Ecotricity to start charging for charging
Discussion
oop north said:
Today's news is that ecotricity customers can have no more than 52 free charges a year...
This is clearly the way things will go for the entire EV market. Suggestions of expecting only £2 cost for 20mins charging.... Tell you what in some city areas I'd park my ICE in that spot and pay £2 for 20 mins as its way cheaper than parking The supplier would be happy as its paid the £2 and had to give zero electricity happy days.
oop north said:
Today's news is that ecotricity customers can have no more than 52 free charges a year...
Latest email states a change from 20 to 30 minutes and a extra quid to pay. The Electric Highway upgrade has started.
We finished the first two electricity pumps at Gloucester Services yesterday and we’ll continue to upgrade them, one at a time, to enable you to operate the pumps using the ‘charging for charging’ model on our new EH app.
The entire transition should be complete by Friday 5 August.
If you haven’t already done so, now is a good time to download the app. You can do that really easily here.
Since making the announcement last week, we’ve had a number of conversations with Electric Highway members – and had feedback particularly about the proposed 20 minute charge session.
As a result of this, we’re changing our approach - and charging sessions will instead be for 30 minutes and cost £6 (as opposed to 20 minutes for £5).
From the feedback we’ve received, this should ensure that the vast majority of EV drivers are able to achieve the ideal 80% recharge in one session.
In terms of value for money, this change results in 50% more charging time for just a 20% increase in cost – overall, that’s a 25% net reduction in cost.
We know there are lots of EV drivers with different needs – there are around 40 different models of electric vehicles on the road and three charging standards – but we hope this new model strikes the right balance for everyone. We’ll be keeping a close eye on how this transition pans out and we’ll keep listening to feedback.
That’s it for now. We’ll keep you updated as the rollout progresses.
Thanks for being with us.
Dale Vince
So they were looking at £15/hour revenue max per charge port now they are looking st a max £12/hour and serve only 2 customers v 3.
What is the expected demand requirements? Does 2 spaces per charge point per hour meet current requirements and forward looking how future proof is that situation?
What is the expected demand requirements? Does 2 spaces per charge point per hour meet current requirements and forward looking how future proof is that situation?
hab1966 said:
Couple of points from what I've read on speakev.com (100+ page thread if anybody has a few hours to kill!)
The DBT units used by Ecotricity aren't capable of charging for how much energy you take but can charge for a timed fill up.
The DBT units can't be fitted with the hardware for taking payment from a credit card, which is why the App has been developed. Windows phone users don't get the App and I believe some chargers are in areas with poor mobile coverage. Not sure how the older generation who have electric cars will cope if they don't have a suitable phone or aren't tech savy.
Ecotricity have a monopoly on charging at Motorway service stations. Tesla challenged this in court but i presume lost.
Mr Ecotricity was on the radio yesterday (Radio4 i believe) discussing his charging plans. There was an irate Outlander owner on bemoaning the disappearance of free charging. I believe that Mr Ecotricity said something along the lines that the Electric Highway wasn't aimed at PHEV users.
Whilst i have a Leaf currently, I've only recently started to use the Ecotricity chargers as i pass one on the way to work and it would be rude not to. When the charging comes into play, i will revert to charging at home which costs me no more than £2.50 for a full charge.
So this seems the fundamental problem - they've bought the wrong kit!The DBT units used by Ecotricity aren't capable of charging for how much energy you take but can charge for a timed fill up.
The DBT units can't be fitted with the hardware for taking payment from a credit card, which is why the App has been developed. Windows phone users don't get the App and I believe some chargers are in areas with poor mobile coverage. Not sure how the older generation who have electric cars will cope if they don't have a suitable phone or aren't tech savy.
Ecotricity have a monopoly on charging at Motorway service stations. Tesla challenged this in court but i presume lost.
Mr Ecotricity was on the radio yesterday (Radio4 i believe) discussing his charging plans. There was an irate Outlander owner on bemoaning the disappearance of free charging. I believe that Mr Ecotricity said something along the lines that the Electric Highway wasn't aimed at PHEV users.
Whilst i have a Leaf currently, I've only recently started to use the Ecotricity chargers as i pass one on the way to work and it would be rude not to. When the charging comes into play, i will revert to charging at home which costs me no more than £2.50 for a full charge.
The charging station that I mentioned earlier you can pay by card, app (which lets you book a slot) and RFID. It can handle both time and consumption.
If true it does seem wrong that a company can take a government subsidy and have an exclusive arrangement for locations.
What they really need to sort out before people like me (eventually) go electric is what you do when you turn up to a charging station to find a fully charged EV and no owner in sight.
Do the chargers automatically disconnect when it finishes, allowing me to remove it from the other car? And if so, would they stretch to the next bay? If not, why not?
I need to be able to charge at home too....... from my 4th floor flat. Open to suggestions with that one.
Do the chargers automatically disconnect when it finishes, allowing me to remove it from the other car? And if so, would they stretch to the next bay? If not, why not?
I need to be able to charge at home too....... from my 4th floor flat. Open to suggestions with that one.
The charge cables will reach either side, but I don't think any EVs release the cable after finishing.
Certainly the ZOE doesn't, trying to remove the cable will damage the car's charging port.
In a group of Ecotricity points you all have say three machines each with different charge cables so you may already find two cars in your suitable spaces.
Or like happened to me the other day - you arrive to find an EV parked in a space with no charging cable attached - not even attempting to charge! That seriously pissed me off - especially as I was on 10%
One day we will have induction charging on all parking spaces
Certainly the ZOE doesn't, trying to remove the cable will damage the car's charging port.
In a group of Ecotricity points you all have say three machines each with different charge cables so you may already find two cars in your suitable spaces.
Or like happened to me the other day - you arrive to find an EV parked in a space with no charging cable attached - not even attempting to charge! That seriously pissed me off - especially as I was on 10%
One day we will have induction charging on all parking spaces
IN51GHT said:
So I get well over 100A charge rate at Membury services, but only 74A at Leigh Delamare, how is timed charging fair.
Think someone mentioned earlier the stations can't charge on kWh used, only time connected. Why you wouldn't put a watt meter in a device that dispenses electricity seems a bit odd to me. Thats like a petrol station that doesn't charge you for the amount of petrol it dispensed only the amount of time you were stood looking like a tea-pot next to the pump.Otispunkmeyer said:
IN51GHT said:
So I get well over 100A charge rate at Membury services, but only 74A at Leigh Delamare, how is timed charging fair.
Think someone mentioned earlier the stations can't charge on kWh used, only time connected. Why you wouldn't put a watt meter in a device that dispenses electricity seems a bit odd to me. Thats like a petrol station that doesn't charge you for the amount of petrol it dispensed only the amount of time you were stood looking like a tea-pot next to the pump.ncbbmw said:
IN51GHT said:
My point exactly. Basically Ecotricity have specified the incorrect equipment to enable a fair charging scheme to be implemented.
Were the ecotrickery chargers not specified and funded by Nissan?IN51GHT said:
JonV8V said:
Whichever way they do it, somebody loses.
Utter b0ll0cks.Pay per kwh everybody pays for what they are delivered, if you stay over 30mins the cost per kwh goes up to discourage over staying.
JonV8V said:
IN51GHT said:
JonV8V said:
Whichever way they do it, somebody loses.
Utter b0ll0cks.Pay per kwh everybody pays for what they are delivered, if you stay over 30mins the cost per kwh goes up to discourage over staying.
IN51GHT said:
JonV8V said:
IN51GHT said:
JonV8V said:
Whichever way they do it, somebody loses.
Utter b0ll0cks.Pay per kwh everybody pays for what they are delivered, if you stay over 30mins the cost per kwh goes up to discourage over staying.
JonV8V said:
IN51GHT said:
JonV8V said:
IN51GHT said:
JonV8V said:
Whichever way they do it, somebody loses.
Utter b0ll0cks.Pay per kwh everybody pays for what they are delivered, if you stay over 30mins the cost per kwh goes up to discourage over staying.
s1962a said:
Yes, imagine pulling up to a rapid in your pure EV car like a Nissan Leaf where you find it's been taken up a 330e/outlander PHEV charging slowly. You'd go from zero to about 80% in 20 or 30 mins. It wouldn't make sense for the PHEV to charge that slowly for £6, hence freeing up the rapids for those more in need.
Imagine you are waiting for the chap in front to finish and move on and you have spotted only a few mins left. Anyway out he comes bang on time but then adds another 30 mins so keeps charging while you are fuming waiting in the car - he could of course do it again so you'd be waiting 1 hour... Or worse still you have a long wait then he moves off and goes you pull up only to find as he removed it from his vehicle he damaged it so now it's out of service f
k what do you do?JPJPJP said:
Switch your home electricity to ecotricity, then the chargers are free
No they are not. They are only "free" for the first 52 charges - that's one a week or two months free if you use a charger for the commute which is what a lot of people bought EV's for. Also you only get that off if you sign up to BOTH electricity AND gas which is in the small print. After you use your 52 charges they will charge you £6 for 30 minutes!
I've just left them out of protest and sent the card back in the post. £6 for 30 minutes means my Jaguar XJ diesel is cheaper to run than my 22kw Zoe.
Ecotricity energy prices are more than other suppliers and and their standing rate is high also. I've just switched to Ebico and it has no standing rate.
In less than two years time, Ecotricity will price itself out of the market as the longer range Leaf, Zoe and Tesla Model 3 will all be capable of 200 mile range and no one will want to stop at the services when they can charge at home.
LordFlathead said:
No they are not.
They are only "free" for the first 52 charges - that's one a week or two months free if you use a charger for the commute which is what a lot of people bought EV's for. Also you only get that off if you sign up to BOTH electricity AND gas which is in the small print. After you use your 52 charges they will charge you £6 for 30 minutes!
I've just left them out of protest and sent the card back in the post. £6 for 30 minutes means my Jaguar XJ diesel is cheaper to run than my 22kw Zoe.
Ecotricity energy prices are more than other suppliers and and their standing rate is high also. I've just switched to Ebico and it has no standing rate.
In less than two years time, Ecotricity will price itself out of the market as the longer range Leaf, Zoe and Tesla Model 3 will all be capable of 200 mile range and no one will want to stop at the services when they can charge at home.
What about the forthcoming govt duty charges on per Kw/HR. That will be coming and no one will be able to escape it. Make your savings now but don't think that will be into perpetuity so budget accordingly and bank the bonus you have now. They are only "free" for the first 52 charges - that's one a week or two months free if you use a charger for the commute which is what a lot of people bought EV's for. Also you only get that off if you sign up to BOTH electricity AND gas which is in the small print. After you use your 52 charges they will charge you £6 for 30 minutes!
I've just left them out of protest and sent the card back in the post. £6 for 30 minutes means my Jaguar XJ diesel is cheaper to run than my 22kw Zoe.
Ecotricity energy prices are more than other suppliers and and their standing rate is high also. I've just switched to Ebico and it has no standing rate.
In less than two years time, Ecotricity will price itself out of the market as the longer range Leaf, Zoe and Tesla Model 3 will all be capable of 200 mile range and no one will want to stop at the services when they can charge at home.
Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff