Charging our new Mini.

Our delivery MA mentioned it while explaining the charging timers to us but I was sorta zoned out. I know this because my wife knew about it. I’m more of an RTFM person

 

Invest in an EVSE. The OEM unit is “okay” but damn compared to proper EVSE it looks like a dinky toy. I tossed mine back in the bag in the car if I ever need to use it elsewhere

 

My Level 1 120V charger is still unwrapped and I carry a Tesla adapter instead.

 

I filmed this to show how to set the charge rate https://youtube.com/shorts/AoShIaKyF8g?feature=share

 

Nicely done, MrYlpmis.

 

I still haven’t ordered my Tap. Do they ever go on sale? Or is there a cheaper one of equivalent quality?

 

Any benefit? Or it’s an emergency measure ?

 

Yeah a back-up. For places like the Chateau Vaudreuil and others have Tesla destination chargers but no J1772.

 

I was unfamiliar with the 'mode' terminology as well (and it was confusingly different than charging 'level').
But here's an explainer (source):

The IEC 61851-1 Committee on “Electric vehicle conductive charging system” has then defined 4 Modes of charging. In Europe, these modes are the ones widely used across different E-Mobility technical documents, reports and marketing brochures.

➤ Mode 1 (Schuko mode) refers to the charging household outlet with a simple extender cable without any safety devices in between. Though the household outlet is protected by a fuse, it’s response is very slow that makes Mode 1 charging quite un-safe. It is also forbidden in many parts of world (yet it is in use in some parts of the Europe). We strongly discourage the use of Schuko charging.

➤ Mode 2 also refers to the charging from the household outlet; but with a control and protection device inserted in the cable (called as IC-CPD = In-Cable Control and Protection Device). This mode of charging is much safer than the Schuko, however the charging capacity will be limited to the max rating of the outlet (which is typically 10A @ 230V = 2.3KW maximum).

➤ Mode 3 refers to the dedicated charge point (EVSE) with proper control and protection. This is the widely used mode of charging across the world and in Europe, it can range from 3.8KW to 22KW AC charging.

➤ Mode 4 refers to DC charging. EV’s on-board charger is by-passed and the charging station provides DC voltage directly to the battery via a DC connectors.​

 

I purchased the adapter from Lectron over the Tesla Tap. They have discount codes often so the price was not too bad.

https://ev-lectron.com/collections/ev-adapters/products/lectron-tesla-to-j1772-adapter-max-48a-250v-for-tesla-high-powered-connectors-destination-chargers-and-mobile-connectors-black

 

That seems more confusing than North America's Level 1/Level 2/DCFC. Mode-1 seems extremely unwise, and Mode-2 is confusing. Is IC-CPD sort of like GFCI? Even for North America's Level 1 there's an EVSE involved.

 

See attached screenshots

 

See attached screenshots

 

If only MINI would transcribe your words in your video and print them in TFM so people could R them...

 

Excellent

 

Yup, as I posted a few days ago for the '23, which clearly says “Level 2”.

https://www.insideevsforum.com/community/index.php?threads/charging-our-new-mini.15340/page-2#post-191691

 

It's a completely different classification... it sits in parallel with Level 1/2/3 and describes the connection, not the charge rate.

Also from that same source:

➤ Charging "levels" are used to categorize the rated power, voltage and current of the charging system. There are 3 different EV charging levels, defined by SAE J1772.

➤ Charging "modes" are used to categorize the mode of power delivery, protection installation and communication/control of charging system. There are 4 different EV charging modes, defined by the international standard IEC 61851-1.​

No, not like GFCI... 'Mode 2' is basically BMW/MINI's Flexible Fast Charger that comes with new Cooper SEs these days.

 

Except the Flexible Fast Charger is an EVSE indicating a "mode 3" charging scenario, no idea what an "IC-CPD" is.