EV Charging Network

JKenH

Testing my nearest 10 electric car charge sites

If you don’t have an EV but are thinking  of getting one, watch this video. This is the reality of public charging.

https://youtu.be/4E0pOuhYhXA

EVM who has been into electric cars for longer than most of us drove to the 10 rapid chargers nearest his home. Why, you might ask? Well, it was a test. It didn’t go well: 6 out of the 10 sites weren’t working (often contrary to what was shown on ZapMap and the chargers own websites) and the other 4 were busy. 

I must declare an interest. I owned EVs for 3 years and was initially quite happy but went back to an ICE car after encountering numerous issues with rapid charging on longer journeys. 

Same video also posted on the EV Discussion thread on the Green and Ethical Money Saving board.

TooManyPoints

The reality of public charging is that it is hopelessly inadequate. If EV sales continue as they are (though there is some signs of them fading a little) and the public charging point rollout progresses at its current stately rate (and there is little sign of an improvement), it will become more inadequate. 

DrEskimo

The public charging infrastructure is a complete joke. The amount of people I see struggling even when they work is a sorry sight. 

Yet…i have just driven 450miles in a 6yr old Tesla (90k miles) and it was a complete non issue. Zero planning. Stuck the destination into the sat nav and sat off. Every supercharger location with plenty of free chargers, all connected in seconds and delivered a good charge rate (all at the cost of £0 too, which was a nice bonus…). 

Shows it’s completely possible, which I guess is a positive. Really annoying as I don’t particularly want a Tesla, but so hard to justify anything else due to the supercharger network….

fred990

Buying an EV is a brave or very stupid move around here.

Sure you can charge over two or three days with a three pin plug or pay a fortune for your own charger and have the drive dug up too! 

Why bother? Just go to our local charging 'station' ....there's two and they're always in use. It's no problem to join the queue and go for a coffee they say.....lol.

MikeJXE

Thats very strange. I normally travel 200 yards, hardly ever a queue,  I could walk 50 yards and it only take me 2 minutes to fill the tank

Oh sorry Im talking about my diesel  Jag 

fred990

EV is the future Mike.....unless you're the boss of Toyota! 

Bigwheels1111

fred990 said:

EV is the future Mike.....unless you're the boss of Toyota! 

That’s funny as I was thinking of getting a Corolla estate in 2/3 year.
To replace my diesel car.
Overall it will give me better mpg.
I’ve been checking the closest 11 chargers over the last 3 month while on my 5 mile walk.
At one point 3 were working. On the best day 6 were working.
Not good is it.

Brie

Public chargers are, of course, an issue but it's the complete inability to have a private charger as well that I see as the biggest blockage.  Way too many people cannot and never will be able to charge their EV at home and those that can will be doing so via illegal over the pavement extensions or simply some cord dangling out a lounge window.  Not sure how we're going to get around that.  

MikeJXE

fred990 said:

EV is the future Mike.....unless you're the boss of Toyota! 

I have absolutely no interest in electric vehicles

My Approved used Jaguar XE Portfolio auto diesel 3 year old when I bought it for £16,000 and 22,000 on the clock is the most expensive car I ever bought. I have had it now 3 years, service every 2 at Jaguar approve garage £300 mpg 50 plus tax £30 

I'm 82 years and and it's a dream to drive, If I am lucky enough to live many more years I will replace it for a newer model before they stop making them 

propnut

I looked at EV's a year or so ago mainly for my wife. She doesn't do much mileage, typical moms taxi around town so thought a Nissan Leaf would suit her perfectly. On many levels I realised they were fools gold and bought her a Prius instead. Best decision ever.

mgfvvc

fred990 said:

EV is the future Mike.

but for now, they are not for a lot of people. Another 10 years of battery development, infrastructure build and a wider range of cars and it will be the obvious choice for most new vehicles. Right now, they don't make an EV that fits my requirements and the second hand choice is even poorer. I'm looking forward to the electric future, but it's still the future for me.