you diesel for a month.
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