Public Charge Points

[andywaterfall]

I just bought it on delivery day, I figured I'd need it one day & would be stuck without it.

[mids]

Kinda on this topic....

http://llewblog.squarespace.com/electric-cars/2014...

[RossP]

Some more observations:

- ChargeMaster and BMW's ChargeNow (BMW) active maps seem as far as I can tell identical which is what I expected as Chargemaster provide it.
- There are some points that feature on Plugged In Midlands AND the Chargemaster ones - presumably these can be accessed with either card?
- There is a genuine concern that you might travel somewhere expecting a chargepoint and find you don't have an access card that will work.

I sent an email to plugged in midlands regarding the 'FREE' points in Westfield Derby that made no mention on their website that you needed a plugged in midlands card. They've since amended it -

"You will need a pluggedinmidlands charging card to use at the electric charging points. If you do not have one, simply pop to Concierge and we have one you can use! All you wiill need to do is full in a short form, and leave photo ID or a £10 returnable deposit with us."

[budfox]

I got charging points put in at the hotel/golf club I work at.

http://www.woodburypark.co.uk/electric-car-chargin...

Free for anyone to use at any time though overnight use has to be booked via hotel reception.

Need to get us on a few maps I think.

[RossP]

I now have a set of cards to access public charging points!

[andywaterfall]

Nice one! Have you actually used a charging station yet?

I did a recce the other night of a few near to me, just to make sure I knew where they were in case, one day, I'm not quite going to make it home... One pair in a public car park were obvious, one of another pair in a garden centre was out of order, and I couldn't find the third at a Little Chef - possibly the most important one, as that's on my route home from London! Might try again today in daylight.

[RossP]

Hi Andy. I have the cards, cable is at the dealers. Just need my i3 now...

It's just gone into build!

I did try the one in our local shopping centre when I had a loan car. That's when I discovered I needed a plugged in midlands card (the BMW one didn't work).

Edited by RossP on Sunday 2nd February 09:22

[Atommad]

I charged up at the Trafford Centre last week. You can use the "app" to to control charging or the GMEV card. I don't think i have ever seen another car at the charging stations although I am sure that will change this year.

[RossP]

So GMEV is another card that would be useful to have! Seems to be part of yet another network called "Charge Your Car" http://chargeyourcar.org.uk/ They do have an RFID card (£10) but it says you can just use their app on a smartphone to pay.

Another network is podpoint. They don't have a card, they use text messages. http://www.pod-point.com/markets/public/

[Atommad]

Just done another charge at the TC using the app, works a treat, no need for the card.

[XTR2Turbo]

I don't see why the system requires all these cards. They basically aren't charging so why not just allow a debit card or equivalent? The cost of producing and administering the cards must just add to their loss.

Or atleast allow a single card that works for all.

[RossP]

XTR2Turbo said:

I don't see why the system requires all these cards. They basically aren't charging so why not just allow a debit card or equivalent? The cost of producing and administering the cards must just add to their loss.

Or atleast allow a single card that works for all.

Agree. It's a pain in the ass!

[Fish]

My Charge point at work just got commissioned..... ready for the car now.

[RossP]

Fish - what did that cost in the end? I am just trying to get extra funding from the city council.

[amstrange1]

Might be useful for some of you:
https://www.goultralow.com/how-do-i-power/charging...

[mids]

I tried applying for a Chargemaster Polar card this week but when I spoke to them on the phone to pay the £10 fee they advised not to bother (something to do with payment methods changing in March). I was pointed to the ChargeNow website instead.

[RossP]

That's interesting. My chargemaster card was free as I got my home charging point from them.

[mids]

Some info starting to trickle out about the new Chargemaster pricing structure for using their public charge points.

https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/streets-transport...

[spitty709]

mids said:

Some info starting to trickle out about the new Chargemaster pricing structure for using their public charge points.

https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/streets-transport...

That is really expensive, Ok if this included a parking premium, but as it is, that is ridiculous. My i3 is doing about 70 miles a charge this takes 3-4 hours from flat for a full 100% charge, so £8, this works out at 11.4p a mile. My diesel car that I got rid of to buy the i3 was only 11.3p a mile. And as the council are saying that they are not adding anything to this, this is a best case scenario!!!! Just wasted £20 on a charge now card.

[Amateurish]

mids said:

Some info starting to trickle out about the new Chargemaster pricing structure for using their public charge points.

https://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/streets-transport...

Too expensive, no one will bother. That's basically 33p/kwh which is 3x more than I pay at home.