Zoe 2017 DC charging conversion

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Myles
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Zoe 2017 DC charging conversion

Post by Myles »

Hello All.
Have now had the Zoe for about a year and charge on standard plug as the cost of installation of home charger may be difficult in the units (not yet pursued). Have done some country trips but this has been limited by the AC network.
Therefore two questions;
1. is this standard plug charging damaging long term to the car and,
2. is it possible to convert to/use DC charging either as an on board alteration or by some eternal interface between DC charger and existing car AC ?
Happy for answers
Thanks
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coulomb
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Re: Zoe 2017 DC charging conversion

Post by coulomb »

Myles wrote: Mon, 05 Apr 2021, 05:42 1. is this standard plug charging damaging long term to the car

Most likely not, and almost certainly not a problem for the battery. There was an email from someone in Renault stating that it would harm the battery. It was discussed on this forum, and the consensus was there really is no problem.
2. is it possible to convert to/use DC charging either as an on board alteration or by some eternal interface between DC charger and existing car AC ?
The problem is that this model wasn't designed for DC charging. Although with DC charging the external charger does all the muscle work, the car's computers have to do the brain work. In theory, it could be done with a lot of work and expense, but since the car's BMS would not be in control, how safe would it be? If anything went wrong, warranty could well be voided, and Renault would have a case to argue that warranty really was voided if it got to court.

The Zoe 50 does have a DC charging option, but it costs around $1000 and only doubles the peak charging rate (to about 46kW, close to Leaf generation 1 speed). So even if the car was designed for it, DC charging would seem to be marginal value anyway.

It seems that many Zoe owners in Europe use the "granny charger" at home with no observed problems.
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Myles
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Re: Zoe 2017 DC charging conversion

Post by Myles »

Thank you for the reply.
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brendon_m
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Re: Zoe 2017 DC charging conversion

Post by brendon_m »

There is a down side to using the granny cable in that the on board charger is inefficient at low rates. But that is a cost problem not a damage one
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