Makes my day when warm and a 50kWh charger is putting that out when charging starts and stays at a good speed beyond 90% and then still OK at 98 or 99%.

If that could be relied on things would be fandabydozy.

 

Charging for free is my favourite thing. 

Electric prices in the UK are really going to be going high.

 

Over 1,000 miles done at 'no cost' thanks to Charge Place Scotland and council regions with free chargers.

 

Edited 16 September, 20214 yr by e-Roottoot

My favourite charger for sitting at and watching the world and all sorts of transportation coming and going, and Ailsa Craig as a backdrop.

Edited 19 September, 20214 yr by e-Roottoot

Massive month for EVs.  33,000 registered/sold.

Rubbish for ICE - Only 215k cars sold of which 33k were EV and nearly 14k PHEVs.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/105893/uk-new-car-sales-stagnate-september-33000-electric-cars-are-sold

UK new car sales stagnate in September but 33,000 electric cars are sold

 

Edited 5 October, 20214 yr by lol-lol

16 hours ago, lol-lol said:

Massive month for EVs.  33,000 registered/sold.

Rubbish for ICE - Only 215k cars sold of which 33k were EV and nearly 14k PHEVs.

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/105893/uk-new-car-sales-stagnate-september-33000-electric-cars-are-sold

UK new car sales stagnate in September but 33,000 electric cars are sold

 

 

The total of electric vehicles was 77,000 with the Tesla Model 3 taking the top spot of any make of car.

Clearly electric vans, trucks and motorcycle and selling well too...

 

Tesla Model 3 UK's best selling car in September

https://www.aol.co.uk/motoring/tesla-model-3-uks-best-093728866.html

 

Overall, 71,566 new electric vehicles were registered in the month, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said, a 137% year-on-year increase. Of these, 6,879 were Tesla Model 3, making it the month's best seller...........  

 

September was the best month ever for new battery electric vehicle (BEV) uptake. With a market share of 15.2%, 32,721 BEVs joined the road, reflecting growing consumer appetite.  Plug-in hybrid share also grew to 6.4%, meaning more than one in five new cars registered in September was zero-emission capable.

 

 

A Briskoda member has a good Youtube vid of him doing a trip in his Enyaq and in it he is charging at the Charging Hub local to me.

 

Today and yesterday and many days there is 1 of the Rapids actually starting charging.

Various cars coming and going and failing to get a charge, and getting no answer from CPS / Swarco at there new call centre.

 

This is the nonsense that many are experiencing at CPS Public Chargers in Scotland sadly.  

I have reported faults when ever i find them and now get replies from CPS / SWARCO, sadly there are still the faults what ever they might say. 

 

**The White Nissan Leaf you see charging @ Forfar on the AC charger is back on since the vid &  still there today blocking that bay.

Just as well they are seldom used and that bay is often blocked anyway by a Renault Kangoo that parks for weeks on end. **

 

 

 

I was calling CPS / Swarco this morning as i charged on a AC charger to let others get on the one Rapid working.

In the hour i was there several drivers failed to get a charge, called CPS / SWARCO to get the charger started and got no reply so no charge on the rapids.

The phone reception is so poor at the hub as is using the App to see what chargers there are and to get a charge started.

Using your Debit / Credit card instead of the CPS card makes no difference and now the chargers are saying not authorised when people use a card 

to get authorisation.

The charging is still free this month, but that is no excuse for such an unreliable service. 

Edited 6 October, 20214 yr by e-Roottoot

This is the kind of issue people have with charging.

 

The Tesla driver that regularly uses the charger and sometimes the Type 2 next to the Rapid and parks there for hours.

It is occupied though with another that has been there for hours as you need with them.

Today the Tesla is on the AC at the Rapid and for 4 1/2 hours already.

 

I was prepared to stop charging on the CCS to let someone into the bay at the rapid but their car can only charge on the AC so are stuffed and headed off to find an available one.

I've got a bit of cable arriving shortly to upgrade my outdoor wiring to provide for overnight visitors who might want to charge an EV through a 13A socket. 

 

Got caught out last weekend with a friend driving an ID3 who struggled to find vacant public chargers locally. Felt I'd let her down by not having anything suitable near enough to a parking spot.

To me that seems a very poorly designed charging point. If AC is available, surely that should be in a long term parking bay so as to leave the rapid sockets available? This problem appears to be raising it's head at the new Gridserve Electric Highway chargers also, use of AC blocks the rapid charging bays.

 

In this particular instance, as the Tesla is charging I don't see anything wrong. His overall behaviour as you describe does seem selfish and arrogant though.

Edited 7 October, 20214 yr by Luckypants

'Her charging.'

 

 They are not Blocking the Rapid.   The CCS works while someone is on the AC.

I was on it reversed in with the charge point on the passenger side.  A car can drive in forwards or the cable for the CCS reach a rear point at the drivers rear or front wings of cars with charge ports there.

 

The issue is that this is not during the night,

this is getting hours of charging starting early in the morning & while others just want to get enough charge to be getting on with.

 

When our Council Funded charging locally goes to 23 pence a kWh or more we will see how many use the chargers or maybe their own home chargers if they pay less than 23 pence a kWh. 

 

The Council does need to start getting revenue in from the cost of the chargers to all tax payers.

Maintenance, more chargers, cost of electricity.

Fair charging for good provision.

 

I do not agree with local prices for local people.

https://thecourier.co.uk/fp/business-environment/transport/2472355/two-tier-electric-vehicle-charging-would-be-unthinkable-for-petrol-drivers-says-retired-angus-lawyers/

Reduced price to charge at the public chargers during offpeak i agree with.   

Then some that sit charging for free now with their hot drinks bought as a carryout can continue to spend on drinks and munchies while they pay less than those that have to charge as they can while getting on with their journeys / work. 

 

 

 

197.pdf

 

Regular Tethered AC users are e-Golfs that are just on for 30-60 mins.

Edited 7 October, 20214 yr by e-Roottoot

Been playing with Bjorn Nyland's hundreds of videos on EVs.

 

He has a spreadsheet bringing together years of his test data and link to his and his colleagues EV videos.

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r58c93M0JwdbJ1Gik_8QhyyeLjoPgCSe1JXR_u4DrPc/edit#gid=735351678

 

Whilst super interesting and general fair I would say he is only human and does not pick up on everything.  (I am a big fan but nobody is perfect of course).

 

He seems to zoom around in hust numerous Zoe tests, right through the 22, 41 and 52 Kwh versions but never brings up that he seems to run the Zoe at much lower tyre pressures than other EVs he drives ie Tesla running 45 PSI and the Zoe running as low as 33 PSI it looks like on one video.   We all know tyres pressures, and tyre sizes massively affect EV range as well as aero and optimum driving range.

 

It actual take this guy, who Bjorn references, Chris prepared this which may be useful to many EV drivers. 

Thanks hugely to Bjorn and Chris for all the work, those hundreds if noth thousands of mile of driving/testing.

Congrats to Bjorn on going to be a Dad. 

 

 

 

 

Another incisive article by the Daily Express, rain is wet etc......

 

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1506491/electric-vehicles-range-issues-winter-advice

 

Drivers warned of electric vehicle range issues in colder weather – how to ‘boost mileage’

ELECTRIC vehicle owners are being warned of potential range issues from colder temperatures in the winter.

 

According to Renault, its latest electric Zoe model will do as much as 295 miles when travelling at a steady speed of 31 miles per hour when the outside temperature is 20 degrees.    In the highly unlikely case that the temperature drops to -15 degrees, the same car travelling at the same speed will do just 220 miles.  The faster the car is being driven, the lower the range, and in sub-zero temperatures, drivers can expect less than 100 miles of range in a Zoe at 80mph.  Colder temperatures can also have an effect on charging stations, as public rapid-charging stations may be slower.    In the highly unlikely case that the temperature drops to -15 degrees, the same car travelling at the same speed will do just 220 miles.   The faster the car is being driven, the lower the range, and in sub-zero temperatures, drivers can expect less than 100 miles of range in a Zoe at 80 colder temperatures can also have an effect on charging stations, as public rapid-charging stations may be slower...........

Drivers are advised to park their vehicle in an enclosed space, as it will trap heat and allow the battery to hold its charge for longer.  This also helps when charging the vehicle, as the choice between parking and charging outdoors compared to in a multi-story, the indoor option will help the car run like normal.  Most electric cars come with useful apps for drivers phones, allowing them to heat the car from the comfort of their home. Drivers are advised to park their vehicle in an enclosed space, as it will trap heat and allow the battery to hold its charge for longer. This also helps when charging the vehicle, as the choice between parking and charging outdoors compared to in a multi-story, the indoor option will help the car run like normal. Most electric cars come with useful apps for drivers phones, allowing them to heat the car from the comfort of their home.

Edited 16 October, 20214 yr by lol-lol

Shell laying out its plans for the future for EV charging at its converted petrol stations.....   Costs is not cheap at 41p a kWh  but looks convenient.

I have two useful ones on my routes from Worcester to London ie on the A44 and A417/A46, my two favourite routes.

Only just over a hundred now but 5,000 more due in the next 5 years.  

 

 

 

You pays your money and make your choice.

 

 

 

 

 

I heard about this place just last week. 50+ chargers! Apparently parking charges are steep, so free electric makes it more bearable.

12 hours ago, Luckypants said:

I heard about this place just last week. 50+ chargers! Apparently parking charges are steep, so free electric makes it more bearable.

 

Only 7 kwh chargers, would like to gave seen some 11 or even 22 kwh ac chargers and also they should have some pay as you go DC I reckon.

They are least get used with people parked and charging which is more than can be said for Stirling's  Castle View Park & Ride with 40 7 kW, 20 22kW and nobody using them.

Only 4 rapids.   Free Parking & Free Charging.      Chance of them working is not that high. 

 

This better not be the future, money wasted as people are wanting to go on their journeys and need reliable fast charging if people are not going to Park & Ride.

 

*Visited by travellers in caravans which stopped EV drivers from being able to go near the place and charge and the action Police Scotland took ZERO, 

not ZERO CARBON.*

 

 

 

Edited 26 October, 20214 yr by roottoot

12 minutes ago, lol-lol said:

 

Only 7 kwh chargers, would like to gave seen some 11 or even 22 kwh ac chargers and also they should have some pay as you go DC I reckon.

The video shows the 22kW chargers. Not many of them but there is a mixture. 

Now that my Local Authority is charging to charge it would cost me £9.20 for 40 kWh.

Home charging without a Off Peak tariff and on my current one would cost £7.24.

Some councils 30 pence a kWh charging is £12.00

Tesco 50kW @ 28 pence a kWh £11.20

BP Pulse 50kW £11.60

BP Pulse 100 + Contactless £16.20

Ionity @ 69 pence kWh £27.60

 

£16.80 or more at InstaVolt for 40 kWh and that might take me less than 120 miles, much less in the coldest weather. 

If only getting 2.5 miles per kWh that would be 100 miles costing £16.80

 

So when not away on a trip and charging outwith the council area i will be topping up free at Tesco on a 7kW charger.

As the weather gets colder and energy just disappears overnight and while doing a few local miles daily i am interested to see how long it will take to charge to 98% in a morning after it has maybe dropped to 94 or 95 % from the last charge.

Today it was less than 15 minutes to show at 98% after being parked last night with 99% showing and just 5 miles driven.

 

I will plug in at home when there is the chance of frosts or a proper freeze while parked just ti be able to deice the glass. 

 

I expect that the Tesco Chargers locally might get used more often now as the Council chargers were not filled with cars on them and some for many hours.

Or maybe people will be using their home chargers now and paying at whatever tariff they are on. 

 

When in other Scottish Council Areas i will be trying as much as possible to use free or cheaper charging while still possible and the best priced Commercial Chargers as the Quickest commercial ones that do reduce charging times are not a saving over using liquid fuel at current costs.

If diversions and road closures are likely during the winter i will not be going by EV as it is getting to be a PITA getting reliable charging in many areas unless paying more than driving an ICE.

 

 

Edited 1 November, 20214 yr by roottoot

On 26/10/2021 at 22:09, Luckypants said:

The video shows the 22kW chargers. Not many of them but there is a mixture. 

 

Yes 5 chargers there, not all working all the time I gather. Not all EVs can charge at 22 kwh AC but I bet EVs that can only accept 7 or 11 do sometimes use the 3 phase or perhaps it does not work if one tries to draw single phase from a 3 phase charger.  Whole information system still needs improving even though ZAP seem to do a good job from what I have seen.

1 hour ago, roottoot said:

Now that my Local Authority is charging to charge it would cost me £9.20 for 40 kWh.

Home charging without a Off Peak tariff and on my current one would cost £7.24.

Some councils 30 pence a kWh charging is £12.00

Tesco 50kW @ 28 pence a kWh £11.20

BP Pulse 50kW £11.60

BP Pulse 100 + Contactless £16.20

Ionity @ 69 pence kWh £27.60

 

£16.80 or more at InstaVolt for 40 kWh and that might take me less than 120 miles, much less in the coldest weather. 

If only getting 2.5 miles per kWh that would be 100 miles costing £16.80

 

So when not away on a trip and charging outwith the council area i will be topping up free at Tesco on a 7kW charger.

As the weather gets colder and energy just disappears overnight and while doing a few local miles daily i am interested to see how long it will take to charge to 98% in a morning after it has maybe dropped to 94 or 95 % from the last charge.

Today it was less than 15 minutes to show at 98% after being parked last night with 99% showing and just 5 miles driven.

 

I will plug in at home when there is the chance of frosts or a proper freeze while parked just ti be able to deice the glass. 

 

I expect that the Tesco Chargers locally might get used more often now as the Council chargers were not filled with cars on them and some for many hours.

Or maybe people will be using their home chargers now and paying at whatever tariff they are on. 

 

When in other Scottish Council Areas i will be trying as much as possible to use free or cheaper charging while still possible and the best priced Commercial Chargers as the Quickest commercial ones that do reduce charging times are not a saving over using liquid fuel at current costs.

If diversions and road closures are likely during the winter i will not be going by EV as it is getting to be a PITA getting reliable charging in many areas unless paying more than driving an ICE.

 

 

 

I know I am a newbie but I cannot imagine charging up usually to more than 85% as it get slow to charge after then, regeneration does not work so well when battery over 89% and I gather some chargers charge a per minute charge so value for money dives over 85 %.

Zoe seems to be different as it limits charging too 125 amps to protect the long life of the traction battery which I am happy about 

I have never seen a per minute cost.

Plenty with a penalty if over 45 minutes or 90 minutes but you still pay per kWh of electricity at whatever speed.

 

I have regen still when the displayed battery level is at 98%

 

If you want to have a good battery capacity ready to set off it is not that slow to charge to 98% in many EV's.

I happen to be with the car unless away on my bike until i have enough charge, i look back to see if anyone need the charger, have a number on my dash to text if a charge is needed and move to let someone charge,

but then many are just parked and the car is left charging.

Dropped off the car and picked up and the car left for many many hours. 

Even left on 43kW AC chargers and blocking others that require them.

 

I start charging showing over 200 mph until 85% when it is about 170 mph & i can still be charging at 88 mph up to 95 or 96% then it drops to 39 mph until 98% where is slows to 8 MPH.

 

on a 7kW AC like today it was 26 mph to 98% then 8mph. 

 

This Kia Niro's driver left a good few people peed off that wanted to use the tethered AC 43kW charger this weekend.

It was on longer than this as i passed later and it was still there. 

 

Edited 1 November, 20214 yr by roottoot

2 hours ago, roottoot said:

This Kia Niro's driver left a good few people peed off that wanted to use the tethered AC 43kW charger this weekend.

It was on longer than this as i passed later and it was still there. 

Unfortunately this is the current state of things. The proper way to go about charging hasn't settled yet. The Kia driver thought they were using slow AC destination charging (think car park) so it's okay to leave the car parked long term, but actually the charger is a rapid charger (think petrol pumps).

 

I think the best way to avoid this is to remove the Type 2 heads on rapid chargers, install AC destination charging posts nearby and set a minimum charging speed of 12kW. Slower than this a message will appear  "please vacate this rapid charger and use nearby AC charging posts".

There are Zoe drivers that regularly use that 43kW AC.

No idea what charging speed their vehicles get, and in lots of cases they seem not to know either. 

Lots of people turn up in new cars, used cars new to them & borrowed or hired cars, even work vehicles and have not a clue about chargers.

 

Read a funny one from a driver at my local hub about another user on ZapMap.  

I will post later when i can, but basically it was about them hitting a stop button to stop charging when they had never actually managed to get the charger started yet had sat there for a while thinking it had.

7 hours ago, roottoot said:

There are Zoe drivers that regularly use that 43kW AC.

No idea what charging speed their vehicles get, and in lots of cases they seem not to know either. 

Lots of people turn up in new cars, used cars new to them & borrowed or hired cars, even work vehicles and have not a clue about chargers.

 

Read a funny one from a driver at my local hub about another user on ZapMap.  

I will post later when i can, but basically it was about them hitting a stop button to stop charging when they had never actually managed to get the charger started yet had sat there for a while thinking it had.

 

Unless it is a Q90 Zoe it will not draw the 43 kw "only" the 22 kw.  Only the Q90 had the 43 kw AC capability and if you had that option you had about 10 miles less range so was not such a win.  I like the 11,16 and 22 kw chargers, as well as the girlie 3.6 kw and 7.2 kw home chargers as I think they are kinder to the battery pack compared to the 50 kw AC DC chargers.

 

But Zoe limits the after AC/DC and voltage conversion to 124 Amps so if the traction battery is down to 350 volts you will get the 43 kw of charge rate from the 50 kw DC charger but gradually increases as the voltage increases and it maintains a good charge rate well in to the 87% mark which is probably where I would  disconnect and get back on the road.

 

Always a "BUT" and whilst I like both the IONIC and the MG and I happy with the Zoe in most regards...

 

 

@lol-lol so 24 hours and 6 miles driven in 2x 3 mile trips and the battery was showing 95% this morning.   Plugged in at Tesco and out in less than 15 mins and it was showing 99%.    So OK being ready to use if heading off someplace and I am at Tesco a few times a week and by car not e-bike if it is rainy or icy.  15 mins charge starts as you plug in and if you want it to run longer you need to confirm on the PodPoint App.  If I am going to charge longer I will have bike on the car and head off for a few hours. 

Edited 2 November, 20214 yr by roottoot