Bath to Stockport (and back)
Discussion
Just looking at my first long trip in the car (Merc EQC) and wondering how nerve wracking it will be!
Using "A Better Route Planner" it says to use the Ecotricity/Electrichighway chargers on the M5/M6.
The car sat-nav says use Instavolt at West Bromwich..
What's likely to be the most repliable charger? I'm looking for a hotel I can charge at over night so hopefully only have to stop once each way.
Using "A Better Route Planner" it says to use the Ecotricity/Electrichighway chargers on the M5/M6.
The car sat-nav says use Instavolt at West Bromwich..
What's likely to be the most repliable charger? I'm looking for a hotel I can charge at over night so hopefully only have to stop once each way.
Carwow tested the EQC and managed 195 miles on a motorway run in autumn weather. I'd expect 200+ at this time of year and your trip is what, 180 miles each way?
Take it steady and may be able to get away with just charging overnight at the destination?
Take it steady and may be able to get away with just charging overnight at the destination?
Edited by SWoll on Tuesday 22 June 12:03
Instavolt will be more reliable unless the Ecotricity charger has been updated by Gridserve - they are in the middle of replacing the entire system this summer but it’s a big job. The services at the top of the M5 (Frankley) have had the work done but there have been reports of problems northbound. I think south bound is ok though (will be trying that myself on Friday). Oh I think Sandbach services might have been updated too but not sure if that is before your turn off for Stockport
51mes said:
Just after Sandbach services on the sanbach junction (if coming north). A couple of hundred yards to the west) is a co-op filling station with a pair of BP pulse 50Kw chargers - with a shop and loos.
Always useful if the services are occupied or broken...
S.
I use that one as well - occasionally one charger can be down, but normally all is fine. Shame you don't go near Rugby.Always useful if the services are occupied or broken...
S.
I've had my first EV (also an EQC) for 3 weeks and already got 1800 miles on it, 1400 of these were a family trip to Cornwall and back so I relied upon public charging.
Don't be nervous, you have no major reason to be. My advice is just stop at the services when you're en route and top up. I stopped at a couple of Ecotricity chargers and they were fine, if someone was already using them I just carried on to the next ones and used those instead.
I also used GeniePoint, BP Pulse and Instavolt whilst away in Cornwall and had no problems.
Don't be nervous, you have no major reason to be. My advice is just stop at the services when you're en route and top up. I stopped at a couple of Ecotricity chargers and they were fine, if someone was already using them I just carried on to the next ones and used those instead.
I also used GeniePoint, BP Pulse and Instavolt whilst away in Cornwall and had no problems.
Made it one peice!
Didn't manage to record the data (was late due to M5/M6 traffic) but when I started I had a range of just 200 miles and predictedrange of about 15 miles at the end of the journey. I did stop for a brief charge at a Polar site (Holiday Inn, J15, M6) for 20 minutes while I had a coffee, before charging the predicted range had creapt up to about 30 miles at arriving. Charging was straight forward using the Mercedes Me charge card. Arrived at Stockport with a range of about 50 miles - so the car did better than predicted at the start.
Charging at the NCP wasn't possible. The charging requires an entry card to active it, but using the park pass app means you don't get a card....
Stayed over night in Wilmslow (so a little closer to home) and used the Tesla destination charger:
I'd found a short article that an EQC had been seen using a Tesla Destination Charger so figure it was worth a try. There are Red signed ones and White signed ones, the red are Tesla only, but the white ones work fine. Managed to charge to a predicted range of 230 miles in the morning, the best I seen from it. Trip home data:
Miles - 175
3.1mpkWh
28% battery
66 mile range
51mph Ave
1 Other EQC seen (loads of Tesla M3s)
Didn't stop to charge (drink stop at Gloucester Services) and kept it a steady 70mph or the limit in the restricted zones. So made it easily and could have done it on just the over night charge if I'd wanted.
Looking forward to some longer trips now with no real concerns (except Morpeth..).
Didn't manage to record the data (was late due to M5/M6 traffic) but when I started I had a range of just 200 miles and predictedrange of about 15 miles at the end of the journey. I did stop for a brief charge at a Polar site (Holiday Inn, J15, M6) for 20 minutes while I had a coffee, before charging the predicted range had creapt up to about 30 miles at arriving. Charging was straight forward using the Mercedes Me charge card. Arrived at Stockport with a range of about 50 miles - so the car did better than predicted at the start.
Charging at the NCP wasn't possible. The charging requires an entry card to active it, but using the park pass app means you don't get a card....
Stayed over night in Wilmslow (so a little closer to home) and used the Tesla destination charger:
I'd found a short article that an EQC had been seen using a Tesla Destination Charger so figure it was worth a try. There are Red signed ones and White signed ones, the red are Tesla only, but the white ones work fine. Managed to charge to a predicted range of 230 miles in the morning, the best I seen from it. Trip home data:
Miles - 175
3.1mpkWh
28% battery
66 mile range
51mph Ave
1 Other EQC seen (loads of Tesla M3s)
Didn't stop to charge (drink stop at Gloucester Services) and kept it a steady 70mph or the limit in the restricted zones. So made it easily and could have done it on just the over night charge if I'd wanted.
Looking forward to some longer trips now with no real concerns (except Morpeth..).
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