[VoltLord]

Hi. Long-time lurker and first-time poster.

I live in London where the rise in EV ownership has been really noticeable recently (to me at least). There are a number of public charging points near me now - mostly ubiriticty street lamp chargers - however, they seem to always be used by the same EV owners. I expect they live opposite them and therefore treat them as 'theirs'.

Two questions:

1. Does anyone have experience of this?

2. How should one go about getting access? Do you have to leave them a note or something?

Grateful for any advice.

 

[teepee]

Hi. Long-time lurker and first-time poster.

I live in London where the rise in EV ownership has been really noticeable recently (to me at least). There are a number of public charging points near me now - mostly ubiriticty street lamp chargers - however, they seem to always be used by the same EV owners. I expect they live opposite them and therefore treat them as 'theirs'.

Two questions:

1. Does anyone have experience of this?

2. How should one go about getting access? Do you have to leave them a note or something?

Grateful for any advice.

I've had an EV for a year now, live in Westminster, and have mostly ubitricity lamppost chargers near me and a few Polar within a 5 minute walk. Ubitricity tend to be in resident bays and are not marked off for EV use only so many a time they are ICED. However, I've always managed to find something available when needed. (There are about a dozen or so within a short walk)

There is an app that EV users can register with which will send an automatic message to anyone charging asking them how long they'll be. Details below:

NeedToCharge | The friendly way to share an EV charger

www.needtocharge.com

 

[VoltLord]

I've had an EV for a year now, live in Westminster, and have mostly ubitricity lamppost chargers near me and a few Polar within a 5 minute walk. Ubitricity tend to be in resident bays and are not marked off for EV use only so many a time they are ICED. However, I've always managed to find something available when needed. (There are about a dozen or so within a short walk)

There is an app that EV users can register with which will send an automatic message to anyone charging asking them how long they'll be. Details below:

NeedToCharge | The friendly way to share an EV charger

www.needtocharge.com

Thanks. Yes, this is the problem I've noticed with ubitricity. While the idea is genius, you are at the whim of other parked cars.

That app is a good idea, but I guess it relies on everyone being registered?

I might just look at renting a charger to save the hassle.

 

[teepee]

Thanks. Yes, this is the problem I've noticed with ubitricity. While the idea is genius, you are at the whim of other parked cars.

That app is a good idea, but I guess it relies on everyone being registered?

I might just look at renting a charger to save the hassle.

I have yet to use the "Need to charge" app and you are right - it needs all EVs to be registered for it to be effective.

It's worth you checking Zap Map to identify exactly how many chargers there are in your area - where in London are you? Some boroughs are better than others but I was pleasantly surprised when I started researching it over a year ago now. As I said earlier, I have not had a problem finding an available charger (and I rely solely on the public network, having no off street parking). Supermarkets come in handy for a quick, free, 30 miles or so of range whilst shopping.

 

[VoltLord]

I have yet to use the "Need to charge" app and you are right - it needs all EVs to be registered for it to be effective.

It's worth you checking Zap Map to identify exactly how many chargers there are in your area - where in London are you? Some boroughs are better than others but I was pleasantly surprised when I started researching it over a year ago now. As I said earlier, I have not had a problem finding an available charger (and I rely solely on the public network, having no off street parking). Supermarkets come in handy for a quick, free, 30 miles or so of range whilst shopping.

I'm in West London near Hammersmith. In just the last two days they've actually installed more ubitricity points nearby which is great!