Chargeplace Scotland changing from Charge your Car to SWARCO eVolt

22655 Views 259 Replies 32 Participants Last post by Duncan, Sep 2, 2021

DBMandrake

Discussion Starter · Mar 5, 2021 (Edited)

News has just hit that Chargeplace Scotland (CPS) who have used Charge your Car for their authentication and billing for the last several years will be switching to SWARCO eVolt starting in July:

SWARCO eVolt to operate ChargePlace Scotland | Transport Scotland

www.transport.gov.scot

This is an interesting albeit not unexpected change. What does it mean for end users?

Will existing RFID cards continue to work or do we need new ones? Will CPS accounts (which are basically just CYC accounts and use the same CYC app) be migrated across or will we be needing to create new accounts?

Will CPS cards stop working on CYC sites in England and will CYC cards stop working on CPS sites in Scotland?

Will CPS finally get their own mobile app instead of just using the CYC branded app and a fairly useless web browser based lookup?

While I of course recognise eVolt and a lot of rapids on the CPS network are already eVolt units, I have no knowledge of their ability to run a back end authentication and billing system, although they're unlikely to be worse than CYC.

So, good news? Bad news? Ambivalent ?

To be honest it's quite a while since I've used a CPS charger!

21 - 40 of 260 Posts

80698

· #21 · Apr 9, 2021

mad_rich said:
A lot of information on that page - still a little vague in parts!

One nugget that I noticed was that existing CPS RFID cards will still work, and that although the £20/ year fee is going away, there would be a joining fee (unspecified) for new customers.

For me, this means I may as well pay for a CPS card now, rather than wait until SWARCO takes over. I don't know if or when I'll next be visiting Scotland, but I know it will be a pain waiting for delivery of a card. It doesn't sound like app/ contactless will be much more robust than now in the short term.

I'm not sure if getting a card now will work or not. When I was reading yesterday it mentioned that they would also be contacting CYC members with a Scottish postcode registered to the account. Because the CYC and CPS Systems are basically identical with only different branded cards, I have a feeling that people like me with a CPS Card but English postcode registered will get put down as a CYC Customer (I already get CYC branded E-Mails from them) meaning we have to re-register after the transition takes place.

DBMandrake said:
No mention of whether CPS RFID cards will work at CYC sites in England post July...

I assume not, with exception to offline or abandoned locations where it will just validate against an existing database of cards. After Swarco take control they presumably won't be able to access CYC usage logs and therefore unable to bill you for it.

mad_rich

· #22 · Apr 9, 2021

Hmm. I read that too, but assumed it was aimed at people who are registered as CYC customers, and roaming on CPS. As opposed to people specifically registered with CPS. Even thought the two are run by the same back-end, I would assume they are identified differently somehow.

The FAQ page seems to suggest this - that CPS members can continue to use their RFID card, but CYC members will only do so if they have a Scottish postcode. Heaven knows what happens if you live in one of the TD postcodes that straddle the border

Membership Accounts
Will my RFID card still work after the handover?
Your current Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) card will be migrated over to the new operator. All data transfers will be completed in full compliance with GDPR requirements. SWARCO and Charge Your Car (CYC) are committed to a smooth transition to the new operator with the minimum of inconvenience to members.

Non-Members of CPS
What can I do if I’m a CYC Member?
If you are a CYC member SWARCO will work with CYC to transfer you across, along with the CPS driver database. If you have a Scottish postcode registered to your account, CYC will email you with information about how to process this transfer. If you have not received an email by June, please contact CYC to let them know.

Reactions: 1

electricdriver

· #23 · May 19, 2021

An unexpected arrival in the post this morning - a Swarco e.connect RFID card. The letter references signing up with them, with no mention of CPS. I haven't signed up with them, so presumably this is my replacement card to use with CPS chargers...not a great start in terms of clarity of communication. Anyone else...?

80698

· #24 · May 19, 2021

electricdriver said:
An unexpected arrival in the post this morning - a Swarco e.connect RFID card. The letter references signing up with them, with no mention of CPS. I haven't signed up with them, so presumably this is my replacement card to use with CPS chargers...not a great start in terms of clarity of communication. Anyone else...?

Meanwhile I signed up so E.Connect months ago now and am still waiting for a card to show up!
Did you sign up to CPS recently and the card is just incorrectly branded? Or is it completely out of the blue?

electricdriver

· #25 · May 19, 2021

80698 said:
Meanwhile I signed up so E.Connect months ago now and am still waiting for a card to show up!
Did you sign up to CPS recently and the card is just incorrectly branded? Or is it completely out of the blue?

I've had a CPS card for several years - and still do. I haven't requested a change, or made any changes to my account settings, for a long time. Out of the blue. I'm guessing it's associated with CPS, but that is pure conjecture on my part...

DBMandrake

Discussion Starter · #26 · May 19, 2021

Nothing received here yet and my CPS RFID card is (hopefully!) still working, so watching this with interest... I'm likely to be using a CPS rapid on Saturday too, although there are Instavolts in the area as well..

80698

· #27 · May 19, 2021

electricdriver said:
I've had a CPS card for several years - and still do. I haven't requested a change, or made any changes to my account settings, for a long time. Out of the blue. I'm guessing it's associated with CPS, but that is pure conjecture on my part...

Was the letter correctly addressed and in your name? No new direct debits randomly set up on your bank account?

I'd personally get in touch with Swarco and ask what's going on. In my experience they have been pretty helpful and quick to respond. At least you would then have a better understanding of why you received it - After all I had been told that existing CPS Cards would continue to work.

electricdriver

· #28 · May 19, 2021

80698 said:
Was the letter correctly addressed and in your name? No new direct debits randomly set up on your bank account?

I'd personally get in touch with Swarco and ask what's going on. In my experience they have been pretty helpful and quick to respond. At least you would then have a better understanding of why you received it - After all I had been told that existing CPS Cards would continue to work.

Yep, definitely for me. I'll get in touch and see what they have to say...

Kingpleb1

· #29 · May 19, 2021

It looks like it will follow the below migration path as they are have no other choice.

New unit is installed and is part of the swarco network
CPS cards can't be used here as there is no way to bill them so the swarco card is the only option until contactless is activated.

For a while you'll need both cards but as the units are replaced pretty quickly, going off the gmev migration here, you'll want to get your account setup sooner rather than later to avoid issues.
They don't bill annually for use of the card so unless you use it for charging you won't get billed and like CPS you'll need a direct debit in place as well unless you want to wait for contactless to rollout.

If you rely on charging I'd sign up and get your account active instead of waiting and then turning up to a unit and find it's the new swarco units and you can't use it...

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farmergiles

· #30 · May 19, 2021

My CPS card worked at the weekend at Abington, Larkhall, Inveraray, & Lochgilphead. (E-volt chargers)

However I have signed up to Swarco E.connect and await a card from them.

DBMandrake

Discussion Starter · #31 · May 19, 2021

Kingpleb1 said:
It looks like it will follow the below migration path as they are have no other choice.

New unit is installed and is part of the swarco network

CPS cards can't be used here as there is no way to bill them so the swarco card is the only option until contactless is activated.

For a while you'll need both cards but as the units are replaced pretty quickly, going off the gmev migration here, you'll want to get your account setup sooner rather than later to avoid issues.
They don't bill annually for use of the card so unless you use it for charging you won't get billed and like CPS you'll need a direct debit in place as well unless you want to wait for contactless to rollout.

If you rely on charging I'd sign up and get your account active instead of waiting and then turning up to a unit and find it's the new swarco units and you can't use it...

Where did you get this info from?

electricdriver

· #32 · May 19, 2021

electricdriver said:
Yep, definitely for me. I'll get in touch and see what they have to say...

OK mystery solved - thanks for all the replies - and I'm slightly embarrassed to say that it doesn't appear to be anything to do with CPS, it's the unintended consequence of attempting to start a charge on the new MFG branded chargers at motorway (junction) services somewhere off the M6 some considerable time ago. I don't recall them saying Swarco anywhere, but apparently they are. I'm only slightly embarrassed as confusion is inevitable with so many providers wearing so many hats...and the time elapsed since that day is such that I didn't connect the two incidents!

Reactions: 1

Kingpleb1

· #33 · May 19, 2021

DBMandrake said:
Where did you get this info from?

Based off my own experience in Manchester and thought process that they would be trying to charge for charges straight away.
I'll guess that while they transition they are freevending for those using cps card then but they'll want to draw that line closed very quickly I imagine.
To note, you could try using any rfid card to start and stop a charge. This is how it worked in Manchester during the cutover to prove our the system and allow people to move over and get accounts before they were cut off entirely and had to be the be.ev cards or app. Eventually they'll support contactless payment though.

DBMandrake

Discussion Starter · #34 · May 19, 2021

Kingpleb1 said:
Based off my own experience in Manchester and thought process that they would be trying to charge for charges straight away.
I'll guess that while they transition they are freevending for those using cps card then but they'll want to draw that line closed very quickly I imagine.
To note, you could try using any rfid card to start and stop a charge. This is how it worked in Manchester during the cutover to prove our the system and allow people to move over and get accounts before they were cut off entirely and had to be the be.ev cards or app. Eventually they'll support contactless payment though.

Chargeplace Scotland is not in Manchester....

Until now CPS/CYC have been sort of interchangeable since the backend of both is just CYC, but once Swarco take over CYC will not be involved.

So how your CYC card (or a CPS card) works in Manchester is irrelevant to how CPS chargers in Scotland will work for holders of CPS cards post handover...

From everything I've seen stated, Swarco have promised to honour the existing CPS cards on the Chargeplace Scotland network until they are renewed.

Whether they will let the cards run their full year duration (in which case I won't get a new one until next March) or send out new cards soon they haven't said though.

They have not commented one way or the other on what will happen to CYC card use in Scotland post hand over.

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Reactions: 1

Kingpleb1

· #35 · May 19, 2021

Your missing the point....
CPS was near enough exactly the same setup as GMEV.

Cyc/polar/BP/pulse had the backend system and poor maint of the units.

Kingpleb1

· #36 · May 19, 2021

To be clear as well, when they stop doing the freevend for any rfid bit is when your CPS card will stop working. It won't be for the full year you paid £20 for the card. When they cut over they cut over.

There is no way for them to bill from the swarco back end when you use your CPS card unless they pull the user database across and import. This hasn't been done with any migrations before so I'll be surprised if it happens this time.

Manchester hasn't had CPS for a while now, we went Be.Ev/swarco a while ago. Hence the speaking from experience with this migration from one to another as cyc is what we had here and almost the same as CPS, bar the fact all units were freevend and still are until prices are introduced later this year.

freddym

· #37 · May 19, 2021

Kingpleb1 said:
To be clear as well, when they stop doing the freevend for any rfid bit is when your CPS card will stop working. It won't be for the full year you paid £20 for the card. When they cut over they cut over.

There is no way for them to bill from the swarco back end when you use your CPS card unless they pull the user database across and import. This hasn't been done with any migrations before so I'll be surprised if it happens this time.

Manchester hasn't had CPS for a while now, we went Be.Ev/swarco a while ago. Hence the speaking from experience with this migration from one to another as cyc is what we had here and almost the same as CPS, bar the fact all units were freevend and still are until prices are introduced later this year.

This is nonsense speculation.
Are you based in Scotland. If you are, checkout with EVA SCOTLAND for some FACTS.

farmergiles

· #38 · May 19, 2021

freddym said:
This is nonsense peculation.
Are you based in Scotland. If you are, checkout with EVA SCOTLAND for some FACTS.

Where are the 'facts' on EVA Scotland? I've had a good look and cannot see anything other than the old news about Swarco.
Please post links.

Reactions: 1

freddym

· #39 · May 19, 2021

farmergiles said:
Where are the 'facts' on EVA Scotland? I've had a good look and cannot see anything other than the old news about Swarco.
Please post links.

Webinars

Reactions: 1

Kingpleb1

· #40 · May 19, 2021

Soooo nothing in writing then...
May as well point to dale Vince's videos stating CCS will be upgrading and working on all EH sites 3yrs ago... That's still yet to happen 🤣🤣

Post up the written commitment from them on the process and I'll believe it. Until then I'll bet my money on it playing out exactly the same way the other migrations have done. Enjoy the free juice while you can is what I'd be doing though in CPS land.

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