Chargeplace Scotland changing from Charge your Car to SWARCO eVolt

22546 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!

161 - 180 of 260 Posts

MrMajika

· #161 · Jul 27, 2021

farmergiles said:
The Android version (which didn't display any chargers and also kept complaining about slow internet connection) has been removed so no IOS either although they did say 2nd August.

They confirmed on Twitter that this was a development app on android and was being removed from the play store imminently.

I've been conversing with them via direct message today to get an RFID card and they've been very responsive and are promising to post one out.

Reactions: 1

DBMandrake

Discussion Starter · #162 · Jul 27, 2021

Pity the apps weren't ready before the changeover for the benefit of those without cards...it's not like they haven't known for months (probably over 6 months privately) that they were getting the contract. Not an ideal start.

Reactions: 3

Jamjsco

· #163 · Jul 27, 2021

Morovitch said:
I've just used an evolt charger successfully with a CPS RFID card.

So have I, my CPS card had actually expired 8 days ago but still worked.

Reactions: 1

freddym

· #164 · Jul 27, 2021

DBMandrake said:
Pity the apps weren't ready before the changeover for the benefit of those without cards...it's not like they haven't known for months (probably over 6 months privately) that they were getting the contract. Not an ideal start.

They probably found an excessive amount of bad data that needs to be cleaned up to make the app reliable. And not having full access prior to the handover would have hampered that data cleanup.
Knowing some of the very competent individuals involved in the SWARCIVsetup, I'm sure it will be swiftly progressed.

farmergiles

· #165 · Jul 27, 2021

Twitter feed from 6h ago.

Morning! Migration status update.... 80% of the network migrated overnight, the remaining live chargers will be on free vend, we are working with multiple manufacturers to resolve issues. If you need help call 0141 648 0750 or email [email protected] More very soon.

Reactions: 2

Robert McAdam

· #166 · Jul 27, 2021

Android app not working properly for me, only displaying some chargers then the app rebooting when I click on a charge point. Hey ho it's day one 😊 Instavolt still for me till app is stable

Ian

· #167 · Jul 27, 2021

No CPS apps are functional until the 2nd August. Don't bother about them until after that!

Reactions: 2

freddym

· #168 · Jul 27, 2021

Ian said:
No CPS apps are functional until the 2nd August. Don't bother about them until after that!

I'll post that a a separate thread

Duncan

· #169 · Jul 27, 2021

Robert McAdam said:
Android app not working properly for me, only displaying some chargers then the app rebooting when I click on a charge point. Hey ho it's day one 😊 Instavolt still for me till app is stable

It's not usable but is quite fun playing with it and seeing just how it crashes.

farmergiles

· #170 · Jul 27, 2021

I asked Swarco via twitter on saturday to check the Arrochar & Inveraray chargers and received this reply yesterday, which is a pleasing speed of reply: 5114 is Arrochar and 51137 is the Inveraray Rapid.

Afternoon - update on the chargers: Recent service history - 51141 – closed ticket – Attended 1/7 Tested CCS on the unit. It charged fine, pulled roughly 10kw of charge. No issues found. 51137 – closed ticket – Attended 16/7 – mode 3 controller replaced, unit now charging on AC
This morning's remote checks - 51141 has subsequently lost its comms (20/7) so I will raise a new ticket for it.
51137 is in comms. The map icon for Inverary may need to be manually updated. It's likely this will be sorted at migration anyway when the data becomes live for the chargers.
As we have no comms with Arrochar it could indicate a power or modem failure. If passing by there's a chance it is operational, but we're going to have an engineer out in any case to check. Hope that helps! - BM

Oh how we wished CYC had been on the ball like Swarco!

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Reactions: 2

Norniron man

· #171 · Jul 27, 2021

freddym said:
This guy NEVER gets anything correct. There is no CPS app. Maybe your problems arise because you are using the wrong app?

Strange it states on CYC website to use their App then !!

Norniron man

· #172 · Jul 27, 2021

Norniron man said:
Strange it states on CYC website to use their App then !!

And CPS say use their app ?

farmergiles

· #173 · Jul 28, 2021

There's a new app due on monday. Ignore all mentions of CYC, they are gone.

Reactions: 1

Harry_Zoe

· #174 · Jul 28, 2021

Just chipping in to say the local CPS 22kW post I use most often worked fine with my old CYC card last night. (I think I decided to join CYC rather than CPS so as to be able to use their chargers if ever in England). Just waiting on my new RFID card now, which is hopefully in the post.

However, no charging session showing yet in my new Swarco e.connect account and I can't access the CPS website with my old userid and password. CPS is giving me a passive aggressive "forgotten your password?" message, but the Swarco website was doing the same yesterday until it fixed itself, so hopefully I'll be able to access the CPS site today at some point.

Hedley Wright

· #175 · Jul 28, 2021 (Edited)

Harry_Zoe said:
Just chipping in to say the local CPS 22kW post I use most often worked fine with my old CYC card last night. (I think I decided to join CYC rather than CPS so as to be able to use their chargers if ever in England). Just waiting on my new RFID card now, which is hopefully in the post.

However, no charging session showing yet in my new Swarco e.connect account and I can't access the CPS website with my old userid and password. CPS is giving me a passive aggressive "forgotten your password?" message, but the Swarco website was doing the same yesterday until it fixed itself, so hopefully I'll be able to access the CPS site today at some point.

You should be able to login via Charge Your Car - UK's open recharging network

farmergiles

· #176 · Jul 28, 2021

Hedley Wright said:
You should be able to login via www.secure.chargeplacescotland.com.

That was still working this morning, but it was even slower than normal.

Harry_Zoe

· #177 · Jul 28, 2021

Hedley Wright said:
You should be able to login via Charge Your Car - UK's open recharging network

Thanks Hedley, tried the link but it's now completely down, in continuation of @farmergiles input. Will give it another whirl later.

farmergiles

· #178 · Jul 28, 2021

Harry_Zoe said:
Thanks Hedley, tried the link but it's now completely down, in continuation of @farmergiles input. Will give it another whirl later.

Nope, still works for me, just tried it. It took 30secs to log me in and then was slow to list my charges. But if you were with CYC, this may explain it.
Did you receive an email asking for permission to migrate your account from CYC to Swarco?

Harry_Zoe

· #179 · Jul 28, 2021

farmergiles said:
Nope, still works for me, just tried it. It took 30secs to log me in and then was slow to list my charges. But if you were with CYC, this may explain it.
Did you receive an email asking for permission to migrate your account from CYC to Swarco?

Yes thanks, I got the email and acted on it. I have a working Swarco e.connect account and a new direct debit, although the charge I did yesterday on a CPS isn't showing up, not entirely unexpectedly based on others comments.

Hedley's link is working for me now, but it just takes me to my old CYC account page.

I'll give it another day or two before I complain, because I couldn't even access my Swarco account yesterday until late on in the day, so they're making progress even if they're not the best at communicating it.

farmergiles

· #180 · Jul 28, 2021

If anyone has noticed the Live Map is not displaying correctly - only 1/3 of the screen shows it, CPS are aware and have referred it to their web developers. (most notable on desktop/laptop and same on Chromebook, Firefox and Chrome, Win7 and Linux Mint)

How refershing to actually receive a reply and a prompt one at that, long may it continue.

Reactions: 1

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