[Robsproc]

A community group are looking to set up a charging network for Wales. Fed up with the poor charging infrastructure in Wales a collection of community groups have decided to take matters in their own hands to develop a community owned charging network for Wales. They have set up a crowdfunder to help get things underway. If you want to support improving the charging network in Wales then perhaps you could support this initiative. See the link below.

TrydaNi, Charge Place Wales Ltd.

 

[srichards]

£50k isn't going to make much of a dent. That's barely one rapid. 7kw isn't much good for inter Wales travel unless they want to put multiple 7kw chargers at all rail stations in Wales.

They need to be raising several million if they actually want to make a network across Wales with Rapids.

 

[Robsproc]

£50k isn't going to make much of a dent. That's barely one rapid. 7kw isn't much good for inter Wales travel unless they want to put multiple 7kw chargers at all rail stations in Wales.

They need to be raising several million if they actually want to make a network across Wales with Rapids.

True, this will provide the community organisation the resources to organise a larger share offer to raise further investment. They have a number of leads but currently haven't the resources to take these forward.

 

[Opaev]

Daimler opens up a Charging Station in Stuttgart

Account Suspended

 

[srichards]

Have none of the big operators shown any interest? Normally if you can find a site that is accessible with decent foot fall they'll be interested in it. If Engenie or Instavolt or Polar haven't shown any interest that would suggest the sites they have in mind aren't financially viable and they need to choose better ones.

Morrisons have also popped in quite a few rapids in Wales so there isn't quite the deadzone that it used to be.

Podpoint you have to buy the equipment and the pay back time is ages but they're less fussy.

Perhaps creating a network of contactless destination chargers at all railway stations, town centre car parks and all attractions might be better? That way if you go into Wales wherever you stop it has somewhere you can charge easily for a few hours. South Wales has some other community charging thing but I think you can register a card from someone else. It's all fragmented.

 

[Robsproc]

All good suggestions. There is still a lack of rapids in Wales and although Welsh Government put £2million aside for the development of a rapid charging network this has not happened. Grid is an issue in parts of Wales as well and yes the big players don't seem interested to date. We are also want to provide a better, more joined up, simple payment, bi-lingual service and ensuring that any profit that is made from the charging network in Wales remains in Wales rather than going to another large multinational. Hopefully in time community energy schemes will be able to supply the electricity for the TrydaNi charging points but that is further down the line.

 

[Mr_G]

Finding a decent electrical supply that can support 50 kW charging is a problem across Wales. The distribution network would need considerable strengthening to be able to provide potential sites with supply. This is why I think the major EV charging businesses are leaving Wales to last. It is broadband all over again. Government does not learn and worse may not fully understand just how lack of infrastructure holds back economic and social development.

 

[Robsproc]

Raised just over £10,000 already, please support us!!!

 

[mikeselectricstuff]

bi-lingual service

Are there really enough non-English speakers to need that, or is it just a political thing?
Would it be acceptable if the cost of a charger manufacturer adding Welsh language suppport to their software meant you couldn't deplot as many chargers ?

 

[Robsproc]

It doesn't cost that much to add Welsh, it means you would need to employ Welsh speakers in any call centre which a lot of call centres in Wales have anyway so it is just about procuring companies that can provide Welsh for that service. There are hundred's of 1000s of Welsh speakers and as this will be a Welsh community owned company we feel it is important that we provide an equal service to English and Welsh speakers alike.

 

[booms]

So as the £50k is not going to be used to build one rapid, what on earth is it for?

"this will provide the community organisation the resources to organise a larger share offer to raise further investment"

So will there be anything physical to show for £50k?

You want £50k to do the ground work for asking for more money? This all seems incredibly vague apart from the bilingual thing which I imagine is a requirement for some grant or other.

Is there an actual written down plan of what the £50k will be used for?

Is there any more substance to this somewhere? Any decisions on locations, AC vs DC, how you'll pay for ongoing costs and repairs etc etc etc

 

[Robsproc]

It will be used for legal costs to secure sites for rapid chargers. The target has been reduced to £20,000 and we only have £1600 left to raise in the next 5 days. Please support this initiative.

TrydaNi, Charge Place Wales Ltd. - Supporters

Charging for electric vehicles (EVs) in Wales. Particularly mid-Wales and for homes without off-road parking. Community Benefit Society.

www.crowdfunder.co.uk