Why is NI the only place getting new chargers

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: New charger locations (notification only, no discussion see #1).

CoBo55

Looks like NI are the only area getting new charge points. Think I'll be bowing out of the EV experience when my PCP deal is finished.

championc

Really, for an EV to work, you need to be charging at home for maybe 90% + of the time and then, preferably on a night rate cheaper tariff

CoBo55

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086517#Comment_120086517

There are no tariffs around anymore, my provider refuses point blank to replace my unactivated smart meter with a D/N meter. A charge for my phev at home will cost over a fiver soon and that barely gets me 20km of driving, a fiver of petrol would definitely bring me further.

KCross

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086770#Comment_120086770

my provider refuses point blank to replace my unactivated smart meter with a D/N meter

open a formal complaint and then go to the CRU. You are entitled to change so enforce it rather than accept some call centre staff member.

liamog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086391#Comment_120086391

eCars have been rolling out new stations at their usual pace, and Applegreen have a number of locations that will be online soon.

liamog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086517#Comment_120086517

If you can't charge at home you should look into the charging subscriptions usually available via your manufacturer. I pay €5 a month to Mini and can use eCars DC chargers for 32c/kWh. It's much better than the 65c/kWh eCars charge for walk-ups or the 59c/kWh they charge on their subscription.

There are many people who successfully manage using an EV without home charging including quite a lot of taxi drivers in Dublin who don't want to pay the high cost for upgrading their homes electrics so they can install a home charger.

Old diesel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120088391#Comment_120088391

Its amazes me how many "factual" discussions on EVs totally ignore the fact these manufacturer based subscriptions are a reality.

I mean I know about them but only because I'm into my EVs in a big way.

0.32 cents per kwh is a totally different proposition to paying 0.65 cents.

Am I right in thinking that VWs thinking with Elli which offers same type deals - doesn't even require you to own a VW group EV?????

MightyMunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120086391#Comment_120086391

Aren't Easygo rolling out loads of chargers around the country in conjunction with county councils, definitely Mayo and Tipp from memory anyway.

ELM327

Loads of chargers in the south. The last 6-9 months have been super in terms of new installs.

Don't follow ecars as the sole provider.

graememk

Its not hard to role out new chargers in NI.. when theres practically none there! or mostly broken.

re Ecars NI, its still free, so trying to find an available one can be difficult too.

innrain

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120088474#Comment_120088474

You're right I subscribed with a Kona EV VIN. Tesla didn't work :)

denismc

I think Maxol have seen a gap in the market in N.I, with no real competition from ESB, their charging hubs could turn out to be a success for them.

That new hub in Belfast is going to see lots of traffic, I was up there over Christmas as over 6 new rapid chargers came online. Driving around Belfast has become a lot less stressful.

Fingleberries

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120088474#Comment_120088474

Yep, you're spot on with VW / Elli. I've a Tesla M3 and signed up to Elli no problems at all (it was cheaper than the Ionity sub for the 35c at ionity, plus you now get a better rate on ESB chargers than the eCars rate and a longer time before overstay charges kick in - except for on AC).

slave1

Due to the Irish Language/Stormont debacle NI was void of EV charger investment for a number of years so are in severe backlog of new units

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120088474#Comment_120088474

Well to be fair you rarely hear of them outside the advertising from whatever manufacturers you buy from, and frankly I never got anything from the salesman from VW, it all came from the website and app

There's really room for a good comparison site like bonkers to get in on this

Wouldn't be that hard either, put in your make and model and it gets the average consumption from EV database, put in your mileage and how much is AC or DC charging and it'll spit out all the available plans

The main issue is access to various networks. We charge covers a lot of networks across Europe but not all of them, so comparing availability of chargers is more difficult

Should be easy enough to do the Irish networks though, we don't have that many