C-Class 350e - Your charging experiences

[flango]

Death letter from Ecotricity today.... Commencement of charge for charging, in coming within next month or so, £5 for 20 minutes means mild hybrids like C350e will be out of the equation on the Motorway network. Only option will be their mild charge points at the likes of IKEA in future.

Is this for mild charging too as I read today it was just for rapid charging for 20 minutes on DC

 

[Goldngin]

Is this for mild charging too as I read today it was just for rapid charging for 20 minutes on DC

The way I read it all their fast charging network will be pay for use, regardless of the rate you pull the juice, though I agree it's ambiguous. The mild chargers (like at IKEA's) will remain free to use. This is a way of stopping mild hybrids like ours from clogging up their rapid charge network. There is the option to change your electric supply to them and retain the use of the whole network for free. I looked at their pricing though and it wouldn't be worth it financially, only for people with really strong Eco credentials.

 

[ryeltep]

Is this for mild charging too as I read today it was just for rapid charging for 20 minutes on DC

Agreed - even for full EV vehicles it looks a bit of a rip off. At 50amps 20 mins of electricity is about 50pence! So £4.50 going towards network costs seems a bit high.

So it is the end of nearby parking and a few miles of power for us but EV owners look to be in a much worse position.


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[wrighty senior]

I do not have any good news for you I'm afraid. In all honestly the C350e was never going to be a 'natural' replacement for a 220diesel.
I always had big diesels (C350 sport and then a 3litre Audi A4 Quattro) so I selected the C350e for its 300bhp not the claimed mpg.
My car has well over 10,000 miles. The reality is just over 40mpg (with over-night charging). When I was on a two week business trip where I could charge at the business venue and back at the hotel I was seeing 80+mpg (the daily journey was 30miles each way) but the trip computer is showing 41.9mpg since the last re-set 4500miles ago.
Further bad news.....if, like me, you use all of the 300bhp regularly you will need a new set of rear tyres just after 10,000miles!

 

[wrighty senior]

Have had my c350e for less than 2 wks but to date have realised may be change from my deisel C 220 blue tech sports estate was not a wise move!
1. Was getting +50 mpg with lively driving with the blue tech. Struggling to maintain 47 mpg with the c350e ( hybide / eco modes) even though utilising daily charge & very reserved eco mode driving.
2. Max full charge shows 14/16 miles electric availability at start but soon drops within 1st mile. Hardly seems worthwhile. Didn't really expect the 130 mpg quoted but expected mire than 47 mpg ! Be lucky to do 10 mile journey in electric only mode!. Changing to Charge mode drastically increases petrol consumption too. Charge time using public 16 amp facility or 13 amp home charge seems about the same @ +- 2 hrs.
3. Using 13 amp charge facility supplied at home but notice plug pins get hot. No instructions with charger but appears to have 2 modes - 2 or 4 green lights. Do I assume I should only use the lower charge rate on 13 amp socket?
4. Looked into Charge Master unit at home. Quoted grant + £350 & was expecting stand alone post charge unit as shown on their website.- told when engineer visited it would be a 16 amp wall mounted socket only or tethered unit.
5. Installation of 5 abive also required expensive mods to house wiring.
so decided against Charge Master & decided to install a good quality external weatherproof 13 amp socket instead but now concerned regarding actual loading on a 13 amp plugged connection ??
MB don't seem able to advise. Would welcome advice from MB or other c350e users please.

I do not have any good news for you I'm afraid. In all honestly the C350e was never going to be a 'natural' replacement for a 220diesel.
I always had big diesels (C350 sport and then a 3litre Audi A4 Quattro) so I selected the C350e for its 300bhp not the claimed mpg.
My car has well over 10,000 miles. The reality is just over 40mpg (with over-night charging). When I was on a two week business trip where I could charge at the business venue and back at the hotel I was seeing 80+mpg (the daily journey was 30miles each way) but the trip computer is showing 41.9mpg since the last re-set 4500miles ago.
The 13Amp charger has fast charge and slow charge modes selected by pressing the black button. Both are OK on a standard 13Amp socket although on fast charge (all green indicators flashing) it will be drawing 8Amps so no cheap extension leads and only a good modern socket.
Further bad news.....if, like me, you use all of the 300bhp regularly you will need a new set of rear tyres just after 10,000miles!

 

[CaptainChaos]

3. Using 13 amp charge facility supplied at home but notice plug pins get hot. No instructions with charger but appears to have 2 modes - 2 or 4 green lights. Do I assume I should only use the lower charge rate on 13 amp socket?

If you are charging overnight, the two light mode will be fine. My plug gets slightly warm, but not enough to worry about. I have it plugged into an RCD adaptor for some additional protection.

 

[derekthetree]

Got an email today from Ecotricity saying that based on feedback, charging sessions at motorway services will be 30mins for £6 (was 20 for £5)

Not much different to PHEVs as charge rate is too slow but perhaps for BEVs

Still unclear if the slow speed chargers are changing.

 

[Ted]

So how far will 30mins charge take you?

 

[derekthetree]

So how far will 30mins charge take you?

In a 350e? About 3-4 miles if you are lucky!

A car capable of fast charging much further

 

[Ted]

So more than the price of a gallon to take you under ten miles?

Really?

 

[EVBUS]

Not quite. On a standard EV such as a Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe or i3, this will get you almost 80% on one of their rapid chargers...so something in the region of 60 to 80 miles..

The Ecotricity network isn't really made for PHEVs such as the 350e.

 

[Driver15]

If you switch to Ecotricity for your home electric.. they ONLY give you 52 free chargers per year under the fair use policy.

This has rattled a lot of the pure EV drivers who switched in the last few days !