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More UK Charging Networks Going Live

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dpeilow

Well-Known Member
Moderator
May 23, 2008
9,168
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Winchester, UK
A few new long distance networks going live in the UK now...

Ecotricity launches the Electric Highway - For The Road - Ecotricity

Chargemaster announces launch of POLAR - the UK's first privately funded nationwide EV charging network ChargeMaster

Hethel site launches regional electric car charging point network - Business - Eastern Daily Press


The Ecotricity Network
charging-network-map.png



Note: All these networks are using Mennekes as their 32A connector and furthermore can offer 22kW through three phase charging. It's therefore imperative that we get a Mennekes to Tesla Connector solution to at least use one of the phases for 7kW.

For the Model S, this confirms that beyond a doubt we need to have 3 phase charging over here. This many 22kW charging opportunities should not be missed.
 
The Hethel link mentions the figure of £7million which coincidentaly matches the figure quoted by Evalu8. http://ns1.uoh.org.uk/faq Same company?

They seem to be spending all of the £7m on installing just 600 charging points. (See under Project Scope in the link above).

They better be capable of serving drinks for that sort of money.

Only Chargemaster/POLAR seem to be offering a 32A/3 phase option.

No word on long-term tarrif prices, of course. Or on any charge-surcharge :). Although Ecotricity are covering the cost of electricity for the first two years at the Evalu8 private and public charge points (although same terms do not apply to domestic chargers). They are offering a free swipecard to customers. Non-customers get first 12 months free followed by maybe £10 a year after that. Source East have a £20 membership card which will rise to £100 from Jan 2012.

Evalu8 state £180 a year for the running costs of each post.

All seems over-complicated and costly.
 
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Looks like the £7m figure is no longer accurate anyway:

"The government is still committed to the project, but are reducing the money allocated to public charging points because they now think most people will charge their electric car at home or the workplace...."
...Hundreds of dedicated charging points were due to be installed across the country as part of the government's £7m Plugged-In Places scheme, a commitment to provide a national recharging network for electric and plug-in vehicles.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-14060131

Chargemaster seem to be going ahead with plans for 4000 UK charging points: http://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/201...ly-funded-ev-charging-network-launched/40181/ but it's not clear if the government's change of direction impacts on this. They seem to be continuing links with whatever is left of the Plugged In Places money: http://chargemasterplc.com/chargemaster-partners-source-east/

They raised £1.5m at the end of last year but that went on the company's sales team.
http://www.growthbusiness.co.uk/new...153/chargemaster-sparks-with-15-million.thtml

Chargemaster plan for a "small monthly membership fee" and a price of 90 pence for each "charging unit" (which I'm guessing won't be equal to 4 or 5 kWh - not with wireless telecoms to support - plus research into wireless recharging ;)
 
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I've just registered for the Ecotricity network, which led me to look for a "Mennekes to Tesla Connector solution", which led me to this thread, and also to the Dutch
thread that suggests Tesla owners in the Netherlands already have this cable: Trouble with charging at Dutch charging stations . User widodh got this cable from EV-Box. Has anybody tried this cable in the UK?
Tesla UK tells me that a Type 2 connector is under development but not yet in production.
cheers
Sean