Duncan, I already have that matter covered as I was interviewed for the show the other day regards thoughts on pricing. Mind you, the title doesnt quite fit with the main subject topic which was mainly about general charging costs (but that wouldn't make a nice show title would it!) and also the fact that Durham Council were now charging and the reporter was told they were not and it was Chargemaster that started the ball rolling with MK on a large scale.
Durham are charging £5 which is still a tad to high when you consider the cost relation to diesel and petrol and the fact as a commodity electric to the home user generally costs us 7-15p per Kwh depending on tariff such as economy 7. My personal target I would consider ok would be in the £3.50p to £4.00p range as I understand these companies need to have a profitable income but not to the point of being ripped off in the process! Some would say maybe even less than £3.50p, but still far better than Chargemasters laughable £7.50p. If prices dont work out cheaper than diesel or petrol by atleast 50% then it will prob help slow the uptake of EV's big time!
The reporter through searching Leaftalk and SpeakEV became aware afew comments that were left were along the lines, "i'd rather get a flat bed than pay that (£7.50p) amount out of principle" and of course I was asked my opinion and to be fair I think i'd be prepared to do that on principle also!
It is fair to say people are not exactly happy with Chargemaster on a number of levels and with just cause to be fair!
Sam Fenwick (no relation) the reporter was also due to have a phone interview with Chargemaster (David Martell) today, so yesterday she sent me his responses To questions after my interview to see if he was being honest with her and to be honest and lets just say he might have just forgot a few things!
I look forward to his response on the show as some of his responses were just plain wrong and wacky! Suffice to say, Chargemaster really don't know what there target customers want in a charging service!
The was another chap from the forum sent her a lengthy email over Chargemaster and its 'suspect' ways, sadly I cant recall his name, poss a Julian? And drives an Ampera and to be fair, I couldn't find a point I didn't agree with him!
Subject to how his interview plays out I will pop back tomorrow after listening to it and post my responses to his sometime bizarre thoughts and comments!
As regards an official stance from the EVDA-UK, we did send Chargemaster an open letter back in March,
( Link -
http://www.evda-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/OpenLetterToChargemaster-web.pdf ) but no one from Chargemaster was even polite enough to offer a reply or even an acknowledgement of even receiving it!
I look forward to hearing how this plays out once edited!
A F-G.
