Zoe FAQs
Question: I am seriously considering buying a Renault Zoe in the next few months, but I find online maps of where charging stations are very confusing - do all stations charge Type 2 AC connectors or is that an issue to make us re-consider?
Answer: Having had a Leaf for a few years and now a Zoe for a few months, the charging experience with a Zoe is quite different to a Leaf. Living here in Christchurch, 22 kW Type 2 charging stations are starting to pop up everywhere like mushrooms. There is one at the supermarket I shop at. There is one at a library I go to at least once a week. There’s one in the botanical gardens I often park out when I go to town. And I always plug into them when I’m there (it’d seem rude not too - and always starts a conversation with people passing by). So it’s not uncommon that a week or two go by and I haven’t had the need to charge at home. I’m not trying to avoid charging at home. It’s just when you’re plugging into an AC charger and it’s giving you 22 kW, before you know it your car’s battery is full again. (About one hour from near empty to near full in the original Zoe; two hours in the new ZE40 with the 41 kWh battery).
The other thing people tell you is that there is no fast charging. It’s true that there is ‘no DC fast charging’, as it’s only AC charging. So at most fast charging stations which are DC only, you cannot charge the Zoe. Now the Zoe comes with the option of two completely different electric motors. One charges at 43 kW (the ‘Q’ model), the other at 22 kW (the ‘R’ model). Compare this to the DC fast chargers which are charging at 50 kW. If you are lucky enough to own a ‘Q’ model Zoe and come across a 43 kW AC charging station, you can charge just as fast as a Leaf on 50 kW (possibly even faster as the Leaf charging rate slows down quite quickly as the battery fills up). Even if you have a 22 kW ‘R’ model, you are not all that much slower than a Leaf, at least in the timing I’ve done with my Gen 1 Leaf, due to that power tapering effect when charging. So in summary then, if you have a ‘Q’ model Zoe and are lucky to live in an area that has an abundance of 43 kW charging stations then you are not at a disadvantage. If all you have is 22 kW charging, then life is still a lot better if you live in an AC Type 2 void!
Finally, there is one other benefit of the Zoe’s charging system. This is really only a benefit for enthusiasts, as probably this is more hassle then most people will bear. So stop reading if this is not you. If it is, one can buy a portable EVSE for around 1,000 euro that can deliver 22 kW when plugged into an industrial (five pin) three phase socket (www.nrgkick.com). How cool is that!! While these can be a challenge to find, especially when traveling through remote parts of the country, it is possible if you devote enough time to it. In this way I have driven a few times now from Christchurch to Nelson on family holidays. It takes all day, mind, but at least it is possible. If a Leaf was going to try the same journey, which currently is devoid of any charging infrastructure, it’d take 2-3 days. This has meant that a couple of months ago we ditched our gas guzzling car that we kept for road trips and are now a 100% electric car family. http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/87990061/Careful-planning-fuels-epic-electric-journey-from-Christchurch-to-Nelson
Finally, hopefully AC Type 2 charging stations will become more plentiful. The Warehouse got a contestable fund grant for putting some in which I heard are Type 2 (hope so); ChargePoint from Australia were at EV World and they have plans on rolling out 22kW Type 2. Charge Net have talked about adding 43 kW Type 2 to their charging sites.
For a map of 22 and 43 kW AC Type 2 charging stations, you can check out this map here: Google Maps.
Question: I was wondering, is the lack of Type 2 charging station going to be hinder to regular charging?
Answer: Yes the old AC Type 2 only charging thing is a bit of a draw back to the Zoe. Here is Christchurch where there are lots of 22 kW Type 2 popping up, it's really great. Having said that, most of the time I charge at home anyway. But when it comes to road trips, the lack of AC Type 2 is a bit frustrating. I've bought myself a 22 kW portable charging unit that I can plug into a three phase socket, which is my secret weapon for my road trips to fill the gaps. However, it is getting better, especially with The Warehouse rollout of 20 Type 2 charging stations around the country.
Question: Can I get a Type 1 to to Type 2 charger cable adapter?
Answer: Yes, you can get an adaptor to convert a Type 1 charging station plug into one that you can then fit into the Zoe. They cost a few hunderd dollars. Eg here: https://www.evse.com.au/typ1-type-2-adapter-cable.html
Question: Can I get a 3 pin to Type 2 charging cable?
Answer: Technically yes, but the Zoe's charge so inefficient at 10 amps, that a 10 amp EVSE just takes forever to charge up. I consider charging up at 16 amps a minimum.
Question: Or a Chademo or CCS Combo to a Type 2 charging cable?
Answer: Not that I have ever heard of, but that would be the ultimate! The problem is that you'd need a bit of hardware in between to convert the DC back into AC again, as well as getting the communication channels working (the reason you can have a simple adapter between Type 1 and Type 2 is that the communication is the same for the two AC standards).
