@Luckypants  That is highly unlikely though.

 

There will need to be quite a recruitment of maintenance / repairers. 

Then they will need to give a damn.  The Call handlers will need to believe that chargers are not functioning while you are there watch users failing to be able to charge while the call handler tells you the charger is in use and operating.

 

The issue is the likes of chargers already in that do not have the correct equipment @ hubs for taking a payment from Debit / Credit cards,

like the newly opened one near me.

That is in the Control Unit.  Then i have seen inside the charger units and the wiring done by the installers.  That is pathetic.

 

Phoning the call centre is all good and well if you get prompt replies.  Calling where charge hubs have very poor or no mobile phone reception makes contacting them rather a big issue.

If you need to wonder around the area looking for someplace near with phone reception then you are not at your vehicle and the charger as you hope they can start it.

 

The Green Unit is where the controllers are and this has not got what is needed in it at present to let people use certain cards.

No notices explaining who the chargers are owned or operated by so none locals are left none the wiser.

At least now there is a contact number but for 3 weeks the Big units are hit or miss if you can get the CCS to unlock so you can use.

One head now broken.

Then there are 5 stand alone Type 2 charger and some just do not work. 

 

Reported by people over and over again for the past 3 weeks and still the issues go unresolved.  

EDIT.

1 month on and charger unit still not repaired.

 

Edited 1 June, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

All went well over the past few days and 600 miles covered.  I just needed to use a InstaVolt charger for less than 15 minutes to be sure I have enough range to get to a good reliable charge hub.  The £1.77 that cost me for a properly quick to use and properly Rapid charger was not grudged.  Unlike the £4 charge to drive through the less than 10 minutes pick up point at Glasgow airport.

So it looks like the cost of public charging is going up, as the VAT man has decided the full rate needs to be applied.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revenue-and-customs-brief-7-2021-vat-liability-of-charging-of-electric-vehicles/revenue-and-customs-brief-7-2021-vat-liability-of-charging-of-electric-vehicles

https://instavolt.co.uk/instavolt-ceo-issues-statement-in-response-to-hmrc-vat-brief-25-may-2021/?fbclid=IwAR0cd-0LaBWE36mYkkEOrLwLlYUkTqxxZflHiMy3OPf7WrxPKPexkwOG7XA

Seems like I have only got half the story from the above. This only really affects Instavolt and their (incorrect) interpretation of the electricity VAT rate. The other major charging networks already charged the correct rate of 20% VAT. This was pointed out to me elsewhere and after doing further digging, it seems like all the other networks charge VAT at 20% already if you check T&Cs. Looks to me like Instavolt have already being profiting. The new charge prices look expensive now as the other players will not need to put up prices.

 

 

BP Pulse  Price changes for EV charging network.

https://evfleetworld.co.uk/bp-pulse-confirms-price-changes-for-ev-charging-network

 

An update received today from BP Pulse.

'Motorists can now drive a mile for just 1p for first time in nearly 50 years'   Reads the headline.

 

Seemingly EDF's GoElectric35 EV offers the lowest off-peak tariff.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/money/electric-vehicle-fuel-deal-24220667

 

Driving the South West Coastal 300 today.  (Scotland South West). Did 150 mile drive to the south to start the journey.  Free charge before setting off, charging now before doing the SWC 300, maybe another charge for free during the day in 3 hours or so, then another tonight while the football is on.  Free is even better than much cheapness.  Taking advantage while public charging stays free in some areas.

 

EDIT.

Edited 18 June, 20214 yr by e-Roottoot

About to set off on a wee jaunt of about 350 miles around the Cairngorms & along the Moray Coast with some of it on the Northeast 250.

That might cost me £3.80 or possibly £7.60 depending on 1 or 2 charges required, but in the hot weather and using the route best for regen 1 charge should be all i need.

 

Starting off charged to 99% for free in Angus.

Maybe if lucky and the charger is working or available to charge again to 99% in Tomintoul where the fixed cost is £3.80 (Aberdeenshire)

Might charge a bit in Buckie or Banff. 21pence /kWh

 

Hopefully no need to charge in the Highland Region where it is 30 pence a kWh on a 50kW charger. Limited to 45 minutes & £1 a minute if you go over. (10-15 min over might not be charged but best unplug.)

If needed to charge Aberdeen it is 38 pence connection fee + 19p/kWh

Other places and public chargers have various costs depending on the provider.

Edited 17 July, 20214 yr by e-Roottoot

Reached Tomintoul after 88 miles and wanted to top up charge but the Charger would not start the CCS and after a while 'Polar Plus' answered as this had not a Charge Place Scotland contact number. They could not start the DC so i went with AC but it was so slow that i stopped charging. That will have cost me for a connection. £3.80

I went to Grantown on Spey, the charger screen was very faded but it worked and the charge was at full speed 30 pence kWh so that will be about £10.

 

Next stop was at a CPS charger which worked and i was going to stay for 40 minutes because it was costing me £3.90 to plug in and charge.

An Audi cruised passed a couple of times and then parked ready to charge.  I told him i would be another 20 minutes and he was appalled at my greed and me staying all of 40 minutes.

He had his Audi for a few weeks, said he did 5,000 miles in that time, had no charging issues anyplace and others reporting faults are just silly with no idea how charges work.

He said he had a home charger but had an Audi Card for charging and was using public chargers.

I was left rather amused at his attitude when i thought how long he might be on a 50kW charger that was not running that quick & how long and often he has used public charges in the North East and Highland region. 

 

So hypermiled home via Aberdeen as i was not going to pay to charge anyplace else and i got home with 13 miles change left.

I had 55 miles range showing when North of Aberdeen then did another 70 miles on the A90.

 

Not the cheap day i planned charging wise but the weather was amazing, the various vehicles on the Snow Roads were amazing but really not as busy as normal for a Saturday.

Supercars, vintage / classics and bikes, trikes, cyclists etc.

Maybe there was not that many actually on the roads while i was, was because they were already enjoying sunning themselves in Ballater, Tomintoul or Grantown on Spey.

Only come evening did the Caravans and Motorhomes cause long tailbacks on the A96.

New version MG 5 EV long range due out October with 61.1 kWh battery and therefore 250 mile that is 400 kms.

Price £26.5k.

That will suits more people. I would like an estate.

 

I meet a good few with MG EV's and they are happy other than the poor range they achieve.

Lots on the roads in Scotland & being leased from Motability. I have spoken with people that have bought ones outright and that are very happy with them.

21 hours ago, e-Roottoot said:

That will suits more people. I would like an estate.

 

I meet a good few with MG EV's and they are happy other than the poor range they achieve.

Lots on the roads in Scotland & being leased from Motability. I have spoken with people that have bought ones outright and that are very happy with them.

 

Looking and Sounding good.  Top Gear just tried it out, reckoned 240 miles on their test which is not bad and with a bit if a lighter foot, pump those tyres up etc, could give over 250 miles even a fairly good hustling along I reckon.........

Lots more kit on the version they test ie safety stuff.   Love Top Gear favouring Estates to "Crossovers".......

MG5 Long Range review: um, longer-range electric MG driven

£ 28,940 when new

 

Do be sensible.

Sorry. But the point is, if you need more carrying capacity than a hatchback, the world of EVs forces you into crossovers. And Top Gear prefers estates to crossovers. In general, they drive better, look better, and are simply cooler.

 

Even this one?

Ah yes. When the 'good-looking estate' genes were being distributed, the MG 5 found itself at the back of the queue.

https://www.topgear.com/car-reviews/mg-motor-uk/115kw-excite-ev-61kwh-5dr-auto/first-drive

 

@wyx087Some help please or any help / advise from anyone.  Long story still long!

 

I never took a Free Charger because i expected to move and i have no smart meter fitted again because i expected to move.

Also because charging free within a mile of home appealed but that ends in October.

Price not confirmed with Angus Council yet but it will be costlier than 18 pence a kWh at home.

 

So i was with Scottish Hydro but went to Octopus before getting the car and thought i would be doing more pre warming during winter and topping up the last 2% before trips.

Seldom happened and my Gas & Electric was too expensive.

 

Went to E.ON and i am paying a daily on Electric & Gas and the Electric is 18 pence kWh.

 

So tied to them until January.

The are desperate to fit a Smart Meter, they can wait.

 

EDF looks like the ones i might go to in 2022 & let them fit a Smart Meter.

I will probably fit a Home Charger via a grant but maybe not as i have a 3 pin charger and for a while can still charge free someplace's i go,  and still planning on moving.

 

?

So would EDF be right for me.  Off Peak Charging?

Thinking about the tariff for the not off peak and also the gas.

 

This is considering that for the past 5 years my electric for the house is never more than £1.50 a day even charging e-bike batteries, trickle charging cars and even running green house heaters in ones on the coldest nights. Average is £1.10 a day.

Gas works out at £50 a month and that is with no gas heating used for near 5 months of Summer or less cold weather.

Hard to say whether it's right for you or not. What's EDF's rates and off peak rates? How much electricity would you be using on that off-peak?

 

Most of the time, tariff like these will increase peak-rate slightly. The important thing is working out your overall average pence/kWh. Use off-peak rate to push down overall per-kWh. If worked out to be similar, then it's not worth the bother.

 

Eg. my current provider Bulb charges 12p for off-peak and 20p for peak time. I think 18 or 19p if not on time-based tariff. But with my solar panel, I hardly use anything during peak time. Over 60% of my usage is during off-peak, (was 70% when commuting). So I stubbornly continue to use the existing Economy 7 "dumb" meter.

Before committing to any supplier with a tariff that requires a smart meter, make sure the new(ish) SMETS2 smart meters work in your area. I believe in Scotland (all places vaguely north on M62 according to Data Communication Company) relies on a bespoke network Telefonica has installed, while the rest of the UK relies on O2 coverage (again Telefonica). I'm stuck on a relatively expensive tariff (18.5p) at the moment as the smart meter installed does not connect due to no O2 signal. None of the suppliers mentioned any of this, even though it is obvious my rural location has no O2 coverage.

If I had a working smart meter, I'd go for Octopus Go Faster tariff. (15.9p peak / 5.5p off-peak 8:30-1:30, 25p/day standing charge). I use quite a lot in the day due to working from home for the past 20 odd years, so the peak rate is attractive.

Edited 22 July, 20214 yr by Luckypants

Thanks.  I am tight and money is getting too tight to mention.  I own my ICE vehicles and they are keepers.

I have only been putting lots miles on the EV because of Free Charging.

 

Needing to go put 1/2 tank diesel in my Shogun as only used 1/2 tank since Xmas giving it an odd run weekly. Break my heart.

Bought nearly no petrol for a year as only done a few hundred miles in that.

 

I will be looking at tariffs late in the year because as it is doing nothing until able to change fro E.ON or there is a suitable tariff.

It will be 18 pkWH i pay using the 3 pin.

I can even leave my car parked on Free Slow chargers and bike away and go back for it. 

 

So i will see what i see as i go along.   Circumstances might change sooner rather than later and i get a move from where i am.

@Luckypants Where did you get the info regarding the bespoke network?

I only ask as when I had a smart meter (original) installed a very long time ago, the installer had different SIM's available to him and he just used the one corresponding to the strongest phone network. That meter was removed when I changed supplier and obviously wouldn't have been any good with the latest versions anyway.

From Data Communications Company, the private monopoly this government set up to manage Smart meters and get around the fact that the older SMETS1 meters go dumb when you change supplier. DCC connect all meters to them and own the connection, then pass your meter reading to the appropriate supplier. All SMETS1 meters are being migrated to DCC to get over the going dumb problem. The SMETS1 meters normally had a roaming SIM in them that would pick up any available mobile signal (so my old meter worked as I have EE here but went dumb when I switched) and connect. SMETS2 meters had to be approved by DCHQ for some *******s reason and only O2 was selected as a carrier, so now new meters need an O2 signal south of M62 and this proprietary network north of there. I understand the proprietary network is using a frequency band released by old TV signals being switched off.

I've been through all this at some length with Octopus, Eon and Scottish Power. Also tried engaging with DCC but they refuse to speak to the public as they are B2B only. Currently my MP is being ignored by them and getting quite irate....

 

EDIT: The WAN used by DCC is known as Arquiva WAN. 
EDIT2: Useful website I found researching this ****. https://www.smartme.co.uk/index.html

Edited 22 July, 20214 yr by Luckypants

PITA when there is one Rapid charger and the likes of this e-Golf sits across 2 bays and then is sitting at the very least 40 minutes with the charger no longer charging the car.

Luckily the charger head was not locked in since charging had stopped.

When they got back and looked in the car they did say they had got a full charge, which is lovely!

 

While i moan i do have to remember that you never know what was parked there when they arrived so this can sometimes be the reason for out of space parking, then also the placement of charger ports.

 

 

Edited 25 July, 20214 yr by e-Roottoot

Sole rapid charger locations, it's time they become extinct.

 

The eGolf owner shouldn't be expecting a full charge from a rapid anyway. They are either uninformed or just selfish. EV charging slows down near the top end. Luckily you got there when it finished charging, otherwise you might be there waiting over 1 hour from start to finish, waiting for the car to trickle charge the last few percent. Looks like there's 7kW posts nearby, if they are not going to be around when the car gets enough charge, they should never be using the rapids, should be using the 7kW posts.

@wyx087

That charger is my nearest saves driving a mile away and back to maybe get on 1 of 4 but that is an option.

The e-Golfs that are local and when the drivers are working use their own cables on the posts / slows & get 100 % of a charge or go on the AC on the charger.

 

It is only e-Golfs i have seen so far on Tesco Free Charging.   2 cars in over a year at the local Tesco.

Edited 28 July, 20214 yr by e-Roottoot

Bad press for EV range .........   (I have often found that ICE cars only produce half the power the manufactures say they do after a few years ! )

Some of the best-rated electric cars run out of power after only two-thirds of their claimed battery range - and in worst cases have 77 MILES wiped off on a full charge

WHAT CAR? ELECTRIC VEHICLE RANGE TEST RESULTS

Make / Model	Usable battery size	Official (WLTP) range	Test range	Shortfall (%)	Shortfall (miles)	Miles per kWh*
Make / Model  Usable battery size Official (WLTP) range Test range Shortfall (%) Shortfall (miles) Miles per kWh* Porsche Taycan 4S Performance Battery Plus	Usable battery size	Official Range	Test range	Shortfall%	Shortfall miles	Miles per kWh
Mazda MX-30 SE-L Lux	30	124	115	7.1%	9	3.8
Kia e-Niro 64kWh 3	64	282	257	8.5%	25	4
Renault Zoe R135 GT Line	52	238	208	12.4%	30	4
Audi Q4 e-tron 40 S line	77	308	266	13.6%	42	3.5
Volkswagen ID.3 58kWh Pro Performance Life	58	264	226	14.2%	38	3.9
Skoda Enyaq 60	58	254	207	18.3%	47	3.6
Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Range RWD	88	379	302	20.2%	77	3.4
Tesla Model 3 Long Range	70	360	284	21.1%	76	4.1
Fiat 500 42kWh Icon	37.3	198	140	29.2%	58	3.8

 

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-9835811/Some-electric-cars-miss-quoted-battery-ranges-THIRD.html

 

 

• A £25k electric Fiat 500 was 29% off the range figure claimed in sales brochures
• It was a £50k Ford Mustang Mach-e had the biggest mileage shortfall tested, The 77-mile disappearance is equivalent to driving from London to Southampton

Edited 30 July, 20214 yr by lol-lol

Isn't the official range WLTP? The one that is a hair more useful than NEDC but still allows PHEV to get 666 MPG rating and doesn't reflect real power drain on electric cars. Shocker that these manufacturer influenced test doesn't hold up in the real world.

 

I think for EV's, only real metric to measure its capability is to drive 1000km. (see 1000km tab)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1V6ucyFGKWuSQzvI8lMzvvWJHrBS82echMVJH37kwgjE/edit#gid=15442336

Or only rate EV's based on its 70mph range, this is the worst case range and one that only really matters for EV's.

The use of the word 'power' is an issue.  You do charge the batteries with electricity to provide 'power' to run the motors', the available power / energy might well be poorer and get poorer, 

the motors will still produce the same 'Power' as it is just the range will be reduces because of less energy available. 

 

Confusing, indeed  can be and will be.  When you use the power the car has available to move the car quicker or a a car when heavier it is using up more energy.

 

the use of 'Power' is going to confuse. 

 Petrol, diesel, lpg or electricity to power / fuel your vehicle, but the engine / motor still produces power, conditions can reduce the power a ICE vehicles engine produces, a electric motors power stays the same no mater how much above or below sea level.

Edited 30 July, 20214 yr by e-Roottoot