Long trip advice for new EV driver
Discussion
Planning a 400 mile trip over the Easter school holiday between London & Scotland in an EQC. It will need at least 2 charge stops.
Travelling with children so trying to be as prepared as possible...
I have never needed to charge away from home before. The main thing I'm concerned about is increased Easter traffic clogging up all the chargers.
What's it likely to be like? What are my chances of arriving at any motorway services and having a 100kw+ charger working and available to use?
Travelling with children so trying to be as prepared as possible...
I have never needed to charge away from home before. The main thing I'm concerned about is increased Easter traffic clogging up all the chargers.
What's it likely to be like? What are my chances of arriving at any motorway services and having a 100kw+ charger working and available to use?
Download the charger map apps such as plug share and zap map at least. Load it up with your card details to save faff.
Plan your route using these (at least for the charge stops…you can always use you favourite nav and bang in charge locations as way points).
Have a plan A, B & C. Have contingency for planning stops around refreshment and comfort breaks. That way your time efficient.
If you have to use plan B or C it may be on a slower charger so leave plenty of time.
If things change, stop, breath, re plan and have the detail clear. Don’t just plow on and hope for the best.
Oh and when you plan the route, note the charger suppliers and note the payment needed in terms of contactless, app etc and BE PREPARED. Don’t be faffing in location under pressure from family
Plan your route using these (at least for the charge stops…you can always use you favourite nav and bang in charge locations as way points).
Have a plan A, B & C. Have contingency for planning stops around refreshment and comfort breaks. That way your time efficient.
If you have to use plan B or C it may be on a slower charger so leave plenty of time.
If things change, stop, breath, re plan and have the detail clear. Don’t just plow on and hope for the best.
Oh and when you plan the route, note the charger suppliers and note the payment needed in terms of contactless, app etc and BE PREPARED. Don’t be faffing in location under pressure from family
EV driver of many years here, and regular driver from Berkshire to Scotland. I have never attempted it in my EV (short range Leaf), but have considered it and so have paid attention to motorway service stations chargers on my trips, out of interest. My last drive to Scotland was during autumn half term last year, so possibly similar, although maybe slightly less busy than Easter holidays. I noticed on the Friday evening drive up, the chargers at the services where I stopped were mobbed, with several cars queuing to get on. I was pouring with rain and looked utter misery. On my trip back home on a Saturday afternoon, the situation seemed better at Wetherby services, that is to say most of the chargers were busy, but turnover seemed quick and I wouldn't have been perturbed if I was wanting to use one.
So, it can be a bit of a lottery in my observational experience. I would say that it would be a good idea to target service stations with the new, multiple Gridserve outlets, and if possible choose ones near motorway junctions, so that you can have a good Plan B, i.e. a nearby non-service station charge point to aim for within a few miles - e.g. a pub, restaurant, retail park etc. If you're going up the East of the country, be aware that Gridserve still haven't rolled out the multiple charger facilities to a lot of service stations on the M1.
Do a bit of research, plan plan plan, and have a Plan B.
So, it can be a bit of a lottery in my observational experience. I would say that it would be a good idea to target service stations with the new, multiple Gridserve outlets, and if possible choose ones near motorway junctions, so that you can have a good Plan B, i.e. a nearby non-service station charge point to aim for within a few miles - e.g. a pub, restaurant, retail park etc. If you're going up the East of the country, be aware that Gridserve still haven't rolled out the multiple charger facilities to a lot of service stations on the M1.
Do a bit of research, plan plan plan, and have a Plan B.
fly said:
Planning a 400 mile trip over the Easter school holiday between London & Scotland in an EQC. It will need at least 2 charge stops.
Travelling with children so trying to be as prepared as possible...
I have never needed to charge away from home before. The main thing I'm concerned about is increased Easter traffic clogging up all the chargers.
What's it likely to be like? What are my chances of arriving at any motorway services and having a 100kw+ charger working and available to use?
Hire a diesel for the week Travelling with children so trying to be as prepared as possible...
I have never needed to charge away from home before. The main thing I'm concerned about is increased Easter traffic clogging up all the chargers.
What's it likely to be like? What are my chances of arriving at any motorway services and having a 100kw+ charger working and available to use?
coach said:
Download the charger map apps such as plug share and zap map at least. Load it up with your card details to save faff.
Plan your route using these (at least for the charge stops…you can always use you favourite nav and bang in charge locations as way points).
Have a plan A, B & C. Have contingency for planning stops around refreshment and comfort breaks. That way your time efficient.
If you have to use plan B or C it may be on a slower charger so leave plenty of time.
If things change, stop, breath, re plan and have the detail clear. Don’t just plow on and hope for the best.
Oh and when you plan the route, note the charger suppliers and note the payment needed in terms of contactless, app etc and BE PREPARED. Don’t be faffing in location under pressure from family
OMG, exactly why I’m not getting a Tesla Model Y despite really liking the vehicle. Just don’t need this on a weekend away or a day trip. Plan your route using these (at least for the charge stops…you can always use you favourite nav and bang in charge locations as way points).
Have a plan A, B & C. Have contingency for planning stops around refreshment and comfort breaks. That way your time efficient.
If you have to use plan B or C it may be on a slower charger so leave plenty of time.
If things change, stop, breath, re plan and have the detail clear. Don’t just plow on and hope for the best.
Oh and when you plan the route, note the charger suppliers and note the payment needed in terms of contactless, app etc and BE PREPARED. Don’t be faffing in location under pressure from family
wyson said:
OMG, exactly why I’m not getting a Tesla Model Y despite really liking the vehicle. Just don’t need this on a weekend away or a day trip.
It doesn't help the OP, but you have fewer worries with a Tesla due to the Supercharger network. I did Hampshire to Amsterdam and back the other week and regulary do a 250 mile trip to Wales. I don't give it a second thought but would be more apprehensive if I had to use other public charging. wyson said:
OMG, exactly why I’m not getting a Tesla Model Y despite really liking the vehicle. Just don’t need this on a weekend away or a day trip.
Half the above is negated by being able to use the Supercharger network tbh. And for the handful of times you might want to stop elsewhere, it tends to be Ionity or Gridserve, which massively limits the amount of “planning” you need to do, or apps you need to “prep” (a lot of the networks are covered by my Octopus Electroverse card).No issues so far getting to my destination with the planned charging stops.
wyson said:
I’m worried because they are opening up the super charger network to other cars? Have you noticed bigger queues?
So far I’ve seen little evidence of third party use at the one local Supercharger that lets third parties charge. I’d imagine the unfavourable rates keep all but the desperate away.wyson said:
I’m worried because they are opening up the super charger network to other cars? Have you noticed bigger queues?
No, I think the locations available for other cars are limited. Charging stations are certainly busier over the two years I have had mine, but I've never queued. I get the need for EV's. I get they use less fuel (Aghhhhh even that has moments of doubt), and I get they are less polluting locally. And they can run on renewable electric.
But dear god, threads like this remain one of the biggest hurdles (not to mention cost) of mass uptake surely. I get 99.98% of journeys are less than 6 miles, or something equally as ridiculous, But who wants this hassle?
Not me that's for sure.
So sorry OP, I'm tending with some of the other guys - hire a diesel. (Or just buy and old one, and tax it for the weeks you need it).
But dear god, threads like this remain one of the biggest hurdles (not to mention cost) of mass uptake surely. I get 99.98% of journeys are less than 6 miles, or something equally as ridiculous, But who wants this hassle?
Not me that's for sure.
So sorry OP, I'm tending with some of the other guys - hire a diesel. (Or just buy and old one, and tax it for the weeks you need it).
EVs are the wrong choice for long trips - for urban commutes its fair game but long trips are just going to be a ball ache - even a 6 or even 8 cylinder petrol can do over 400 miles on a long trip without even breaking a sweat - travelling at the NSL at that.
Dont trust politicians, as with diesel they always succumb to brown envelopes at the end of the day
Dont trust politicians, as with diesel they always succumb to brown envelopes at the end of the day
just been to Scotland and back in an e Combo life which is only 50kWh, and only 2 tips…. get a chargeplecescotland RFID card. still 25p kWh even on lots of the rapids. don't think like the herd and try and get to chargers when others unlikely to be. Tebay North on the way up, had choice of any charger. castle douglas, used rapid twice and was the only one there. killington lake on the way back down, chargers were being serviced when I arrived, but choice of them all 5 mins after that.
one thing i would say is that if you're after 100kW+ only, you're really going to have to put some homework in at the moment.
one thing i would say is that if you're after 100kW+ only, you're really going to have to put some homework in at the moment.
Scotland is almost as tall north to south as England so you need to be a bit more precise in terms of your destination.
I have a Tesla model Y and recently did Perth to Milton Keynes and back with no issues at all. Just needed two 20 minute stops each way and I combined them with food/coffee/toilet breaks.
EVs are great for long distances if you have the right one, I am planning a trip from Perth to Northern Italy in July and have no concerns about charging.
I have a Tesla model Y and recently did Perth to Milton Keynes and back with no issues at all. Just needed two 20 minute stops each way and I combined them with food/coffee/toilet breaks.
EVs are great for long distances if you have the right one, I am planning a trip from Perth to Northern Italy in July and have no concerns about charging.
First thing, before going on the trip, have at least one go charging on a dc rapid / ccs charger where it’s not a disaster if things go wrong.
Not sure what route you will take, but based on experience of regular trips from Preston to Edinburgh and having seen what other EV drivers say on routes I haven’t been on your best bets will be:
Instavolt at Banbury just off M40 - 32 ccs chargers (120kW) and hopefully at least one will be available.
From there, MFG Crow Orchard near Wigan is 120-130 miles so an easy jump. 8 x150kW chargers. I think you may need to provide your registration in the garage to avoid a parking fine
Burton in Kendal services has six 350kW chargers plus some 50/60 kW ones. If you are feeling brave you could get here maybe from Banbury but might be cutting it fine. It’s only maybe 60-70 miles from Crow Orchard
At Penrith the Rheged centre has some Gridserve chargers. Never seen anyone using them. Just five minutes west of the M6. Too near home (Preston) for me to use really
After that there is Gretna (a whole load of apple green chargers just installed) though that is probably too near Burton in Kendal (maybe only 65 miles further, or 130 from Crow Orchard). From there it is 90 or so miles to Edinburgh where there are a couple of MFG high power forecourts on the west side of the city centre (but otherwise not great). Haven’t been near Glasgow myself but there seem to be reasonable number of chargers around there. Dundee has lots
I would avoid the Gridserve locations where there are only one or two chargers. Too risky
Hope that helps
Not sure what route you will take, but based on experience of regular trips from Preston to Edinburgh and having seen what other EV drivers say on routes I haven’t been on your best bets will be:
Instavolt at Banbury just off M40 - 32 ccs chargers (120kW) and hopefully at least one will be available.
From there, MFG Crow Orchard near Wigan is 120-130 miles so an easy jump. 8 x150kW chargers. I think you may need to provide your registration in the garage to avoid a parking fine
Burton in Kendal services has six 350kW chargers plus some 50/60 kW ones. If you are feeling brave you could get here maybe from Banbury but might be cutting it fine. It’s only maybe 60-70 miles from Crow Orchard
At Penrith the Rheged centre has some Gridserve chargers. Never seen anyone using them. Just five minutes west of the M6. Too near home (Preston) for me to use really
After that there is Gretna (a whole load of apple green chargers just installed) though that is probably too near Burton in Kendal (maybe only 65 miles further, or 130 from Crow Orchard). From there it is 90 or so miles to Edinburgh where there are a couple of MFG high power forecourts on the west side of the city centre (but otherwise not great). Haven’t been near Glasgow myself but there seem to be reasonable number of chargers around there. Dundee has lots
I would avoid the Gridserve locations where there are only one or two chargers. Too risky
Hope that helps
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