I’m going to share some details here that can also be found scattered around the French Zoe forum, plus some extra info I got while communicating with Davide from ELPA in Italy. He has developed an EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) or so called “Granny cable” for the Renault Zoe. It enables the Zoe, depending on the version and adapters you order, to be plugged into domestic household sockets as well as CEE 16A camping sockets (3 pin, blue) and CEE 32A powersockets (3 pin, blue but bigger). You can also change that last plug on the 32A version with a 5 pin CEE32A (red) plug yourself if needed (but it won’t fit in the respective adapters then), there are plugs available that are very easy (without tools) to disconnect and connect.

First a picture to explain what you get and what can go where:

Original resolution at: http://piloot.smugmug.com/Cars/Zoe/Zoe-Intens/i-cqL2LFT/0/O/EVR01.jpg

On the right you can see the main EVR01 unit (32A version), on the left two adapters.

First about the main unit. There are two versions of the EVR01. The cheapest version is 450 euros and has a 16A 3-pin plug. So it can plug straight into sockets you find at campings (usually blue), you can also simply replace a standard socket at home with a 3 pin socket (very cheap). The advantage is that a socket like that can easily withstand the build up of heat over time, so you can set the charger at 16 amp. For 480 euros you can get the version which has a bigger plug that can go straight into a CEE 32A 3-pin socket. You can find these sockets often at companies that use heavy duty industrial equipment (in Holland usually the red 5 pins versions though, which are not compatible unless you change the plug). In the picture you see this version (EVR01-32A-T2). This version can be set to a max of 32 amps. The big 7 pin Mennekes plug goes straight into the Zoe. The EVR01 unit has an internal residual current protection (35mA) and overtemperature protection (70°C). The cable is (I believe) around 7.5 meters long.

Then about the adaptors (either is 50 euro). In the picture you can see on the left two sockets for CEE 32A (5 holes). One converts to Schuko (the standard European plug) and has a circuit breaker built in that’s set to 10 amps. The other converts to 3 pin CEE 16A and has a circuit breaker built in that’s set to 16 amps. I’m pretty sure that Davide can also arrange a CEE 16A or CEE 32A to UK plug as well.

To use it (I haven’t yet, still waiting for the Zoe) you plug it in, set the amp rating and then turn it on. A clear English manual is included. For the Zoe it is important to at least set it to 8 amps first, as the Zoe won’t charge at 6 amp. After that you can slowly increase the amperage, depending on the unit, socket and adaptor you’re using. To get the unit to charge with amps that are higher than for domestic plugs, you have to hold the button for longer than a second. If you would do this (for example set the unit at 13 amp) while plugged into a Schuko / UK domestic socket, the circuit breaker (10 amp) in the converter will trip (you can reset it by pushing it in). Although your fuse box at home might be rated at 16 amps, standard (Schuko at least) sockets are not designed to take so much amps continuously for a longer time. It can lead to melted sockets. If you want to set it up to 16 amps, replace the socket by a CEE16A 3-pin socket. Perhaps UK sockets have more flexibility so that the converter can be set higher, I’m sure Davide can answer that for you when you contact him (and perhaps someone can update this thread then). 8 amps is safe, 10 amps is possible, but you should check the temperature of the socket to be sure.

Loading times:
The Zoe is very inefficient for loading at lower amps. An overview for some loading times from empty (you can intrapolate between 13 and 30):
– Domestic socket (Schuko), 8 amp, 50 % efficient: 30 hours
– Domestic socket (Schuko), 10 amp, 70% efficient: 18 hours
– CEE 16A 3 pin socket, 13 amps, 80% efficient: 11 hours
– CEE 32A 5 pin socket, 30 amps, 80% efficient: 4.5 hours

Because of the difference in efficiency it not only takes considerably longer at 8 amp, but it also almost twice as expensive compared to 13 amps and higher. In other words, it might be a good idea to install a 3 pin CEE 16A socket at granny.

Davide can also ship interlocked sockets.

Order and info via: davide@elpa.it

Prices excluding VAT:
EVR01-32A-T2 (it has CEE 32A blue monophase plug): 480€
EVR01-16A-T1 (it has CEE 16A blue monophase plug): 450€
10A limited Schuko adapter: 50€
16A limited CEE 16A adapter (only for EVR01-32A): 50€
32A interlocked socket: 40€
16A interlocked socket: 40€
Shipping to UE: 40€
If I sell to EU companies I can invoice without VAT, otherwise I must add 21% italian VAT.
Accepted payment:
– Direct bank transfer to the ELPA sas IBAN: IT 59 J 03268 68720 000760 187080 – Swift/bic: SELBIT2BXXX – Bank’s name: Banca Sella ag. Chiusa S. Michele
– Paypal. If you choose Paypal it takes 3.6%, so you must add this fee to the final price.
Availability: all parts are in stock now.
To order them he needs your name, address, nickname on Zoe forum, phone number, and order list.

The setup I ordered (EVR01 with CEE 32A plug, adapter to CEE 16A and adapter to Schuko), plus shipping plus VAT over the total, came to a total of 750 euro.