Planetary CFO's log. left home on full charge. Although my day's round trip should be well within the range without recharging, I wanted to test out some charging stations en-route. My first stop was AVDC in Aylesbury. Arrived about 07:40 but found that both charging points were in use by AVDC's own fleet vehicles (on slow charge - 3 pin plug). Before I realised I couldn't charge on a point where someone was already connected (even with an apparently available type 2 socket) , I also discovered that, because of the particular location and design of the bars on a protection railing around the charge point, it was very difficult to put my type 2 connector into the available socket. So, a couple of things to frustrate the EV user. Come on AVDC, you can do better than this. I suggest you:
1) Install a private charging point (or two) for your own fleet vehicles, so that the public charging points are truly for public use, and
2) redesign and modify the charging point protection barriers.
Thank you
Next stop was Welcome Break Services, junction of M40 and A40. Of the three charging points, it took me a little while, and some reparking, to work out that there was only one point I could use with my vehicle, but on the one bollard there were two type 2 connectors, and two car parking spaces next to it - can two EV users therefore charge on type 2 at the same time from the same bollard? Anyway, after that, with swipe of my Ecotricity card and simple instruction on the charge point's display, I plugged my type 2 lead in at the point and on my car and hey-presto, the car and the charge point did their thing. Took about 20 mins to charge from 75% to 97%. I did learn that, while the car is charging, there are things you can't do, like wind down the electronic windows or run the aircon or press the start button to get either of those going. I tried it early on and the charging stopped, so I had to go back to the beginning, disconnect as if about to drive away, then reswipe, reconnect etc. But, overall, it worked fine, and I could at least have the radio on while charging and play with the R-link functions including satnav settings etc.
Next stop was Seacourt Park and Ride in Oxford. Only one EV parking space, between disabled places. Luckily, the space was free. I can see why there's only one space - only one charge point with a type 1 (3 pin) and a type 2 point on the same electronic 'bollard' as you might call them. Slightly frustrating that you have to swipe your card more than once - firstly to pull up type 1 connection authorisation on the screen, then (after a while) second swipe for type 2 authorisation. After that, plain sailing as with the previous stop. Went to work. When I got back, was back to full charge.
Drove home. Plugged in at home for overnight charging from 75%, using granny cable because the home charging point being supplied free by British Gas hasn't been installed yet. I get the impression, from dealings with them by phone, that they are very busy. I take that as a good sign that there must be heavy demand. The Renault dealer also said that they're now taking orders for Zoes for delivery in October, whereas mine was delivered just over a month after being ordered.
Distance travelled was about 70 miles in the day.
Overall conclusion: Good driving. Feels like a normal car to drive. Really enjoying it.
Worries: When there are more people like me, will the infrastructure providers lead with capacity ahead of demand, to avoid excessive probability of contention between EV drivers at the electric pumps, or will they wait for us users to have bad experiences, experience travel delays, get angry and complain bitterly before they act to catch up and install more charging points?