eCars CCS Infrastructure - Why is it so unreliable?

cros13

So... I had an extended discussion with one of the eCars operators this evening, during my 2nd call of the day to report a charger down.
It also happened to be the third report in two weeks I'd made on the same charger, which as usual wasn't being fixed.

So it turns out that engineers have been marking CCS rapid charge points as operational and clearing the tickets when they see a subsequent successful charge on that charger.

Only one problem with that... They can't tell which connector is being used because the charger doesn't return that information. So CCS car fails to charge, reports the issue, Leaf comes along and successfully charges and the tech marks the ticket resolved. Yay!

I reported Roscrea down on March 4th, despite the fact that I spent 20 minutes on the phone with the call center, and had a further three calls with the Carra engineer, when the tech got my voicemail they decided I'd selected the wrong charging option and marked the ticket as resolved. Since then I called five separate times about the same chargepoint and none of those were properly logged against the chargepoint.

I've also reported Naas Monread down on six occasions, Dublin Airport on three, Portlaoise twice and on only one occasion was the charger fixed.

I think I'm going to have a lot of opinions to share at the next eCars update.

Are you sure it's the charger and not the car like Zoe ?

You really need to get on the ESB Ecars FB page.

Dexter1979

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Are you sure it's the charger and not the car like Zoe ?

You really need to get on the ESB Ecars FB page.

Renault are sending over engineers to fix problems with the Zoe compatibility according to ESBs Ecars tech manager.

I suggest emailing ecars with your complaint at ecars@esb.ie as this is forwarded to several people like I did.

reboot

Dexter1979 wrote: »

Renault are sending over engineers to fix problems with the Zoe compatibility according to ESBs Ecars tech manager.

I suggest emailing ecars with your complaint at ecars@esb.ie as this is forwarded to several people like I did.

Discussed many times Dexter, but 18 months ago Renault/NIE/EBG, "Engineers met in Newcastle to look at "The nightmare of public charging" problem. I subsequently attended a meeting with Ecarni and NIE in Belfast. Renault UK told me NIE had agreed to adjust the software at CPs, at the meeting NIE rep denied this and mentioned earth resistance might be looked at, (Over 150 ohms problem?),when I asked if they might consider moving a CP, he nearly fell off the chair.
So I am saying don't expect they can fix this problem, I personally doubt it.
As far as Icing at EV bays is concerned I am wondering if EV owners in the UK at present should perhaps send a message to the politicians who have not managed in many cases to pass legislation re fines for this (waiting over 2 years now) that they may not get the votes from EV owners?
Trying to stay across one thread on the charging problems, but I guess there may be some overlap. I can get messy with Leaf and Zoe having different charging issues, hence the other place.

Dexter1979

I know it's been discussed many times. The infrastructure in Ireland is pretty good for Zoe. Did a trip to Dublin this weekend and did 515km with only one charge point failing. At no point was I stuck and never saw a low battery warning.

ESB say about 40 - 50 cps need upgrading and this should be done by the end of the year. All is well here, at least in my area.

I will mention your problems to ESB next time I contact them. See what the reply is.

cros13

Deleted User wrote: »

Are you sure it's the charger and not the car like Zoe ?

You really need to get on the ESB Ecars FB page.

It's definitely the chargepoints. For the following reasons:

1. Blanchardstown, Portlaoise and Urlingford work perfectly for me every time.

2. Portlaoise didn't work at first, I reported it and Carra fixed it. I've since charged more than 20 times there without an issue

3. When the fault occurs both the car and the error message on the chargepoint screen directly state the issue as a charger fault.

4. According to Dave at Carra, It's a known issue with a permanent hardware fix on the way from efacec/Siemens. Until then it occurs infrequently and requires a manual reset (not possible to do remotely) of the CCS comms board in the charger

I don't allow traffic from any of my networks to Facebook's AS.

reboot

cros13 wrote: »

It's definitely the chargepoints. For the following reasons:

1. Blanchardstown, Portlaoise and Urlingford work perfectly for me every time.

2. Portlaoise didn't work at first, I reported it and Carra fixed it. I've since charged more than 20 times there without an issue

3. When the fault occurs both the car and the error message on the chargepoint screen directly state the issue as a charger fault.

4. According to Dave at Carra, It's a known issue with a permanent hardware fix on the way from efacec/Siemens. Until then it occurs infrequently and requires a manual reset (not possible to do remotely) of the CCS comms board in the charger

I don't allow traffic from any of my networks to Facebook's AS.

We seem to have opted almost exclusively in the North for EBG CPs,this may have and continues to be the problem. Some 22Kva points have Never worked with Renault EVs since they were installed over 2 yrs ago. This means 50% of the EBG CPs in S.Down have exhibited this "Battery charging impossible " fault from the day of installation, in spite of various meetings on site with Renault,EBG,((from Germany) and NIE.

cros13

Update to this.

All the CCS rapids I've reported have now been fixed with the exception of Macroom.

eCars have also just taken delivery of twenty ( yes that's a 2 and a 0 ) new Multi-standard rapid chargers.

First ones going in:

Stillorgan Luas Park & Ride (this is in and commissioned (and a DBT piece of ****) but they are having some problems, DC is down for both ChaDeMo and CCS)
Topaz, Omni-Park Santry
Topaz, Clonshaugh (by Bewley’s Airport Hotel)
Stillorgan Park Hotel

Dexter1979

cros13 wrote: »

First ones going in:

Stillorgan Luas Park & Ride (this is in and commissioned (and a DBT piece of ****) but they are having some problems, DC is down for both ChaDeMo and CCS)
Topaz, Omni-Park Santry
Topaz, Clonshaugh (by Bewley’s Airport Hotel)
Stillorgan Park Hotel

All part of the rapid charge network being setup between ports in Ireland and the UK. Ecotricity are doing the UK bits.

http://www.rapidchargenetwork.com

cros13

cros13 wrote: »

Update to this.

All the CCS rapids I've reported have now been fixed with the exception of Macroom.

eCars have also just taken delivery of twenty ( yes that's a 2 and a 0 ) new Multi-standard rapid chargers.

First ones going in:

Stillorgan Luas Park & Ride (this is in and commissioned (and a DBT piece of ****) but they are having some problems, DC is down for both ChaDeMo and CCS)
Topaz, Omni-Park Santry
Topaz, Clonshaugh (by Bewley’s Airport Hotel)
Stillorgan Park Hotel

A fast charge point in a Luas park and ride ? what ??? people will leave the car attached at the charger while they feck off on the Luas !!!

Stillorgan Park Hotel ? this has to be a Joke , right ? A DC charger in a Hotel.

Seems like the ESb are getting even more ridiculous with the DC charger locations, extremely inefficient locations if you ask me.

Why not put one in the New garage that's being built on the M9 and give people a chance to actually be able to get to the fast charge point in peak traffic, Tesco in Naas is a Joke, 20 mins to get there in peak traffic from the N7 and then locals charging while they shop.

ESB need to get their act together !!!

Is their any public confirmation on the roll out for the rest of 2015 ?

cros13

Deleted User wrote: »

A fast charge point in a Luas park and ride ? what ??? people will leave the car attached at the charger while they feck off on the Luas !!!

A danger... but they also put in two 22kw chargers and there are 6 marked and parking enforced spaces.

Deleted User wrote: »

Stillorgan Park Hotel ? this has to be a Joke , right ? A DC charger in a Hotel.

It's actually not a bad location, it's literally on the N11. The only problem is that parking might be an issue, the car park is very small.

Deleted User wrote: »

Why not put one in the New garage that's being built on the M9 and give people a chance to actually be able to get to the fast charge point in peak traffic, Tesco in Naas is a Joke, 20 mins to get there in peak traffic from the N7 and then locals charging while they shop.

They are definitely putting one in the new M9 services. I had that confirmed.

Deleted User wrote: »

Is their any public confirmation on the roll out for the rest of 2015 ?

No confirmation yet.

The ESB told me they weren't installing a QC in the new garage on the M9, maybe my persistent moaning about the really bad location of the Naas QC paid off ?

cros13

Topaz Omni Park is about two months out. They are refurbishing in 4-5 weeks and it will be around then that the charger gets installed.

jusmeig

Guys - Trying to get the latest info/feeling on the state of the charging infrastructure in Ireland.
Managed to put a deposit down on an Ioniq EV after being told there were not new Ioniq EVs being shipped to Ireland in 2019!

Shefwedfan

jusmeig wrote: »

Guys - Trying to get the latest info/feeling on the state of the charging infrastructure in Ireland.
Managed to put a deposit down on an Ioniq EV after being told there were not new Ioniq EVs being shipped to Ireland in 2019!

This is an old old thread.....

Will you need to use public system regularly?

jusmeig

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Will you need to use public system regularly?

No but I do a couple of long range trips a year, and I read an article on a different site about a lack of CCS rapid chargers, and having to charge up on a type 2 for 2+ hours to complete longer trips.

Shefwedfan

jusmeig wrote: »

No but I do a couple of long range trips a year, and I read an article on a different site about a lack of CCS rapid chargers, and having to charge up on a type 2 for 2+ hours to complete longer trips.

Depends on the trip and the distance.

I get away without using any fast charger but I do have one on my "long" trip I do some weekends. That is in Navan. Only had to use once.

What roads you using etc and some of the guys/girls on here might have better idea

jusmeig

Shefwedfan wrote: »

What roads you using etc and some of the guys/girls on here might have better idea

My yearly trips would be:

- Dublin -> Kerry, either Glencar or Sneem X 2....or more
- Dublin -> Donegal/Ballyshannon
- Dublin -> Mourne mountains X2

Another noob question - Can u use the chargers up north if you register in the south?

Shefwedfan

https://www.zap-map.com/live/

You can plan routes on that....

As far as I know, you can use card in North as well but maybe someone can confirm

Ewan Hoosarmi

Shefwedfan wrote: »

https://www.zap-map.com/live/

You can plan routes on that....

As far as I know, you can use card in North as well but maybe someone can confirm

Yes, the NI card can be used throughout Ireland and vice versa.