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Is anyone else still having issues now? As I still can’t login to CYC I presume a problem still persists
Their server is still down. RFID Access has improved so I don't know if they have remotely pushed whitelists out to some of the chargers in the past couple of days but the app still isn't working and I've met a couple who only had the app and would have been stranded if it wasn't for me sticking around and letting them grab a charge from my card since they still apparently aren't answering calls either.Is anyone else still having issues now? As I still can’t login to CYC I presume a problem still persists
You think they will actually notice or care ? It hasn't even made news outside this forum and a few known EV drivers on twitter as far as I've seen...I suspect BPCHARGERMASTER will not get a contact renewal from Transport Scotland
The problem with CPS isn't really the back end though. Yes CYC screwed up massively on this occasion but loss of comms at the back end is rarely the issue.Instavolt only do rapids. But the Chargepoint brand that they're a part of could be a safe bet. They're big over in the US and I have had a pretty positive experience with them both there, and the few they have in the UK too.
One of the rumors I have heard is that they're in talks with the people behind Geniepoint. I personally wouldn't have a problem with that as they're pretty good at keeping their network going from what I've seen, though I'm sure some wouldn't like having to top up an account.
Agreed. The big issue with CYC and their brands is that it is down to the owners to maintain the chargers. My desire to see another network get involved would really be in the hope that it also came with their maintenance services rather than leaving it to the council to not bother.The problem with CPS isn't really the back end though. Yes CYC screwed up massively on this occasion but loss of comms at the back end is rarely the issue.
The majority of issues I've had with CPS have been the charger hardware itself - which is maintained largely by local councils (who would stay the same if the back end authenticator changed away from CYC) or not maintained as the case more often is, or comms issues from the charger to the back end network - but this is typically a comms problem with the charger itself (eg loss of 3G signal) which again, would not be helped by changing back end authentication to someone like Chargepoint. If the charger can't get a 3G signal it doesn't matter who it's trying to connect to.
So while it's tempting to cheer for CYC to be replaced by someone else as the back end, I'm not sure that it really solves anything. It certainly doesn't solve the problem of councils who can't or won't maintain the hardware or poor 3G signal in some of the more remote areas.
If transport Scotland wants to continue to offer a unified Scotland wide charging network they really need to get more hands on and not just leave it up to the individual councils to do (or not do) anything. With a couple of notable exceptions (Dundee and Ayrshire) the councils just don't seem to care.
While it might have seemed like a good idea to begin with, I think the "we're just the back end services and point of contact" model of CYC has fundamentally turned out to be a failure. Too much blame shifting is possible when the point of contact (CYC/CPS) is not the same entity responsible for maintaining chargers. (Councils, individual private businesses)Agreed. The big issue with CYC and their brands is that it is down to the owners to maintain the chargers. My desire to see another network get involved would really be in the hope that it also came with their maintenance services rather than leaving it to the council to not bother.
Yes, good point the CYC app is pretty rubbish, I don't use it, I use the RFID card. Or at least I did when I last used CPS chargers - which was a long time ago as I've used Instavolt almost exclusively since then!Even on the back end of things though, I would still like to see another network responsible for it. The CYC App is terrible and it's rare that they bother to answer phone calls. That alone would make it worth the switch.
I think Central Belt and Other parts of Scotland are not the same thing. I could go on and on about the great totally drama free charges I've had from CPS networked devices, IMHO the concept is good.While it might have seemed like a good idea to begin with, I think the "we're just the back end services and point of contact" model of CYC has fundamentally turned out to be a failure. Too much blame shifting is possible when the point of contact (CYC/CPS) is not the same entity responsible for maintaining chargers. (Councils, individual private businesses)
End users report faults to CPS/CYC, however CPS/CYC can then report faulty chargers to the owners until they're blue in the face and often nothing is done as the owner of the charger doesn't care. It makes CPS/CYC look bad to the end user, and users also aren't satisfied by the "but the charger is owned and maintained by <insert council here>" as they'll just see it as blame shifting. (Which technically it is)
Yes, good point the CYC app is pretty rubbish, I don't use it, I use the RFID card. Or at least I did when I last used CPS chargers - which was a long time ago as I've used Instavolt almost exclusively since then!
So a new back end might lead to a better app, and maybe better phone support, however I'm just pointing out that a new back end isn't going to solve the hardware maintenance issues and connectivity issues to individual chargers with flaky 3G connections. Those have their roots in the funding model of Transport Scotland who gave pots of money to Councils to install chargers and apparently didn't allocate ongoing money for maintenance (or the council spent it on something else) and didn't have some sort of SLA agreement with the councils.
A new back end would maybe help with the app and phone support but would not be a panacea. The Scottish government created this "monster", they need to reign it in and get it back under control again as it has gone down the tubes in the 3 years since I started EV driving.
Depends entirely where you drive. If you drive in Dundee, Ayrshire and the areas you've mentioned it's probably pretty good. But try up north or over on the West Coast and its a nightmare. Check Zap Map and Plugshare to see if you can make it to Oban, Tobermory, etc in a short range EV...I generally find the CPS are great and well maintained, yes there a CCS outlet with broken pins that took 4 months to fix but in my limited experience that the exception.
If you look at the great work that Angus, Dundee, Aberdeenshire council do and speak to staff that are central to these efforts, the outcome is amazingly good.
For a back office outage to result in the majority of the chargers down, no upto date whitelist nor a free vend is pis£ poor and undermines the efforts of a lot of committed and hardworking staff.
The central belt is not a problem - forget about CPS, there are plenty of Instavolts.I think Central Belt and Other parts of Scotland are not the same thing. I could go on and on about the great totally drama free charges I've had from CPS networked devices, IMHO the concept is good.
What's the deal at Wallyford now? I used to plug in to the rapid there on a pretty much weekly basis prior to COVID-19. The last time I passed through the rapid charger was completely removed and the remaining 22kW AC Posts were all blocked off. If there's a new hub now I'm not seeing it on Zap Map and have since just been avoiding the place recently. Would be good if it's true and there is a new charging hub to come soon.wallyford
Tenders are out for a new Hun at Forfar too. I think it includes the maintenance provision👍All seemed to be running fine again yesterday using an RFID card. Generally I find CPS pretty good. Been using them across central belt (most regulay from Troon to Edinburgh or Edinburgh to Bathgate) and have always been able to get a good charge. The LAs are really stepping up too with CPS charging hubs in Kilmarnock, Falkirk, Dundee and wallyford all being set up recently. These big installs all have new kit and are likely to be well maintained. Can't afford to have nationwide outages like on Saturday though.
What's the deal at Wallyford now? I used to plug in to the rapid there on a pretty much weekly basis prior to COVID-19. The last time I passed through the rapid charger was completely removed and the remaining 22kW AC Posts were all blocked off. If there's a new hub now I'm not seeing it on Zap Map and have since just been avoiding the place recently. Would be good if it's true and there is a new charging hub to come soon.
It can’t come soon enough. Last time we went to the east coast the charging options around Edinburgh were dismal. We ended up using Engenie.
It's on the way!