[EV Rider]

Hi-So..my New Zoe is due for collection Tuesday..is there anything in particular to keep an eye out for?
So far,I've heard the dash is a bit Shiny..is that the same for the Intens spec with the darker interior?
It's going to be interesting enough just coping with the new car smell and getting it home,planning my first charge,getting the tax disc,that sort of thing..thanks for any input!

 

[EV Rider]

Definitely try to get your R-Link activation code when you pick it up, should be in your delivery letter. Then you can activate the calendar charging function, among other things.

I have had a Zoe for 7 months and found that fitting some black cloth over the dashboard really helps, when the sun is low. Also ask your dealer when the 13A "Occasional" charge cable will be released, as that can help when visiting friends without a charge point (safety note, only plug in to a socket capable of delivering the power the Zoe will draw!). But overall, the Zoe is nippy, fun to drive and full of new car toys!

Good stuff,Thanks! I found the zoe handbook as a PDF download,so am having a browse..always easier when you have the real thing on hand for reference! (30 hours to go!) Any advice on the home evse? Was told by the dealer he'd notified them of my purchase,and have heard nothing yet..having a weekend in between probably doesn't help!

 

[EV Rider]

If you have enough charge to get home with a little spare, enjoy a few grins by standing on the go pedal

Noted!

 

[EV Rider]

I've had mine nearly a week now, no major problems as yet, I'm still waiting for my home charger to be fitted so using public ones which can ol be a bit if a faff. Shiny dash is on the intens too, I noticed it strait away but to be honest you get used to it and see 'through it'.
Make sure they give you your activation code fir r-link services, I'm still waiting for mine

A simple fix for the shiny dash seems to be a pair of polarised sunnies,from what I read,among stories of diy dash redecoration...

 

[EV Rider]

I had an email from British Gas a couple of days after ordering Zoe, I clicked the link, filled in the form and had a call to say someone local would be contacting me about installation in the next 2 weeks. That was 6 days ago, not heard anything yet!

My car's due tomorrow

Good stuff,Thanks! I found the zoe handbook as a PDF download,so am having a browse..always easier when you have the real thing on hand for reference! (30 hours to go!) Any advice on the home evse? Was told by the dealer he'd notified them of my purchase,and have heard nothing yet..having a weekend in between probably doesn't help!

Also-I emailed the dealer yesterday..was told it'll be taxed,charged up,and r-link will be operational for me..now if they could reassure me about home charging the thing when I've heard nothing about a public charge card or a wallbox installation visit...
edit- found a new email before going to collect the car,from the chargecard people..it's in the post..also reassuring me on my query re the charge box grant funding here in NI..available til end of June,they say..

 

[EV Rider]

Definitely try to get your R-Link activation code when you pick it up, should be in your delivery letter. Then you can activate the calendar charging function, among other things.

I have had a Zoe for 7 months and found that fitting some black cloth over the dashboard really helps, when the sun is low. Also ask your dealer when the 13A "Occasional" charge cable will be released, as that can help when visiting friends without a charge point (safety note, only plug in to a socket capable of delivering the power the Zoe will draw!). But overall, the Zoe is nippy, fun to drive and full of new car toys!

Was told the r-link will be activated for me,so it sounds as though she'll be ready to go...just a bit tentative as I have yet to get or hear from the charge card folks,let alone the pipefitters..

 

[EV Rider]

Not having received a charging card before delivery,the dealer loaned me one of theirs,bringing me to a nearby car park and giving me a Demo before the handover..we didn't charge any,just showing me the hookup procedure..
I live about 20 miles away and I know there is a (edit) rapid charger near home..went there on my way back and topped up to 90%,not having time for the full 100%..(not being familiar with a rapid charger,I was waiting for a prompt to use the card..I think it worked without it?) had an evening work shift to go to..afterwards,thought I'd try for 100%,and see what range came up.Back at the rapid charger,it seemed to be working fine,but then seemed to stall at 68% and lights went out on the charge unit..tried again,disconnecting and reconnecting the cord..didn't seem to want to give any more and doing the lights off thing again..a car park closer to home has a fast charger-went there ,hooked up..got back in the car to wait..nothing..looked again at the info display "Vehicle not recognised"..so the card is car specific? oy. so..yesterday the card folks emailed it was in the post..I hope today is the day or I'm not going far! at least it will give me time to get used to the computer onboard..

 

[EV Rider]

The lights out on the dash sounds like the problem I experienced last week, only happened once and charged fine at another charger. As for the Charge cards as far as I know they are not car specific

Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of ev chargers. Just wait till you get the red battery charging impossible warning - that one's scary. Unplugging, turning off and forcefully shutting the charging door sometimes helps or as a last resort - beating the bonnet with a large branch will make you feel much better.

Had sent the sales guy an email letting him know...he just called me back,prepared to drive over here to check it out! I said I was happy to wait for the postie today and try out my new card,and if that didn't happen (it's Wednesday..if the cards were in the post before Tuesday,they should be arriving,right?!) I'd call him back for a plan b..I'm not blaming the car..yet...am still in new owner protective mode!

 

[EV Rider]

How's the Zoe ? Any news on your charging situation ?

Day 3 with the zoe..settling in! So..the cards did arrive,and I was about to ring the sales guy to let him know this yesterday afternoon, but the phone rang..he was on the way over with their demonstrator Zen Zoe to check things out..we arranged that he'd check the charger in the carpark a few miles from me,while I had another go with the rapid charger that blocked me..apparently the (Siemens CP500) car park charger just needed a little more patience and persistence.. Another try and it might have worked...I caved at the first sign of resistance! Same with the other one..they were just messing about.. So...cards working fine,I took a little round trip about 60 miles into Donegal to try out a charger over there..the NI cards work in ROI too,which is nice...working on an itinerary for another trip on Saturday,so ,feeling good about that now I've had some practice! The Zoe is a relaxing place to be,I must say..

 

[EV Rider]

Thats good news - sounds like yOu have to get used to " Zen and the art of Zoe charging" - you also seem to have found the only renault dealer to show any interest in its customers - better hang on to him.

I was assured by the sales guy that the pipefitters (British Gas) had been informed about my buying the car,and I was waiting for them to do the scheduled contact about the box survey/install..they had the lead time of processing the car,and 3 days of me having it...I sent them a Query online.
The phone rang yesterday morning-BG returning my call and saying they've no record of a request for a call or visit on my behalf from Renault..Back to my sales guy.no response yesterday (Usually it's like IM!) today I got a mail back,he was on a course,and says he checked,they'll call,give it a week..BG were ready to start a Job docket for me yesterday,only they want the word coming from Renault..(I'd likely be paying if I started the process off my own bat..)Soooo...
Today (23/6) the car logbook arrived and I find an email from BG requesting my customer # from Renault to process the box procedure..get in...

 

[EV Rider]

Good suggestion with the black cloth, worth a try but does make me wonder why Renault didn't think of it ? Maybe the same reason they didn't make the back seat fold properly ? Renault told me last thursday that the occasional charging cable was now available at £590 - think I will give that a miss then.....

I too am ok without a near £600 extension lead,thanks all the same! charge points are popping up like mushrooms around here,and I have fast chargers 3 and 7 miles away respectively,convenient enough for shopping trips and my commute..
Went out a while with the gang from work afterwards last night, the plan was to hit a nearby club..there's several charge points in the central town area( Enniskillen has 5),so moved the car from an on street parking spot to a closer car park with a charger and left Zoe filling up while I was in the club-my first time after a night out finding the car having more range than when I left it!

 

[EV Rider]

I had an email from British Gas a couple of days after ordering Zoe, I clicked the link, filled in the form and had a call to say someone local would be contacting me about installation in the next 2 weeks. That was 6 days ago, not heard anything yet!

Tuesday this week BG emailed me a wallbox agreement form to sign and return-scanned it and returned as soon as I could get the pooter warmed up..heard nothing,so emailed asking for confirmation they got it this morning..just off the phone,they rang back with confirmation and to check what type of box I wanted..passing it over to the install team now..

 

[EV Rider]

Well BG have arrived (or the people they contract to do it) this morning... 20 minutes later they have gone. Unable to fit it as they need an isolator switch. The guy said he could normally do that himself but as they are working for BG they cannot do it and we need to phone Southern Electric and ask for one to be fitted (chargeable of course!) they can then come back and fit it. All this is getting a bit of a joke now - not happy this morning Grrrrrr

Still waiting on word of a date for my appointment here and fired off a request for an update yesterday..on the plus side,my sales guy left me a voicemail while I was at work yesterday wanting to chat about any progress,so he's keeping up.. Hope they're gonna be back soon to finish your job!

 

[EV Rider]

Just make sure you have an isolator switch fitted before they arrive as they won't fit it without one! Now got to book appointment with southern Electric then have to rebook the installation

I'd emailed the electric Company yesterday about this and got a reply to ring and talk with an Engineer..I did. Nobody was available,but they'd ring me back.Had to go shopping for my nephew turning teenager,and missed 2 calls on the drive in to town..third time lucky..They reckon an Isolator is on the customer side of the supply,it's up to me to get an Electrician to fit one..how did that work for you?

 

[EV Rider]

Like Me,You're stuck with BG for the install as Renault are contracting BG,right?

 

[EV Rider]

Well I've had enough of them and have contacted Chargemaster, they are now booked to come on Wednesday week - let's see if they beat British gas. I've still had no 're appointment' date from BG after the first failed install

I'd had enough of email and voicemail "tag" with BG-I'd tried phoning Saturday there to ask when my appointment was due and was told the EV guys didn't work weekends..but he'd have them return my call today (Monday)-I mentioned I was working this evening,so asked if they could call during the afternoon? Fair enough. 4:45 and no call. Rang again. A very nice Scots spoken Lassie in Edinburgh told me they had been re-organising things and that EV work was now centralised with them,and was surprised I hadn't been informed of my survey/install date of 24th July. (5 weeks..) We'll see..

 

[EV Rider]

Just reading through all the old threads and come across this one.

We have had a phonecall from British Gas today saying they are coming next week to fit the charger.

The woman on the phone was pleasant, but it was clear she was reading from a script!!!

So, what is an isolation switch? She asked me if we had one, I yes but don't know what one is!!!

Could someone point me in the correct direction so I can check I have one please?

Ta

Sam

When it (finally!) came to installation day,the engineer did everything without any if's,but's or fuss..An isolation switch wasn't mentioned.There's what looks to be a new high amp trip switch installed alongside those I had before,and that's it.. I'm happy with the job since,it's a doddle to use,just drive up and plug in..Hope it all goes smoothly for You!