Big trip

[jackt]

I did see briefly last night (it was a cool night) 7kw, however I have a faulty RCD in my EVSE so it tripped shortly afterwards.

 

[amateurish]

The charging rate on mine peaks at around 7kw. Is this new limit part of a software update which is carried out by the dealer?

 

[jackt]

@amateurish yes its in the august service bulletin.

 

[amateurish]

Will this also affect the DC rapid charging rate? I used a CCS for the first time yesterday and noted that charging rate peaked at about 44kw (rather than the 50kw promised).

 

[FrancisJeffries]

The charging rate on mine peaks at around 7kw.

That'll be the limit imposed by a 30Amp circuit breaker. I had one fitted to for my (subsidised) Polar 7kW charging point.
If the car drew more current, the breaker would trip out.

 

[jackt]

@amateurish it doesn't affect CCS, as the charger is actually in the unit and not the car.

You will very rarely see a full 50kw from CCS, this is down to a number of factors:
a) Supported load at the charger - ecotricity stations don't offer up the full 50kw to begin with, often just slightly below. Also on the CHademo side of the everflash units seem a lot better than DBT for offering higher rates for longer.
b) SOC - unless you are really low you won't see 50 and if it is low you won't see 50 for very long - it will taper quickly.
c) Ambient and battery temperature, if the battery coolant can't evacuate the heat from your battery effectively, it will taper charge.

I think somebody posted some charging profile graphs, and I think it might also be covered in the tech docs PDF.

TL;DR
I wouldn't worry if you don't get full 50kw, 40+ seems reasonable obviously if you are low on charge and its drawing significantly lower, you might have a fault or the unit your charging from has a fault.

Also 25kw will charge an i3 almost as quick as 50kw, this is why the i3 CCS points in the states are 25kw, its cheaper and just as quick.

 

[amateurish]

Cheers jackt, very informative reply

 

[jadnashuanh]

Until we know the temperature profile the i3 is now programmed for, that is not a certainty. The charge rate is dependent on the temp.