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Unscripted Q&A covering real-world EV ownership and smart home tech. I talk about living with a Tesla Model 3 Long Range, MG4 lease plans, EV range and charging, and whether battery size or charging speed matters most. There’s also a deep dive into home energy—solar panels, battery storage, air source heat pumps, Octopus Energy, and what’s next after GivEnergy goes into administration. On the smart home side, I share thoughts on Home Assistant vs Home Assistant Green, Raspberry Pi setups, automation ideas, and the reality of running a connected home (including what my wife thinks is “stupid” tech). Plus plug-in solar in the UK, energy monitoring, and practical automation tips. Buy me a coffee: 💚 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/speaktothegeek 💚 https://paypal.me/speaktothegeek Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC25zb7Sojh4KUv5CsFYH-6Q/join Or join as a patron: https://patreon.com/SpeaktotheGeek As an Amazon Associate and member of the eBay Partner Network I earn from qualifying purchases. Most links above are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from any purchases you make if you use them. #EV #TeslaModel3 #MG4 #ElectricCarsUK #EVCharging #EVRange #HomeBattery #SolarPanelsUK #HeatPump #OctopusEnergy #HomeAssistant #RaspberryPi #SmartHome #HomeAutomation #RenewableEnergy #GreenTech #EnergyMonitoring #TechQandABuy
You Asked… I Answered EVERYTHING (Smart Home, Solar & EV Truths)
Argon ONE V5 M.2 case review for Raspberry Pi 5 with NVMe SSD setup, cooling performance, OLED display mod, PCIe ribbon cable, fan control, thermal pads, and full assembly guide. Comparison vs Argon ONE V3, GeeekPi cases, ElectroCookie mini PC case, pricing, pros and cons, WiFi/Zigbee interference, GPIO access, and best Raspberry Pi 5 case for home automation and SSD storage. Buy the Argon ONE v5 M.2 Case: (Amazon UK): https://amzn.to/4uvqRGN (Amazon US/International): https://amzn.to/4cTi2QB Argon Industria OLED Display Module: (Amazon UK): https://amzn.to/4dmSLhW (Amazon US/International): https://amzn.to/4lC3yHa Home Assistant add-on for the OLED module: https://github.com/BenWolstencroft/home-assistant-addons Other cases: - GeeekPi: https://amzn.to/4ek2eHk - ElectroCookie: https://amzn.to/48zqeCG Raspberry Pi 5 Fan in Home Assistant (tutorial): https://youtu.be/mAAXMlbEy4I Buy me a coffee: 💚 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/speaktothegeek 💚 https://paypal.me/speaktothegeek Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC25zb7Sojh4KUv5CsFYH-6Q/join Or join as a patron: https://patreon.com/SpeaktotheGeek As an Amazon Associate and member of the eBay Partner Network I earn from qualifying purchases. Most links above are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from any purchases you make if you use them. #RaspberryPi5 #ArgonONE #ArgonONEV5 #RaspberryPi #HomeAssistant #NVMe #M2SSD #Pi5 #RaspberryPiCase #TechReview #DIYTech #SmartHome #HomeAutomation #Linux #SingleBoardComputer #GeekPi #ElectroCookie #Cooling #PCMod #EmbeddedSystems
This Raspberry Pi 5 Case is AMAZING… But Not Worth It 😬
Have you managed to set up Home Assistant to connect to your GivEnergy inverters but now you don’t know what to do next? Check out this beginner-friendly guide to creating a dashboard for monitoring and controlling your kit. YAML code for Giv-style Apex Power Card: https://www.speaktothegeek.co.uk/2026/05/givenergy-dashboard-in-home-assistant-for-beginners/ Previous GivEnergy Local Control Tutorial: https://youtu.be/rHSI4oTZyTI GivTCP Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/615579009972782 HACS Add-on: https://github.com/hacs/addons Buy me a coffee: 💚 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/speaktothegeek 💚 https://paypal.me/speaktothegeek Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC25zb7Sojh4KUv5CsFYH-6Q/join Or join as a patron: https://patreon.com/SpeaktotheGeek As an Amazon Associate and member of the eBay Partner Network I earn from qualifying purchases. Most links above are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from any purchases you make if you use them. #givenergy #homeassistant #dashboard
The Easiest GivEnergy Dashboard in Home Assistant (Beginner Tutorial)
5 years of real-world EV ownership – the honest pros and cons of driving electric cars in the UK. In this video, I share my experience with the Vauxhall Corsa-e, MG4, and Tesla Model 3 Long Range, covering everything from running costs and charging to reliability, range anxiety, and long-distance travel. Discover how EVs compare to petrol and diesel cars on cost per mile, maintenance, and overall ownership expenses. I break down home charging vs public charging, Octopus Go tariffs, real-world range, winter efficiency, and whether electric cars are actually cheaper to run in 2026. Plus, we look at common EV issues, repair costs, dealership servicing, and why things can go wrong. I also explore key topics like UK fuel prices, salary sacrifice EV schemes, second-hand electric cars, battery range degradation, and whether EVs are worth it without a driveway. Learn about public charging networks, curbside charging, and the challenges of owning an EV in terraced housing. We’ll also cover EV environmental impact, lifecycle emissions, energy efficiency vs internal combustion engines (ICE), and whether electric vehicles are truly greener. Finally, I share the everyday benefits of EV driving, including quiet performance, instant torque, preconditioning, and convenience. If you're considering buying an electric car or switching from petrol or diesel, this video will help you decide if EV ownership is right for you. Interested in ordering a Tesla? Please use my link to get 650 free supercharging miles or £500 off depending on the model you choose: 🚙 https://speaktothegeek.co.uk/tesla After a new EV charger? Why not get a quote from Octopus! We'll both get a £25 gift voucher once your installation is completed: 🐙 http://speaktothegeek.co.uk/evcharger Sign up to Octopus Energy here using my referral link (we both get £50 credit if you do): 🐙 https://speaktothegeek.co.uk/energy Sources for my data: https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/electric-vehicle-myths https://theicct.org/publication/electric-cars-life-cycle-analysis-emissions-europe-jul25/ Part one of my faulty Corsa-e saga: https://youtu.be/C0exz-essoA Part one of my faulty Tesla Model 3 saga: https://youtu.be/FHCnDJYq9V8 Buy me a coffee: 💚 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/speaktothegeek 💚 https://paypal.me/speaktothegeek Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC25zb7Sojh4KUv5CsFYH-6Q/join Or join as a patron: https://patreon.com/SpeaktotheGeek As an Amazon Associate and member of the eBay Partner Network I earn from qualifying purchases. Most links above are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from any purchases you make if you use them. #EV #ElectricCars #EVOwnership #TeslaModel3 #MG4 #VauxhallCorsaE #EVCharging #RangeAnxiety #ElectricVehicleUK #EVCosts #Sustainability #CarReview
Do I Regret My EV After 5 Years? The Truth
I've decided to try one of these AMA Ask Me Anything videos so please post your questions in the comments of this video. I'll compile them all together and try and answer them in a future video in a few weeks time. It could be about green tech (solar, batteries, EVs, heat pumps, etc) or smart home tech (gadgets, home automation) or whatever. Be nice! Buy me a coffee: 💚 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/speaktothegeek 💚 https://paypal.me/speaktothegeek Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC25zb7Sojh4KUv5CsFYH-6Q/join Or join as a patron: https://patreon.com/SpeaktotheGeek As an Amazon Associate and member of the eBay Partner Network I earn from qualifying purchases. Most links above are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from any purchases you make if you use them.
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Unscripted Q&A covering real-world EV ownership and smart home tech. I talk about living with a Tesla Model 3 Long Range, MG4 lease plans, EV range and charging, and whether battery size or charging speed matters most. There’s also a deep dive into home energy—solar panels, battery storage, air source heat pumps, Octopus Energy, and what’s next after GivEnergy goes into administration. On the smart home side, I share thoughts on Home Assistant vs Home Assistant Green, Raspberry Pi setups, automation ideas, and the reality of running a connected home (including what my wife thinks is “stupid” tech). Plus plug-in solar in the UK, energy monitoring, and practical automation tips. Buy me a coffee: 💚 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/speaktothegeek 💚 https://paypal.me/speaktothegeek Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC25zb7Sojh4KUv5CsFYH-6Q/join Or join as a patron: https://patreon.com/SpeaktotheGeek As an Amazon Associate and member of the eBay Partner Network I earn from qualifying purchases. Most links above are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from any purchases you make if you use them. #EV #TeslaModel3 #MG4 #ElectricCarsUK #EVCharging #EVRange #HomeBattery #SolarPanelsUK #HeatPump #OctopusEnergy #HomeAssistant #RaspberryPi #SmartHome #HomeAutomation #RenewableEnergy #GreenTech #EnergyMonitoring #TechQandABuy
You Asked… I Answered EVERYTHING (Smart Home, Solar & EV Truths)
Argon ONE V5 M.2 case review for Raspberry Pi 5 with NVMe SSD setup, cooling performance, OLED display mod, PCIe ribbon cable, fan control, thermal pads, and full assembly guide. Comparison vs Argon ONE V3, GeeekPi cases, ElectroCookie mini PC case, pricing, pros and cons, WiFi/Zigbee interference, GPIO access, and best Raspberry Pi 5 case for home automation and SSD storage. Buy the Argon ONE v5 M.2 Case: (Amazon UK): https://amzn.to/4uvqRGN (Amazon US/International): https://amzn.to/4cTi2QB Argon Industria OLED Display Module: (Amazon UK): https://amzn.to/4dmSLhW (Amazon US/International): https://amzn.to/4lC3yHa Home Assistant add-on for the OLED module: https://github.com/BenWolstencroft/home-assistant-addons Other cases: - GeeekPi: https://amzn.to/4ek2eHk - ElectroCookie: https://amzn.to/48zqeCG Raspberry Pi 5 Fan in Home Assistant (tutorial): https://youtu.be/mAAXMlbEy4I Buy me a coffee: 💚 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/speaktothegeek 💚 https://paypal.me/speaktothegeek Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC25zb7Sojh4KUv5CsFYH-6Q/join Or join as a patron: https://patreon.com/SpeaktotheGeek As an Amazon Associate and member of the eBay Partner Network I earn from qualifying purchases. Most links above are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from any purchases you make if you use them. #RaspberryPi5 #ArgonONE #ArgonONEV5 #RaspberryPi #HomeAssistant #NVMe #M2SSD #Pi5 #RaspberryPiCase #TechReview #DIYTech #SmartHome #HomeAutomation #Linux #SingleBoardComputer #GeekPi #ElectroCookie #Cooling #PCMod #EmbeddedSystems
This Raspberry Pi 5 Case is AMAZING… But Not Worth It 😬
Have you managed to set up Home Assistant to connect to your GivEnergy inverters but now you don’t know what to do next? Check out this beginner-friendly guide to creating a dashboard for monitoring and controlling your kit. YAML code for Giv-style Apex Power Card: https://www.speaktothegeek.co.uk/2026/05/givenergy-dashboard-in-home-assistant-for-beginners/ Previous GivEnergy Local Control Tutorial: https://youtu.be/rHSI4oTZyTI GivTCP Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/615579009972782 HACS Add-on: https://github.com/hacs/addons Buy me a coffee: 💚 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/speaktothegeek 💚 https://paypal.me/speaktothegeek Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC25zb7Sojh4KUv5CsFYH-6Q/join Or join as a patron: https://patreon.com/SpeaktotheGeek As an Amazon Associate and member of the eBay Partner Network I earn from qualifying purchases. Most links above are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from any purchases you make if you use them. #givenergy #homeassistant #dashboard
The Easiest GivEnergy Dashboard in Home Assistant (Beginner Tutorial)
5 years of real-world EV ownership – the honest pros and cons of driving electric cars in the UK. In this video, I share my experience with the Vauxhall Corsa-e, MG4, and Tesla Model 3 Long Range, covering everything from running costs and charging to reliability, range anxiety, and long-distance travel. Discover how EVs compare to petrol and diesel cars on cost per mile, maintenance, and overall ownership expenses. I break down home charging vs public charging, Octopus Go tariffs, real-world range, winter efficiency, and whether electric cars are actually cheaper to run in 2026. Plus, we look at common EV issues, repair costs, dealership servicing, and why things can go wrong. I also explore key topics like UK fuel prices, salary sacrifice EV schemes, second-hand electric cars, battery range degradation, and whether EVs are worth it without a driveway. Learn about public charging networks, curbside charging, and the challenges of owning an EV in terraced housing. We’ll also cover EV environmental impact, lifecycle emissions, energy efficiency vs internal combustion engines (ICE), and whether electric vehicles are truly greener. Finally, I share the everyday benefits of EV driving, including quiet performance, instant torque, preconditioning, and convenience. If you're considering buying an electric car or switching from petrol or diesel, this video will help you decide if EV ownership is right for you. Interested in ordering a Tesla? Please use my link to get 650 free supercharging miles or £500 off depending on the model you choose: 🚙 https://speaktothegeek.co.uk/tesla After a new EV charger? Why not get a quote from Octopus! We'll both get a £25 gift voucher once your installation is completed: 🐙 http://speaktothegeek.co.uk/evcharger Sign up to Octopus Energy here using my referral link (we both get £50 credit if you do): 🐙 https://speaktothegeek.co.uk/energy Sources for my data: https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/electric-vehicle-myths https://theicct.org/publication/electric-cars-life-cycle-analysis-emissions-europe-jul25/ Part one of my faulty Corsa-e saga: https://youtu.be/C0exz-essoA Part one of my faulty Tesla Model 3 saga: https://youtu.be/FHCnDJYq9V8 Buy me a coffee: 💚 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/speaktothegeek 💚 https://paypal.me/speaktothegeek Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC25zb7Sojh4KUv5CsFYH-6Q/join Or join as a patron: https://patreon.com/SpeaktotheGeek As an Amazon Associate and member of the eBay Partner Network I earn from qualifying purchases. Most links above are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from any purchases you make if you use them. #EV #ElectricCars #EVOwnership #TeslaModel3 #MG4 #VauxhallCorsaE #EVCharging #RangeAnxiety #ElectricVehicleUK #EVCosts #Sustainability #CarReview
Do I Regret My EV After 5 Years? The Truth
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Unscripted Q&A covering real-world EV ownership and smart home tech. I talk about living with a Tesla Model 3 Long Range, MG4 lease plans, EV range and charging, and whether battery size or charging speed matters most. There’s also a deep dive into home energy—solar panels, battery storage, air source heat pumps, Octopus Energy, and what’s next after GivEnergy goes into administration. On the smart home side, I share thoughts on Home Assistant vs Home Assistant Green, Raspberry Pi setups, automation ideas, and the reality of running a connected home (including what my wife thinks is “stupid” tech). Plus plug-in solar in the UK, energy monitoring, and practical automation tips. Buy me a coffee: 💚 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/speaktothegeek 💚 https://paypal.me/speaktothegeek Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC25zb7Sojh4KUv5CsFYH-6Q/join Or join as a patron: https://patreon.com/SpeaktotheGeek As an Amazon Associate and member of the eBay Partner Network I earn from qualifying purchases. Most links above are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from any purchases you make if you use them. #EV #TeslaModel3 #MG4 #ElectricCarsUK #EVCharging #EVRange #HomeBattery #SolarPanelsUK #HeatPump #OctopusEnergy #HomeAssistant #RaspberryPi #SmartHome #HomeAutomation #RenewableEnergy #GreenTech #EnergyMonitoring #TechQandABuy
You Asked… I Answered EVERYTHING (Smart Home, Solar & EV Truths)
Argon ONE V5 M.2 case review for Raspberry Pi 5 with NVMe SSD setup, cooling performance, OLED display mod, PCIe ribbon cable, fan control, thermal pads, and full assembly guide. Comparison vs Argon ONE V3, GeeekPi cases, ElectroCookie mini PC case, pricing, pros and cons, WiFi/Zigbee interference, GPIO access, and best Raspberry Pi 5 case for home automation and SSD storage. Buy the Argon ONE v5 M.2 Case: (Amazon UK): https://amzn.to/4uvqRGN (Amazon US/International): https://amzn.to/4cTi2QB Argon Industria OLED Display Module: (Amazon UK): https://amzn.to/4dmSLhW (Amazon US/International): https://amzn.to/4lC3yHa Home Assistant add-on for the OLED module: https://github.com/BenWolstencroft/home-assistant-addons Other cases: - GeeekPi: https://amzn.to/4ek2eHk - ElectroCookie: https://amzn.to/48zqeCG Raspberry Pi 5 Fan in Home Assistant (tutorial): https://youtu.be/mAAXMlbEy4I Buy me a coffee: 💚 https://www.buymeacoffee.com/speaktothegeek 💚 https://paypal.me/speaktothegeek Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC25zb7Sojh4KUv5CsFYH-6Q/join Or join as a patron: https://patreon.com/SpeaktotheGeek As an Amazon Associate and member of the eBay Partner Network I earn from qualifying purchases. Most links above are affiliate links and I may earn a small commission from any purchases you make if you use them. #RaspberryPi5 #ArgonONE #ArgonONEV5 #RaspberryPi #HomeAssistant #NVMe #M2SSD #Pi5 #RaspberryPiCase #TechReview #DIYTech #SmartHome #HomeAutomation #Linux #SingleBoardComputer #GeekPi #ElectroCookie #Cooling #PCMod #EmbeddedSystems
This Raspberry Pi 5 Case is AMAZING… But Not Worth It 😬
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April 24th, 2022

  • As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.