UK Finding/ using recharging points

[Bunter]

Well yes it [now known as "Po" after the Kung-Fu panda as it's black & white] is back after having it's software re-installed. It didn't actually stop, it just put up a "Do not turn off your car drive to the nearest i-drive dealer" - which we did. They had to ask Bracknell before they could plug it in to the diagnostic computer. They lent us the demonstrator without any backchat.

I had a really impressive chat with Ecotricity who gave me the bad news that their fast chargers are incompatible with BMW/ VW cars as they use a different charger plug & computer handshake etc. They plan to "roll out" compatible stations, but it does mean that only BMW will have the fast chargers in some of their dealers.

Has anyone got any idea of ChargeNow's pricing structure? There is a clear statement from Chargemaster http://www.chargemasterplc.com/index.php/polar_online/
But BMW seem to expect us to buy a pig in a poke. Currently I plan to use the Chargemaster App as I expect to use it rarely. But there are times when I will really need the BMW fast charge....

Have we got any further with apps to lead us to charge points?

Geoff

Geoff

Are you using the terminology "fast" to mean rapid DC by any chance? And if you are, where did you hear that BMW dealers were getting rapid DC charge points?

Bill

 

[TheCyclist]

I am a bit unclear about the specifics of "fast". The BMW salesman in Bournemouth said they were awaiting a super fast charger - 80% in 40mins. I can't see how this could be done AC. I don't know if anyone actually has one yet, but if you are a dealer it makes sense not to leave an i3 on charge for any longer than a service/ repair will take, which I would have expected to be about an hour. While you give someone coffee you might sell them something....

Interestingly I can't find anything about it on BMW.com. However BMW are no fools & fast charging is essential for true mobility.

Geoff

 

[Bunter]

I am a bit unclear about the specifics of "fast". The BMW salesman in Bournemouth said they were awaiting a super fast charger - 80% in 40mins. I can't see how this could be done AC. I don't know if anyone actually has one yet, but if you are a dealer it makes sense not to leave an i3 on charge for any longer than a service/ repair will take, which I would have expected to be about an hour. While you give someone coffee you might sell them something....

Interestingly I can't find anything about it on BMW.com. However BMW are no fools & fast charging is essential for true mobility.

Geoff

Hi Geoff

Generally standard is full charge in 8-14 hours depending on settings, fast is 3-5 hours and rapid is 30-40 mins (DC). The latter is what it sounds like Bournemouth are having put in - good for them! Let's hope they put it in a location which is accessible outside dealer opening hours.

 

[TheCyclist]

As far as I can tell there are no available i3 compatible rapid chargers in the country yet. I have e-mailed BMW to enquire.

Geoff

 

[Ross]

Hi Geoff - did you get an answer from BMW?

 

[TheCyclist]

No reply from BMW, but this suggests there are a few out there:

http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/2014/03/10/milton-keynes-adds-new-network-of-tri-standard-chargers-for-evs/

Installed by Chargemaster, so they should show up on "Charge Now".

According to the zero carbon map, the nearest ones may be in the Netherlands - but I suspect it's a little out of date.

As a rare user of public stations I am expecting to simply sign up for the chargemaster app which is more expensive per charge, but has no annual fee.

Has anyone found an app which shows all the charge points by the different suppliers? The BMW navigation only has chargemaster points I think.

Geoff

Geoff

 

[TheCyclist]

The app from Chargemaster & associated pay as you go is now live: https://www.polarinstant.com

Geoff

 

[Bunter]

The app from Chargemaster & associated pay as you go is now live: https://www.polarinstant.com

Geoff

Does this make the RFID card useless unless you have an account?

Bill

 

[TheCyclist]

I don't think so. I believe this is the pay as you go version, the cards are pay monthly, but the app could be useful leading you to an available point [which should be the ones the BMW connected drive lead to......].

Geoff

 

[TheCyclist]

Well things are moving apace in the world of apps - there is now a new app associated with: http://nationalchargepointregistry.com
and helpfully called National Charge Point Registry which is supposed to show all existing charge points. But it doesn't as yet include Chargemaster/ Charge Now/ Polar or Ecotricity charge points & it isn't live.......
Apparently it's been done by the operator of pod-point http://www.pod-point.com with funding from the government, but as it seems they don't have the co-operation of some of the major players I'm unsure how useful it will be.

I hope it will become comprehensive & live, soon.

Geoff

 

[Bunter]

Well things are moving apace in the world of apps - there is now a new app associated with: http://nationalchargepointregistry.com
and helpfully called National Charge Point Registry which is supposed to show all existing charge points. But it doesn't as yet include Chargemaster/ Charge Now/ Polar or Ecotricity charge points & it isn't live.......
Apparently it's been done by the operator of pod-point http://www.pod-point.com with funding from the government, but as it seems they don't have the co-operation of some of the major players I'm unsure how useful it will be.

I hope it will become comprehensive & live, soon.

Geoff

I think that Opencharge looks the most promising, but it does need people to diligently report on both positive and negative experiences when using public access charge points.

Bill

 

[TheCyclist]

That http://openchargemap.org/app/?view=home-page is not "live" or an "app" is a serious limitation, although I must admit it seems a good initial search tool - but then you have to go to the operators site to see if the planned bay is working or not & whether it is occupied.

Geoff

 

[Bunter]

That http://openchargemap.org/app/?view=home-page is not "live" or an "app" is a serious limitation, although I must admit it seems a good initial search tool - but then you have to go to the operators site to see if the planned bay is working or not & whether it is occupied.

Geoff

App or web it's just data so it makes no practical difference. Live or not is where the user base come in, if people are diligent it would trump operators data.

Bill

 

[Gonville]

I have four cards so far:

Ecotricity - free http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/for-the-road/registration-form
Chargemaster - free (to chargemaster customers) £10 otherwise but think it's being discontinued (replaced by charge now)
Plugged in Midlands - £24 - http://www.pluggedinmidlands.co.uk/join/
Charge Now (ordered but waiting delivery) - £20 - http://chargenow.chargemasterplc.com/index.php/chargenow.html

Cards aplenty ...but no i3

 

[Gonville]

...forgot a few....

 

[TheCyclist]

Hmm last post hasn't appeared - so if this is a repeat I apologise.

Unfortunately the profusion of cards is an inevitability as the market "matures". The greater irritant for me is that the most comprehensive map doesn't have an app or an indication of whether the site is occupied, and the official government map is far from comprehensive http://nationalchargepointregistry.com
Although it does have an app....
I have 2 cards so far, but I expect to get a third & to provide my credit card details to Chargemaster before the year is out. It seems for each place I plan to visit I have to engage with a different provider.

You will really enjoy the car when it arrives.

Geoff

 

[Bunter]

I've got three, Ecotricity, ChargeNow (Chargemaster) and ChargeYourCar which I think would cover 90 % of charging opportunities in the South of England. If rapid chargers arrive such that I can make a trip to the Midlands I might consider getting the Midlands one but I think that will do for me.

Bill

 

[Gonville]

My understanding is that 'Source London' - before it changes to IER? - has a reciprocal with 'Plugged-In Midlands (PiM)' and 'Source East' covering East of England region and includes the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Essex together with Peterborough, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton, Thurrock and Southend.

The Source London site only mentions Source East but the Plugged-In Midlands (PiM) site mentions both the other two - could be it's not mutually reciprocal. This was one of the 3 government sponsored 'Plugged - in - Places' (PiP).

Also if you have one of these Source London, Source East, Plugged In Midlands or CYC you can use your card to access Ecotricity charge points.

 

[Bunter]

My understanding is that 'Source London' - before it changes to IER? - has a reciprocal with 'Plugged-In Midlands (PiM)' and 'Source East' covering East of England region and includes the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Essex together with Peterborough, Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton, Thurrock and Southend.

The Source London site only mentions Source East but the Plugged-In Midlands (PiM) site mentions both the other two - could be it's not mutually reciprocal. This was one of the 3 government sponsored 'Plugged - in - Places' (PiP).

Also if you have one of these Source London, Source East, Plugged In Midlands or CYC you can use your card to access Ecotricity charge points.

It's a shame it's all so fragmented and I had forgotten the Source London card as I don't think I'll ever need one; the public transport options are far more sensible for me if I'm heading in to London.

Bill

 

[TheCyclist]

I think I will need Source London as my friends do not have a plug anywhere near the road which I could use to recharge the car when I visit them. This is the difficulty I am anticipating, as although I may only visit once a year I will need to use the nearest charge point, which is Source London. Consequently at present I will end up with a large number of cards which I use very infrequently - pretty much one for every one of my urban friends. Roll on the day of transferable billing or whatever they will call it.

Geoff