T8 Battery Range
 

Sorry if this is a typical "new user" query, but my new T8 only shows 21 miles range when fully charged.

Is this normal, should it improve as we drive it a bit more and it realises our driving style? The car has done less than 200 miles so far

That’s fine. No it won’t increase.

It depends what driving mode you use and which year - the later cars have larger capacity batteries.

I have found running in Pure with the AC Off increases it from 21/22 miles in Hybrid to 24/25 miles in Pure. The most I have got is 27 miles.

Still early days but I've just been out and used it in Pure mode for the first time and as you say, it showed 27 miles range. We'll just have to make sure we keep it charged as much as possible.

I had thought that getting a charging point installed on the drive would be a no-brainer, but given the cost of installation, I'm not sure if we wouldn't be better off just having a normal external socket installed and use the 3-pin cable. Only downside is that the 5m cable provided is actually just over 4m so parking has to be quite precise for it to reach without stretching.

You’ll probably be aware but Volvo (and other manufacturers) say you must not use an extension lead. There are a few treads on the subject…

I do have one for occasional uses. It’s a Tough Leads one and very different from the typical specification but I would try to find a single cable that is the right length for everyday use.

Yeah, no worries about an extension cable, I meant an actual physical external weatherproof socket correctly wired with 2.5mm2 SWA cabling in the right place alongside the car.

Currently I have to drive right up to the garage door so that the cable reaches the existing socket just inside. Sooner or later, one of us will forget about the car on the other side and try to open the garage door and scratch the front.

I agree I don’t see the point in £600-£1000 for a proper electric charging point when our hybrids can’t make use of the extra power.

I had my sparky put an outdoor socket in by the car. I’ll have a proper charging point put in when I have a car that can make proper use of it.

I wouldn’t hold any water with what Volvo say. I used a decent quality (this it was toughleeds too actually) extension for months before my podpoint was fitted.

I can not work out any reason why 13a extension is any different to a t+e spur for example assuming the extension is fully unwound.

Public liability carp I’d say. Not to say they won’t try and weasel their way out of a warranty claim before of it - just tell them you plug it into the wall without an extension. That being said you’re still better getting a wall box if you can get a decent subsidy (I got OLEV and EST grants on mine taking it down to only a small cost).

As I’ve said before my dealer tried to blame a BMW type 2-2 cable in the boot for an issue (a cable I’d used once and wasn’t getting the issue with. )