I do not charge much in Aberdeenshire, Fife or Dundee, i could well need to in the coldest weather so will be paying now as and when needs must.

The availability of using 'Free Public Chargers' is starting to become greatly reduced up the east / north east of Scotland.

Edited 21 December, 20205 yr by e-Roottoot

The new charging hub in Forfar is almost ready to open but the white lining needs done.

Hopefully it does open without all the landscaping getting finished since it is winter. 

The drainage area will be needing fenced off. 

 

Thats a useful place, but rather **** there is no canopy over the 'pumps', especially as its in rainy / snowy Scotland. Even a bus shelter type arrangement to keep the weather off you when pressing buttons and plugging in would be worthwhile. (yes I know you can sit in your cars while actually charging).

They have built that just beside the Council Headquarters where there are only 2 chargers and many Council EV vehicles, so basically it is for their use.

For the public there is a Starbucks Diner, KFC, McD, Marstons, Spar & Greggs shop at a Shell Filling station which is getting proper Rapid chargers just 100 yards away.

Country park 100 yards in the opposite direction.

 

The more you build the more you spend and the more maintenance required. 

Biggest problem usually is seeing the screen when there is no shade from the sun.

Edited 22 December, 20205 yr by e-Roottoot

From an Edinburgh Council meeting.

 

 

 

 

Edited 23 December, 20205 yr by e-Roottoot

Pop Up EV chargers in Dundee. 

https://www.zap-map.com/swarco-to-operate-chargeplace-scotland

 

New Electric Charging Hub provided by Angus Council near to and addressed as  St Margaret House, Forfar. DD8 1WS

Very near to the chargers that were and still are @ Angus House, Forfar, DD8 1AX

No signage up yet from the A90 North or South or from Forfar.

 

 

Very nice! Great to see slower AC chargers there so everyone can get a charge and PHEV won't have excuse to block the rapids. 

Just now, wyx087 said:

PHEV won't have excuse to block the rapids. 

Many probably still will in the mistaken belief that it will speed up their charging.

There is a muppet at a charger in town leaving their Tesla on the Rapid Charger for hours after the car has finished charging and there is only the one rapid

there.

At this charger hub there are those failing to get the CCS out of the holder once it is unlocked and ready to plug in, but that is just because they are tight in the holder.

 

I Emailed the Council Convener this morning to ask why no Signage up for direction to the Charging Hub.

The other thing is drivers going and not having Charge Place Scotland cards or Apps and not knowing about the cost of charging etc.

 

The Hub does show on Plug Share  but not yet on ZapMap.  I have Emailed them.

 

Edited 12 March, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

6 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

Many probably still will in the mistaken belief that it will speed up their charging.

Also, the AC chargers doesn't have cable attached.

So if PHEV driver think like using petrol station and only going by name (as you said) they'll still use the rapid chargers.  *sigh* 

 

But at least the infrastructure is there at that location. 

What speed are the rapids?

50kW   They are Free to charge at.

http://thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/angus-mearns/2029714/angus-ev-hub-up-and-running-beside-busy-a90-at-forfar

http://angus.gov.uk/news/work_complete_on_new_electric_vehicle_charging_hub_in_forfar

 

There is a new Shell Filling Station just 100 yards away which Shops & Drive Thu Diner.

Owned by EG & i believe there are chargers going in there and these might well be 100 kW or more.

(EG being owned by the brothers that have bought ASDA)

 

350kW Ionity is in Perth near to  the Grassicks BMW Dealership & next to Starbucks.

Edited 12 March, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

Aa just paid my £20 for card renewal!   

 But then have had loads of electricity at no cost and will continue to wherever possible.

Edited 31 March, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

Over the past 12 days I have done 1,600 miles with all charging free apart from £1.77 on an InstaVolt charger, some public chargers in Angus and then the rest south of Perth.  800 miles covered in the last 5 days and on the last charge to get home. 1 have been pure dead lucky to get right on a charger on arrival.  Charging places are getting pretty busy these days.  My charging port on the near side rear quarter does mean you need luck getting to a charger that suits.  Personally I would like charger points at the rear, maybe behind a flip down registration plate.

34 minutes ago, e-Roottoot said:

Personally I would like charger points at the rear, maybe behind a flip down registration plate.

Now about in the front, behind the badge?

Noo.  too many get frozen up like Skoda Fuel flaps commonly do,

and snowed up and who wants to sit charging facing a charger with the world going by in their rear view mirror.

 

Common now to see a Tesla with notes on asking the driver to think of others and not leave them on the limited number of Rapid (Fast) chargers for hours on end.

 

The side towards rear 3/4 is the right place to place charging ports. It won't be frozen in winter, it is not at most often damaged part of the car.

 

The issue is that charging location is not standardised, Some cars on the left, some on the right. But you don't want cable to be too long and become unwieldy + a trip hazard. Liquid fuel gotten around this by having just long enough hose attached to the top + the connector that can be inserted in any orientation.

 

I think I've seen chargers with large overhead attached cable that can be moved to the other side, thus able to reach left or right hand side. Place it at the middle of a bay and that should be good enough.

 

Often, with these early chargers, the problem is road layout designer hasn't driven an EV. Thinks just plunk a charger down anywhere at end of the bay is okay.

 

 

Here's a crazy idea: CCS port on the car where charger handle is sideways, cable goes out towards the back rather than down. So it doesn't require such long cable to reach.

5 hours ago, e-Roottoot said:

who wants to sit charging facing a charger with the world going by in their rear view mirror.

I thought most EVs were charged as follows:-

1. Put EV on charger.
2. Go away and have a 3 course lunch plus coffee, and a look round the shops. That's typically how I see them being charged, not just Coarsers and Leaves.

That is the kind of thing that many might do,  but might not be doing a quick top up while heading on to a destination that is not just a charger place.

Some sit and think, many sit doing work while having a rest from driving,

and some sit in their EV at times thinking and logging in and out of ZapMap & PlugShare and Briskoda etc.

 

Some sit looking at Chargers Wars going on and the world passing by.

Many just want Free Charging or quick charging they might pay for, and take their own hot and cold drinks and muchies.  Take a portaloo and pop up tent for many chargers in Scotland because there might not be handy toilets like in Dunblane @ the very handy Tesco's. 

Many Charging Hubs are not near Shops, Toilets or Eateries in Scotland, but might be at a Park & Ride or Train Station and people bog off leaving their cars on Rapid Chargers. (A9 Electric Highway, they are having a laugh..)

Spending what you save on fuel at eateries near chargers is not what many want to do when driving EV's.

 

 

It can be like this in Scotland even with Charge Place Scotland, & Polar is just hopeless.

EV Charging hubs can even be in places with no or poor Mobile Phone reception.

 

 

 

 

Edited 12 May, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

A new Charge Place Scotland Charger should be available to use soon.

At the car park at the junction with the A77 & A719 at Turnberry.  

This helps with free charging in that area as there is also a charging at Maidens, then at Dowhill Farm / Shop & Cafe a mile South & then in Girvan 5 miles on at the Train Station & at the Harbour Car Park.

 

Edited 27 May, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

South Ayrshire Council will be starting charging to charge.  I take that is only where chargers are on the Council Run carparks / locations.

There are Charge Place Scotland chargers not on Council Land.

http://dailyrecord.co.uk/ayrshire/electric-car-chargers-no-longer-24208196

 

It p155es me right off when things look like they should be simple and they fall at the first hurdle which often starts by not being able to sign into your account.

 

It is as bad as having to use a 'Phone App' when the chargers are in a location with crap phone reception, then when you find an are with receptions near the charger you are trying to use the 'Call Centre' is not answering.

 

 

Angus Council are going to impose charges starting in October.

Edited 30 June, 20214 yr by e-Roottoot