Rfid? Debit card ? Charging ?

[ross]

First journey Inn our New MG4 se standard range will be from a garage around 300 miles from home next week, so a bit of a road trip ! As a complete novice when it comes to ev can I now use a contactless debit card at most chargers or will I need an rfid card presumably tied to an energy provider from what I understand so far.... how reliable is the debit card payment method ? Looking on zap map depending on whether I use M6 northwest route or A1m north , stops will be Burton in kendal services or Scotch corner... as a first stop. Any one use either of these stops ? Thanks all, it really seems easier pulling up at a pump, chucking in a few gallons and paying cash without the added stress of will this charger accept my debit card etcetera! Thanks in advance. Sorry if its all been asked before, but stress levels are rising !

 

[Jomarkh]

Just go a charging hub with 6 plus units. Are there any Tesla sites on your route?

 

[5teep]

First journey Inn our New MG4 se standard range will be from a garage around 300 miles from home next week, so a bit of a road trip ! As a complete novice when it comes to ev can I now use a contactless debit card at most chargers or will I need an rfid card presumably tied to an energy provider from what I understand so far.... how reliable is the debit card payment method ? Looking on zap map depending on whether I use M6 northwest route or A1m north , stops will be Burton in kendal services or Scotch corner... as a first stop. Any one use either of these stops ? Thanks all, it really seems easier pulling up at a pump, chucking in a few gallons and paying cash without the added stress of will this charger accept my debit card etcetera! Thanks in advance. Sorry if its all been asked before, but stress levels are rising !

I think as time goes by we'll see less and less RFID access methods, contactless means you can use any company's charger. From early this year, all chargers over 7kw must have contactless payment options so yes you should be able to use it anywhere on any "rapid". The debit card system is as reliable as in any shop and prone to the same issues I expect, my advice until you get to know which chargers work best for you is to always have a couple of options and don't go too low before you call in.

 

[slmorgan42]

I would recommend credit card or charge card if you get a discount. Card payments will put holds (£20). If you have any issues you could get multiple so CC is better.

 

[ross]

We don't use credit cards , never have in 65 years so stuck with debit card only this trip. Will look into tesla chargers but do you not require a tesla app/ card set up beforehand ?

 

[slmorgan42]

We don't use credit cards , never have in 65 years so stuck with debit card only this trip. Will look into tesla chargers but do you not require a tesla app/ card set up beforehand ?

Ok I get that just be aware you may get multiple £20 holds on each charging attempt that can take 24 hours to clear.

On one charge attempt I once ended up with £100 worth of temp holds on the card.

Make sure you have enough cash on your debit card to cover anything like this.

 

[5teep]

I would recommend credit card or charge card if you get a discount. Card payments will put holds (£20). If you have any issues you could get multiple so CC is better.

The downside of contactless, the precharge ( most of the ones round here are £30 but I've seen some at £60!!

 

[siteguru]

Will look into tesla chargers but do you not require a tesla app/ card set up beforehand ?

Having the app (with your account and payment method preconfigured) will allow you to use all the open-to-all Tesla sites. The app will also only show you those sites which are open-to-all anyway (as long as you configure your car in the app ... set it as Other/Other, unless the app has been changed again to show Chinese brands). Setting up the app only takes a few minutes, and you can do it now whilst at home.

Otherwise you'll only be able to use the V4 Tesla sites which have a screen and contactless payment option.

Most other sites will likely accept contactless payment, but using their apps can sometimes give you a discount. Also FastNED (and some Gridserve) sites allow you to do your first charge (via the app) and then configure auto-charge ... this means that the next time you use their compatible chargers you only need to plug in and it all sorts itself out.

 

[Data]

First journey Inn our New MG4 se standard range will be from a garage around 300 miles from home next week, so a bit of a road trip ! As a complete novice when it comes to ev can I now use a contactless debit card at most chargers or will I need an rfid card presumably tied to an energy provider from what I understand so far.... how reliable is the debit card payment method ? Looking on zap map depending on whether I use M6 northwest route or A1m north , stops will be Burton in kendal services or Scotch corner... as a first stop. Any one use either of these stops ? Thanks all, it really seems easier pulling up at a pump, chucking in a few gallons and paying cash without the added stress of will this charger accept my debit card etcetera! Thanks in advance. Sorry if its all been asked before, but stress levels are rising !

Never ever had any public charging issues ever, whether Tesla or any other charging brand. I would put the Tesla app on your phone though as it lets you use any open to all Tesla chargers not just the latest V4 units. All of them accepted whatever payment method I had chosen. Aside from debit & credit cards I also have an RFID Electroverse card that gives me an 8% minimum discount at participating charge point operators. This adds the cost of my charging directly to my house energy bill so it just comes out on my monthly direct debit. Or, you can use Electroverse RFID with your bank debit card or credit card as a payment method programmed into the card. I'm with Octopus Energy who supplies the Electroverse card. Electroverse is compatible with hundreds of charging companys. It simplifies this payment thing for sure & gets you a discount.

Good luck with your EV adventure. Don't worry, it'll go smoothly enough. You will soon lose any range anxiety you may have. Charging is easy, anywhere, once you get used to it. It's better than filling with petrol or diesel as you can go & get a bacon roll & a tea while the car fills up!

 

[Ian Key]

We don't use credit cards , never have in 65 years so stuck with debit card only this trip. Will look into tesla chargers but do you not require a tesla app/ card set up beforehand ?

As @Data mentioned above it might be worth getting the Electroverse card and app and linking your debit card to it. You don't have to be an Octopus customer, although if you are they will add the payment to your monthly bill, and you don't get the pre-charge.

Octopus Electroverse

One-tap access to 1,234,551 EV chargers across the UK & Europe

electroverse.com

 

[GaryMG4]

Ok I get that just be aware you may get multiple £20 holds on each charging attempt that can take 24 hours to clear.

On one charge attempt I once ended up with £100 worth of temp holds on the card.

Make sure you have enough cash on your debit card to cover anything like this.

That's why I use a credit card, you have a larger window for them to be reversed and most of the time they just sit in pending authorisation so just chip away at the credit limit.

 

[Shrink Proof]

Looking on zap map depending on whether I use M6 northwest route or A1m north , stops will be Burton in kendal services or Scotch corner... as a first stop. Any one use either of these stops ? Thanks all, it really seems easier pulling up at a pump, chucking in a few gallons and paying cash without the added stress of will this charger accept my debit card etc

Have used the Scotch Corner chargers a few times whie, like you, heading back to Scotland. Only once had a problem, solved by moving to the next machine along, which worked fine. Haven't used a debit card but credit card was accepted quite happily. Being a service station, you can obviously get coffee and such things while waiting; otherwise it's as soulless and forgetable as any other such place.

More generally, you are right, it's MUCH easier to refuel an ICE car by just pulling up, filling up and paying up. The charging setup can sometimes be anything from glitchy to impossible. It's definitely the weak link in the system and the major disincentive to going electric. As stated above, use places with multiple chargers - being stuck somewhere where there's just one that refuses to perform is wretched. Especially if that's somewhere remote...

 

[Gomev]

We don't use credit cards , never have in 65 years so stuck with debit card only this trip. Will look into tesla chargers but do you not require a tesla app/ card set up beforehand ?

Make sure you have not reached your contactless limit as the charger will refuse your card and there is no option to enter a PIN.

 

[siteguru]

Make sure you have not reached your contactless limit as the charger will refuse your card and there is no option to enter a PIN.

That's where the apps can be beneficial - you can start a charge via the app and there's no pre-auth as your card is already approved in your account.

 

[Roldorf]

Waiting to charge until you get to 10 or 20% is downright silly. I usually try to charge before I get to 30%. It gives a nice buffer if the chargers don't play nice.

 

[ross]

From your collective advice, I have applied for and been graciously granted my 1st credit card and also an electroverse card.... My personal data is now flooding the interweb ! Things were so much easier filling up down the local garage and handing over some cash !

 

[Data]

From your collective advice, I have applied for and been graciously granted my 1st credit card and also an electroverse card.... My personal data is now flooding the interweb ! Things were so much easier filling up down the local garage and handing over some cash !

TBH, you'll soon see charging is just as easy or easier than refuelling with that highly flammable highly carcinogenic liquid call petrol (or diesel). Congrats on the credit card. If you could let me have the long number on the front of the card & the 3 security digits on the back I'd be obliged!! Ok, you know I'm joking, right?

 

[Kenp1]

A credit card is a very useful thing to have, when ordering things in advance it gives you protection on most items if the company goes bust.

Mines setup to to take the balance each month by direct debit.

 

[5teep]

From your collective advice, I have applied for and been graciously granted my 1st credit card and also an electroverse card.... My personal data is now flooding the interweb ! Things were so much easier filling up down the local garage and handing over some cash !

Wait till you see all the adverts for russian brides on your facebook feed

 

[ross]

Yep , after sneaking under the digital radar for decades I am suddenly being bombarded with all sorts of weird offers from various charging apps to Thai and Russian ( hopefully women ) desperate to meet me ! Used to charge my phone once every few days but its now pinging new offers and messages every few minutes ...