[DuRam]

Over on an another thread there's a right old hammering about the poor state of the nation's rapid charging network. It's a very easy point to make and I don't disagree with many of the comments. However here's a little sunny story to cheer up those folks who want to hear about a better experience.

Yesterday I drove outside of the NE region for the first time since the start of lockdown '21, for legitimate business in the High Peak of Derbyshire. My 62 Leaf made it to the destination with a few miles to spare. In this rural place was a rapid charger, free to CYC members or contactless payment for others. Zap Map users suggested it might be out of order but I suspected it was a misunderstanding about the membership (Polar) and was correct. An exceptional CYC free charge. The local post office is also the only one in the country with a beer licence, apparently, because the chap brews his own. That wasn't the 'legitimate business' of the visit but of course I couldn't return empty handed. I used other local facilities while it charged for an hour before moving on. Later in the day, on the journey back north, I got a free top-up at one of the West Yorkshire Engies, whilst they are still free vend.

It had been a lovely day, a scenic drive in parts, everything had worked perfectly. And all for about £3.50 in 'fuel'. Just wanted to put it out there...

 

[Mark Cornwall]

When long trips involving charging stops are trouble free it is a joy for sure. Its been a couple of years since we started using Instavolt exclusively and all good, however the nagging doubt in the back of my mind that I am going to be let down by rapids is still there. Hopefully it will disappear at some point, but keeping a 20 mile or more buffer, just in case, I think may never go away. Despite what others say I am amazed at just how much things have improved with so many rapids since the early days. The motorway services provision is a different matter in anything with CCS.

 

[soldave]

When long trips involving charging stops are trouble free it is a joy for sure. Its been a couple of years since we started using Instavolt exclusively and all good, however the nagging doubt in the back of my mind that I am going to be let down by rapids is still there. Hopefully it will disappear at some point, but keeping a 20 mile or more buffer, just in case, I think may never go away. Despite what others say I am amazed at just how much things have improved with so many rapids since the early days. The motorway services provision is a different matter in anything with CCS.

I've only recently got an electric vehicle (DS3) but have felt that on the couple of longer trips I've made so far. Hopefully the anxiety will go away but I guess you just have to be a little more cautious until charging point reliability improves.

Incidentally, I wonder what the failure percentage of chargers is at any one point. Would be interested to know if a fraction of a percent or higher than that.