Charging Gloucester Services
Discussion
I've been using a variety of public chargers for the last 6 months or so and have become quite proficient at quickly getting the car charging. Yesterday I used the ones at Gloucester services (Moreland?).
I did my usual activity, which is to plug in the charging cable, then interact with the charging machine interface to pay. It took my 5 minutes of attempting to pay before it became clear that you're supposed to pre-authorise use before plugging in the charge cable. The user interface and error messages of course did not make this obvious, a separate printed metal sign giving clearer instructions was off to one side almost as an after-thought.
Is this common (to pre-authorise before plugging in the charge cable) and I've managed to dodge these chargers so far, or is this an oddity?
Basically, am I a noob, or is this uncommon?
I did my usual activity, which is to plug in the charging cable, then interact with the charging machine interface to pay. It took my 5 minutes of attempting to pay before it became clear that you're supposed to pre-authorise use before plugging in the charge cable. The user interface and error messages of course did not make this obvious, a separate printed metal sign giving clearer instructions was off to one side almost as an after-thought.
Is this common (to pre-authorise before plugging in the charge cable) and I've managed to dodge these chargers so far, or is this an oddity?
Basically, am I a noob, or is this uncommon?
tangerine_sedge said:
...Gloucester services (Moreland?)....
Westmorland, as in the defunct Lake District county where their original Tebay services are located.Most chargers you just plugin and tap your card, but there's some that have quirks so that's why you need to make sure it has definitely connected before wandering off. Some want you to select which connector you're using etc.
I'm planning on using those chargers at Gloucester (northbound) on Friday evening so will report back (I can't remember what sequence I had to use last time I was there).
Truckosaurus said:
tangerine_sedge said:
...Gloucester services (Moreland?)....
Westmorland, as in the defunct Lake District county where their original Tebay services are located.https://www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/
P.S. Wesmorland services (Tebay) was formed when the M6 was planned to go through the Dunning's Farm in the 70s. They now have as well as Tebay and Gloucester, Rheged near Penrith, Cairn Lodge on the M74 and soon to be Tatton Services on the M56
Just plug in after you've sorted out the payment OP. Plug in > Start the charge is no more time efficient than Start the charge > Plugin anyway so why bother?
In fact, as you've proven it's less efficient and would also be the case if the charger was faulty but you hadn't yet checked the screen.
In fact, as you've proven it's less efficient and would also be the case if the charger was faulty but you hadn't yet checked the screen.
SWoll said:
Just plug in after you've sorted out the payment OP. Plug in > Start the charge is no more time efficient than Start the charge > Plugin anyway so why bother?
In fact, as you've proven it's less efficient and would also be the case if the charger was faulty but you hadn't yet checked the screen.
I might change my routine to start doing that - I just wasn't expecting the pre-approval step explicitly without plugging-in as no other charger has ever done that to me before.In fact, as you've proven it's less efficient and would also be the case if the charger was faulty but you hadn't yet checked the screen.
SWoll said:
Just plug in after you've sorted out the payment OP. Plug in > Start the charge is no more time efficient than Start the charge > Plugin anyway so why bother?
In fact, as you've proven it's less efficient and would also be the case if the charger was faulty but you hadn't yet checked the screen.
Why can't the charger manufacturers make the hardware agnostic as to whether you pay or plug in first. Surely it can't be that difficult?In fact, as you've proven it's less efficient and would also be the case if the charger was faulty but you hadn't yet checked the screen.
gmaz said:
SWoll said:
Just plug in after you've sorted out the payment OP. Plug in > Start the charge is no more time efficient than Start the charge > Plugin anyway so why bother?
In fact, as you've proven it's less efficient and would also be the case if the charger was faulty but you hadn't yet checked the screen.
Why can't the charger manufacturers make the hardware agnostic as to whether you pay or plug in first. Surely it can't be that difficult?In fact, as you've proven it's less efficient and would also be the case if the charger was faulty but you hadn't yet checked the screen.
SWoll said:
gmaz said:
SWoll said:
Just plug in after you've sorted out the payment OP. Plug in > Start the charge is no more time efficient than Start the charge > Plugin anyway so why bother?
In fact, as you've proven it's less efficient and would also be the case if the charger was faulty but you hadn't yet checked the screen.
Why can't the charger manufacturers make the hardware agnostic as to whether you pay or plug in first. Surely it can't be that difficult?In fact, as you've proven it's less efficient and would also be the case if the charger was faulty but you hadn't yet checked the screen.
90% high speed chargers I plug in, tap my card, it works. I barely even read what's on the screen.
Indeed. I usually reach for the plug and then look at the screen. More often than not picking up the plug on a shared 'pump' selects that charger and brings up the 'tap your card' prompt.
Closest I've come to any charging issues is trying to pay with Electroverse at a Gridserve charger, it comes up with a generic failure message rather than saying 'We don't accept Electroverse you plum, pay with real money'.
Closest I've come to any charging issues is trying to pay with Electroverse at a Gridserve charger, it comes up with a generic failure message rather than saying 'We don't accept Electroverse you plum, pay with real money'.
this is my username said:
Just use the Tesla ones there instead? They are lots cheaper!
This, its even cheaper with a subscription, I've given up on any other public charging except as a last resort. I don't think I've had a failed charge and only very rarely find a broken unit and they are usually labelled in the App.
SWoll said:
gmaz said:
SWoll said:
Just plug in after you've sorted out the payment OP. Plug in > Start the charge is no more time efficient than Start the charge > Plugin anyway so why bother?
In fact, as you've proven it's less efficient and would also be the case if the charger was faulty but you hadn't yet checked the screen.
Why can't the charger manufacturers make the hardware agnostic as to whether you pay or plug in first. Surely it can't be that difficult?In fact, as you've proven it's less efficient and would also be the case if the charger was faulty but you hadn't yet checked the screen.
1. Screen at a height only suitable for wheelchair users or 6 year olds
2. Contactless touch point not obvious
3. Screen font requires my reading glasses which I don't have in the car
4. Cable sits in a gritty puddle and is then dragged across the car.
Thankfully I normally use Tesla superchargers, so I just plug in and walk away.
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