First long journey - range anxiety help!

[Jomarkh]

Are all the chargers in Scotland free if you register and can us southerners get on board?

 

[bloggsy]

Are all the chargers in Scotland free if you register and can us southerners get on board?

No, unfortunately not! You can get the Chargeplace Scotland app to allow you to use the chargers but some council areas charge (different prices and some have connection fees) and some are free!

Look on Zap Map for details of specific chargers near you / your route, if you're coming up!

Cheers

Bloggsy

 

[Jomarkh]

It was only an idea as I would spend most of the 600 mile trip up charging

 

[bloggsy]

It was only an idea as I would spend most of the 600 mile trip up charging

I still think you'd be okay as there's quite a few free chargers around and quite a few chargers at / near tourist sites. For example, on 11th July, a few of the Scottish members are meeting up at the charging hub at Falkirk Stadium, which is near the Kelpies (figures of horses - you can 'Google' it to see for yourself, what its like) but the hub has lots of chargers (50Kw, 22Kw and 7Kw). Feel free to join us if you're planning a trip up North.

I'm sure you'll be able to come up and visit places and charge when you're parked

The only thing I can't guarantee is your ability to understand what some of us are saying, half the time. I sometimes struggle!

Cheers

Bloggsy

 

[Cocijo]

Thank you, I hadn't found this one. I have now, and hopefully between 8 chargers I should find one working! I was planning on doing one on the way and one on the way back, just for piece of mind.

You may already know this. Bear in mind only DC chargers will give you a rapid charge. The MG is limited to just below 7kwh on any AC charger due to it’s onboard inverter setup. You’ll see rapid AC chargers but they won’t charge above the 7kwh ?

 

[Pict]

Are all the chargers in Scotland free if you register and can us southerners get on board?

I just did a trip up there and used the Charge Your Car app (android). Mainly around Lanarkshire and all the chargers I used were free. Fast and Rapid were a simple find the charger on the app, start charge, and go for a wander.

 

[JodyS21]

I like the Wattsup app as it does show the just off route chargers as you go.
I do appear to keep plugging it as no-one else seems to use it (I have no connection to it in case you are thinking that). Does the route planning etc.
It is an app but can see details on the website WattsUp! Rapid Charger Route Planning

I like that WattsUp works with apple car play, nice to see it on the big screen (although the map graphic is a little dark)

 

[Sandarosa]

Went for a drive yesterday into the Scottish trossachs, then up to the lower highlands and then back to central Scotland. I did no route planning, just went for a drive in the expectation that I would be able to charge ?. Covered some 240 miles and was my first distance drive. The journey was relaxing and I was pleasantly surprised with the charging infrastructure (most of which is free if you join Chargeplace Scotland).

Started with a full charge, did two charges on route - one of 21kw (from 30% to 80%) and one of 25kw (from 15% to 70%). On both occasions as I approached lower charge levels and I did get a bit anxious, primarily as I didn’t have a simple way of locating the nearest charger whilst still driving. I use Android Auto and could have used one of the chargepoint finders like zapmap or chargepoint Scotland’s website (they don’t have an app yet) but there were 2 issues

1) no mobile signal leading up to first charge - this will be the case in much of the Scottish highlands
2) no way to identify/filter charge points whilst driving as I wanted to locate a chargepoint Scotland rapid charger which was available and free of charge

As a result I had to pull over (once I saw I had mobile coverage) and search/filter to find a suitable charger. I’ve subsequently found that I can save a filter on ZapMap which will show me CPS rapids, however I can’t seem to “talk” to google display this filter, for my current location and nearest available chargers.

The moral of the story - you have nothing to fear but range anxiety itself ?

There is an app for Chargepoint Scotland it’s called Charge Your Car.

 

[Sandarosa]

I just did a trip up there and used the Charge Your Car app (android). Mainly around Lanarkshire and all the chargers I used were free. Fast and Rapid were a simple find the charger on the app, start charge, and go for a wander.

In the Highlands & Islands charges will start from the 1st June sadly. If you feel strongly about it please say so to the Highland Council.

 

[bloggsy]

In the Highlands & Islands charges will start from the 1st June sadly. If you feel strongly about it please say so to the Highland Council.

Thanks for the update Sandra - that'll affect those that were thinking of doing the North Coast 500. I'd agree with you in sending an email to Highlands and Islands but, unfortunately, I think this is the way of the future as more and more councils have started to charge!

I've resigned myself to paying if I need to charge away from home and if I find the charger's free, it's a bonus!

However, there's still a few chargers about the central belt if you and the other Highlands and Islands members want to pop down for the proposed meet up in Falkirk in July?!

Cheers

Bloggsy

 

[Sandarosa]

Thanks for the update Sandra - that'll affect those that were thinking of doing the North Coast 500. I'd agree with you in sending an email to Highlands and Islands but, unfortunately, I think this is the way of the future as more and more councils have started to charge!

I've resigned myself to paying if I need to charge away from home and if I find the charger's free, it's a bonus!

However, there's still a few chargers about the central belt if you and the other Highlands and Islands members want to pop down for the proposed meet up in Falkirk in July?!

Cheers

Bloggsy

Thanks, good to know, I will be in Falkirk in a couple of weeks for the garage to have a look and see why the rapid charge isn't working. Cheers