Can I add CCS Rapid Charging to my non-CCS Renault Zoe?

A walkthrough of the changes on a CCS Zoe vs non-CCS and what is needed to add the CcS components to the different variants of non-CCS Zoe. Enjoy!
Please note - I am a qualified EV mechanic. Please do not replicate this type of work unless you have the necessary training and equipment!

[@newty8150]

Hey. Love these videos. Can’t quite follow it all as above my brain level, but thanks. And small world, I just had a Zoe 40 delivered (I’m a car dealer spoken to you via FB) by your transport guy Sam! He said “ I know a really cool guy in Chelmsford that fixes anything Zoe”. I said-it’s Gary isn’t it? 😀

[@authuruksake969]

Thank you so much for explaining this... ZE50 non-CCS owner, wasn't aware of 2 types at the time I bought, but it wasn't a major blow, coz still haven't used public charging & was bought solely for local running around town. Can see why the CCS option was a grand extra, why s/hand CCS Zoe's are a little more, but the 110 Iconic works just fine as it is. Did look at the rapid charger 110/135 Iconic/GT models to upgrade to & wondered about CCS option, but as said don't really need it as always charged at home. Furthest journey was a 135/140 mile round trip & anything more I'll use a our old diesel (So I'll doubt if I will bother with a CCS upgrade, but props for all the info) Once again, thanks for taking the time to explain it all & showing us in detail what is required/under the hood Shout out to all Zoe's out there, finally got one and very pleased with it despite not having CCS (and zero ENCAP - still way safer than the old petrol banger we keep for shifting stuff/dump runs)

[@rhiantaylor3446]

Also - "rapid" charging in a CCS ZE50 only runs at something like 43-45kw so still takes an hour or more to refill a flat battery.

[@authuruksake969]

@@rhiantaylor3446 Yeah cheers for that, plus rapid only charges to 80% then slows... Luckily, finding out I didn't have CCS wasn't a huge issue as it was bought with the sole intention to charge at home. A friend of ours had the 40kw and faced a nightmare on a long trip, trying to easily find a 7kW charger - as most were CCS only. Suffice to say they learnt their Zoe wasn't quite the best vehicle to use for much longer journeys & stick to mostly local use. Still brilliant EV runarounds, CCS or not, horses for courses & all that

[@maltesigmund1843]

Found your channel and just thought wtf going up in your driveway?! But than realized that’s the next phase of people who own a nice workshop

[@simonupton-millard]

That's the best explanation of the ccs hardware on a zoe I have ever seen, so just need a cleaver person to make a custom ecu and custom cables, or buy a ZE50 😂 next on the list of does it work on ze20 / 40 the headlights bumper and bonnet, I suspect they probably do, it's a shame my ze20 cart do long range any more used to drive it all over even drove it to Shetland but now 22kw chargers are not as common so don't feel as confident as I did in 2016 when I 1st got my car

[@fje1948]

I have ZE40 and I have only charged a few times away from where I charge either from excessive solar or Octopus IOG over night at 7p/kWh. Having said that I would add CCS charging if a straightforward was available.

[@kjelllindberg6987]

The CCS2 uses a power line communicating protocol. That is a pain in the ass to work with. Basically, all communication is done using high-frequency signaling on top of the power lines. Similar to ethernet over your power lines at home. I had to look into it for some time when we was considering using CCS2 charging for a project. I left that way before I got any real knowledge, but it looked way more complicated than needed... But anyway thanks very much for the explanation.

[@steinmar2]

You call the control pilot line a power line? For sure it’s a hassle but basically the pwm drops to 5% indicating the higher communication protocol IEC61851 and slac -> tcp/ip happens

[@LakesGeek]

As I've always said, like anything it's no doubt theoretically possible but even on the ZE50 by the time you've paid out for the parts and labour it's probably cheaper to just trade it in for one that already has it :). Definitely for the 22 and 40. I insisted on it this time. To be fair at the moment I've still not needed to rapid charge. 200 miles covers a lot of weekend eventualities. Winter might be another story.

[@JamieJones1985]

I know someone that's added chademo to an early Zoe and it's working well by all accounts, So using the i3 LIM or FOCCCI should be similar for CCS

[@garycevrepairs]

Yeah I’ve seen Sophie’s pictures of the chademo Zoe. It was only at an early stage when I saw it but quite cool 😎

[@AndrewEbling]

Always assumed adding CCS to earlier models would actually be impossible, so intriguing to hear what it would take in practice. As an aside, does the 12V battery definitely get kept topped up when charging? Asking as I once almost flattened the 12V while rapid charging my old 22kwh Zoe (Q motor) - I was trying to read by the interior light but opened the door each time the light went off. Had all the signs of a low 12V battery afterwards, which went away when I charged the 12V.

[@garycevrepairs]

Hi yes the 12v battery is definitely topped up when charging, however on the early Zoe’s the 12v batteries were only charged to around 13.6v, so we’re never really full and could be flattened fairy easily. Later Zoe’s increased the charging voltage. Cheers.

[@4m4r786]

Hi mate love your videos currently have a zoe and will be replacing the battery do you know if any coding/programming is required?

[@garycevrepairs]

Hi it depends what swap you’re planning - have you seen my battery swap video? Cheers kzbin.info/www/bejne/iXWThJKsra2VgLcsi=YebN_M3in8pAEu1N

[@4m4r786]

Great video makes more sense will be swapping like for like 50kwh new to the ev world glad i found your page do you have any videos of a battery change on a zoe thanks

[@garycevrepairs]

Not yet I’m afraid.

[@Swwils]

Its not that we wanted AC charging to win, we just at the time literally did not know what the infrastructure would look like. We were allowed to get such rapid AC charging because we used the actual motor windors as the induction for the circuit! Amazing weight saving. Downaides wa this required a full earth loop impedance test when you okugged in, this presumably cause alot of charger rcd trips and also very noticible whine as the widings arw deisgned for traction not as a charge inductor!

[@thorbjrnhellehaven5766]

I think it's sad that the way it is implemented is incompatible with a significant fraction of the Norwegian grid, and the dealers offered option for either portable adapter, or home adapter. The Zoe seems like a fantastic option at that size, but driving one in Norway, you have to be aware of the potential incompatibility at random stations. If a public charger is 11-22-43 kW, you know it's 400 V TN-grid 3-phase, and no problem. If it's a single phase station, it might be 230 V IT/TT-grid, or 400 V TN-grid, there's no way to tell without trying if it works or not. Signta fraction of older grid is 230 V IT-grid, and some is TT-grid, while new grid in general is 400 V TN-grid.

[@everythinghelp4u458]

After ecu is in, will it need programming?

[@garycevrepairs]

Hi this isn’t intended to be a how to guide, more for general information but yes very likely programming will be required. Thanks.

[@everythinghelp4u458]

@@garycevrepairs yes I understand. Was just wondering if it would be plug and play or unlocking features with a program such as ddt4all etc

[@cristianberezki496]

What is CCS ECU part number ?

[@AndrewEbling]

Hope you told your wife over 2,000 people were interested in what it takes to add CCS to an old Zoe 😂

[@garycevrepairs]

Hahaha 😁