J.Thomas runs a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV 12kWh 2018 and shares his thoughts on public charging.

What do you think of the UK public charging network in general?

I’d like to use an ‘unpublishable’ word! On a trip to Northumberland last year, our day trips were all within electric range of a charge point, except for the free council charger at Craster and I had to jump through hoops to use them. A different app for a different provider at every stop! Only for the dedicated, determined to reduce emissions types like me.

What and where are your favourite UK public chargers?

Used to be Halbeath, until Fife Council introduced a PHEV-barring connection charge. Summerhall in Edinburgh used to be “fun”. Had to reverse in from a busy road to a tight space to get connected.

What’s been your best experience with a UK public charger?

Craster – you have to pay for the parking, same as everyone else but it’s not much and you get a free charge while you walk.

What’s been your worst experience with a UK public charger?

ChargePlace Scotland – all the charge points that don’t work. PHEVs are now frowned upon but I’m glad we’ve got petrol to keep us rolling as I think we’d have been stuck a few times with a BEV.

The Scottish Government appears to “get” that many more chargers are required but plans are for doubling the number to 4,000 over the next three years. Nowhere near enough as their own transport department tells them 30,000 are needed by the end of the decade.

What’s got to change about public charging in the UK to get more people driving electric cars?

Make the charges consistent and transparent. PHEVs are a necessary interim measure until there are many more charge-points than petrol pumps. As the best EVs need a lot of time even on a rapid charger compared to a petrol car, we need many more charge points quickly. Outlaw connection charges or minimum charges are so high it’s not worth connecting a PHEV.

Consistent means making the apps share an operation mode, so the customer doesn’t need to jump to a new app with each charger they visit. Better still, ensure they all accept contactless payment, maybe with incentives to register an app but no compulsion.

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