On our way to Italy

[Adopado]

i like the covered chargers...why aren’t all chargers covered ?

Yes, I think we would all love that ... most fuel stations have had canopies forever ... but if you want some reasons why not ... savings of maybe £50,000 depending on site size ... could be double for large sites? Restricts future changes of use and positioning of charging hardware? Introduces additional planning issues and delays for new sites. If it means we get the sites cheaper (therefore more of them for the same money) and faster I'll live without the canopy!

Yes, I have to agree...just out of interest, is there a level of rain in which operating the charger becomes dangerous ?

I plug in at home when it’s tipping down so I can’t think there’s any issue… we’ve had Superchargers for nearly 10 years so I think we would know by now if there was a problem!

 

[spdpsba]

passenger is faulty, have you considered an upgrade?

Going to be expensive to do that upgrade, so decided to keep the tag close to air vent as @yessuz suggested. Thanks @yessuz

 

[yessuz]

Regarding the super chargers from Cambridge to Montblanc

Folkestone: Used our own Folkstone was on 50% charge level - as mentioned before too many BMWs using two chargers and had to wait for 10 minutes. Charged to 100% and on the train after lunch.

Uruvillers: Smooth transition - was around 30% and charged to the brim. As mentioned in another thread the rates are pretty good around 0.23€ mostly.

Troyes: Very good for shopping. Many shop’s especially maison de monde who sells almost 50% cheaper than UK online prices for their shop. Wish had a model Y as there was an amazing sofa set (much better than loaf or J&L s quality for around €700). We had this little glitch with charging but I guess that’s sorted now. Fingers crossed.

Then we stopped at Chalon-sur-saone SC. Again lots of facilities but most restaurants were closed as we were there around 3ish. But there was a burger joint who made amazing burgers. Not a junk food fan but still liked it. The place is bit industrial not as good as Troyes for shopping. There is a supermarket, casino and bits and bobs. Charged to brim again same price.

After this we stopped at Achamps. Not a great place - run down place with closed restaurants and some offices. Basic job of charging can be done - wouldn’t stop next time unless i am running out of battery. Filled to the brim and left. It said we can reach destination with 25% remaining. Was confident now as I can reach the destination.

But didn’t take the Mont Blanc climb into account. As soon as we reached the tunnel entrance the battery level dropped and expected remaining % was around 10%. Was bit nervous during the 12kms tunnel drive. But things got better once reached the Italian side of the tunnel and then it remained constant at 25% till to the end of the trip .

The battery assumptions by the car were spot on except the climb to Mont Blanc. Unfortunately I couldn’t let the car calculate the routes and battery because of DC issues. But was getting from SCs to SCs using ABRP and then used Tesla display.

Amazing to drive both mountain roads and autoroutes. Few people asked about the car and how it is possible to use electric car to come all the way from England.

Tesla SCs are great in France but if it is not in an Aire then you can’t expect other facilities.

Not sure why many UK electric car reporters spreading lots of false information regarding electric cars without including Tesla’s ability to do long ranges without much of trouble. Tesla is such a good car to do road trips compared to any other electric cars/ICE cars.

There is so much of focus on AP, wipers and headlights. I didn’t have any problems from the beginning but I understand peoples concerns. But there is such a good thing about Tesla if you are doing long trips across Europe or in America- you can do effortlessly and it is such a fun.

I used APs a lot in French autoroutes and 12kms of Mont Blanc tunnel. I could enjoy the tunnel drive without focusing on driving and that is the first time I could do that.

I wonder, why did you actually was so keen to charge in Folkestone, when you still had 50% of the battery> SC in france is cheaper like 20% :/

 

[spdpsba]

I wonder, why did you actually was so keen to charge in Folkestone, when you still had 50% of the battery> SC in france is cheaper like 20% :/

Yes, good question. I just wanted to avoid the stress of searching for the Coquelles SC as soon as I am on the other side and driving on the wrong side of the road. To an extent my maps froze for a while and it was bit confusing once I got off the train. I drive in Europe once every 2 years or so not a very frequent user of cars in Europe other than renting for a short period from airports etc., Thought it would make sense to fill to the brim and do a bit of 100miles or so and then look for the SC.

 

[djtaylor]

Yes, good question. I just wanted to avoid the stress of searching for the Coquelles SC as soon as I am on the other side and driving on the wrong side of the road. To an extent my maps froze for a while and it was bit confusing once I got off the train. I drive in Europe once every 2 years or so not a very frequent user of cars in Europe other than renting for a short period from airports etc., Thought it would make sense to fill to the brim and do a bit of 100miles or so and then look for the SC.

Not dissimilar to my thinking when we did our trip a few weeks ago.
My stop on the way down was Thurrock, where we charged to 85% because I had to bump it to have time to eat.
I knew that would then allow me to either charge at Folkstone or if busy and unable, to then continue regardless.
Similarly, I didn't want to discover on my first trip with the Tesla, that "world plus dog and the mongrels" all piled on at Coquelles and as such we could get further into France where people would have spread out by then.
Next time I may do it differently though but I try to plan my stops where I think most people aren't doing it by force of choice.

 

[yessuz]

Not dissimilar to my thinking when we did our trip a few weeks ago.
My stop on the way down was Thurrock, where we charged to 85% because I had to bump it to have time to eat.
I knew that would then allow me to either charge at Folkstone or if busy and unable, to then continue regardless.
Similarly, I didn't want to discover on my first trip with the Tesla, that "world plus dog and the mongrels" all piled on at Coquelles and as such we could get further into France where people would have spread out by then.
Next time I may do it differently though but I try to plan my stops where I think most people aren't doing it by force of choice.

Coquelles is usually super busy.

As in my review, 25 km down to south /south west towards Paris, on A16, there is Boulogne-su-Mer which is much larger SC site, with V3s rather than V2s.

I always try to get to V3 site rather than V2 due to charge speeds and potential power sharing issues
.

 

[djtaylor]

Thanks for confirming my thoughts.
We were going the other way and stopped at Saint Quentin, the only car in a 20 stall, V3 location so I was very happy how that worked out.

 

[Wattsisname]

Because Tesla doesn't pay them via advertising. I too get tired with the same messaging but i've just started to ignore it now.

So you went down the French side, round Chamonix? My plan next May (damn that I have to wait that long) is to go down through Switzerland and Furka Pass and then to Lake Como although I also fancy the Mont Blanc tunnel. Decisions decisions!

Love the Furka Pass.......and the Mont Blanc tunnel.
Yes! Decisions so lucky to be faced with them.

 

[Wattsisname]

Do be sure to visit Il Duomo in Milano of course, do the roof tour.
Over 600 years to build a cathedral just blows my mind. They should have got the Chinese in, they would have had it done in a couple of weeks

Caution: Milan has some superb fashion shops. SWMBO loves it
Excellent Borsalino hats too.

 

[yessuz]

Thanks for confirming my thoughts.
We were going the other way and stopped at Saint Quentin, the only car in a 20 stall, V3 location so I was very happy how that worked out.

maybe correction: it is not very busy when it is still a morning... but if your train arrives at around midday, it will be busy and slow

 

[yessuz]

Caution: Milan has some superb fashion shops. SWMBO loves it
Excellent Borsalino hats too.

Champs-Elysees same :/

 

[Wattsisname]

I'd guess the Chinese were there. Italians just changed the name of noodles to spaghetti...

The Lombards of Milan like their polenta too.

 

[Wattsisname]

Regarding the super chargers from Cambridge to Montblanc

Folkestone: Used our own Folkstone was on 50% charge level - as mentioned before too many BMWs using two chargers and had to wait for 10 minutes. Charged to 100% and on the train after lunch.

Uruvillers: Smooth transition - was around 30% and charged to the brim. As mentioned in another thread the rates are pretty good around 0.23€ mostly.

Troyes: Very good for shopping. Many shop’s especially maison de monde who sells almost 50% cheaper than UK online prices for their shop. Wish had a model Y as there was an amazing sofa set (much better than loaf or J&L s quality for around €700). We had this little glitch with charging but I guess that’s sorted now. Fingers crossed.

Then we stopped at Chalon-sur-saone SC. Again lots of facilities but most restaurants were closed as we were there around 3ish. But there was a burger joint who made amazing burgers. Not a junk food fan but still liked it. The place is bit industrial not as good as Troyes for shopping. There is a supermarket, casino and bits and bobs. Charged to brim again same price.

After this we stopped at Achamps. Not a great place - run down place with closed restaurants and some offices. Basic job of charging can be done - wouldn’t stop next time unless i am running out of battery. Filled to the brim and left. It said we can reach destination with 25% remaining. Was confident now as I can reach the destination.

But didn’t take the Mont Blanc climb into account. As soon as we reached the tunnel entrance the battery level dropped and expected remaining % was around 10%. Was bit nervous during the 12kms tunnel drive. But things got better once reached the Italian side of the tunnel and then it remained constant at 25% till to the end of the trip .

The battery assumptions by the car were spot on except the climb to Mont Blanc. Unfortunately I couldn’t let the car calculate the routes and battery because of DC issues. But was getting from SCs to SCs using ABRP and then used Tesla display.

Amazing to drive both mountain roads and autoroutes. Few people asked about the car and how it is possible to use electric car to come all the way from England.

Tesla SCs are great in France but if it is not in an Aire then you can’t expect other facilities.

Not sure why many UK electric car reporters spreading lots of false information regarding electric cars without including Tesla’s ability to do long ranges without much of trouble. Tesla is such a good car to do road trips compared to any other electric cars/ICE cars.

There is so much of focus on AP, wipers and headlights. I didn’t have any problems from the beginning but I understand peoples concerns. But there is such a good thing about Tesla if you are doing long trips across Europe or in America- you can do effortlessly and it is such a fun.

I used APs a lot in French autoroutes and 12kms of Mont Blanc tunnel. I could enjoy the tunnel drive without focusing on driving and that is the first time I could do that.

Supercharging in France last year was excellent. We had to postpone this year's
Italian trip so will be interested to hear of your SC experience in that country.

 

[spdpsba]

Supercharging in France last year was excellent. We had to postpone this year's
Italian trip so will be interested to hear of your SC experience in that country.

I ve done at northern parts (Aosta) and it is the same as in French side. We’ve got a Tesla DC (amazing that Tesla DCs are available in all these remote alpine villages - ours is the only electric car using that and they also have Tesla charger for other electric cars) at the place where we are staying over the last week so not using SCs that much. The one at Torino is 20 stall 250kws and then there are couple around Switzerland bordering northern Italy. Will post some pictures as I mostly forget to take SC pics.

 

[spdpsba]

Supercharging in France last year was excellent. We had to postpone this year's
Italian trip so will be interested to hear of your SC experience in that country.

Also just to update Italy has loads of 22kw and other 11kw chargers available in most community parking lots including for e-bikes in alpine regions. Also ‘Be charge’ has its own 150kw rapids chargers in even small towns. Not sure about the rates and speed but in an emergency you can use one of these rapids if you are too far away from SCs. I generally found both France and Italy easy to navigate with electric cars than UK.

I think in UK there is always a ‘pragmatic’ reasoning - including some sort of cost effective analysis - before making most decisions. However I think France and Italy just went ahead and installed chargers even if it is not being used regularly (and maintaining it) irrespective of the business case - demands and needs. Very similar to their rest places (Aire) in auto routes - they have so many of them compared to what we see in UK and there may not be any business case for most of them.

 

[spdpsba]

Be charge’ has its own 150kw rapids chargers in even small towns. Not sure about the rates and speed but in an emergency you can use one of these rapids

Just used the electro verse card it works, so you can bypass the registration and other downloading apps etc.,

 

[djtaylor]

Caution: Milan has some superb fashion shops. SWMBO loves it
Excellent Borsalino hats too.

Yes that's ok, we've done Milan before and I like women's shoes (mostly on women) so it's not a good place for me either!
Thanks for confirming Furka Pass too.
The Italian adapter for the charger arrived this morning, I doubt i'll use it but don't want to turn up at an Airbnb again and expect one thing and have to throw adapters at it.
Also confirmed that my Fulli tag will work, the €1 payment has successfully gone through so good for Italy. I'll do one leg on the Ulys tag just to keep it active and available as a backup.
I'm going to have to live vicariously through everyone else's foreign road trips now while twiddling my thumbs until next May.

 

[spdpsba]

twiddling my thumbs until next May.

Just to feed your appetite little more.

Mont Blanc on AP, also you can see my Ulys tag near the air ent. Worked flawlessly.

Saint Julian en Genevois super charger (20stalls 250kwh) located at the Marriott and the bar we have access to while charging. Not free unfortunately but also not overpriced.

 

[Wattsisname]

Just to feed your appetite little more.

Mont Blanc on AP, also you can see my Ulys tag near the air ent. Worked flawlessly.View attachment 970241

Saint Julian en Genevois super charger (20stalls 250kwh) located at the Marriott and the bar we have access to while charging. Not free unfortunately but also not overpriced.

View attachment 970242View attachment 970243View attachment 970244View attachment 970245

As you probably know, the Mont Blanc will be closing next week for maintenance
but you are planning to return via the Furka. There is also the St Bernard and the Simplon.
Enjoy, as I have each of them.

 

[djtaylor]

Tease! I bought one of these because it seemed like another storage gadget, I think i'll chuck my Fulli tag in there and see how it goes, rather than stick up a second bracket on the screen.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005902765033.html