New ev driver - basic question re public charging.

QrizB

Another bonus for Electroverse is they offer "plunge pricing" on certain charger networks when there's a surplus of electricity available on the grid. Our last Instavolt charge was at 25% off, for example (69p/kWh rather than 92p).

Other apps might have similar schemes, but if they do I've not encountered them.

Keep_pedalling

Nearly all rapid charge points are contactless these days. I try to use sites that I can use my Electroverse app on but where that is not available I just use Apple Pay. I have found that some times my credit card has not been accepted but Apple Pay linked to the same card always works.

mgfvvc

As a non EV driver, I've just watched a video that told me, not only is Tesla cheaper but it's even cheaper if you pay the tenner required for membership in the Tesla app. Apparently they are also cheaper after 10 p.m.

chrisw

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82067518#Comment_82067518

Around half the Tesla chargers are open to non Teslas. I usually seek them out as they tend to be cheapest and high speed. You have to download the Tesla app and add a bank card. It will tell you which chargers are open to you and charging can be stopped and started on the app.

facade

Some supermarkets have 50kW DC chargers. Lidl do and charge 62p/kWh through their app. They also have 7kW chargers that are around the 45p/kWh and often available as you can only use them for the permitted duration of your stay, around 2 hours. They are slow by modern standards and few can be bothered plugging in for half an hour or so to gain 10 to 15 miles. They can give a useful top-up if you are just going beyond the range of your own battery.

The vocabulary is very Lewis Carroll though slow, fast, rapid, ultra-rapid!

Generally slow is less than 7kW, fast is 7kW to 22kW (very, very few can use 22kW AC charging as it is 3 phase, and usually an extra cost option that no-one specifies) Rapid is DC charging upto 50kW.

Ultra-rapid is extreme DC charging that makes all the streetlights go dim (actually there is a container full of batteries somewhere to supply the extra current and charge up overnight, so in theory, a long queue can deplete the storage and drop the charge down to only what the grid can supply)

Depends on your EV as to which you can use, and whether it is yours or definitely going back as to which one you actually do use (lower charge rates are better for battery life, which doesn't matter if it is on PCP and going back 😉)

QrizB

Some supermarkets have 50kW DC chargers. Lidl do and charge 62p/kWh through their app.

Another hint for the OP is that, if you regularly make the same long journey (eg. to visit someone or something) you get to know what options are available along your route.

For example, we visit relatives in the far southwest a few times a year. We usually end up having to charge in Exeter, since our e-UP! only has a ~120 mile range on trunk roads and motorways.

We could charge at the Exeter M5 services, where there are two large CCS charging plazas run by Moto and Gridserve. However they're relatively expensive and busy, often full with cars circling like sharks looking for a free spot. So we go offpiste instead. (There's also a Tesla-only plaza; I don't know what that costs but it also gets full.)

There's a 50kW Lidl charger not far from the M5 junction, which is a convenient and relatively quiet spot for a lunch break (Lidl has a loo).

There's only one DC charger at that particular Lidl, so if it's in use a little way further up the road there's a Sainsbury's with six 150kW chargers. Charging at Sainsbury's is usually a little more expensive but the store has a few more facilities which can be handy.

Bandy2023

You don't need any apps to public charge, you can just rock up to most charges and use your bank / credit card.

Apps can give advantages, but they're not at all essential.

If you're with Octopus, their electroverse app gives you discount and you can just add the cost to your electric bill.

Assuming your car can accept Tesla chargers, downloading the Tesla app allows you to use some, not all, of their chargers which are often quite a bit cheaper than others ( if doing this you download the app and choose 'I do not own a tesla')

But I stress again - you don't need ANY apps to public charge just fine.

lordmountararat

I've never had any trouble using a debit/credit card to initiate DC charging. You just tap it like any card reader to start and tap it again to stop. All rapid DC chargers fitted since 2022(?) have to be able to accept credit/debit cards.

Cornucopia

There are broadly two public charging options available: AC and DC. Each car/your car will have a charging capability on those two charger types and you need to know what that is in order to get the optimum charging experience.

An AC charger is typically 7-22kW, and won't have a screen for contactless payment. Typically, charging is initiated by an app that either takes a pre-payment, or charges you just for the electricity used. Some of these chargers also accept RFID cards like Octopus Electroverse. Typically, an AC charger requires you to bring your own (Type 2) cable.

You can recognise an AC charger by its simple round connector. Unfortunately, there is no way around working out how a given charger works, how you pay for charging on it and which app is required. Chargers associated with a specific retailer are generally all the same, though, e.g. Tescos use Pod (previously Podpoint).

A DC rapid charger will be 50kW or much more, and will always have a mechanism for credit card payment. DC chargers have their own cables. Sainsburys have their own DC charging network which all accept credit cards, Electroverse and give Nectar points.

WellKnownSid

We've covered 2,000 miles in our EV in the past couple of weeks - I have noticed a trend of 'newbie' EV owners out there on the roads - let me give a few words of advice.

Don’t stand around waiting for your car to charge. The electrons will go in by themselves whilst you drink a coffee and arguably do so much faster when they are not being watched, something to do with quantum physics or kettles. You car’s app will tell you when it’s time to leave.

Never plug in above 50%. Headline charging speeds are based on low states of charge - above 50% you will be waiting 2-3 times as long. I like to arrive at my stop with under 20%.

Never DC charge above 80%. Your car may only take six minutes to go from 20 to 40% but it could take an hour adding the same mileage at 80%.

Don't charge more than you need to. If your next destination is two hours / 120 miles away then a 64kWh battery averaging 4.4m/kW will use 43% charge getting there. Adding on 15% margin means leaving as soon as you hit 58% will save both time and money.

As others have said Tesla rates are generally cheaper - I don’t pay the £10 subscription but even then they are good value, especially off peak. The Tesla app has worked reliably for me all over Europe without a hitch.