This is a development worth watching. It could be the answer to the app issues if it takes away the signal and data problems. All that is needed now is a USB socket for my phone in case its battery is dead and I might be persuaded to risk an EH stop again. But of course if the Rapid itself had a built in keypad permanently logged onto the web site via a hard-wired link, then simply entering a personal ID code there would do the job without anyone needing a smart phone.
Wi-fi on the electric highway
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The charger end isn't the problem. Out of hours it's the EcoT end of the phone that's the problem.For those without a smartphone or even a phone how about one of these next to each rapid
Aviso de redirección
To keep you on your toes - every fifth time you enter a password it will change and send a different one to your phone by text - next dayAt least they will all have the same password.....or will they
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Why is it impossible for a charger to have its own keypad, linked to its own router access, permanently logged onto its own home base site ; just sat there waiting for someone to punch in their personal ID code ? No phone needed. No app. No RFID. No contactless card. No Credit Card to be read. No data needed. No signal required. No WiFi. No Bluetooth. No holding your mouth a certain way. No weird dancing.................. the phone could just pick up the ids of all nearby chargers, get you to confirm which one and which connector you''re using, and off you go.
Just pre-register and be allocated a personal ID code. Then key it in when you arrive and plug in.
Why not ?
Not really. A six digit code gives a million variations. It will be quite a while before we have that number of charger customers. Introduce an 'alpha' in there and the available numbers go off the scale. And anyway, there is no need to remember such a code as security is a minor problem. Even if that number was printed on an issued card to carry around it would be easy enough to delete a number centrally on a phone call if the card is lost, much like when a CC is lost/stolen..
.................. you're asking everyone to remember something like a 10 digit number.
A randomly generated - perm any 6 digit from 10 - number would be almost impossible to recreate randomly by guesswork within a few tries. I realise that if there were 38,000 such random selections out there then happening to fall on one of those by chance is increased, but even then it would be like winning a lottery worth £6.In May 2016 there were 38,537 registered Electric Highway users. If you gave everyone a 5 digit number with a single check digit then a randomly guess low number needs 10 attempts to find the check digit. If you make the numbers completely random and distributed evenly across the 6 digits you still have a 1 in 25 chance of guessing a number to give yourself free charging which won't take long even with lockouts on pumps after some number of failed guesses as once you've guess it you can re-use the number you guessed or post it online.
Introducing a letter just makes for something even worse to remember.
If you're going to have an identifying number then stick it in an RFID card or (better) in a mobile phone app. Then it can be as long and random as you want.
Introduce two 'alpha' selections and you would have to be a particularly diligent thief to input twenty thousand attempts before landing on one that worked. Security on this is yet another problem perceived rather than real. The will to introduce a robust and user friendly access system is what is wrong.
We have already discovered that for whatever reason makes sense to Ecot they have discarded the RFID that worked, and we have already discovered that any app based system is unreliable enough to cause many of the 38,000 to simply make alternative arrangements for longer trips.
This needs to be resolved and perhaps the proposed localised WiFi will be an answer. All that I was saying was that inputting a personal ID code at a keypad that has a built in link to the central site would be more robust than reliance on Wifi and a phone talking to each other.
I just don't get the objection to the charger itself having a built in 'smart phone' to use on its own built in WiFi instead of requiring people to rock up and try to log on using a variety of phones and an app. The only thing that might have been improved is a better data signal. The user still has to have data available to use the Wifi. And a working phone. Both could be avoided by using the charging unit, that is already on line, to complete the transaction.
I'm sorry but I'm old school. I just want to turn up, ID myself via a pre-registered payment system and draw down some current. Having a dispenser that has a copper wire link via old fashioned BT wires, or a satellite link that goes via Jupiter doesn't impress me much. I just want to ID myself by keying in, or presenting a card to the dumb machine, and starting a charge. Anything short of this simple approach will fail. How long do we have to state this obvious fact before some notice is taken of us.
Yes. But why can't the pump have its own smart phone already logged on waiting for me to arrive and identify myself and start a charge ? What is the advantage of every driver having to log on using their own phone ? I have been told that a £20 phone without a sim will work. Why cant each pump have it's own £20 phone ? And then if there is a glitch go to free vend ?If the pump doesn't have a data connection it switches to free vend.
The Fastned system offers alternatives to attract different user patterns. An annual charge with 'all you can eat', a monthly charge with a standard kWh fee, and a PAYG at a higher price. But of course their entire system is light years ahead of our shambles.
Edit :- looks like they have changed slightly and now have a two tier monthly option.
Pricing
Second Edit :- In fact looking at the Fastned operation makes me very envious. Browse around to see how they have fine tuned it to cover user requests. In particular look at the various access options, including SMS. And free WiFi at hubs that work as normal WiFi so that other personal IT tasks can be carried out whilst charging there.
Fastned
Edit :- looks like they have changed slightly and now have a two tier monthly option.
Pricing
Second Edit :- In fact looking at the Fastned operation makes me very envious. Browse around to see how they have fine tuned it to cover user requests. In particular look at the various access options, including SMS. And free WiFi at hubs that work as normal WiFi so that other personal IT tasks can be carried out whilst charging there.
Fastned
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