Battery Electric Vehicle News / Enjoying the Transportation Revolution

EVandPV

Solarchaser said:

JKenH said:

ChargePlace Scotland: Why the ‘world’s largest’ electric vehicle switchover turned into a ‘disaster’ and how a Dundee team are trying to fix it

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business-environment/transport/2486779/chargeplace-scotland-why-the-worlds-largest-electric-vehicle-switchover-went-wrong-and-how-a-dundee-team-are-trying-to-fix-it/

Hmm, I guess I'd say that it's kinda true.
The migration has definitely not went smoothly, and last week I pulled up at a 7kw charger that wouldn't recognise either my card, or either app, nor was it available to cps or cyc when I called them.

Sounds terrible right?
Well not really, that's the one time I've had that since the switch over and it was with a single 7kw charger.
Another twice on 22kw chargers when screens have been faulty or refusing the card I've phoned cps and they have simply activated the charger, once having to phone back again to get them to deactivate the charger so I could get my cable back. 

However within the switch-over time since the end of July I've charged around 20 times, and those 3 were the only issues I hit. 
Every other time it's been fine, including right now when I'm sitting charging at the Stirling charging facility on a free 50kw charger. 
This is the Tesla bank just now 

So in short it's true that the switchover has not went as planned, but those people who were complaining and saying its been set back years or that they wouldn't have bought an electric car, they must be daily mail/express readers, as that's simply sensationalist garbage.

I've charged 4 times in Aberdeen in the last month, no issues.

I haven't used my CPS card since we got a home charger 18 months ago but heard about issues with the switch the other day so thought I'd better try it. Charge started no problem. 
Apparently, due to the ongoing technical issues, some posts are starting a charge with any type of RFID card including Tesco Clubcard. 😁

The problem appears to be network related which you would think wouldn't take too long to fix.

Solarchaser

EVandPV said:

Solarchaser said:

JKenH said:

ChargePlace Scotland: Why the ‘world’s largest’ electric vehicle switchover turned into a ‘disaster’ and how a Dundee team are trying to fix it

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/business-environment/transport/2486779/chargeplace-scotland-why-the-worlds-largest-electric-vehicle-switchover-went-wrong-and-how-a-dundee-team-are-trying-to-fix-it/

Hmm, I guess I'd say that it's kinda true.
The migration has definitely not went smoothly, and last week I pulled up at a 7kw charger that wouldn't recognise either my card, or either app, nor was it available to cps or cyc when I called them.

Sounds terrible right?
Well not really, that's the one time I've had that since the switch over and it was with a single 7kw charger.
Another twice on 22kw chargers when screens have been faulty or refusing the card I've phoned cps and they have simply activated the charger, once having to phone back again to get them to deactivate the charger so I could get my cable back. 

However within the switch-over time since the end of July I've charged around 20 times, and those 3 were the only issues I hit. 
Every other time it's been fine, including right now when I'm sitting charging at the Stirling charging facility on a free 50kw charger. 
This is the Tesla bank just now 

So in short it's true that the switchover has not went as planned, but those people who were complaining and saying its been set back years or that they wouldn't have bought an electric car, they must be daily mail/express readers, as that's simply sensationalist garbage.

I've charged 4 times in Aberdeen in the last month, no issues.

I haven't used my CPS card since we got a home charger 18 months ago but heard about issues with the switch the other day so thought I'd better try it. Charge started no problem. 
Apparently, due to the ongoing technical issues, some posts are starting a charge with any type of RFID card including Tesco Clubcard. 😁

The problem appears to be network related which you would think wouldn't take too long to fix.

Yeah on the occasion the stantion wouldn't read any cards the lad at cps said anything with an rfid will start it, but the stantion itself was faulty. 

I do think it's taken too long to fix this, my account still hasn't been migrated across, so there definitely is an issue, but a 2 min phonecard is hardly the end of the world.

If I could call someone at a petrol pump and he supplied me free petrol each time, id probably phone every time 🤪

Grumpy_chap

Solarchaser said:

And if that was a normal failure rate, ie 1 in 20, not 3.... (2 of which I called the company and all was good) I may be a bit put out.
However this is the reported DISASTER of the last month.

Until the last month the failure rate is maybe 1 in 150 at a guess.

But then if we are to use your own comparison. 
How many of those things you listed are free?

This is a free service right now.

OK, so none of the things I listed are free.

Nor is the "free" charging - it is simply spreading the cost thinly over a wide pool of taxpayers.  It is a very wide question (beyond the topic of this forum) as to whether "free" EV charging is the most worthy spend for taxation.  Not that we have any of that all the way down here any longer.

Is it appropriate to provide free energy for any kind of consumption, when the green thing to do is to encourage energy-free travel altogether.

shinytop

Cards, apps, accounts, screens, (de)activations, rfid, switch-over, migrations, networks, phoning to get your cable back.  It all sounds really hard work.  I repeat my question upthread; why?  I can pay for petrol, groceries, parking, trains, McDonalds, KFC (so I'm told) and lots of other things by turning up at any time with a debit card or pay-enabled smartphone and waving it at or sticking it in a machine.  Why is charging an EV, free or not, so complicated?

ABrass

shinytop said:

Cards, apps, accounts, screens, (de)activations, rfid, switch-over, migrations, networks, phoning to get your cable back.  It all sounds really hard work.  I repeat my question upthread; why?  I can pay for petrol, groceries, parking, trains, McDonalds, KFC (so I'm told) and lots of other things by turning up at any time with a debit card or pay-enabled smartphone and waving it at or sticking it in a machine.  Why is charging an EV, free or not, so complicated?

Where is your competitive edge then? You're just renting a fancy plug socket out.

But also, you don't pay a different rate for eating your KFC slowly, or need an alert sent to you if you've eaten 90% of your Mcflurry. You might use an app to see if your shopping is in stock before you go to buy it.

A fallback 'take my  money' option does seem like an obvious option. But I am not running an electric charging network.

Solarchaser

shinytop said:

Cards, apps, accounts, screens, (de)activations, rfid, switch-over, migrations, networks, phoning to get your cable back.  It all sounds really hard work.  I repeat my question upthread; why?  I can pay for petrol, groceries, parking, trains, McDonalds, KFC (so I'm told) and lots of other things by turning up at any time with a debit card or pay-enabled smartphone and waving it at or sticking it in a machine.  Why is charging an EV, free or not, so complicated?

You know what you are right it all sounds really hard work.
The key word there is sounds.

Would it be better if all chargers were tesla chargers, yes it would, and if like Ken you just want to turn up and buy each time, it's probably perfect, no cards, no apps (if you don't want) no hassle at all, pull up, press the button on the charger, you charging flap opens and you crack on.
However you probably don't want to buy a Tesla, or they are too expensive etc.

It's a little bit like taking your Ford ka to get a £60 service, but then your ferrari gets a much better service and wash and valet for the £3k... why don't they service your ka like that for £60?

Tesla invested in their network which is why its the gold standard. 
England especially has a patchwork of multiple companies offering what they think is a good and profitable deal for them.
So you have choice.
Like tesco, Asia, sainsbury's etc, choice.
Some shops, snack bars don't take cards,  contact less or otherwise, how is that possible when others do???

In future I'm sure they will all take contact less payments like the instavolt chargers, but if that's what you want, expect to pay a bit more for it.
Why don't 10 year old chargers take contact less payment, same way as 10 year old vending machines don't, its still a fairly new technology. 

shinytop

ABrass said:

shinytop said:

Cards, apps, accounts, screens, (de)activations, rfid, switch-over, migrations, networks, phoning to get your cable back.  It all sounds really hard work.  I repeat my question upthread; why?  I can pay for petrol, groceries, parking, trains, McDonalds, KFC (so I'm told) and lots of other things by turning up at any time with a debit card or pay-enabled smartphone and waving it at or sticking it in a machine.  Why is charging an EV, free or not, so complicated?

Where is your competitive edge then? You're just renting a fancy plug socket out.

But also, you don't pay a different rate for eating your KFC slowly, or need an alert sent to you if you've eaten 90% of your Mcflurry. You might use an app to see if your shopping is in stock before you go to buy it.

A fallback 'take my  money' option does seem like an obvious option. But I am not running an electric charging network.

My competitive edge is that my charging points are really simple; tap your card/phone and go. No app needed and near 100% reliability.  I would pay extra for that to stop all the faffing around.   A price list with different options (just like I use at McDonalds)  would tell me how much/fast it would be.  The alert might be useful but I could probably work it out. Or maybe I could type my number in? 

Like I think you are implying, I suspect the operators were trying for a competive edge/loyalty but I don't think they've succeeded.       

Heedtheadvice

Imho,

Reliability, compatibility, complexity, availability, ease of organisation to use, is an issue. More especially probably for those who are not keen to be EVers who need to be converted.

Far from all CPS chargers being free in some council areas (the more rural locations) there is a connection fee of about £1.50 and then 20 or 25p per kWh. Of course there are more expensive ones too.

It is still early days in the development of charging point systems, standardisation should come eventually but might need a regulatory push! Until then the piecemeal approach accross the whole of the uk (and more) is not satisfactory and does nothing significant to help meet environmental aims. There are to many factors working against quick and easy take-up.

A Sunday Times article I happened to see at the weekend came, I think correctly, to the conclusion that EVs now are great, ideal for local running but the charging network is still a major weak point and can be a time consuming faff on a long journey.

Hopefully that will change rapidly if all concerned get their act together!

shinytop

Heedtheadvice said:

Imho,

Reliability, compatibility, complexity, availability, ease of organisation to use, is an issue. More especially probably for those who are not keen to be EVers who need to be converted.

Far from all CPS chargers being free in some council areas (the more rural locations) there is a connection fee of about £1.50 and then 20 or 25p per kWh. Of course there are more expensive ones too.

It is still early days in the development of charging point systems, standardisation should come eventually but might need a regulatory push! Until then the piecemeal approach accross the whole of the uk (and more) is not satisfactory and does nothing significant to help meet environmental aims. There are to many factors working against quick and easy take-up.

A Sunday Times article I happened to see at the weekend came, I think correctly, to the conclusion that EVs now are great, ideal for local running but the charging network is still a major weak point and can be a time consuming faff on a long journey.

Hopefully that will change rapidly if all concerned get their act together!

The EV article I saw in the Sunday Times this weekend was entitled:

Electric car push puts front gardens in peril, warns Alan Titchmarsh

Sacrificing grass and flowers to build chargepoints is ‘paving the way to disaster’

But of course our Alan has a solution:

"redesigning our front gardens with two narrow strips of paving for the wheels and a carpet of thyme, heathers, rock roses, variegated ivy and sedum, which can grow happily underneath the car"

Just the spot to park your Leaf.

Martyn1981

Shell to roll out more UK charge points. 

I find the 'problems with EV's' that the media and some nay-sayers tout, remind me of all the 'problems with PV' that people imaginereed a decade or so ago, without considering how solutions will roll out (or even were/are rolling out).

Of course the crucial issue is whether or not 'supply' will roll out faster than demand grows, in which case the problem gets smaller. But if we see typical UK Gov 'solutions' that remain behind the curve, then things will always be a bit poor, sadly.

Shell aims to install 50,000 on-street EV charge points by 2025

Shell has announced its aim to install 50,000 on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging points in the UK over the next four years, in an attempt to provide a third of the network needed to hit national climate change targets.

Earlier this year, the energy company acquired ubitricity, a leading supplier of local authorities’ on-street EV power points, with a network of 3,600 chargers in lamp posts or bollards.

The paucity of on-street charging in urban areas has been seen as a significant obstacle in the government’s drive to phase out fossil fuel vehicles in favour of electric cars. The sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be banned from 2030 in the UK.

Shell will entice local authorities by offering to meet the upfront costs of installation that are not covered by government grants, subject to commercial terms. The government’s Office for Zero Emission Vehicles currently pays 75% of the installation cost.

According to a National Audit Office report into reducing carbon emissions from cars, more than 60% of urban households in England do not have off-street parking, with the number rising to 68% for social housing.