I charged up ~45 kWh of energy, 30min yesterday. Forgot to pre-heat the battery on the way. The charging forecourt layout was brilliant, just what we need at all services. But the service building were closed and there wasn't an easily walkable path out of the Gridserve grounds, only car access. So left after 30min.

 

The cable were really heavy and the phone app was a faff, felt like gone back to driving Leaf. I think I'll stick to Tesla superchargers for the foreseeable future. There's at least 4 superchargers at every Gridserve location forecourt anyway, so can easily stay in my walled garden.

 

Was great seeing all types of EV coming and going though, good variety.

6 hours ago, wyx087 said:

I charged up ~45 kWh of energy, 30min yesterday. Forgot to pre-heat the battery on the way. The charging forecourt layout was brilliant, just what we need at all services. But the service building were closed and there wasn't an easily walkable path out of the Gridserve grounds, only car access. So left after 30min.

 

The cable were really heavy and the phone app was a faff, felt like gone back to driving Leaf. I think I'll stick to Tesla superchargers for the foreseeable future. There's at least 4 superchargers at every Gridserve location forecourt anyway, so can easily stay in my walled garden.

 

Was great seeing all types of EV coming and going though, good variety.

 

I don't think the Gridserve chargers were free for credit card users on Xmas day, maybe only for App Users. So good Gridserve accepted Amex but negative for only allowing free charge to App users. Charging speed was a third to a half what I expected to.

Very close to service station entrance was a plus whilst TESLA chargers were right down the far end of the car park ie about 300m away.

 

Still don't know what charge I would get from the V4 TESLA chargers in tge Scenic but suspect it would be good ie 100 kws plus.

 

No £20 held for a week on Gridserve like TESLA.

 

Octoverse in combo with Ionity winning the experience comparison at the moment.

 

Yet to spend over a £5 on the 5 to 7 kw chargers I have had, just quick 7 minute and less adds and then charge at home for 130 miles added during Octopus Go cheap tariff time. So pleased the 8.5p per kwh extends in to 2025.

 

 

Edited 27 December, 20241 yr by lol-lol

Social divide revelation about the 'Revolution'.   'Not every town has a Sainsbury's'.  or even supermarkets. but hey ho who cares!

 

A FULL CHARGE in 30 Minutes',  with vehicles that can benefit from higher powered chargers, but those with 50 kW max charge even with smaller batteries may well take longer. 

& this is 'Not in-expensive charging'.  for plebs needing public charging.

 

10 kWh costing £7.50 and even if you get 4 miles a kWh that is 40 miles.   

Maybe nothing to bother about if your Taycan only gets 2.6 miles a kWh, £7.50 26 miles.

 

PHEV charging the battery and 12kWh is £9.00 to maybe get 30 miles. maybe best buy £9.00 worth of petrol and get 50 miles. 

 

 

 

Edited 4 January, 20251 yr by Ootohere

IMO, We as in everyone paying full tariff rates for electricity in their properties that do not have Smart Meters or Off-Peak tariffs or EV,s to charge cheap, or free are being ripped off.

 

We who can get Off-peak rates and ev / PHEV charging or any other usage for under 10 pence a kWh should be well please. 

 

 

 

16 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

IMO, We as in everyone paying full tariff rates for electricity in their properties that do not have Smart Meters or Off-Peak tariffs or EV,s to charge cheap, or free are being ripped off.

 

We who can get Off-peak rates and ev / PHEV charging or any other usage for under 10 pence a kWh should be well please. 

 

 

 

 

The fee for charging at charge points is not just for the electricity but largely for recouping cost of the capital equipment. My company at the time ie Bollore, owned Source London, now 2.500 charges in London and Birmingham which cost cost thousands for single phase and tens of thousands for 3 phase chargers so much of that pence per kilowatt hour os for the recoup of CAPEX.

Those of use with home chargers have paid hundreds if not a grand or so for chargers installed at home to tap in to house mains and supply 7 kW to the EVs, quite an investment that takes many thousands of kWhs of cheaper electricity to recoup that CAPEX, albeit it might add some value to the house when sold having EV chargers installed.

The hardware does not come cheap and the installers are not on peanuts either as anyone who employs electricians knows, a good trade to be in then and now increasingly.  

 

Yes i know that.

& the very nice perk for using off-peak is fantastic, but maybe there should be a tax on that of not 5% but 50% and that can go to the Public Charging network. 

Instead of 7 pence a kWh lets say, that is 10 Pence, or maybe just go 100 % and make it 14 pence a kWh. 

After all you still get your 100 kWh for £14 to then get maybe 350 miles - 400.

 

There are those getting paid nice mileage rates and pocketing a tidy sum having charged at home cheaply. 

 

PS

Many that use company cars or are companies are not paying from their pocket to have an EV charger installed to charge the Company car. 

Or the other EV,s in the household. 

Edited 6 January, 20251 yr by Ootohere

2 hours ago, Ootohere said:

Instead of 7 pence a kWh lets say, that is 10 Pence, or maybe just go 100 % and make it 14 pence a kWh. 

That's a nice idea I can get behind, don't see any reason why not.

 

Although I may just use a granny charger instead (if metered on charge point). Or switch to bog standard E7 tariff at 12p these days.

 

At same time, in the interest of net zero transition, I'd like to see same 100% tax applied to all fossil fuel, from petrol to domestic gas.

2 hours ago, Ootohere said:

Yes i know that.

& the very nice perk for using off-peak is fantastic, but maybe there should be a tax on that of not 5% but 50% and that can go to the Public Charging network. 

Instead of 7 pence a kWh lets say, that is 10 Pence, or maybe just go 100 % and make it 14 pence a kWh. 

After all you still get your 100 kWh for £14 to then get maybe 350 miles - 400.

 

There are those getting paid nice mileage rates and pocketing a tidy sum having charged at home cheaply. 

 

PS

Many that use company cars or are companies are not paying from their pocket to have an EV charger installed to charge the Company car. 

Or the other EV,s in the household. 

 

The HMRC Treasury rate ie 45 p per mile for first 10k miles and the 25 p per mile after that is crap and probably only works if one is driving a Dacia or the like. The amount is suppose to cover depreciation for doing the miles, business insurance clause, servicing, tyres as well as the fuel cost. Does not cover it for nearly 98% of cars these days I reckon.

I was able to claim 63p per mile in 1992 when doing a Crown transfer, they would pay for my servants to move but not our piano I remember the rules saying (did not have servants in case you were wondering).

My next door neighbour nurse gets a bit more than 45p I recall her saying, might have said 55p I think. She would pay tax on the bit above 45 ppm.

Many who claim mileage, a friend tells me, that it is common to claim the longer faster route but actually drive a shorter slightly slower route, tut tut.

HMRC giudelines/rules are a bit unclear on what one is suppose to claim ie Google distance, odometer recorded mileage, including rest breaks of course.

 

Quite vague. Of course the major bit of support comes from a salary sum each month, many hundreds of pounds usually, taxed at full rate of course, 20%, 40%, 45% etc.

 

One can see how salary sacrifice schemes have been massively successful. If one can take an EV that would cost 750 a month and get it for around 400 that is a great deal, still waiting for my company to implement which as the world's largest finished vehicle mover I would hope they would do and get a good deal.

 

I think company cars are a minority now as other ways as I mention above is preferred. Car allowance massively taxed, EV salary sacrifice massively beneficial to staff if a good scheme. I am probably to close to retirement to get on a SS scheme so will bob along as is but it is very clear whatever company benefits are around, apart from SS EV, one is getting taxed more heavily than ever since WW2.

 

 

Quote

The need for cross-pavement charging solutions is clear: according to the most recent English Housing Survey, around eight million households in England—32% of homes—do not have access to off-street parking such as a driveway, garage, or residential carpark. However, four million households—16% of the nation—do have access to adequate on-street parking, a situation ideal for cross-pavement EV charging.

 

Government releases cross-pavement EV charging guidelines

https://www.current-news.co.uk/government-releases-cross-pavement-ev-charging-guidelines/

'16% of the nation'   

That is the Nation of England not the UK.   The guidance might by for UK wide Local Authorities, but actually even if it say it is i think it i not. 

53 minutes ago, wyx087 said:

 

Government releases cross-pavement EV charging guidelines

https://www.current-news.co.uk/government-releases-cross-pavement-ev-charging-guidelines/

 

That's a slightly ambiguous paper - is the 16% of the nation (of England) part of the 32% or not - it doesn't clearly say.  So is there 32% that remain with no solution but 16% do have a potential solution via cross-footway charging, meaning 52% have access to a driveway or similar?  Or is it 16% have no solutions, 16% can use cross-footway solutions and 68% have access to a driveway or similar?

 

Very poor writing with regard to clarity of information...   and totally ambiguous!

84% of any figures published by civil servant on behalf of the UK government should not be trusted and the other 17% is because they can not count.  Know nothing really, even how many houses or accomodation should be paying council tax.  

Edited 7 January, 20251 yr by Ootohere

I saw the news, thought it's relevant to this thread.

But only quoted that bit because I found it funny. I was tempted to quote "Lies, damn lies and statistics".

Right now Darren Jones MP The Exchequer Secretary for the treasury was speaking about UK Energy and The Crown Estate bill in the House of Commons, Westminster.

 

He had to be reminded,  Crown Estate and England, Wales & Northern Ireland and not Crown Estate Scotland that has been dealt with at another time..

Borrowing etc, for 'GB Energy'.

 

They really are a pretty hopeless and hapless bunch.   

They need to Stop saying The Nation, or This Country if it is only 3 parts of the UK and not the whole UK. 

 

RE 'GB Energy.'   

This is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  

 

 

Edited 7 January, 20251 yr by Ootohere

The actual cross-pavement policy published by government, that was referenced by earlier article I posted:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cross-pavement-solutions-for-charging-electric-vehicles/cross-pavement-solutions-for-charging-electric-vehicles?

 

 

19 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Right now Darren Jones MP The Exchequer Secretary for the treasury was speaking about UK Energy and The Crown Estate bill in the House of Commons, Westminster.

 

He had to be reminded,  Crown Estate and England, Wales & Northern Ireland and not Crown Estate Scotland that has been dealt with at another time..

Borrowing etc, for 'GB Energy'.

 

They really are a pretty hopeless and hapless bunch.   

They need to Stop saying The Nation, or This Country if it is only 3 parts of the UK and not the whole UK. 

 

RE 'GB Energy.'   

This is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  

 

 

 

I thought Boris gave Northern Ireland to the EU.

 

Nearly the whole world thinks England is UK. In terms of percentage population, number of seats in Westminster it is an easy trap to fall into. Thankfully we always have you to remind us of the correct legal position George. Keep up the good fight. Maybe Scotland one day will be independent and the people of the world will need less reminding.

 

^^^ Exactly. 

They crapped themselves that Scotland might go and now they know that NI could go to the EU and part of GB Energy with it. 

 

Scottish Budget going through it seems as Scottish Labour abstain. 

Scottish Labour needs to split from Labour and the 2 child benefit cap, Winter Fuel Payment cancelled etc.

After all the Barnett Formula is just money back to Scotland that Westminster got from Natural Resources from Scotland taxed and the duties, 

food, beverage and oil and gas. 

2 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

^^^ Exactly. 

They crapped themselves that Scotland might go and now they know that NI could go to the EU and part of GB Energy with it. 

 

Scottish Budget going through it seems as Scottish Labour abstain. 

Scottish Labour needs to split from Labour and the 2 child benefit cap, Winter Fuel Payment cancelled etc.

After all the Barnett Formula is just money back to Scotland that Westminster got from Natural Resources from Scotland taxed and the duties, 

food, beverage and oil and gas. 

 

Best getting it done before the oil and gas runs out or it becomes largely un needed for fuel, still need for plastics etc of course.

 

Then Wales for the Welsh, selling the English their water and a tourist tax when Cornwall become a separate Celtic nation as will Basque and Gaul.  Plus a united Ireland is a dream.

 

The idea was to keep the oil and gas where it has been for billion of years for a bit longer and not let Westminster p!5h it up the wall on daft projects just for the benefit of England like Train lines, or hiring ferries from companies without ferries or putting thousands of EV chargers into London where nearly every person seemingly has a car and a drive and the streets are not only paved with gold but heated so that where a cable needs to cross a pavement there is no snow or ice.

Heated from Renewables generated oop north and cheap down south. 

53 minutes ago, wyx087 said:

The actual cross-pavement policy published by government, that was referenced by earlier article I posted:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cross-pavement-solutions-for-charging-electric-vehicles/cross-pavement-solutions-for-charging-electric-vehicles?

 

 

 

Thanks - that seems to clarify that they think 16% have no solutions, 16% can use cross-footway solutions and 68% have access to a driveway or similar...

 

I remain to be convinced their numbers are correct 🤣

There is no way that there are enough ground floor homes or ones with a ground level parts and vehicle access to the property, be that a drive, parking in England to get the numbers they suggest with high rise flats, blocks, properties split, flats over shops, offices etc etc. 

There are properties that have occupants with multiple vehicles etc. 

There are housing & accommodation areas without a road that takes you to that close to the property and those are everyplace and anyplace around the UK. 

There might be emergency vehicle access and deliveries etc but not car parking. 

Quote

The Norwegian EV incentives:

• No purchase/import tax on EVs (1990-2022). From 2023 some purchase tax based on the cars’ weight on all new EVs.
• Exemption from 25% VAT on purchase (2001-2022). From 2023, Norway will implement a 25% VAT on the purchase price from 500 000 Norwegian Kroner and over
• No annual road tax (1996-2021). Reduced tax from 2021. Full tax from 2022.
• No charges on toll roads (1997- 2017).
• No charges on ferries (2009- 2017).
• Maximum 50% of the total amount on ferry fares for electric vehicles (2018)
• Maximum 50% of the total amount on toll roads (2018-2022). From 2023 70%
• Free municipal parking (1999- 2017)
• Access to bus lanes (2005-). New rules allow local authorities to limit the access to only include EVs that carry one or more passengers (2016-)
• 25% reduced company car tax (2000-2008). 50% reduced company car tax (2009-2017). Company car tax reduction reduced to 40% (2018-2021) and 20 percent from 2022.
• Exemption from 25% VAT on leasing (2015-)
• The Norwegian Parliament decided on a national goal that all new cars sold by 2025 should be zero-emission (electric or hydrogen) (2017).
• «Charging right» for people living in apartment buildings was established (2017-)
• Public procurement: From 2022 cars needs to be ZEV. From 2025 the same applies to city buses

https://elbil.no/english/norwegian-ev-policy/

 

Norway EV incentives.

 

I wonder what sort of "charging right" is provided.

Don't think UK have anything similar. If not, why not?

1 hour ago, wyx087 said:

Don't think UK have anything similar. If not, why not?

Because no UK Government is actually serious about spending money on net zero - they want the vast majority of the costs to be borne by business and individuals. The reduction/withdrawal of subsidies and subsequent fines on car makers shows that all this Government care about is filling the alleged £22bn gap.

 

 

Going to stop over tomorrow night at my brother's in Haverhill  and he has not got a wallbox charger so taking a "Granny" three pin plug charger.  Have one already but it is only 10 amp so ordered another on Amazon whilst in Tenerife and it arrived lunchtime.

 

One of the newer types that I have seen which is switchable in the range 8 amps through 10, 13 and 16 amps if I can get the input.

 

I have been building Commando 32 amp leads and running the spec via my electrician son in law.  13A can get quite hot on the 13a plug after a while.

 

Granny 3 pin was only £89 from Amazon but has detailed display with amps, volts, temperatures of device and host(?).

 

Now got a much better charger when visiting.  Pay the donating house say 33p per kilowatt, offer to do so, and we are both quid in.  Bro is on Octopus Cosy tariff so he gets cheap night time tariff like us on Go etc. I referred him so we shared £100 intro amount.

 

Worcester to Felixstowe going to be longest journey yet and glad to see the warm spell which will help the efficiency of course.