When it comes to Electric Cars you need to know about charging locations and plan to reach to the nearest location and consider factors like use of Air Conditioning, weather, weight in the car, tyre pressure, as it effects the overall range.
Here are few Steps you can take before you start your journey. There are few Apps you need in your phone.
When going for long journeys you need.
1. Domestic three Pin Cable and Your own cable for Pod Point, Life EV or other slow charging points. You can buy them online.
2. Zap Map: It is an app that gives whole map of nearest charging points. It shows clearly about slow chargers, Rapid Chargers and Fast Chargers. It can also help plan your journey and gives option to choose the charging points on the way.
3. It is better to start moving to charging point if 30 to 40 miles range left just like you do with Petrol or Diesel cars, as charging points can be broken, occupied or might not exist or site has closed the barriers or access. This can be rare, but many people experienced in some sites like Gym Entrances, Golf Clubs etc.
4. For most of the chargers you need App and need to top up balance between £5 to £15 depending upon the location and the provider. Some places take holding fee so be sure to check this before paying, as many times people pay the holding fee and chargers didn’t work. Paying multiple holding fee from many cards can put people in situation of run out of funds so charging in other locations will be difficult. Refund can take up to 7 working days.
5.Depending upon the vehicle manufacturers you need Type1 to Type2 Cable or Type2 to Type2 Charging cable. Also you need to identify the need of length. Mostly people buy around 5m length. These cables are also available in various specifications. Below are some specs
– 16A or 32A single phase
-16A or 32A Three Phase
Here are Few Charging Points
1.Instavolt: It is a Fast Charger. No App Needed for Rapid Charging. It Holds the Deposit and eventually deduct the charges after charging is finished.
2. BP Charge Master: It is a Fast Charger. App Required and balance Pre-loading required.
3. Pod Point: App Required. They are available as slow and fast also. They need balance pre-Loaded. They are mostly in supermarkets and in many locations. Some places it needs your own cable, and some places cable is attached mainly in Fast Charging locations.
4. LiFe EV: App required. They are slow chargers. They need balance pre-loaded. They are also in many locations around supermarkets, stations etc. They need your own cable.
5. Ecotricity: Mostly in Motorways / Highways and very quick to charge your car. No App needed now.
6. Genie Point: It is a Fast Charger. App Required and balance need to be pre-Loaded.
7. Ubitricity : Slow Charging Point. Need App and own Cable. Mostly in Lamp Posts. Fastest growing Network.
8. Tesla Superchargers: Mostly was Free to use with All Tesla Models but changed recently so check when buying.
9. Osprey Charging : App required. Fast Chargers. Billed monthly. Mostly in Restaurants & around pubs
10. MFG EV Power : Supercharger’s CCS & CHAdeMO. Very quick to charge.
11. ESB Chargers : App required. Contactless Payments also available
12. Gridserve : No App required. Mostly in motorway services.
13.ChargePlace Scotland
14. Connected Kerb
Some companies are providing RFID card that can be used in most of the locations rather than paying individually through the app. RFID card can be very handy as in some locations mobile networks are weak.
AC chargers can be used in most locations parallel to DC Chargers depending upon the car parking space. You can disconnect the chargers at any point during the charging. Just follow the instructions by manufacturers. Some charging points need you to touch the card used for Top Up to disconnect and some need to press the stop button in the App. Customer support is mostly available. Some residential or commercial energy suppliers also offer Cheaper Electric Car Charging tariffs so worth checking with your energy supplier
General Etiquette:
Leave the charging cable at the right place.
Help others if they don’t know the usage as this is a new system and we can help people to be confident on EV Revolution.
Do not throw litters as it can be flammable and not safe for others.
Observe around as other people can be waiting before you for charging.
Report the breakdown if possible to the provider so they can fix earlier.
Keep an eye on charging & if your required charging is complete than move out from the space as many people can be waiting for you to disconnect.
Safety
Be careful with surroundings and lock your car.
Also be aware of the Parking charges and read the notifications around as parking charges apply after certain duration.