Public Charging - a tale of success
Discussion
I've ran an EV on and off since early 2023. I like it and it suits my lifestyle, albeit we also have an ICE car in the household.
One pre-requisite for getting one however, was that I refused to charge publicly. I have a charger at home and had/have no desire to faff around out on the road, especially after I tried it a couple of times early on and had a catalogue of problems with apps, broken chargers and inexplicably complicated charging processes.
My EV does around 240 miles in the winter and 300 in the summer on a single charge - it's rare that I need to exceed that in a single day.
But last week was one of those days - and it saw me going from Bedfordshire to Yorkshire and back in a single day.
I internally debated taking the ICE car. But I wasn't in a particular hurry in order to get to my midday meeting and I had time on the other side too, so I took the EV, which did feel a little like setting off on a trek with not enough water, hoping to find a stream on the route. Or perhaps I'm melodramatic
Anyhow, running ahead of schedule, I decided to stop at Woodall services northbound to charge as it had been recommended. I arrived to find chargers in use, but I only had to wait around 5 minutes before a 'medium' speed charger became free.
My biggest (pleasant) surprise was then realised - no messing around with apps or registration or anything like that - this was in total contrast to my last experience. I simply plugged the car in, tapped my card on the contactless point and it.........started charging. Brilliant.
Around 25 minutes saw around 80 miles of range added whilst I had a coffee and caught up with emails. I went to my destination, had my meeting and then was faced with a 150 mile journey with around 194 miles of range showing.
This was a little too tight for my rookie-public charging ethos, so I stopped for a 'splash and dash' southbound. Same services, but on the other side of the motorway, I arrived to a plethora of available chargers - again; plug in, tap card and go. 10 mins later I'm on my way and later arrived home with plenty of miles to spare.
It wasn't cheap at around 30 quid for my 100-odd miles of range as it was over 3 times the cost of my electricity at home. But hey - it's a service station. When I had an ICE car I didn't fill up with fuel there so it makes sense that charging there is an expensive process. It's so rare that I'll do it, the other financial benefits of having an EV make up for the occasionally expensive 'fill up'
What it has given me is a lot more confidence in the charging network and to make longer journeys in the EV, providing time constraints suit it. I see that as a win
One pre-requisite for getting one however, was that I refused to charge publicly. I have a charger at home and had/have no desire to faff around out on the road, especially after I tried it a couple of times early on and had a catalogue of problems with apps, broken chargers and inexplicably complicated charging processes.
My EV does around 240 miles in the winter and 300 in the summer on a single charge - it's rare that I need to exceed that in a single day.
But last week was one of those days - and it saw me going from Bedfordshire to Yorkshire and back in a single day.
I internally debated taking the ICE car. But I wasn't in a particular hurry in order to get to my midday meeting and I had time on the other side too, so I took the EV, which did feel a little like setting off on a trek with not enough water, hoping to find a stream on the route. Or perhaps I'm melodramatic
Anyhow, running ahead of schedule, I decided to stop at Woodall services northbound to charge as it had been recommended. I arrived to find chargers in use, but I only had to wait around 5 minutes before a 'medium' speed charger became free.
My biggest (pleasant) surprise was then realised - no messing around with apps or registration or anything like that - this was in total contrast to my last experience. I simply plugged the car in, tapped my card on the contactless point and it.........started charging. Brilliant.
Around 25 minutes saw around 80 miles of range added whilst I had a coffee and caught up with emails. I went to my destination, had my meeting and then was faced with a 150 mile journey with around 194 miles of range showing.
This was a little too tight for my rookie-public charging ethos, so I stopped for a 'splash and dash' southbound. Same services, but on the other side of the motorway, I arrived to a plethora of available chargers - again; plug in, tap card and go. 10 mins later I'm on my way and later arrived home with plenty of miles to spare.
It wasn't cheap at around 30 quid for my 100-odd miles of range as it was over 3 times the cost of my electricity at home. But hey - it's a service station. When I had an ICE car I didn't fill up with fuel there so it makes sense that charging there is an expensive process. It's so rare that I'll do it, the other financial benefits of having an EV make up for the occasionally expensive 'fill up'
What it has given me is a lot more confidence in the charging network and to make longer journeys in the EV, providing time constraints suit it. I see that as a win
It's been a legal requirement for a very short time now that EV chargers need contactless payments, as well as 99% (I think) up time so the infrastructure isn't too bad. Out of the 1 public charger I've used in all my month of EV ownership, it was pretty seamless (though Lidl could've made the QR codes a bit bigger!). I think you'll find you'll get preferential rates with some suppliers by going through the app process but if you don't want to sign up to service after service to find out then contactless will get you charging in a jiffy. I think we're just about to enter the period of easy usability and expansion. I think it'll help EV sales quite a bit when the range anxiety argument starts to become less and less valid.
Now come on tell the truth... You tried 3 different charges, 2 had the cables cut, the third wanted £5 per KWH and then your EV spontaneously burst into flames 
Joking aside, I've only used public charging twice. First was like yours, tap card and off you go. Then for some reason they never took the money out? Second we were staying over at a hotel and they had free EV charging for guests!
Joking aside, I've only used public charging twice. First was like yours, tap card and off you go. Then for some reason they never took the money out? Second we were staying over at a hotel and they had free EV charging for guests!
Muzzer79 said:
Pica-Pica said:
Well done, but please be more concise.
I thought that my story deserved to be as verbose as the opposite tales of taking EV's long distances and failing at the first charging attempt, that litter newspapers and social media Peterpetrole said:
Also had my first public charging experience yesterday, in someone else's car -
Fourwentways services, Shell, near Cambridge.
Technically all went very well. Shocked that no prices were on display either before, during, or after. Government needs to step in.
Wow that’s bad. I’m paying 77p per Kw/h to use the BP 50kw chargers. It’s outrageous but does mean they are seldom occupied as a result. This pricing level has to come down to something more realistic for the whole EV changeover to work. Fourwentways services, Shell, near Cambridge.
Technically all went very well. Shocked that no prices were on display either before, during, or after. Government needs to step in.
Only having to stop for 40 minutes in order to undertake a 300 mile round trip and that's a cause for celebration? Seriously?!
I think there's much to be said in favour of EV's but - for the time being at least - I think most are still an inferior choice for longer journeys compared to an ICE car.
I think there's much to be said in favour of EV's but - for the time being at least - I think most are still an inferior choice for longer journeys compared to an ICE car.
I rarely public charge, I think I could probably count on 2 hands the number of times I have in circa 25k miles.
Weirdly the only problems I’ve come across have been in and around central London with the likes of Shell or BP where they’ve been out of service. I tend to have my go to chargers in service stations on or just off the M6/M40 and it’s always been 150 miles ish added in 20 minutes while I nip to the loo and have a coffee.
For my use case it also works brilliantly. I keep it on charge while I’m in the office and don’t have to charge anywhere else.
If I went back 10 years to the miles I was doing it probably wouldn’t work for me but the infrastructure is getting better and more than likely works for 99% of people.
Weirdly the only problems I’ve come across have been in and around central London with the likes of Shell or BP where they’ve been out of service. I tend to have my go to chargers in service stations on or just off the M6/M40 and it’s always been 150 miles ish added in 20 minutes while I nip to the loo and have a coffee.
For my use case it also works brilliantly. I keep it on charge while I’m in the office and don’t have to charge anywhere else.
If I went back 10 years to the miles I was doing it probably wouldn’t work for me but the infrastructure is getting better and more than likely works for 99% of people.
There are plenty of apps that tell you the price of chargers before you get there, but if you're spontaneous, yes it isn't always obvious.
I expect the price of the one above was displayed on the small screen at the finish, some providers are better than others, big up to the Dunball Services just off the M5 in Somerset (J23) where it is in large green neon lights,
I expect the price of the one above was displayed on the small screen at the finish, some providers are better than others, big up to the Dunball Services just off the M5 in Somerset (J23) where it is in large green neon lights,
Mark V GTD said:
TheDrownedApe said:
Super, glad it changed your opinion.
But only 80miles in 25 mins, that's slow
Not really - thats what a 'fast' 50Kw charger will provide. Obviously there are faster ones but outside of the Tesla network they are rare.But only 80miles in 25 mins, that's slow
Random Zap Map screenshot of chargers 100kW or greater. Purple = 100 to 350kW, Pink = 350kW or greater.
Glad you popped your public charger cherry OP! I remember having something of a 'stop f
king worrying' moment a couple of years back, when I realise the charger network is now more than good enough to get the job done with no planning or stress.
I think most of the fear comes from the early days of public charging which was indeed hideous. These days, it just so easy though. I don't stop any longer now than I used to when I didn't even have an EV, I just charge when I happen to stop.
king worrying' moment a couple of years back, when I realise the charger network is now more than good enough to get the job done with no planning or stress.I think most of the fear comes from the early days of public charging which was indeed hideous. These days, it just so easy though. I don't stop any longer now than I used to when I didn't even have an EV, I just charge when I happen to stop.
plfrench said:
Hardly rare! Hundreds of 100kW chargers out there now - maybe 2 or 3 years ago your statement would have been correct
Just my own experience as an EV driver - fastest one I have found was 75Kw. This is probably because I stick to the BP Pulse network as I know how they work and there seem to be plenty of them but mainly 50Kw max.UPDATE - had another look at the BP app and there is one place with 100 and 150Kw chargers that not too far off one of my regular routes - will give it a try!
Edited by Mark V GTD on Sunday 9th February 08:55
Mark V GTD said:
plfrench said:
Hardly rare! Hundreds of 100kW chargers out there now - maybe 2 or 3 years ago your statement would have been correct
Just my own experience as an EV driver - fastest one I have found was 75Kw. This is probably because I stick to the BP Pulse network as I know how they work and there seem to be plenty of them but mainly 50Kw max.UPDATE - had another look at the BP app and there is one place with 100 and 150Kw chargers that not too far off one of my regular routes - will give it a try!
Edited by Mark V GTD on Sunday 9th February 08:55
You don't need to know how the newer, far faster chargers, work btw. For years now it's been illegal to install new public rapid chargers which don't accept tap to pay, so virtually all of them can be used with no app and no prior experience.
Anywhere you can drive in the UK within the range of your EV will take you past several such chargers, there are thousands of them. Admittedly they will cost a bit more than a slower network that you're subscribed to but... probably not an issue if you're not doing it frequently and value convenience.
Edited by TheDeuce on Sunday 9th February 09:12
Mark V GTD said:
Wow that’s bad. I’m paying 77p per Kw/h to use the BP 50kw chargers. It’s outrageous but does mean they are seldom occupied as a result. This pricing level has to come down to something more realistic for the whole EV changeover to work.
Theres on 2 fast charger sites near me, Instavolt and Shell recharge, 85p & 89p respectively. It's a joke, it's the equivalent of 22.75mpg when doing 3.3miles/kwhGassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff