“As Marc Manconot, watertightness validation manager, reminds us, ZOE has also been tested to confirm fault-free operation at a speed of 10 km/h in 40 centimeters of water, which means the battery is submerged. Again, the tests confirm there is no risk of electrocution.”

I would not want to be the one who tries it, might get soggy carpets.

The issue with deep water wading is the cooling/heating fans above the rear end of the battery pack.

I know my local-ish park and ride has a number of EV charge posts, but they are all slow chargers. I just doesn’t make sense to park, charge, ride then come back a few hours later to move. Where is the convenience there.

I honestly think that something should be done to highlight charging speed of each post. I read about slow, quick, fast, rapid and its all a bit confusing for the average punter. If say a sign was placed above each unit saying Slow and a time 4-6hrs for an example then people know how long they can get away with parking. i.e. Rapid, 30mins only. Then you know you can’t go wandering off into town and blocking a charger.

I’m in a lucky position (well for now at least) in that I work next to the building where the pool cars are kept, there is 2 posts to charge 4 cars, but never more than 2 electric pool cars, and they tend to be out all day, meaning I get a personal space (along with 2 other EV drivers in the building). I know generally day to day i’m going to be fine for charging, and my region (Fife) has 18 charging locations, all slower ones for now (but 3 rapids planned). I live equidistant between about 4 charging locations and close to 1 of the proposed rapids, but my worry is when I venture out of my usual travel area. I’ll be royally pee’d off for example if I stop at a motorway rapid for a charge to find a Tesla hogging it for hours because its got a mahoosive battery. All I’ll be interested in is getting my family of 2 young kids home, and I’ll probably go looking for said Tesla owners to ask if they’d mind disconnecting for 20-30mins so I could get home.

If I got stranded at a motorway services where some PHEV was using the point I’d again try to track down the drive and appeal to their better nature. i.e. they are not blocked from continuing their journey but I would be.

I think there is a need for more rapid chargers, especially in remote areas, and maybe even have Pure EV dedicated points, or at least priority for Pure EV drivers. I’m surprised to be honest that large petrol stations (the ones with Marks and Sparks in them for example) that they are not trying to cash in on EV trade too. Have a charge point or two in small car park and charge a few quid for a rapid charge.

For me, fortunately, it isn’t just about the money. After all if I wanted to save money I’d buy a nearly new Fiesta rather than my 15 Grand Zoe. Same goes for my solar PV panels which help to enhance Zoe’s green credentials a little more. In the summer, Zoe runs almost entirely off the sun! I paid in the order of £12K (for a 3kW unit) and got £1200 in the first year or tow and more like £1400 now the rpi adjuster has kicked in. Plus, free electricity and the challenge is how to take advantage of that. So it should end up paying for itself in, say ten years – that should leave another ten years’ service, all being well. Its tax free income too and over the 20 years a reasonable investment. The battery bank mentioned sounds a good option. I would like a new build ideally with a south facing roof and enough land to drive a ground source heat pump. We have a field we own next door but English Heritage won’t let us dig in it unless we do a full archeological survey! The council won’t let us use it for solar so we had to put the panels on out garage roof! Bureaucracy, eh? Anyway, keep trucking on & fight the good fight. Cross fingers’ Zoe is behaving herself. I am thinking of doing a home conversion from “classic car” to ev mainly so I can have control of the charging, engine computer, etc. rather than be at the mercy of Renault, or whoever, Tesla, BMW, etc. I guess their all the same! Control is shifting to the policy makers, car manufacturers etc., it seems and away from drivers. Not entirly a bad thing, perhaps but not sure when it encroaches too much on me!

Probably an ok deal for someone only looking for a low mile, 2 year deal and then move on.

I find it sneaky they dony.mention you’ve also got battery rental on top of that though.

I’m looking for a battery store for my garage but I will charge it off the economy 7 and not solar.

I’m looking for that too, for my own house but also as an option for FuelIncluded customers. I recently visited the EcoBuild event to scout around for options. There are many in the £5k – £10k range, but I also found one that was much more affordable. Using lead-acid batteries it provides 4-5kWh storage for about £2.5k:

Powervault

Solar is free but you must decide the cost of the installation by the expected longevity of the system. I just can’t make solar add up. Not until electricity prices go up.

I would say it’s hard not to make good money if you have a south facing roof. Even an east or west roof is still worth doing, though it will take longer to break even. I was so happy with my south system that I’ve since installed one on the north, though I know it will take a dozen or more years to pay off (it covers all the ZOE’s electricity, while the south one covers the house usage).

I covert a Tesla too, but what I didn’t realize was that they come with a very poor charger – only 10KW; a quarter of what a Zoe can charge at and with a battery 4 times the size.

So if you can make your journey on one charge, or via a Supercharger, that’s great, but if you over stretch your range, then you’re going to have a difficult drive home in a vehicle that’s optimised for performance rather than economy, hobnobbing with the Zoes and Leafs on the public charger network.

Guess me and Sam are a bit alike. I can say i’d never and have never given abuse to an EV driver. It would just be the usual comment. Who’s the old codger holding up traffic, oh its actually a silly electric car, probably running out of battery. And what do you know, I’m gonna be that person now lol, because as above, i’ll probably forget to charge lol.

I’m looking forward to getting my car. Just asked family for a lift to pick car up on Thursday and got the derisory “the electric one?” lol now the boots on the other foot.

I’ve got a classic mini so I get stopped and talked to in that so I’m happy if someone foes the same in the Zoe, always happy to talk car.

Your current battery level is 100% with an estimated driving distance of 88.9 mile.

I’ve activated the emails too

My 75% charge did take 5hrs last night though?

I have economy 7 and pay 4p per kwh at night compared to 12p in the day. Total of 88p Ish to do a full charge.. I don’t think solar can compete with that on cost. Since swapping to economy 7 we now use 55% of our electricity at night on the cheap rate. Washing machine, dryer and dishwasher all go on timers and run through the night. I have a 4 bed house and have fitted it with led lights throughout. My combined electric/gas bill is £67 which includes all my car mileage aswell. I’m looking for a battery store for my garage but I will charge it off the economy 7 and not solar.