[Paul_Moxhay]

The Ampera cannot use those 43kw chargers at all. They are for cars that have rapid charging systems such as the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe.

Ampera owners can use the posts that are beside the rapid chargers though. There is always at least one post for AC charging... at the moment that is up to 32A single phase. The Ampera has 16A AC so we can use those posts.

You will need a new cable though because those posts use the type 2 socket. The Ampera has a type 1 socket. So you would need a type 2 to type 1 cable... like this...


http://shop.zerocarbonworld.org/cables/32a-type2-type1-cable.html

There are fewer and fewer public charge posts with a 13A socket now so if you want to charge your Ampera regularly on public posts you will need one of these cables. Having said that at £199 you would need to charge in public quite a bit to get your money back.

Yes, the car communicates with the charging station using the J1772 protocol. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_J1772

 

[Paul_Moxhay]

As always with EV manufacturers the detail is thin on the ground but as I understand it the i3 will have type 2 AC charging at up to 7kw and CCS rapid charging up to 50kw.

I am still unclear though whether it can use the 43kw AC rapid chargers from Ecotricity for 7kw charging or if those chargers are for 43kw capable cars only (e.g. Zoe). If not then it could still use the AC posts instead using a type 2 to type 2 cable.

Once thing is certain... the i3 cannot use either of the current Ecotricity rapid charge systems: CHAdeMo or 43kw AC. Instead it uses a CCS socket (Combined Charging System). Ecotricity have stated they will be installing CCS chargers at all Ecotricity locations.

 

[Paul_Moxhay]

Apologies from me, 'a little knowledge is a dangerous thing'. Now a question, do these Rapid Charging points use a different type of socket? How would someone know that they cannot use one for the Ampera?

Please no apology needed Isn't that why we are all here? To learn from each other?

Yes different sockets. They won't fit into an Ampera.

The current breed of rapid chargers use either CHAdeMo or type 2... the Ampera uses type 1 J1772.

 

[Paul_Moxhay]

I would say that it the type 2 end of the cable fits the charging socket then yes, as far I know, you can use it. The car will communicate with the socket and only take what is needs and it will never take more than 16A regardless. Remember... it is the car that takes the power... it isn't pushed into the car. So the socket might be able to deliver 32A or even more but the car will only ever take 16A. That is not a problem

If you are concerned about that then I don't think you need be. You should be able to charge at any socket that takes the type 2 plug and that is all you need know really.

 

[Paul_Moxhay]

Sounds good to me

 

[Paul_Moxhay]

It looks to me that the CCS plug will not fit into a J1772 socket on the cars so although you could use a J1772 if the car has CCS you won't be able to use the CCS charger on a car that has J1772 (Ampera). That is a pity.

 

[Paul_Moxhay]

Locations that are AC only will of course just offer J1772.

Don't you mean type 2 sockets and not J1772?

 

[Paul_Moxhay]

Not sure. If they are offering tethered cables for CCS, why would they not put in a tethered cable for J1772 as well? So far I've only used one public charger with a tethered cable in the UK, but that seems to be the common model for the US.

I guess that is because the CCS is high power. The rapid charger systems seem to have tethered cables and the lower powered ones (below 43kw) you seem to have to provide your own cable.

Just an observation... might be wrong tho

 

[Paul_Moxhay]

That looks like the ones that are installed at the Welcome Break areas. I have used them quite a bit over the past few weeks.

Someone has tried plugging in a type 2 to type 1 cable into the AC side and it won't work. I haven't looked at it myself but I suspect that it would be male to male or female to female... either way they reported that it couldn't be done :-(

 

[Paul_Moxhay]

We shouldn't be doing DIY stuff like this IMO. Someone will get hurt or we will have unnecessary restrictions place upon us to prevent tampering or circumventing the safety protocols that are in place.

Why can't people just follow the sensible rules and accept that you can't just do what you want just because you believe it is OK regardless.