[Bmwnewbie2]

Some advice please.

What is best for charging 330e mSport at home. Is it worth putting in a proper home charging point - I should be eligible for £500 grant - or do I just use 3 pin plug. We have cheap night time electricity.

Car will come with both 3pin and type 2 charging cable as standard.

Any advice much appreciated.

[paulf]

I decided to get Pod-Point installed, and take advantage of that grant (whilst its there). They did a decent job installing it and it looks tidy.

[Jebk]

Are you sure the type 2 cable is standard? Unless they've changed the spec it's not.

Where I am there's enough free charging to justify a type 2 cable. (About 700m if free electric in the last couple of months, break even is about 2k)

[Vossy]

Another with a Pod Point here. Decent install just allow two or three weeks for install date.

I’d also go for a 7kw charger as the recommended 3.6kw system won’t preheat or cool without using stored charge.

[Bmwnewbie2]

Originally Posted by Jebk

Are you sure the type 2 cable is standard? Unless they've changed the spec it's not.

Where I am there's enough free charging to justify a type 2 cable. (About 700m if free electric in the last couple of months, break even is about 2k)

Yes - as from March orders/builds both come as standard.

[mofomat]

Originally Posted by Jebk

Are you sure the type 2 cable is standard? Unless they've changed the spec it's not.

Where I am there's enough free charging to justify a type 2 cable. (About 700m if free electric in the last couple of months, break even is about 2k)

I believe it was recently announced that from April, the 330e will come with both types of cable included.

[paulf]

Originally Posted by Vossy

Another with a Pod Point here. Decent install just allow two or three weeks for install date.

I’d also go for a 7kw charger as the recommended 3.6kw system won’t preheat or cool without using stored charge.

I didn't know what about the 7kw charger. I got the 7kw as its gives a bit more future proofing (for when the missus gets some kind of EV).

[wassap]

Definately get the 7kw, as stated above, its best to get future proofed whilst the grant is available, mind the keep an eye on the budget next week, the grant could get canned.

[tn1krr]

Originally Posted by Jebk

Are you sure the type 2 cable is standard? Unless they've changed the spec it's not.

Where I am there's enough free charging to justify a type 2 cable. (About 700m if free electric in the last couple of months, break even is about 2k)

Not sure if there are differences between markets, but my 330e (originally from Sweden) came with two cables; 3-pin and Type 2 and these was no mention in spec sheet that one of them was an extra.

Also, the 3-pin that comes with the car will not give more than 2,3 kW (10 amp) no matter how you set up the charging options in the car. Some aftermarket 3-pin chargers can give 16A, but the one that comes with the car is limited to 10A.

As for 7.2 kW etc. chargers; 330e cannot use anything above 3,7 kW (1-phase 16A), not for charging or for preconditioning; if one looks at the charging port in the car there is only one phase connected and there is no indication anywhere that one could take more than 16A from that phase; this means 3.7 kW max for any use.

So only thing going for > 3.7 kW chargers with 330e is futureproofness which IMO makes sense; these are not gonna be our last ever pluggable cars. I actually have a 22 kW capable charger, it is just currently connected only to single phase and limited to 16A so that I did not need to make any change in fuses/cabling in my house, the charger just replaced one outdoor plug. When I need more power in the future I'll just have electrician make necessary changes in the cabling; no need for a new charger box.

[Bmwnewbie2]

Originally Posted by Jebk

Are you sure the type 2 cable is standard? Unless they've changed the spec it's not.

Where I am there's enough free charging to justify a type 2 cable. (About 700m if free electric in the last couple of months, break even is about 2k)

Yes - as from March orders/builds both come as standard.

[Sooty]

Originally Posted by Vossy

Another with a Pod Point here. Decent install just allow two or three weeks for install date.

I’d also go for a 7kw charger as the recommended 3.6kw system won’t preheat or cool without using stored charge.

That's not good. Have you experienced this first hand?

[Vossy]

Originally Posted by Sooty

That's not good. Have you experienced this first hand?

I have. The 3.6kw charger charges just as fast as the 7kw but as soon as you introduce any pre conditioning the power required is too much for the charger alone so the battery loses 3 or 4 miles off the range. In another thread those with a 7 kw feed were unaffected. This isn’t commonly known or advised when selecting a charger.

Anyone looking to purchase a Pod Point or similar should spec a 7kw charger imho.

[Sooty]

Originally Posted by Vossy

I have. The 3.6kw charger charges just as fast as the 7kw but as soon as you introduce any pre conditioning the power required is too much for the charger alone so the battery loses 3 or 4 miles off the range. In another thread those with a 7 kw feed were unaffected. This isn’t commonly known or advised when selecting a charger.

Anyone looking to purchase a Pod Point or similar should spec a 7kw charger imho.

Thanks for the info.

Too late though! I might see if I can change my order.

Did you upgrade your charger to 7kwh?

[tn1krr]

Originally Posted by Vossy

I have. The 3.6kw charger charges just as fast as the 7kw but as soon as you introduce any pre conditioning the power required is too much for the charger alone so the battery loses 3 or 4 miles off the range. In another thread those with a 7 kw feed were unaffected. This isn’t commonly known or advised when selecting a charger.

Anyone looking to purchase a Pod Point or similar should spec a 7kw charger imho.

Has anyone independently actually checked/confirmed this? I mean checked actual power draw > 3,7 kW from the Charging point when the car is preconditioning. Like I said above there is only single phase connected in the Type 2 port in the car (anyone can see this by opening the port). So the only way to get more than 3.7 kW would be by drawing more than 16A from that single phase.

This is what the manual says: "The AC rapid charging cable enables fast charging at sockets of designated AC charging stations
through a special plug. Alternating current is used to charge at labelled AC charging stations. The charging process can be completed
faster than with domestic socket outlets. A charging current of up to maximum 16 A is possible."

More than 16A draw from single phase would actually need higher rated cable so drawing more than 16A without telling in the the spec would be kind of not ok; there is (a very theoretical one) fire hazard in draving more than spec says since.

I've heard and personally seen that battery can be depleted a bit when preconditioning and charging with 8A or 10A via 3 pin cable and it can happen in theory with the 3.7 kW charger too as there supposedly is 5 kW heater in the car. But this is very first time I have heard anyone claim that the car draw more than 3.7 kW in any situation; if it could it would be displayed somewhere in the specs.

[Vossy]

Originally Posted by Sooty

Thanks for the info.

Too late though! I might see if I can change my order.

Did you upgrade your charger to 7kwh?

Sadly no. It was already installed when I learned of the issue.

[Sooty]

Originally Posted by Vossy

Sadly no. It was already installed when I learned of the issue.

I think I'm in the same situation. I pick my car up on Monday.

Ah well. I might pre condition 15 - 30 mins before I leave!

[Sooty]

Originally Posted by tn1krr

Has anyone independently actually checked/confirmed this? I mean checked actual power draw > 3,7 kW from the Charging point when the car is preconditioning. Like I said above there is only single phase connected in the Type 2 port in the car (anyone can see this by opening the port). So the only way to get more than 3.7 kW would be by drawing more than 16A from that single phase.

This is what the manual says: "The AC rapid charging cable enables fast charging at sockets of designated AC charging stations
through a special plug. Alternating current is used to charge at labelled AC charging stations. The charging process can be completed
faster than with domestic socket outlets. A charging current of up to maximum 16 A is possible."

More than 16A draw from single phase would actually need higher rated cable so drawing more than 16A without telling in the the spec would be kind of not ok; there is (a very theoretical one) fire hazard in draving more than spec says since.

I've heard and personally seen that battery can be depleted a bit when preconditioning and charging with 8A or 10A via 3 pin cable and it can happen in theory with the 3.7 kW charger too as there supposedly is 5 kW heater in the car. But this is very first time I have heard anyone claim that the car draw more than 3.7 kW in any situation; if it could it would be displayed somewhere in the specs.

It makes sense because the pod point charger is only 3.6kwh. But the 330e draw is 3.7kwh. I guess?

[Vossy]

Originally Posted by Sooty

It makes sense because the pod point charger is only 3.6kwh. But the 330e draw is 3.7kwh. I guess?

I think someone posted in another thread that pre conditioning requires 5kw draw.

Warmer weather soon so it won’t be required. I don’t think pre cooling is something I’ll need. Just open the windows for a couple of minutes

[GBR1]

Make sure you take advantage of this offer. My bmw dealer didn't know about it..

https://discover.bmw.co.uk/offers/2020-q1-phev

7kw charger plus installed all for free!

[Vossy]

Private customers only.

[chrisnoy]

Originally Posted by GBR1

Make sure you take advantage of this offer. My bmw dealer didn't know about it..

https://discover.bmw.co.uk/offers/2020-q1-phev

7kw charger plus installed all for free!

Yes, didn't know about this, have just e mailed my dealer to see if I can get it.

[wassap]

Thats just the OLEV grant isnt it? Some folk have to pay more if the install deviates from the standard.

https://pod-point.com/guides/driver/olev-grant