Hi,

I’m looking for a cheap electric car. But, I already have a homemade solar panel system that generate ~1kwh, and I have a ~1k5 inverter.
I saw the Dacia Spring, but it charges at 2.3kw. Is there a way to charge it at lower w ?

  • theotherharper@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    AFAICT the lowest valid current signal is 6 amps. So by your old-world thinking, the lowest possible charge rate is 1.4kW or 6 amps at 230/240V.

    However, you may be able to achieve sub-1kW charge rate thanks to Japan, Taiwan and far-flung former colonies which use 100-120V for small circuits. It depends what your car will tolerate.

    6A @ 120V is 720 watts. 8A @ 120V is 960 watts.

    ​

    However, if you can’t make that work, you can use a small-ish battery for borrow/refill - charge the battery to 70% then turn on the EVSE and charge the car at 1.5 kW (making up the extra 0.5 kW from the battery) until the battery is at 30%, lather rinse repeat. This will produce a very stable “works in all weather” charging experience - on a sunny day it will run 2/3 duty cycle, but on a cloudy day it’ll run 1/4 duty cycle etc. At least one person on this sub has already done it.

  • Lukes-Panoptikum@alien.topBEnglish
    0·
    1 year ago

    If memory serves me right the Spring can Charge with Up to 6,6kW Single Phase only. But the thing that Sets the current ist the EVSE aka wallbox aka Chargenrick. In the EU this can range from 6A to usualy 32A but Higher is possible. Multiplied with the voltage of 230V you get 1,4kVA (kW) to 7,4kVA (kW)

    So yes technicaly it IS possible when your chargecable can Set a Current of 6A.

    however some vehicles mostly known as Renault Zoe have Trouble with Low charging Rates but only with 3 Phase, Single Phase is fine 6-32A and 3phase 8-32A.

    I asked a Spring owner who has a load Management System If the Car is fine with 6A. However it will be slow as a snail and the losses add up over time but it dosent Matter If the Energy is free.

    IMHO i would Just Stick to the 2,3kVA 10A setting. The Overall efficency is Higher and thats important when you cant supply the 1,4kW constantly.