Polestar 2 and Charging
Discussion
I suspect this has been mentioned before but I am hoping someone can shed some light....
I really like the look and style of the Polestar 2 and the pricing looks OK, nothing holding me back there.
I just plumbed some journeys I occasionally make in to A Better Route:
- From Manchester to the Alps - I would need to stop at least twice if not three times at 48 euros a go. My 335D might drink 90 euros of fuel over that trip so much quicker and much cheaper.
- From Manchester to Cheltenham - I would need to go in to Aston in Birmingham for half an hour at least one way if not both.
This is ridiculous! Am I missing something obvious? Surely the service stations on the motorways in the UK have electric charging nowadays? For the other 99% of the time I can charge at home for £7 and the car makes perfect sense. The above is quite a big issue though! Please tell me I am missing something obvious!
Apologies for the thread - I am expecting some abuse for not reading the countless other threads etc :-)
I really like the look and style of the Polestar 2 and the pricing looks OK, nothing holding me back there.
I just plumbed some journeys I occasionally make in to A Better Route:
- From Manchester to the Alps - I would need to stop at least twice if not three times at 48 euros a go. My 335D might drink 90 euros of fuel over that trip so much quicker and much cheaper.
- From Manchester to Cheltenham - I would need to go in to Aston in Birmingham for half an hour at least one way if not both.
This is ridiculous! Am I missing something obvious? Surely the service stations on the motorways in the UK have electric charging nowadays? For the other 99% of the time I can charge at home for £7 and the car makes perfect sense. The above is quite a big issue though! Please tell me I am missing something obvious!
Apologies for the thread - I am expecting some abuse for not reading the countless other threads etc :-)
NorthDave said:
I suspect this has been mentioned before but I am hoping someone can shed some light....
I really like the look and style of the Polestar 2 and the pricing looks OK, nothing holding me back there.
I just plumbed some journeys I occasionally make in to A Better Route:
- From Manchester to the Alps - I would need to stop at least twice if not three times at 48 euros a go. My 335D might drink 90 euros of fuel over that trip so much quicker and much cheaper.
- From Manchester to Cheltenham - I would need to go in to Aston in Birmingham for half an hour at least one way if not both.
This is ridiculous! Am I missing something obvious? Surely the service stations on the motorways in the UK have electric charging nowadays? For the other 99% of the time I can charge at home for £7 and the car makes perfect sense. The above is quite a big issue though! Please tell me I am missing something obvious!
Apologies for the thread - I am expecting some abuse for not reading the countless other threads etc :-)
To alps find a destination/hotel/parking with charging en route (assume you dont drive in one day), no idea why its €48 though, i think thats the non subscriber ionity price (and you dont need ionity 350kw only 150kw speeds) check whats the prices would be through the plugsurfing card you get with it (try the polestar facebook group too)I really like the look and style of the Polestar 2 and the pricing looks OK, nothing holding me back there.
I just plumbed some journeys I occasionally make in to A Better Route:
- From Manchester to the Alps - I would need to stop at least twice if not three times at 48 euros a go. My 335D might drink 90 euros of fuel over that trip so much quicker and much cheaper.
- From Manchester to Cheltenham - I would need to go in to Aston in Birmingham for half an hour at least one way if not both.
This is ridiculous! Am I missing something obvious? Surely the service stations on the motorways in the UK have electric charging nowadays? For the other 99% of the time I can charge at home for £7 and the car makes perfect sense. The above is quite a big issue though! Please tell me I am missing something obvious!
Apologies for the thread - I am expecting some abuse for not reading the countless other threads etc :-)
Cheltenham - Its running you to empty then finding the shortest detour to fastest charging to get you home. It may be quicker than a slower charger en route.
The answer is find a destination/hotel/parking with charging in cheltenham within walking of the destination
But ultimately rapid charging long distance is an Achilles heel of EVs except Tesla, but while you loose there, you gain in cheep running commuting which you do day in day out vs even a diesel as its c£8-10 to fill for 200+ miles so at £25/500 miles its half the cost of a tank for a 40mpg diesel - if your doing 2000miles /month thats a £100 a month!
Thanks chaps. I've just come across Ecotricity who appear to be in the big service stations. I'm not sure why the route planner doesn't count them. They get really badly reviewed but I wouldn't often use them so I think I should be OK.
I'll also look in to a way to bring the Ionity costs down. In reality it should only be 4 or 6 times a year I do that drive so the costs arent the end of the world.
I'll also look in to a way to bring the Ionity costs down. In reality it should only be 4 or 6 times a year I do that drive so the costs arent the end of the world.
Look at Zap Map and Plugshare - in most areas there are lots of charging options.
There was a recent record attempt at Lands End to John O'Grouts and they used a 3 Ionity chargers and 1 Tesla superchargers. I think they only stopped for 90 mins to charge, realistically you would eat, rest etc on a journey like that anyway.
The biggest EV financial benefits with respect to charging come from charging at home or finding a free charger. If you use public rapid chargers you can quickly get to similar figures to a decent diesel engine in a cost per mile basis. But if a full battery from home does 90% of your trips then you can be down to 1/4 of the fuel cost or less on a well chosen electricity tariff. Plus you get zero VED and reduced servicing costs.
There was a recent record attempt at Lands End to John O'Grouts and they used a 3 Ionity chargers and 1 Tesla superchargers. I think they only stopped for 90 mins to charge, realistically you would eat, rest etc on a journey like that anyway.
The biggest EV financial benefits with respect to charging come from charging at home or finding a free charger. If you use public rapid chargers you can quickly get to similar figures to a decent diesel engine in a cost per mile basis. But if a full battery from home does 90% of your trips then you can be down to 1/4 of the fuel cost or less on a well chosen electricity tariff. Plus you get zero VED and reduced servicing costs.
NorthDave said:
I suspect this has been mentioned before but I am hoping someone can shed some light....
I really like the look and style of the Polestar 2 and the pricing looks OK, nothing holding me back there.
I just plumbed some journeys I occasionally make in to A Better Route:
- From Manchester to the Alps - I would need to stop at least twice if not three times at 48 euros a go. My 335D might drink 90 euros of fuel over that trip so much quicker and much cheaper.
- From Manchester to Cheltenham - I would need to go in to Aston in Birmingham for half an hour at least one way if not both.
This is ridiculous! Am I missing something obvious? Surely the service stations on the motorways in the UK have electric charging nowadays? For the other 99% of the time I can charge at home for £7 and the car makes perfect sense. The above is quite a big issue though! Please tell me I am missing something obvious!
Apologies for the thread - I am expecting some abuse for not reading the countless other threads etc :-)
This is why people like Tesla's charging network.I really like the look and style of the Polestar 2 and the pricing looks OK, nothing holding me back there.
I just plumbed some journeys I occasionally make in to A Better Route:
- From Manchester to the Alps - I would need to stop at least twice if not three times at 48 euros a go. My 335D might drink 90 euros of fuel over that trip so much quicker and much cheaper.
- From Manchester to Cheltenham - I would need to go in to Aston in Birmingham for half an hour at least one way if not both.
This is ridiculous! Am I missing something obvious? Surely the service stations on the motorways in the UK have electric charging nowadays? For the other 99% of the time I can charge at home for £7 and the car makes perfect sense. The above is quite a big issue though! Please tell me I am missing something obvious!
Apologies for the thread - I am expecting some abuse for not reading the countless other threads etc :-)
Also Ecotricity - they are horrendously unreliable, not worth the risk.
it also depends on how occasional such occasional trips are
a bit of inconvenience once a year is more bearable than once a month
but the options presented by that route planner don't seem to tally up with the increasing number of chargers that are popping up these days
Even in my Zoe, I wouldn't think twice about Manchester to Cheltenham, I would just set off and deal with the charging as the need arose
a bit of inconvenience once a year is more bearable than once a month
but the options presented by that route planner don't seem to tally up with the increasing number of chargers that are popping up these days
Even in my Zoe, I wouldn't think twice about Manchester to Cheltenham, I would just set off and deal with the charging as the need arose
I like the WattsUp app as it shows you all the chargers en route with network logos, whereas with Zap-Map you have to drill down to find out what sort a charger is. There is absolutely no need to go into Aston. Cheltenham looks a bit rubbish and not much the last 20-30 miles but plenty earlier on
Dave Hedgehog said:
Hilarious 1st response to the op, well done. You must be very proud 
NorthDave said:
I suspect this has been mentioned before but I am hoping someone can shed some light....
I really like the look and style of the Polestar 2 and the pricing looks OK, nothing holding me back there.
I just plumbed some journeys I occasionally make in to A Better Route:
- From Manchester to the Alps - I would need to stop at least twice if not three times at 48 euros a go. My 335D might drink 90 euros of fuel over that trip so much quicker and much cheaper.
- From Manchester to Cheltenham - I would need to go in to Aston in Birmingham for half an hour at least one way if not both.
This is ridiculous! Am I missing something obvious? Surely the service stations on the motorways in the UK have electric charging nowadays? For the other 99% of the time I can charge at home for £7 and the car makes perfect sense. The above is quite a big issue though! Please tell me I am missing something obvious!
Apologies for the thread - I am expecting some abuse for not reading the countless other threads etc :-)
To the Alps if you stop overnight you can charge up to 100% again, probably for free at the hotel.I really like the look and style of the Polestar 2 and the pricing looks OK, nothing holding me back there.
I just plumbed some journeys I occasionally make in to A Better Route:
- From Manchester to the Alps - I would need to stop at least twice if not three times at 48 euros a go. My 335D might drink 90 euros of fuel over that trip so much quicker and much cheaper.
- From Manchester to Cheltenham - I would need to go in to Aston in Birmingham for half an hour at least one way if not both.
This is ridiculous! Am I missing something obvious? Surely the service stations on the motorways in the UK have electric charging nowadays? For the other 99% of the time I can charge at home for £7 and the car makes perfect sense. The above is quite a big issue though! Please tell me I am missing something obvious!
Apologies for the thread - I am expecting some abuse for not reading the countless other threads etc :-)
Not sure where 48 Euro comes from but keep in mind that for the rest of the year you will be making massive savings so it still works out in your favour. This is how electric vehicle charging is going to be in future - most of it will be cheap at home or at work, but for long journeys it will be comparable to fossil fuels.
Probably won't take you appreciably longer to do that trip to the Alps if you were not intending to pee in a bottle at 120 kph on the autoroute.
It's just a case of slightly adjusting the way you think about longer journeys and planning to combine charging with other activities like eating and sleeping.
Whatever you think of Tesla, their network is untouchable compared to Joe public charging stations which often need their own seperate apps, a seperate login to each, a different payment amount for each or some other card or monthly subscription and having too few chargers at destinations which can be broken or full just when you need them.
Tesla is literaly plug in and go with no faff or app use.
The public network providers desperately need to work together somehow so you can just use your contactless card to charge quick and easily and forget about the numerous apps you need.
Tesla is literaly plug in and go with no faff or app use.
The public network providers desperately need to work together somehow so you can just use your contactless card to charge quick and easily and forget about the numerous apps you need.
ABRP can make some odd choices sometimes but mostly it’s trying to minimise total time. Ionity chargers are expensive but they are quicker than the 50kW CCS that the likes of Ecotricity have which is why it’ll pick them if you have a car that can charge faster.
That’s changing quickly, BP and Shell are putting lots in their services forecourts, much of it 100+kW, and Instavolt and others are hoovering up sites just off the motorway.
The cost though really isn’t a big deal if the range covers your normal use and you can charge at home cheaply. If your fuel bill has dropped by more than a grand per 10k miles then even the occasional Ionity charge is tiny in comparison.
That’s changing quickly, BP and Shell are putting lots in their services forecourts, much of it 100+kW, and Instavolt and others are hoovering up sites just off the motorway.
The cost though really isn’t a big deal if the range covers your normal use and you can charge at home cheaply. If your fuel bill has dropped by more than a grand per 10k miles then even the occasional Ionity charge is tiny in comparison.
Thanks everyone - I appreciate the responses.
I've just read on a blog that France have forced Tesla to open up their charging network so apparently at least one supercharger is currently free to use by other marques in France. It also appears to be free!
Has anyone experienced this? I think it only came in very recently. I'll see if I can find anything official.
Edit - here is the article https://cleantechnica.com/2020/09/13/non-tesla-ele...
I've just read on a blog that France have forced Tesla to open up their charging network so apparently at least one supercharger is currently free to use by other marques in France. It also appears to be free!
Has anyone experienced this? I think it only came in very recently. I'll see if I can find anything official.
Edit - here is the article https://cleantechnica.com/2020/09/13/non-tesla-ele...
RobDickinson said:
That's basically 1 stall at 1 V3 supercharger and not in France.
And might be already occupied when you get there esp if it's free.
It does reference France further down the article but I agree one point is not many! The points always seem really quiet when I've seen them though. It's probably not enough to sway me but it is a help. And might be already occupied when you get there esp if it's free.
Dave Hedgehog said:
Not relevant to a Polestar though is it?DragonflyTrumpeter said:
Dave Hedgehog said:
Hilarious 1st response to the op, well done. You must be very proud 
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