Lupus123 shares their experience of public charging with their Vauxhall Corsa Electric 2021.
What do you think of the UK public charging network in general?
Some of the most annoying issues for public charging are:
- there are not enough charging stations, especially on motorways, making long distance driving somewhat of a pain causing range anxiety
- invariably at stations there is a queue, sometimes having to wait up to an hour, or pulling into a station and finding chargers not working, won’t connect or having to download an app (about time all chargers had contactless option)
- and the varying prices providers charge
- these and the limited range of vehicles, especially when cruising on motorways where the range drops significantly at regulated speeds of 70 or under, especially in winter when other electrical components are used. My car is advertised at 220 miles range. I have never had this even in the city and on long journeys using dual carriageways/motorways, the range drops to approx. 145 miles.
What and where are your favourite UK public chargers?
- Braintree GRIDSERVE – over 20 chargers and fast
- Banbury off the M40 InstaVolt – over 30 chargers, fast but expensive
- Ubitricity – lamp post chargers, ideal for over night charging especially in the city.
What’s been your best experience with a UK public charger?
Both Braintree and Banbury hubs – fast and convenient with shops and a cafe. Ubitricity for convenience in the city.
What’s been your worst experience with a UK public charger?
The hub on the M40 Waterstock Services, Oxford. Only 2 devices providing limited power from GRIDSERVE. Always busy or out of service, annoying seeing this is a main motorway route. Just over the way is a Tesla hub with 20 devices, nearly always many available but Tesla-only. Other smaller hubs all over the country give similar frustrating experiences.
What’s got to change about public charging in the UK to get more people driving electric cars?
The infrastructure has got to be developed and very quickly. Companies have to increase the outputs on devices, more hubs with a minimum of 20 devices providing ultra and rapid charging, easy access is essential also.
*library image used.
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