[MikEyV]

I almost came disastrously to grief recently. Bakewell has 8 7kw chargers listed on Zap Map. But when I got there, the units (all branded Chargemaster) were impossible to use without an RFID card. They don’t appear on the Chargemaster or Polar apps so there seemed to be no alternative. With the nearest rapids being in Sheffield I thought I was screwed. To great relief I eventually managed to convince the helpline operator to initiate a charge for me remotely.

This has left me confused. How SHOULD I be using these units? Chargemaster don’t even issue RFID now I thought? And i absolutely don’t want a Polar subscription.

 

[srichards]

Are they part of the D2N2 thing which is rfid only? That's all derbyshire and Nottinghamshire way.

 

[Neilew]

This has left me confused. How SHOULD I be using these units? Chargemaster don’t even issue RFID now I thought? And i absolutely don’t want a Polar subscription.

Chargemaster and Polar are the same company. You get an RFID when you subscribe to Polar Plus. That would have started the charger for you. Trouble is the subscription is £7.85 a month. You got to need a lot of charging for that amount.

 

[Tandy0]

They show as CYC on my Zapmap. Sign up here: Charge Your Car - UK's open recharging network

 

[Tooks]

The only App that starts those chargers is the CYC one, so you don’t need a Polar RFID or subscription.

 

[MikEyV]

Thanks everyone. This does typify the chaotic state of our charging network!

 

[srichards]

D2n2 rapid chargers definitely work with a polar rfid card as I tried one. It also showed normal contactless as available. There were 2 readers on it. The slower posts probably only have the one reader which is why it's more annoying.

By the end of the year all chargers apparently have to allow access with no sign up and no pre existing credit etc so it should be possible to use any charger off the hoof. Some seem to be doing web interfaces so it still requires a smartphone. Still more trouble than petrol.

 

[MikEyV]

I don't have an RFID for Polar unfortunately, and they won't offer one unless on subscription

 

[EricM]

I don't have an RFID for Polar unfortunately, and they won't offer one unless on subscription

Have they stopped doing the "first 3 months free" subscription offer ?