This crap.

 

Tesla fully charged on the Rapid and locked in, and the Hybrid plugged into the 43 kW AC which is a rapid for some but only getting 4 kW soi could be on the 7kW posts using their own cable.

 

I was able to get on another Rapid.

Below, finally after many months the holders for the cables are not behind temp barriers.

Pity Electric Vehicle Charging Only is not painted on the ground. But then the 2 bays should be kind of obvious what they are, and there is one little sign that those parking ignore.

I keep swinging between do it and don’t do it. Each time I swing over to the mg4, I swing back via the qashqai with its electric drive sweetness mated to ice on board charging.

 

At least with the branded Tesla you know who to call  

 

 

Edited 28 March, 20233 yr by ColinD

I give them publicity on PlugShare & ZapMap with pictures and even get replies on posts that these are busy people who can not just be sitting charging like people with nothing to do like me.

Personally i think that if they are company cars and they get their VAT back and help from the Tax Payers / HMRC, then they should be a bit less greedy, a bit more thoughtful, 

and maybe get chargers at their own properties / land, or use the slow chargers if they want to dump their vehicles for a while and just leave them. 

Edited 28 March, 20233 yr by toot

2 hours ago, toot said:

even get replies on posts that these are busy people who can not just be sitting charging like people with nothing to do like me.

That's NOT how rapid charger works. Rapid charger are like petrol pumps. Move the car after filling up and paying. 

If they want to plug in and disappear, plug into a Type 2! 

 

I don't understand why people couldn't make the distinction. 

The whole thing is lost in translation with 'Destination chargers'. 

Location location location and chargers near where people want to actually park or be at.

There are places with loads of 7 kW chargers, but getting back and fore to these are not suitable for everyone.  But then using chargers and charging to full is not what everyone needs either, but plenty do need to get a charge and go.   

Like 'Wash & go in the shower'. 

 

'Idle fees' are perfect IMO.  Sadly there are those on chargers that can set the charge time to match the max charge period at places, the car stops charging and yet the car stays parked for hours hogging that charger / bay. 

eg Edinburgh Airport Park and Ride with only 5 Rapid chargers. So no £30 fine for overstaying 30 mins on the charger but the car can be there all day. 

 

 

 

East Lothian Council at least try to make some sense of it, but then where drivers could not care less it is just still a muddle. 

 

Edited 28 March, 20233 yr by toot

4 hours ago, toot said:

This crap.

 

Tesla fully charged on the Rapid and locked in, and the Hybrid plugged into the 43 kW AC which is a rapid for some but only getting 4 kW soi could be on the 7kW posts using their own cable.

 

I was able to get on another Rapid.

Below, finally after many months the holders for the cables are not behind temp barriers.

Pity Electric Vehicle Charging Only is not painted on the ground. But then the 2 bays should be kind of obvious what they are, and there is one little sign that those parking ignore.

 

I'm assuming there is no 'emergency release' option on the Tesla then and they don't unlock the cable once fully charged so it can be removed and re-used? (if not hey should be mandated to do so under Construction and Use Regs).

1 hour ago, skomaz said:

 

I'm assuming there is no 'emergency release' option on the Tesla then and they don't unlock the cable once fully charged so it can be removed and re-used? (if not hey should be mandated to do so under Construction and Use Regs).

It's the problem with CCS plug. The locking is controlled by the car. (I think) all cars apply same locking strategy as Type 2 cable. 

Chademo plug is controlled by the charger. So I was able to get a charge once at Ikea (back when Ecotricity owned it) once Outlander PHEV finished charging. Charge complete, plug unlocks, double parking bay means second user can plug in and start another session. 

 

I whole heartedly agree it should be mandated to unlock on charging completion, and/or idle fees should apply when charge rate slows below certain point (eg. 6 kW). There must also be 7 kW slow destination posts nearby though, in case people want to charge to 100%. 

 

As toot said, location location location. If rapid charger are randomly installed into car parks, it gives the wrong idea. 

Unfortunately being able to unplug makes no difference if you can not get your charge port near to plug in at an neighbouring bay or maybe behind the charger and plenty of places where you can get to behind the charge are not where you are allowed to charge at. 

 

I am charging in what is marked as the disabled bay, but many seem to not see the marking on the ground before driving in.

The cables reach around to the bays behind the charger which is good as others can wait for the charger to become available.

Edited 28 March, 20233 yr by toot

The plonker in the Non plug-in Renault Capture will not have known that the 2 7kW sockets for the public to charge were not working as the lights and app showed they were available.

I spoke with someone from the NHS in the hospital about their car sitting all the time in their 4 bays to the left plugged in all the time & it is because if they are not occupying them the public in ICE vehicles just park in their bays.

This is why even their cars then get parked using the end CPS charger for hours even if not charging.   Who is to blame. idiots, & the Government.

Actually NHS Estates in Scotland i would say, they £60 plus million was going to someone for going electric & efficient energy use. 

They should be there with Solar, Wind and Bio mass.

There is plenty parking spaces and i have never seen them full since the place was opened.

The chargers slow or Rapid get used and are unreliable and often what is working gets plugged into and used,

Then there are total plonkers like this Octavia driver.  Hard to really think what goes through their mind if anything.

 

EDIT.  Turns out it has been there at least for 3 days.

Edited 18 May, 20233 yr by toot

 

3 hours ago, cheezemonkhai said:

 

TS: DR.  

10 hours ago, cheezemonkhai said:

 

I'm seeing a blank post?

 

Toot, if it's any consolation, I had Octavia with that exact wheel, the torsion beam setup makes the car have horrible ride.

2 hours ago, wyx087 said:

I'm seeing a blank post?

 

Toot, if it's any consolation, I had Octavia with that exact wheel, the torsion beam setup makes the car have horrible ride.

no idea why there is a blank post as I didn’t even try to post anything…

 

As for the gollus wheels, they were no problem at all on a beam based estate.

 

Octavia should be towed though..

Edited 19 May, 20233 yr by cheezemonkhai

@cheezemonkhaiPublic Car Park and Council chargers and Common Good Land.    (EU Funded, but they took that sign down once it opened.)

I did ask why no EU Funding sign was put up or directions to the EV Charging from the A90 or town as many do get confused finding it from Apps / Sat Navs.

 

No overstay charge on chargers & no parking restrictions or enforcement.    As is quite common or was around Scotland.

 

1st June and when the tariff goes to 41 pence a kWh that will be the end of me using the chargers.

It is a pity that the Council have not imposed Charging Time Limits, but then that does not stop those that set their car to just charge that amount of time and cut out but the  car sits locked in. 

 

Edited 19 May, 20233 yr by toot

Free charging and no time limit is a PITA. Even limited rapids and time limits can be.  Just 1 rapid charger at Turnberry and out of service and the one rapid at Girvan harbour had someone plugging their Ioniq 5 2 hours ago when I got here.  It stopped charging an hour ago but was locked in.  That is 2 hours I have sat on the 7kW before getting onto the rapid to get enough charge in for traveling tonight.  Chargers were playing up at Park and Ride Stirling.  There are only 4 rapids and one was off. I pointed out to a Porsche Taycan driver that there is a 40 minute max charge time then it is £1 a minute.  He just stays on as long as need be and it works out at about 80 pence a kWh.   35 pence a kWh for 40 mins then the £1.     Not being in the mood for giving abuse or discussing his charging habits as I normally might,  like why not go around to the commercial charger and pay 79 pence a kWh at the Osprey charger next to the eatery nearby I just left him to it.  As they went off to get something to eat.

Edited 20 May, 20233 yr by toot

On 20/05/2023 at 15:48, toot said:

Free charging and no time limit is a PITA. Even limited rapids and time limits can be.  Just 1 rapid charger at Turnberry and out of service and the one rapid at Girvan harbour had someone plugging their Ioniq 5 2 hours ago when I got here.  It stopped charging an hour ago but was locked in.  That is 2 hours I have sat on the 7kW before getting onto the rapid to get enough charge in for traveling tonight.  Chargers were playing up at Park and Ride Stirling.  There are only 4 rapids and one was off. I pointed out to a Porsche Taycan driver that there is a 40 minute max charge time then it is £1 a minute.  He just stays on as long as need be and it works out at about 80 pence a kWh.   35 pence a kWh for 40 mins then the £1.     Not being in the mood for giving abuse or discussing his charging habits as I normally might,  like why not go around to the commercial charger and pay 79 pence a kWh at the Osprey charger next to the eatery nearby I just left him to it.  As they went off to get something to eat.

 

it's amazing how often that type of driver comes back to find their tyres have gone flat 😕

 

On 19/05/2023 at 13:24, toot said:

@cheezemonkhaiPublic Car Park and Council chargers and Common Good Land.    (EU Funded, but they took that sign down once it opened.)

I did ask why no EU Funding sign was put up or directions to the EV Charging from the A90 or town as many do get confused finding it from Apps / Sat Navs.

 

No overstay charge on chargers & no parking restrictions or enforcement.    As is quite common or was around Scotland.

 

1st June and when the tariff goes to 41 pence a kWh that will be the end of me using the chargers.

It is a pity that the Council have not imposed Charging Time Limits, but then that does not stop those that set their car to just charge that amount of time and cut out but the  car sits locked in. 

 

 

where will you charge if not on the chargers? I am quite happy if people move to charging at home because it frees up the network for thise who are away from home and need to use it - rather than those trying to save a few ££.

SInce they started to charge for power I have seen far fewer people moaning on social media about charging problems. It means that thos in flats or without parking off street are far more confident of being able to charge. 

 

@domhnallI will charge no place as that is me finished with EV's for a year or 3.

Probably for good as not sure i will renew my driving licence in a year. 

 

*For now and if driving in LEZ's the smelly diesel is exempt because it is VED class 'Disabled'. 

 

Over £60 million of public money put to the Public Charging network and lots of it went to BP / CPS and also to Swarco doing the backshop for BP and then just for CPS and also them doing the Maintenance on e-Volt chargers Swarco sell. 

Now these old chargers and ones that received grants are no longer repairable & many owners of Chargers Grant Aided charge very high tariffs or no longer have the chargers on the network. 

 

........................

I am always with the car when charging and just take in what i need while there and if there are others arrive needing on a rapid i move to a 7 kW charger or charge later on when chargers are available and not in demand,  (If someone has not just used them as a parking place and blocked it's use.)

 

Most of my charging when in and around home is at Tesco plugging in each 15 minutes a few time as i am time rich and the car seat has been dead comfy and getting in and out has not been an issue, now that my back is really bad it is not so handy for my 'aim to run an EV as cheaply as possible'.

The Rapid Charging near home is just when i do need to get in enough electric quickly for doing a longer run that day or the next.

I have to get a charge in at least every 120 miles on runs of over 120 miles. That is just how it is with small battery cars.

 

The carry on of charging hubs like in Edinburgh of trying more than one charger to just get a charge and the 30 mins max charge time is just ridiculous. 

That is really about the BP Pulse chargers though. 

 

I see Clackmannanshire council are to give a 10% discount on the ridiculous tariff they will be charging in the region.

This is like Dundee did but which was widely abused and has been dropped.

Dundee has a sensible enough tariff and charging time rules in place. 

Edited 22 May, 20233 yr by toot

Sorry to hear that George. There's noway I would go back to a fossil car now, they're just crap in comparison

 

@domhnallthe car has been plugged in at home since 11am on a 3 pin charger, 

So that is at 33 pence a kWh. 

40 kWh will be £13.20 and that is ok for 135 miles or so.

 

Angus Council chargers are now 41 pence a kWh so £16.20

Tesco Podpoint for 7 kW charger is 44 pence.  £17.60

 

Aberdeenshire now 47 pence, £18.80 

Tesco Podpoint 50 kW charging is 62 pence, £24.80

Lidl Podpoint 65 pence, £26.00

Highland Region Rapid charging 70 pence, £28.00

 

Regardless of how crap a fossil car might be when paying your own money for getting about for private use 50 mpg is OK with me. 

Business use / HMRC generosity and bigger vehicles are a different kettle of fish or toasty machine. 

 

135 miles @ 50 mpg =2.7 gallons. (12.3 litres @ 150 pence £18.45) 

 

 

Edited 4 June, 20233 yr by toot

40 kWh can also cost as little as £3 with EV tariff.

 

Or completely free charged using solar. Over last 3 sunny weeks, I have charged over 60%, almost 50 kWh completely free on solar.

 

Here's how:

https://www.speakev.com/threads/charging-off-excess-solar-using-dumb-charger-and-home-assistant.177813/#post-3441721

 

 

@wyx087Obviously it can.

 

But millions will be like me and not have a smart meter or a 'offpeak / ev tariff' or solar or anything and maybe can use a 3 pin charger or not even that and only can 'public Charge' 

 

So that is where the issue is at now with the cost of vehicles and the cost of Public Charging and why the likes of Fiat have offered a 'Grant' to get overpriced 500 EV's flogged.

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/504974-domestic-charging-points-a-new-social-dividing-line

 

Of course not everyone can charge at home, it's a problematic social divide and has been discussed as you are aware.

 

But if you can charge at home via 3-pin charger, you can get proper charge point installed and use it as primary source. If can't get smart meter, you would still be at price-cap. Consumer rates and 5% VAT are much better than public charging at business rates and 20% VAT.

 

As your calculation have demonstrated, charging at home at highest possible rate is still 71% of cost refuelling ICE. I'm only pointing out 2 possibilities to bring it much lower.

 

Charging at home is the boy, public chargers with tariffs around the home tariff, public chargers that are reliable are just all fandabydozy.

 

Charging at home is £13.20 for 40kWh compared to an ICE getting 50 mpg and costing £18.45

 

But go on a 300 mile trip and need to spend 40-60 minutes charging after 140 miles and paying maybe £25 or more just to charge on a 50 kW charger is real world.

In Scotland if you want to just pay the same or a bit more than the home tariff that is the luck required to get on a charger, and it working, starting.

 

There are PHEV,s and Hybrids now that getting 55-60 mpg and plus is easy and no stopping after only 140 miles or even less.

These PHEV's or Hybrids are the size of the BEV's or larger that have batteries with around 30 or 40 or even 50 kWh batteries. 

 

Running a PHEV & charging on a Home Tariff standard or reduced / offpeak is what there are people going to, even those that have had EV's.

The reason being, they go places and have no intention of heading to places they do not want to be at just to get a car charged to continue their journey.

 

Heading to places they do not want to be at for 30 minutes to 1 hour where there are no toilets of facilities or maybe even good mobile reception, which sums up many Public Charging Hubs in Scotland.

Even Park & Rides with 1 Charger at them and maybe even that out of service.