T7 Hybrid PHEV Camping Benefits

[BenSherman]

Hi all,

I'm trying to find out if the PHEV offers any camping-specific benefits over the diesel and petrol models.I've searched extensively for the answers to these questions and have found lots of conflicting info!

Can the PHEV battery be used as the main leisure battery (or to recharge the leisure batteries)?

Can you run the air-con overnight?

Does the camping hook-up charge the PHEV battery?

I understand there's an inverter with 3-pin plug in the kitchen. Could I plug my caravan's hook-up into this to power my caravan (which we'll sometimes be towing as well)?

Any other camping benefits to the PHEV?

Thanks

 

[WelshGas]

Hi all,

I'm trying to find out if the PHEV offers any camping-specific benefits over the diesel and petrol models.I've searched extensively for the answers to these questions and have found lots of conflicting info!

Can the PHEV battery be used as the main leisure battery (or to recharge the leisure batteries)?

Can you run the air-con overnight?

Does the camping hook-up charge the PHEV battery?

I understand there's an inverter with 3-pin plug in the kitchen. Could I plug my caravan's hook-up into this to power my caravan (which we'll sometimes be towing as well)?

Any other camping benefits to the PHEV?

Thanks

Can the PHEV battery be used as the main leisure battery (or to recharge the leisure batteries)? NO

Can you run the air-con overnight? YES for 20/30 mins at a time until computer says NO

Does the camping hook-up charge the PHEV battery? NO

I understand there's an inverter with 3-pin plug in the kitchen. Could I plug my caravan's hook-up into this to power my caravan (which we'll sometimes be towing as well. THE INVERTER RUNS OFF THE LEISURE BATTERIES AND HAS A LIMITED OUTPUT 300 watts.

 

[Adam8374]

Can the PHEV battery be used as the main leisure battery (or to recharge the leisure batteries)?

Yes, once you start the vehicle, the phev battery starts charging both the engine and camping batteries. It charges them very quickly, mine went 50 > 100% on about 15 mins.
So you can charge batteries quickly and comfortably without ICE running.

 

[BenSherman]

Can the PHEV battery be used as the main leisure battery (or to recharge the leisure batteries)?

Yes, once you start the vehicle, the phev battery starts charging both the engine and camping batteries. It charges them very quickly, mine went 50 > 100% on about 15 mins.
So you can charge batteries quickly and comfortably without ICE running.

Ahh... So you the PHEV battery does charge the leisure batteries? That's great - at least there is some benefit for camping. That should provide masses of leisure battery charge for off-grid.

 

[kevin1000]

Ahh... So you the PHEV battery does charge the leisure batteries? That's great - at least there is some benefit for camping. That should provide masses of leisure battery charge for off-grid.

Worth remembering that the diesel engine can also charge the leisure battery whilst stationary. Charged my leisure batteries from 20% to 100% in 25 minutes while the van was parked.

 

[stoobthealien]

Worth remembering that the diesel engine can also charge the leisure battery whilst stationary. Charged my leisure batteries from 20% to 100% in 25 minutes while the van was parked.

It's just a bit more antisocial if you're on a campsite! You're right though - on max charge it's very very quick to charge the batteries up - I have the beach so only a single 40ah battery and I went from 20% to 100% in about 15 mins driving from the dealer to my overnight spot with it on max

 

[HABen]

Can the PHEV battery be used as the main leisure battery (or to recharge the leisure batteries)? NO

Can you run the air-con overnight? YES for 20/30 mins at a time until computer says NO

Does the camping hook-up charge the PHEV battery? NO

I understand there's an inverter with 3-pin plug in the kitchen. Could I plug my caravan's hook-up into this to power my caravan (which we'll sometimes be towing as well. THE INVERTER RUNS OFF THE LEISURE BATTERIES AND HAS A LIMITED OUTPUT 300 watts.

I have been told that the air con works only with engine on by 2 different dealers.

 

[WelshGas]

I have been told that the air con works only with engine on by 2 different dealers.

Like I said must be different to the Multivan where the AirCon works from the EV battery without the IC engine being started.

 

[2into1]

The answers so far seem contradictory regarding using the PHEV battery to recharge the Leisure Batteries .

I thought you could but that was only from a California Chris video showing you how to arrive on site with a near full PHEV battery so that you could top up your leisure batteries.....but @WelshGas seems to have given a definite no. Hopefully someone can clarify. Obviously the requirement is to do this without running the petrol engine.

 

[Sanacar]

The answers so far seem contradictory regarding using the PHEV battery to recharge the Leisure Batteries .

I thought you could but that was only from a California Chris video showing you how to arrive on site with a near full PHEV battery so that you could top up your leisure batteries.....but @WelshGas seems to have given a definite no. Hopefully someone can clarify. Obviously the requirement is to do this without running the petrol engine.

I can confirm it works. I’m charging mine like that from time to time if I’m not using the Cali for a while. From 60% to 100% is around 10 minutes what is amazing. I hope it helps, any additional doubt you can write me privately.

 

[cn70]

I can confirm it works. I’m charging mine like that from time to time if I’m not using the Cali for a while. From 60% to 100% is around 10 minutes what is amazing. I hope it helps, any additional doubt you can write me privately.

+1

 

[Adam8374]

The charging works so great that I never need to pull out my solar panels. And the planned roof installation can be cancelled. (I'm daily charging ebike s, so I need quite a lot of electricity every day)

 

[stoobthealien]

I can confirm it works. I’m charging mine like that from time to time if I’m not using the Cali for a while. From 60% to 100% is around 10 minutes what is amazing. I hope it helps, any additional doubt you can write me privately.

+1

Sounds about right, I've been off grid a couple of times for a few days running the alpicool fridge and needed to do a quick engine top up (I have the diesel) - 5 minutes or so and you're up from 30% to 100%