NSS

Whilst I can't prove it, I suspect they are busily adding qualifying text where it previously wasn't provided. My guess is that it was there for previous variants, but was left off of documents covering the 2026 model year updates. Whether that is because they had intended to improve the charging rates, but then didn't, or because someone dropped a clanger - who knows.

In theory, yes, but that's not the point. Here's the document that appears if you put my model details or reg no into Volvo support, or pull it up in the vehicle itself. https://www.volvocars.com/uk/support/car/xc60-plug-in-hybrid/article/0ed816eed33d98cac0a8cc377bc12bc7-83c0c849d91ad5fac0a8cc3751bbe62b-8664b2fa77a7e089c0a8296870d1a409/ No mention of needing 2-phase.

19kWh, so 5 hours as opposed to 3.

No diagram, and nothing more than the statement above. I made a formal complaint to Volvo and they referred me to a document, dated November 2023, for the 2024 model and said it was the applicable document, not the one embedded in the online manual for my 2026 model and dated April 2025. They have refused my complaint and I have now complained to the Motor Ombudsman (though not holding my breathe), so am gathering evidence for that and for a potential legal action. I really don't like being taken for a fool.

Thanks @-rick- @Nickfromwales . In the manual it simply states that the max charging rate on a home charger is 6.4kW, but in a pdf buried on their web site it states that the car has a "2 phase on board charger" and that home-charging on a single phase supply is "limited to 3.7kW"

Thanks for that, Rick, but what I'm trying to establish is just how rare 2-phase is in the UK? My contention is that, if it's as rare as I believe, quoting charging rates based on 2-phase is both misleading and disingenuous.

Long story short, I bought a new Volvo PHEV and it doesn't charge at the expected rate on our Zappi home charger. Volvo contend that to achieve the higher rate (6.4kW) you need a 2-phase 16amp supply. My contention is not merely that the technical manual does not state this, but that single phase is the standard domestic supply in the UK so why would they quote a charge rate based on a supply type that is (at best) rare. What I am struggling to identify is just how rare? Any wisdom on the matter would be greatly appreciated 👍🏻.

Sounds to me like you're making the right decision. There'll be other opportunities, you just have to wait for the right one, or at least the one that gives you a better feeling about achieving your goals.

Okay, that sounds like a possibility, thank you. I'll speak to the dealer when I collect it tomorrow 👍🏻

Not via the Octopus app, no. They say the app cannot recognise more than one vehicle, and the only way to charge the second one us to do so manually, which (to benefit from the 7p rate) presumably means plugging it in after 11.30pm.

As per the title, is anyone doing this? My new PHEV arrives tomorrow and Octopus tell me I can't charge it as well as my wife's EV via Intelligent Go (not simultaneously of course).

7.5 years in, total net energy cost is -£730. However, last RHI payment was received a couple of months ago, so I may now look again at whether it's worth us adding a battery.

We never open windows. In fact, but for the requirement to have openers for means of escape, we could have saved a bundle by having all fixed panes. After 7.5 years living with MVHR, I can't imagine ever going back to living without it.

Unless you glue them to the glass, I doubt they could be considered a "glass coating" 😉

Early adopter, or lots of PV?

Thus might be helpful... https://www.i-buildmagazine.com/features/rural-retreat/1439-the-self-build-diaries-lindsey-and-rik-goodman The guy picked my brain ref SageGlass and used it for exactly the same reason. The property also featured on Grand Designs. I believe they rent it out, so you may be able to contact him to find our what spec he had to achieve, but SageGlasss may not be an option as I heard a couple if years ago that they were no longer quoting for residential use.

At present, yes, but I think I read somewhere that they're going to change it so you only get paid for what you actually export.

Total generation. No batteries, but we typically use around 80% of what we generate.

Yes, for us (averaging about 3.5MWh per year), it would add about £14 to our annual payments, so about 4 Costa coffees, with no guarantee that would continue - let alone increase. My question was more of whether there are other, possibly better, alternatives worth looking at. Our FiT payments totalled about £370 for the last year, so this REGO Boost equates to only about a 3.8% bonus in our calendar.

Good Energy, through whom I submit my FiT readings, have emailed me a couple of time of late, suggesting I could earn up to 9% more from my PV by signing up to their 'Rego Boost'. Anyone bothered doing so, or are there better ways to maximise your PV earnings?

Re Fan Coil Units, when we fitted ours 7 years ago, Panasonic called it an Air Rad. We went for it to provide spot heating/cooling in the main (and only) upstairs bedroom. What they didn't tell us was that, in heating mode, the valve in the unit is thermostatic and will only open when the water reaches a particular temperature (circa 50C iirc). Of course, with the ASHP running UFH for the rest of the house, the water never reaches that threshold. It works absolutely fine for cooling, but we ended up adding a small flat panel electric radiator for the odd occasion we need to heat the room. No idea if this is something that has been solved in more recent FCUs, but worth checking specs before purchasing.

Inconclusive. It was definitely the heat pump coming on, even though neither heat nor tank were programmed to run at the times it was happening (random Monday mornings), and none of the room stats were calling for heat. It's only happened once more since I reported the problem, and not since I put all the room stats into frost protection mode, so I may have to wait until next winter to see if it's still an issue.

Last time I spoke to my SageGlass contacts, they confirmed that they no longer supply for residential projects in the UK. That was a year or so ago, so I guess it may have changed again since then.

Positive. Apparently, only men come early 🙄

Must have missed that debate. That said, for much of the year the solar lifts the tank temp to the desired levels. Outside of that, the sterilisation cycle of our heat pump is fortnightly rather than weekly, and runs during the cheap Intelligent Octopus rate at night, so cost is minimal.