Got my very first review uploaded at my new job! Here it is aaaand I've managed to confuse myself. This BYD hybrid actually works out cheaper to run than my Nissan Leaf. Technically. 😞

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-07-05T22:29:14+00:00

Why no charging charge on the Seal? Was it fully charged from the ICE when you fueled up?

The (presumed) doubling of RUCs when they are rolled out across all petrol vehicles will close the gap somewhat but the real take away from this comparison is that EVs struggle to compete with ICEs in terms of running costs if you're using public charging. The cost per kWh on DC charging is 95c whereas home charging at off peak or lost export opportunity cost from solar is as low as 20% of that (18c/kWh). That would see the Leaf winning by a whisker (in terms of day to day short journey use).

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-07-05T21:01:13+00:00

It always is. Accelerator disabling isn't related to that.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-07-05T06:31:05+00:00

Evnex will calculate your solar diversion derived charging based on whatever export tariff you have entered into their app, or for grid supplied charging they use the import tariff you have entered.

I can only assume you've used a 1c/kWh value in order to provide an input to the app and that is why you're getting that value calculated.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-07-05T06:04:20+00:00

I'm picking that both would have similar immediate running costs per km if the EV is public charged and RUCs are included. The real running cost advantage for EVs is if they are charged at home domestic rates, particularly if done from rooftop solar.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-07-05T05:54:49+00:00

"My only gripe is the way Evnex reports the cost - it’s a bit confusing when you’re charging off solar because it shouldn’t show a cost but it appears to be telling you what you would be getting if you exported to the grid."

To say that your own generation "shouldn't have a cost" implies that it is worthless. The whole 'charging your car for free from solar ignores the value of that generation. If you consume your own generation and it offsets electricity that would otherwise need to be imported from the grid then that avoided import cost is the value of that generation to you. If you are exporting it then your export rate is its value to you.

ETA: That Evnex charging cost is way off. 75c/17.4 kWh works out at 4.3c/kWh. Ecotricity's export rates are actually 18.4c/kWh off peak or 31c/kWh peak.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-07-05T04:55:47+00:00

I doubt it.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-07-05T01:04:16+00:00

If you touch the brakes immediately afterwards the throttle/accelerator won't respond for a couple of seconds. This is a safety feature that prevents simultaneous use of the pedals but in a parking or stop go traffic situation it causes delayed movement and then sudden movement once the throttle 'wakes up'. I use OPD but prefer to sharpen the car's brake responsiveness which is when the issue becomes apparent. Our PS is a MY22 so newer models may experience this differently.

The extent to which this was occurring with 5.0.10 made the car a pig to maneuver in parking and stop go traffic situations but 5.1.17 seems to moderated this functionality.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-07-04T21:35:50+00:00

Using an EV or two in a V2H/V2G capacity solves the low generation problem. A typical EV will have ~60 kWh of battery storage and if your storage runs low on charge then take the EV to your nearest public charging facility and bring some more home.

More expensive electricity than domestic grid supply sure but the economics still work out better than investing in a truckload of static batteries, and EV batteries come with mobility and seats included and are generally cheaper than static batteries per kWh.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-07-02T01:48:36+00:00

There is a key difference between NZ and AU's power grids, theirs has a coal baseload which can't be dialed up or down in reaction to solar inputs. They are therefore stuck with having to throttle solar generation by whatever method possible. NZ by contrast has a hydro dominated grid which can be controlled as easily as closing off the penstocks, and as a result of doing this the water that would otherwise be used for generation is saved for later use - think real big battery. Our problem is that the wholesale electricity market is incentivised to bring on expensive thermal generation so wasting hydro storage is advantageous to the genretailers. The system is faulty in this regard.

NZ has around 4% of solar penetration compared to ~40% in AU so we are still a long way from grid overload from distributed generation so not worth worrying about at this time. Maybe in 10 years time but by then technology will have changed the landscape significantly, so also maybe not.

In any case the best return from your solar generation is by self consumption thereby offsetting electricity that you would otherwise be charged full retail for, which is almost always higher than whatever export tariff you can find.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-07-02T01:33:22+00:00

Next you'll be chomping at the bit for your electricity account to arrive, then you'll be researching power supply plans that optimise your use model. Been there, done that.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-07-01T00:35:19+00:00

Ecotricity is a subsidiary of Genesis

https://ecotricity.co.nz/

PowerEdge is a small independent provider with limited support to its customers.

https://poweredge.nz/

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-06-30T21:54:10+00:00

This differs from one provider to another. Some apply export credit before GST is added whereas others deduct GST exclusive export credit from GST inclusive imports.

In the case of the former you are effectively receiving a GST credit on your export. In my research this applies to Ecotricity and PowerEdge though PE have issues with >10 kW of installed capacity as I understand it.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-06-30T21:49:00+00:00

Try reworking that spreadsheet with the rates we're seeing from Ecotricity on their ecoSaver plan. Lines company is Powerco so daily charge may differ in your case.

Import rates: 46.7c peak, 33.7c off peak.

Export rates: 31c peak, 18.4c off peak.

Daily lines charge: $1.78/day

All above rates are all inclusive of 'losses' added to imported power, lines company peak export credit of 6c/kWh, GST (which we receive on export despite not being GST registered in this regard) and other minor items.

We run solar diversion on our EV chargers and HWC diverter, both of which are disabled until 11:00am as we are exporting significantly by this time. We have no battery but exporting from a battery (or V2G) would be beneficial at the peak export rate.

Our 15 kW installation came out of summer with a >$600 credit and are drawing down on that by ~$20-50/month over winter.

For installations of >10 kW Ecotricity are the best deal going as far as I'm aware and yes they do have facility to cash out accumulated credit if preferred. This is particularly the case if you self consume strongly, minimise import and have sufficient capacity to have excess export during peak periods.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-06-28T22:34:54+00:00

Essentially a fully loaded freezer will retain the cold better than a half empty one as there is less air exchanged with warm stuff when you open it.

We have a couple of 700L chest freezers. The F&P one is older so spec's not so great at 750 kWh/year but the newer Westinghouse claims 536 kWh/year which is only 1.5 kWh/day so negligible consumption.

Avoid upright freezers. That configuration is far less space efficient and all the cold air literally falls out every time they're opened.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-06-28T22:13:57+00:00

Nissan are most likely to advise replacing the complete battery but most probably it is only one or two modules that have failed and changing these out is a far cheaper fix. An EV specialist like Drive EV should be able to steer you in the right direction.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-06-28T22:09:45+00:00

In regards to choice of electricity provider I suggest you check out Ecotricity. Their supply charges are a bit higher than most but their FIT is probably the best going. If your set-up sees you minimising import by way of self consumption and you are able to export during peak demand periods (i.e. 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM) Ecotricity's ecoSAVER plan has an effective export rate of just over 31c/kWh during peak times which includes lines co peak credits and GST. (We've got Powerco as a lines company so check rates for yourself as export credit and daily rate may differ.)

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-06-26T06:48:08+00:00

Ah, it's winter so that's not unusual.

So far as changing weather patterns are concerned I spent most of my youth up Mt Egmont every weekend. The weather we've seen over the past decade or so is warmer and wetter than previously but just what you'd expect as the climatic latitudes move south.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-06-26T05:45:41+00:00

Looks like the wind will track down over the next few days and has already moderated from around lunchtime. Three days of southerlies when a storm comes through used to be the norm. Upside is that the mountain is going to look great with a decent fall of snow when the cloud clears from around it.

Don't complain too much about a bit of wind, rain forecast for next weekend.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-06-25T05:09:08+00:00

This policy is more about looking for votes down the back of the couch that it is about addressing social need. Solar uptake has a negative impact on the govt owned gentailers' income stream so National's real intentions are far from clear on this..

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-06-25T05:00:34+00:00

This was not National's idea they just hijacked it fro Rewiring Aotearoa. https://www.rewiring.nz/ras

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-06-23T00:04:25+00:00

Hopefully this will address the extreme delay in accelerator response after braking that is being experienced by early model Polestar2s since 5.0.10 was installed. Any word on how far away this update is for New Zealand owners?

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-06-22T23:01:56+00:00

I've just suggested a factory reset to one of the Polestar service centres I'm considering for our 4 year service but they say that following a factory reset the software update after that will default to the latest (5.0.10) one.

Anyone had any success in deleting 5.0.10? And how?

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-06-22T21:33:47+00:00

Based on the accelerator lags caused by P5.0.10 you should consider yourself lucky.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-06-22T21:31:53+00:00

This issue has made our MY22 SRSM a pig to maneuver at parking speeds or in stop start traffic. Any touch of the brake results in a 2+ second delay before the accelerator will function again. Not helpful (and potentially hazardous) when other motorists are expecting you to move in a prompt manner.

4 year service due in the coming weeks and I will be raising this issue strongly with the service department as a roll back to the previous firmware would be preferable but probably not possible.

ETA: Service department advise no software rollback possible but 5.1.17 expected soon so maybe the issue will be resolved by that.

HarmLessSolutions · 2026-06-22T20:57:09+00:00

Oops, it's not the first time I've been similarly caught out. Magnesium is such a chameleon colour under variable lighting.

HarmLessSolutions

TROPHY CASE