Campbell drives a Hyundai IONIQ PHEV and shares his experiences to-date on public charging.
What do you think of the UK public charging network in general?
I use ChargePlace Scotland as it’s free. I got my car in February and I have only put £50 in it for petrol. I get 39 miles from the battery nearly every day. I generally do a round trip of approx. 25 miles so I charge it up back home and do the same next day. The only problem is I wish they would repair them sometimes as it’s difficult finding a charger but I can’t complain when it’s free!
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What and where are your favourite UK public chargers?
Well, when I can find one working and no one using it, it’s in Ayr, in the middle of the town. It’s a 23kW charger but because EVs are getting more popular it’s very difficult sometimes as they’re free.
What’s been your best experience with a UK public charger in your Hyundai IONIQ?
Well my car is PHEV and it takes about 2-30 mins for a full charge so I don’t mind because, as I have already said, it’s free. But it’s getting more difficult to get 22kw chargers. I was up at Falkirk and they had about 10 chargers at one station, that’s the way it should be.
What’s been your worst experience with a UK public charger?
My wife and I are retired so we go out for breakfast just about every morning and the cafe we go to has 7 chargers. Most of the EV drivers just plug them in and leave their cars and don’t return immediately they’re fully charged so you have people waiting to use them and I am one of them!!
What’s got to change about public charging in the UK to get more people driving electric cars?
Simple, make cars at a price that the ordinary person can afford!
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