I am a huge sceptic and cycnic with regards to these large scale network announcements. There have been several over the past year that have amounted to very little.
Ecotricity was launched with an initial program of 11 or 12 and then a further roll out to all Welcome Breaks. The initial rollout was done then nothing. I have heard rumours that they are installing DC fast chargers now to all Welcome Breaks but again nothing so far of any certainty that will happen. Perhaps before that happens they should sort out there reliability issues with the existing network? Just a thought.
Little Chef teamed up with POLAR and Chargemaster announcing a major rollout of POLAR charge stations at their restaurants. First it was going to all be free, then we heard that they were POLAR but free for a while. The rollout started but again stalled after a few installations when Little Chef announced a program of restaurant closures and a business rationalisation. No one knows what is happening there.
Engenie announced recently that they are installing DC fast chargers into all RoadChef service areas. So far one is live on the M25. This is a start up company and I have seen nothing yet to convince me that they will be any different to all the others. I hope not but the evidence of the past year suggests that there is always a lot of PR and noice prior but little gets done.
POLAR announced their Home unit along with their network membership a year or so ago if I remember correctly. They too announce an ambition installation plan covering the entire country. They have installed quite a few slow charging units in the south-east and south but little elsewhere. Now they have relaunched with their PAYG service with free charging to March 2013 but with a £10 admin fee. They have also reaffirmed their commitment to install nationwide both slow and fast charging.
To me POLAR seem the most likely to succeed in the battle of the charging posts although there is no reason why there shouldn't be several players in differing locations so who knows, Engenie and Ecotricity may do well if they pull their figers out and get on with what their PR machine have announced.
I also think that there is a bit of an issue with reliability at the moment. These are early days and so I am not too concerned. They will get their procedures in place and we will have reliable networks I am certain of that but we should stop sniping at them and give them the space to learn. We need the support of the charging infrastructure suppliers. There is nothing to be gained from constantly getting at them. If they completely screw up, as I believe POLAR did with their initial high pricing, then we should shout, as we have regarding PAYG. But it seems to me that most of them are listening. Let's give them the space to see what they can deliver.
I support this Engenie initiative in as far as it looks like it could be of benefit to EV drivers but a few things worry me. The main one is that they have announced that they will only have DC fast charging at first. This means that Ampera owners won't benefit. I have written to Engenie asking why and also strongly recommending they install units with both DC and AC charging to allow us Ampera and the soon to be launched Renault Z.E. models, to use the network. It will cost them little extra. I urge all Ampera owners to also write and ask them to install AC charging as well as DC. There are DC charging units with an AC connector so it is little extra cost.
Should all these charging networks actully get installed it will help because more than anything else Electric Vehicles need a PR boost if they are to be taken seriously by the general public.
