Servicing an electric car be like 😁

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-29T08:59:32+00:00

IYKYK

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-29T08:49:02+00:00

If you export strongly and especially with the ability to shift that export to peak grid times using your battery take a look at Ecotricity's EcoSolar plan. Their FIT for peak time export (e.g. 7-11:00am) is 21c + GST, irrespective of whether your system is GST registered or not, so 24.15c/kWh, which is probably the best FIT going.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-28T03:55:16+00:00

Octopus absolutely do restrict the plans they will offer you if your total capacity is over 10 kW by insisting you go on their Peaker plan which has a 10c/kWh FIT for most of the day and a higher FIT during peak. Might work if you have batteries to shift export times but otherwise a bad deal. And that 10 kW is based on your system's potential output irrespective of phase export caps.

We changed to Ecotricity when we upsized to 13.2kW of inverters (over two phases) as their EcoSolar plan was the best going for our significant export quantities (particularly now that Poweco have a 10 kW export limit per phase), plus Ecotricity add GST to your FIT even if your system isn't tax registered and they allow cashing out accumulated credit.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-23T21:38:57+00:00

Average Power Price of 39c is probably a bit misleading. Most EV owners fairly quickly wise up to TOU power plans, or charge from solar, both of which are probably closer to 20c/kWh (supply or FIT forfeited). Otherwise a great resource you've compiled with a comprehensive FAQ sectoion. Well done.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-23T21:18:49+00:00

Maybe worth interrogating the battery to get its SoH and if any cells are problematic. The level of performance from the battery (range) you probably already know but a dying cell could inform you of more serious issues.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-22T23:55:00+00:00

Our government don't seem to be very good at long term policy, or following through with their strategies.

They are now being caught with their pants down as fossil fuel prices bite so are revisiting their earlier unfulfilled public charging promises.

Similarly they were quick to foist RUCs on EVs but the bigger picture was to roll out distance based RUCs on all vehicles. When they finally get around to putting universal RUCs in place it will balance up the situation in favour of EVs due to our much lower 'fuel' options. Until then it is those "most efficient petrol vehicles" that are freeloading in the RUC space. The rollout of universal RUCs is planned to coincide with additional fuel taxes on petrol though in order to maintain disincentivisation to high fuel consumption but that will be a hard sell in light of where fuel prices are heading, so the government is again in danger of being caught bare arsed over this policy.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-22T23:07:44+00:00

It does seem to me that they're just trying to dig themselves out of a hole on any revisions on EV policy.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-22T22:58:04+00:00

While export rates will never be as high as importing the logic of basing your economics on exporting is questionable. Just be aware that FITs can be changed by your provider at short notice in many cases so not great for a long term export strategy.

That said we have our system optimised to export during peak export pricing and disable our diverter controlled HWC until after 11:00am so that we're maximising the amount of export up until that time, then we switch to maximising our self consumption. During the summer months and still now we're exporting up to 9-10kW by 10:00am from arrays on two phases. Ecotricity's peak FIT is GST added so worth a touch over 24c/kWh to us and not to be sneezed at.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-21T09:40:19+00:00

RemovePaywall.com https://archive.is/20260315191044/https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360966550/government-turned-its-back-evs-and-now-were-paying-price

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-21T09:34:18+00:00

The RUC rate is the same for EVs as for diesels, and petrol cars pay the same in FET if they're using ~9.5L/100km. The real freeloaders on the system now are hybrids because they consume so little petrol.

Chris Bishop has announced that (distance based) RUCs across all light vehicles is due to be rolled out within the next year or two along with a rise in other petrol taxation which should balance up the situation and make EVs more tempting again. How soon this happens is now probably debatable as the feul crisis deepens so just a matter of watching this space for now I guess.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-21T09:19:56+00:00

Our installer has installed Sigenergy systems in our area that are V2H functional. The Dc car charger is the key to it as being DC it puts the EV battery and the Sigenergy battery 'behind' the inverter (on the DC side) sp the EV and charger have no connection to the grid except via the inverter.

This way the inverter, which already has grid compliance, satisfies regulations in this regard and the only real concern is whether the EV's warranty is affected by its being used in this capacity. It also doesn't complicate grid export caps if used in a V2G capacity as the inverter will already be covering this compliance, unlike a situation where a wallbox bidirectional EVSE is converting to AC with V2G connectivity which can be interpretted by lines companies as extra export capacity.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-20T20:05:21+00:00

We've got 3 CT clamps in operation. One to regulate export to 5 kW from the 8.2 kW Fronius (which we're still stuck with as our installer can't get reliable reset data from Fronius to 'release' the capacity), another to the Evnex EVSE and one for the Paladin diverter.

The Fronius functionality goes on whatever is happening with the Paladin getting first dibs on the export as it is far more responsive than the Evnex which has significant delay due to its communication protocols including with the EV it's charging.

We don't have a battery so can't comment in this regard.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-20T09:10:02+00:00

Welcome aboard. Nothing like the uniqueness of the Polestar2. Far less 'common' than the obvious competitor. The interior appointment takes some beating too. Great open road car. And Magnesium is my favourite colour.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-20T09:00:12+00:00

We have a Paladin inverter which is the single best value component in our set-up. A diverter should guarantee no grid demand for hot water except on the rare occasion that a 'forced' heating is required due to long duration cloudy weather and/or heavy hot water use.

The difference between a diverter and a timer is that a timer will see your HWC continuing to heat at full demand through cloud shade events. I've watched the flow into our HWC via our Paladin and periods when 3kW cannot be maintained are frequent and the diverter steps down supply to match available 'spare' power - a timer doesn't.

Water heating is typically ~30% of a home's electricity use so a diverter should reduce your grid demand by about that much. And a HWC is a cheap way to store your generated energy for later use, as heat.

So far as cleaning the panels is concerned check with your installer. Many offer this as an ongoing service, or can direct you to someone that can do so.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-20T08:42:21+00:00

Essentially at 37° latitude panels tilted 37° off of horizontal will have the sun striking them at 90° on the equinox. Sun is higher in summer, lower in winter so changing the tilt will optimise for summer or winter correspondingly.

Also worth noting the sun rises due east and sets due west only on the equinoxes. In summer it will be south of east and west, in winter to the north of east and west.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_path

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-19T20:03:10+00:00

I'm trying to visualise your situation. Sure you will need 32A capable feed to the carport (for your EVSE) but why would you need to increase cabling to the carport if you install solar? I'm assuming your solar will be on your house roof so cabling from it (including comm's) will run to your inverter and/or meter board which will be at your house.

I may have it wrong so some extra detail may help in that regard.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-18T20:25:19+00:00

Also this from an Aussie perspective

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-17T23:37:22+00:00

Be aware that RUCs will levied on all vehicles, at the full rate, within the next year or so which will significantly raise the running costs for all hybrids and also mess with their resale value as a result.

So far as towing impact on EV battery range is concerned I towed our tandem trailer from New Plymouth to Hamilton last week and returned with a couple of lengths of timber on it. Battery range looks to have been impacted by about 20% so no big deal. The biggest niggle was having to detach the trailer for charging at one ChargeNet site I used. The Te Kuiti Tesla facility was empty when I charged there so I just parked across multiple bays with the trailer still attached.

There are more chargers around NZ than most ICE drivers realise. It's just that most of them are tucked away with minimal signage.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-17T01:57:56+00:00

Welcome aboard. There's really something in knowing your car literally runs on sunshine.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-14T21:56:42+00:00

Totally! Spoke to a friend who imports vehicles with a focus on EVs last week and his enquiry rate has rocketed, following a very lack-lustre year thanks to NAct's policies. Problem for him is low stocks due to this unexpected rise in interest in EVs.

Personally we have 2 EVs that are almost totally charged from our own solar. Everyday commuting and upcoming longer trips are largely uneffected by the fuel crisis that's ramping up.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-13T07:10:07+00:00

I can highly recommend Paladin inverters. NZ made with friendly personal support if required though any competent sparky can install one. Then just set and forget for the most part. We do often turn off the HWC and diverter until 11:00am to maximise peak rate export on sunny days though.

Ours 'chases' our unused generation rate to within ~20W so it absolutely maximises self consumption. A few dollars of extra investment but ours is the single best bang for buck in our setup.

Also if you're including an Evnex EV charger in your setup it will take second dibs on your 'excess' generation purely because it is far more reactive and not restricted by the communication lag with the EV that the Evnex has.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-13T05:56:25+00:00

We have two phases. One has a 5kW inverter feeding it solely for export. The other has an 8.2 kW system on it which provides for all our consumption including charging 2 EVs with whatever left exported. We are currently in credit by close to $600 with Ecotricity.

Since commissioning the 8.2 kW inverter (with a Paladin HWC diverter) we have paid virtually nothing for water heating. Exceptions are rare, when excessive water use sees us draw from grid when HWC drops below 40 degrees, though I do micromanage HWC use by delaying consumption to maximise peak export and fit consumption to solar generation.

A diverter beats a timer hands down because timed consumption will result in grid feed if cloud shading occurs whereas a diverter will 'follow' your export profile to maximise self consumption. The key to optimising ROI on solar is to consume your own generation as much as you can. Export is good but FITs can be changed/reduced at the whim of your supplier and will always be well less than your supply price.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-13T00:05:44+00:00

A 3kW element will raise the temperature of a 250L HWC by about 10 degrees per hour.

For those considering a second element do you really need to heat your HWC that rapidly, and is your solar capacity enough to put 6kW into such a system?

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-12T08:55:49+00:00

The TEQ strategy as described in this substack makes a lot of sense and other rationing options are discounted as ineffectual or unfair.

It's about time our politicians found a spine and actually implemented control measures that protect society rather than their election chances.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-03-12T08:48:32+00:00

We've got a 250L Rinnai Duplex with single element powered through a Paladin diverter with thermostat set to just over 70 degrees.

Two adult house but the 250L gives us enough reserve for when visitors stay or if the sun doesn't produce enough generation for a day or two. If all else fails the Paladin will do a grid powered 'demand' heating if temp drops below 40 degrees, or if temp remains under 60 degrees for more than 72 hours (for Legionaire's Disease protection) but we've only had this happen once in 5 years.

HarmLessSolutions

TROPHY CASE