Charging in Reading
Discussion
Is there anyone local to Reading that might know about EV charge points? I have found one near where I will be staying (Premier Inn) in the Holybrook Car Park in the Oracle. Anyone know if it's OK to leave your car there overnight? I'd be getting there 6:00pm and needing to plug in and leave it there until the morning. Then the wife will want to shop until mid-day but I could move it to a regular spot when the car park opens. I think this will cost me £20 or so.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
No. It's actually one of the Oracle shopping centre car parks. Very central. Near my hotel and the event I'm going to.My main concern is turning up there at 6:15pm with 15 minutes to get to the event and finding that the charge point doesn't exist ... or has someone in it who's leaving it there overnight!
My backup is to visit the Burghclere services the morning after and to get a quick charge...
Question what if at the time you need to drop off all charge points are being used? I guess you could move it later in the evening but the problem could still exist.
This sort of thing really is the issue with EVs the demand is increasing at a vastly higher rate than charge points plus what do you do if a ICE has parked there (only free parking space) or charge point is faulty?
There has to be a better solution - I imagine some juvenile idiots may also unplug the cars for fun (could happen anywhere) what happens then you cannot get to the business meeting.
This sort of thing really is the issue with EVs the demand is increasing at a vastly higher rate than charge points plus what do you do if a ICE has parked there (only free parking space) or charge point is faulty?
There has to be a better solution - I imagine some juvenile idiots may also unplug the cars for fun (could happen anywhere) what happens then you cannot get to the business meeting.
Welshbeef said:
Question what if at the time you need to drop off all charge points are being used? I guess you could move it later in the evening but the problem could still exist.
This sort of thing really is the issue with EVs the demand is increasing at a vastly higher rate than charge points plus what do you do if a ICE has parked there (only free parking space) or charge point is faulty?
There has to be a better solution - I imagine some juvenile idiots may also unplug the cars for fun (could happen anywhere) what happens then you cannot get to the business meeting.
The cables lock so can't be unplugged. ICE cars get clamped. Someone else using it certainly is an issue. Not likely to be faulty. This sort of thing really is the issue with EVs the demand is increasing at a vastly higher rate than charge points plus what do you do if a ICE has parked there (only free parking space) or charge point is faulty?
There has to be a better solution - I imagine some juvenile idiots may also unplug the cars for fun (could happen anywhere) what happens then you cannot get to the business meeting.
Don said:
The cables lock so can't be unplugged. ICE cars get clamped. Someone else using it certainly is an issue. Not likely to be faulty.
But if an ICE is clamped or its being used by another EV you have a problem and one which you cannot resolve - EV could be staying all night, clamped might be there all night or days. On the issue that icE get clamped the Oracle car park does max out very frequently so if there are x EV empty spaces remaining do you think all punters needing to go to the Oracle will pay attention to that sign or actually take a chance.
Welshbeef said:
But if an ICE is clamped or its being used by another EV you have a problem and one which you cannot resolve - EV could be staying all night, clamped might be there all night or days.
On the issue that icE get clamped the Oracle car park does max out very frequently so if there are x EV empty spaces remaining do you think all punters needing to go to the Oracle will pay attention to that sign or actually take a chance.
All true. The most likely issue I might experience is that the EV space is occupied when I want it. Luckily my backup is just to visit the services on the M4 and use a supercharger. One only need wait 20minutes for enough juice to get home from there easily.On the issue that icE get clamped the Oracle car park does max out very frequently so if there are x EV empty spaces remaining do you think all punters needing to go to the Oracle will pay attention to that sign or actually take a chance.
So it's all possible without the Oracle space - but it would be a good deal more convenient if the Oracle space is available...
Don said:
All true. The most likely issue I might experience is that the EV space is occupied when I want it. Luckily my backup is just to visit the services on the M4 and use a supercharger. One only need wait 20minutes for enough juice to get home from there easily.
So it's all possible without the Oracle space - but it would be a good deal more convenient if the Oracle space is available...
How many supercharger points are at that station - just thinking you could face the same situation as petrol stations in that they are being used so have to wait and at 20mins per car. So it's all possible without the Oracle space - but it would be a good deal more convenient if the Oracle space is available...
Issue is will infrastructure keep up with demand?
Welshbeef said:
How many supercharger points are at that station - just thinking you could face the same situation as petrol stations in that they are being used so have to wait and at 20mins per car.
Issue is will infrastructure keep up with demand?
I hope so! I've invested in a Leaf! To some extent there will always be a chicken and egg problem: people not buying electric because there aren't enough chargers and companies not making chargers available as there aren't enough EVs.Issue is will infrastructure keep up with demand?
It looks like the government investment is getting things off the ground. My car does about 35 miles a day at the moment and I can do this with only my home charger. I'm looking to engage with the public charging points next to extend the usage I can make of my EV. Doing a day's commute and a trip to Reading overnight is probably do-able without a public charger - but it will be less nerve racking on the final trip home if I've managed to top up!
I thought I'd update this thread. Our big Friday night out went swimmingly. Including leaving the LEAF in the Holybrook car park overnight, plugged into the Chargemaster charging station there.
I can recommend
1) Naked Wines (brilliant wine tasting)
2) Jamie's Italian (great food)
3) Cote Brasserie (damn fine cup of coffee, great cooked breakfast)
4) Premier Inn (comfortable and inexpensive night's stay)
5) Chargemaster PLC POLAR membership - without which I could not have plugged in and charged up the car.
We had a really great night out, it wasn't that expensive, and I got to use the LEAF for a longer journey. Next - I must try a supercharger.
I can recommend
1) Naked Wines (brilliant wine tasting)
2) Jamie's Italian (great food)
3) Cote Brasserie (damn fine cup of coffee, great cooked breakfast)
4) Premier Inn (comfortable and inexpensive night's stay)
5) Chargemaster PLC POLAR membership - without which I could not have plugged in and charged up the car.
We had a really great night out, it wasn't that expensive, and I got to use the LEAF for a longer journey. Next - I must try a supercharger.
Don said:
Just got the charging statement through from ChargeMaster.
My night's charging in the Holy Brook car park cost £0.00p. They really are giving it away at that particular charge point.
Makes the big night out in Reading a slightly more attractive proposition!
Mattress in the boot and zero hotel cost - heck leave the preheat on too for £0My night's charging in the Holy Brook car park cost £0.00p. They really are giving it away at that particular charge point.
Makes the big night out in Reading a slightly more attractive proposition!
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