Ecotricity CCS charger at M1 Trowell N/S - anyone?

[psquare]

I am planning a trip to Yorkshire soon and would like to use said CCS charger on my way up and down the M1. As you can see from the image below, the Northbound CCS charger is not online (and has been for a while). I've tried tweeting the ElectricHighway Twitter account, but had no response. I will try to call them tomorrow.

In the meantime, I am interested whether it is possible to use the bridge linking the two motorway stations and access the southbound CCS charger instead. I checked on Google Street View and the barrier appears to be down. Several websites also describe both services as being connected by a bridge.

Has anyone any experiences with this charging station?

Thanks,
P

 

[BoMW]

I tried this north bound station last December but it was out of order. Not sure whether the bridge is accessible but if you able to make it to Meadowhall , there is a card free charger 5 mins off the m1

Maybe you can also use the leicester forest East ccs on the m1

 

[psquare]

I tried this north bound station last December but it was out of order. Not sure whether the bridge is accessible but if you able to make it to Meadowhall , there is a card free charger 5 mins off the m1

Maybe you can also use the leicester forest East ccs on the m1

Thanks for this. I've spoken to Ecotricity today and they couldn't tell me when the CCS charger will be fixed. I also spoke to the duty manager of the Trowell Services and was told that it MIGHT be possible to go through the barrier and get onto the bridge and use the CCS on the other side of the road. To be honest, I think this is all quite a lot of hassle.

The Leicester Forest CCS would be another option, although I would prefer the Trowell, as it is closer to my destination. I might make 2 stops: one quick one at Leicester to re-charge quickly and then a longer one (1h) at Trowell (using Type 2 Mennekes).

I am still hoping that the CCS is getting fixed by the time we travel up north, but not getting my hopes up.

I think it would help if Ecotricity could share some more info re the problems with some of these chargers. I'm very enthusiastic about their Electric Highway initiative and the work their team is doing, but still think that actually charging people for the service and thereby potentially providing a more reliable service would be better. But something tells me that budget and funding may not be the problem.

Update: I just checked the Electric Highway website again and Trowell Northbound CCS is online again, but southbound is offline. Watch this space!

 

[Gonville]

I visited this last week. Southbound was fine. Northbound was an issue as it wouldnt connect to start with. I tried the obligatory 3 times. Interesting as we came from Leicester Forest North bound which we have never made work - had the same type of error. Gets the handshake going and then fails to commence the main charge.

I wrote this up somewhere - on SpeakEV, Facebook forum probably and tweet to Electric Highway.

A LEAF was on the other post so we got them to swap over and we connected to the AC. prepared for a long wait as we had come from Leamington. BEV.

I then calcuated that it would be quicker to go up and down to the Southbound which was shown as working. (didnt consider the bridge?!) To be fair the LEAF driver pulled up the Ecotricity map that said it was marked as red. It was OK in the morning before we set out.

Anyway as we came out my other half said why dont you try it one more time. Tut I said that will never work......but it did. So no idea why. I didnt do anything special with twiddling the cables but seemed that the LEAF using it in the meantime may have set things working or reset something. Tweeted Electric Highway they said they'd get someone to look at it.

Back in for another coffee and then 20 minutes and we were away with 85%.

So lesson one - keep trying. Lesson two maybe select the chademo as a last resort and then try again.

Ecotricity says that BMW is aware of some kind of issue that Ecotricity are fixing as a retro fit. No idea what that is.

 

[jadnashuanh]

As summer approaches, heat buildup in the CCS units is likely to restrict power output more and more if the design isn't robust enough. A power supply capable of up to 50Kw at about 400vdc is a SIGNIFICANT load, and generates a lot of heat. The filters or radiator (if liquid cooled) need to be kept clean, so maintenance is required and more critical in the summer.

 

[psquare]

As summer approaches, heat buildup in the CCS units is likely to restrict power output more and more if the design isn't robust enough. A power supply capable of up to 50Kw at about 400vdc is a SIGNIFICANT load, and generates a lot of heat. The filters or radiator (if liquid cooled) need to be kept clean, so maintenance is required and more critical in the summer.

Good point. I noticed the loud fans working away in the CCS units.

By the way, Ecotricity Electric Highway now reports both Trowell N and S to be operational again. Happy days.