A difficult journey highlights issues with UK public charging infrastructure.

[Striker]

Today I did the run out to Heathrow and back to collect my daughter from the airport, and it was a totally different experience.

This time I did my charging on the inbound journey so we could have a straight run back without stopping. I went M5 and M4 to Reading and the Pod-Point charger at Lidl. It was 3.30 in the morning and as I anticipated I had the charger to myself. I arrived with 69% and plugged in the CCS and started charging via the Pod-Point app.

I then had a problem which underlined why I dislike using apps to charge an EV. Whilst I was sitting in the car having a hot drink from a flask, I had a text from ASDA mobile informing me that my automatic top up had failed and I had no credit left. I tried to manually top up the phone and it informed me that it had failed also. The car was up to 84% and started throttling, so the only way I could stop the charge was by hitting the emergency stop button, which worked and I was able to remove the CCS plug (I thought I might have a problem with that but it was fine).

I then had to revert to plan B as I was originally going to use the Source London fast chargers at Hounslow West car park. Without being able to access the website, it would be impossible to start a PAYG session. So, I headed for the small charging hub in Slough suggested by Striker as it was only 12 miles from my destination and would still alow me to make the return journey without stopping.

If anyone is travelling along the M4, this hub is only 1.5 miles from junction 6 and accepts contactless charging. I arrived with 77% charge and plugged into a 150kW charger, where I charged to 95%. At the hub there was a DPD van and another van plugged into the 7kW posts with no drivers, so I presume they had been left overnight.

I got to Hounslow West Underground Station car park with 86%. Weekday parking was £6.50 (a lot cheaper than Heathrow Short Stay). 2 stops on the Picadilly line and I was at Terminal 3. Picked up my daughter and back to Hounslow West. On to the M4, and no offence meant to any Londoners on this forum, but the lack of lane discipline and lack of indicators was frightening. Once we got past the M25 it was plain sailing and got home with 33% remaining. I subtracted the Sat-Nav distance from the GOM prediction and it said I would have 73 miles remaining. When I pulled onto the drive the GOM said 72. Not a bad guess once again.

What a difference it makes when chargers are available and working.

Glad it went better this time, the charging hub in Slough was app only when I went in July, good that it's now contactless

 

[dragon2611]

I then had a problem which underlined why I dislike using apps to charge an EV. Whilst I was sitting in the car having a hot drink from a flask, I had a text from ASDA mobile informing me that my automatic top up had failed and I had no credit left.

You know I'd never even thought about that as a problem for using the apps, Plenty of times where the mobile data has been crap due to signal issues or congestion and it's been a horrible experience but yeh not actually having any mobile data due to running out of allowance or being on payg was not something I'd considered.

I wonder if the CPO's ever thought about that one either, as there's usually not Wi-Fi being provided by these chargepoints.

 

[Gadget Geek]

I wonder if the CPO's ever thought about that one either, as there's usually not Wi-Fi being provided by these chargepoints.

Good point . If they insist on you having to use an app, they should at least provide connectivity.

 

[Gadget Geek]

Glad it went better this time, the charging hub in Slough was app only when I went in July, good that it's now contactless

Yeah, it's a good job they've changed it as I had no credit on my phone. Thanks again for mentioning that hub, it made all the difference to my journey.

 

[Susanna]

@Gadget Geek

’lack of lane discipline and indicating’

Having lived in that part of London for many years, I am not in the least bit surprised at your comment. On my daily commute, I often thought that other drivers relieved their boredom by turning their journeys into some sort of motorsport.

An example would be to roar away from traffic lights on a roundabout before the lights had actually changed to green, going from a right lane, and then turning left across the other 2 lanes, whilst also dodging the cars coming from the right who had jumped red lights.

It was certainly no picnic, and you needed nerves of steel!

However, I have experienced worse - the centre of Madrid and the exit road from Boston airport…….

 

[daverobbo]

@Gadget Geek

’lack of lane discipline and indicating’

Having lived in that part of London for many years, I am not in the least bit surprised at your comment. On my daily commute, I often thought that other drivers relieved their boredom by turning their journeys into some sort of motorsport.

An example would be to roar away from traffic lights on a roundabout before the lights had actually changed to green, going from a right lane, and then turning left across the other 2 lanes, whilst also dodging the cars coming from the right who had jumped red lights.

It was certainly no picnic, and you needed nerves of steel!

However, I have experienced worse - the centre of Madrid and the exit road from Boston airport…….

haven't you been to Rome?!!!!

 

[Susanna]

haven't you been to Rome?!!!!

I have actually, but it was just for a 4 day break, and I didn’t need to hire a car. Sounds like I dodged a bullet!
I also remember the circular road around Paris

 

[Eclectic]

I have actually, but it was just for a 4 day break, and I didn’t need to hire a car. Sounds like I dodged a bullet!
I also remember the circular road around Paris

The Peripherique! I went across Paris on that with an 18' hang glider (folded!) strapped to my diesel Escort. Nearly decapitated a dozen scooterists

 

[Gadget Geek]

I have actually, but it was just for a 4 day break, and I didn’t need to hire a car. Sounds like I dodged a bullet!
I also remember the circular road around Paris

 

[Gadget Geek]

I re-did this journey today, and what a difference.
Bjorn has his Geilo test, and it looks like I've got my Hounslow test.

At the start of the thread, my first journey was in December with freezing temperatures and snow on the ground. I got to Hounslow West with 25% charge remaining. Today, with 16 degrees Celcius, I arrived with 54% charge.

After an overnight 100% charge, the GOM was saying 285 miles (I never reset trip meters). Once I was on the motorway, I subtracted the Sat-Nav distance from the GOM distance, and it said 140 miles remaining when I got there, and I arrived with 140 miles left on the GOM!

I was going to try out the Source London 7kW chargers, but it looks like they've been removed. So on the way back, plan B was to drive to the Charge Yard at Slough, where I arrived with 50%. I plugged into a 150kW charger (getting 60kW) and 15 minutes later I was up to 75%. I did the subtraction again and I would have 70 miles of range left when I got home.

I arrived home with 72 miles of range left and 27% battery.

A very enjoyable and relaxed drive. If only all journeys could be like that.