What charging app to use?

Liffey4A

Hi,

Collecting my first EV next week, An Elroq 85.

I see people using a few different apps including some German ones to charge at public chargers.

Is there a 1 app does all chargers, something like Electroverse?

What do people recommend.

I'm getting a home charger installed shortly but would like to have an app setup for easy charging in the meantime or if away from home.

Most of my driving will be local so will use PAYG tariffs when charging if away from home.

Thanks

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058422054/what-charging-app-to-use

Not really you will find yourself downloading a few. Plus your own debit/credit card will start most of them.

Skoda will have their own charging card too, talk to your dealer but you can order through the skoda app you will set up too. They will start certain chargers, I have the cupra equivalent and I forget which ones it uses as its been months since I used it.

Elroq 85 is going to have big range so while it might not seem that way to you at the minute, public charging is going to be extremely sporadic for you unless you're regularly doing 400kms drives.

I have loads of apps I've never used.

Id say to start get ionity which are the fastest chargers around and or on most motorways in Ireland and ESB which are plentiful and in towns around the country. Maybe Tesla too as some of them are open to all cars now.

If you have a regular long journey find out which chargers are on your route and download those apps.

Theres a folder I have in my phone with some apps. Ive never used some of them.

eastie17

spot on advice there fyy try I’m buddy bubs. You only need IONITY and ESB starting out, you can get one to use with a lot of them but the price for some of them can get stupid

Liffey4A

Thank you both. Very helpful advice.

90% of my driving is around town with my wife making a weekly trip trip along the M1 to Dublin where she has free charging at the office.

I just wanted a backup option. ESB and ionity seems to be it.

Thanks

Flinty997

If was I was going to have just one I use ESB as they are everywhere even if they are often awkward with short cables.

If I'm doing a long journey I might check out the route on ABRP as sometimes there's a convenient charger from another company.

Finally sometimes I'm just parked waiting for something or someone. And I'll spot a charger in the car park. I might go test it.

A lot more just use a credit card. But it's handy using the chargers app as you can see charging progress and leave before the overstay fine or when it's slowed down..

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123727279#Comment_123727279

Ionity at Charlestown on the m50 if she passes that and also at city north hotel I think.

If you're not coming from too far away you may never use them. No harm trying them out seeing how they work though I suppose.

Charging speeds will be much better after a long drive when battery is warm and also when the battery is close to empty. They won't charge quickly if you plug in with high state of charge. Slow down massively at around 80% too. But just put in enough to get you home comfortably. I never really had to go above 50% on public chargers to get home from anywhere in Ireland.

Enjoy the car, Elroq is lovely.

Flinty997

I think he meant in more general terms.

ESB is everywhere. If you're going further out you'll see less common chargers like Weev. Increasingly theres CircleK and Apple green chargers in petrol stations.

AC are slow chargers, if you are parked for a long time, like overnight. DC are fast for stopping for 20-45 mins only.

Wildly Boaring

Majority work off bank card.

ESB app and that prob do you.

Ionity and Circle K and Applegreen all useful fast chargers.

But all start on a bank card I think.

Tesla only useful in 1 or 2 spots in a non-tesla.

Get that home charger and you're only gonna need fast charger if you drive to Cork or something. Fast charging isn't cheap and us often in use. The 6 ionity at M1 north are very busy.

Mines going in Monday be a different world.

Ive no idea how anyone survives with ev without one,long term. Drive you cracked, yesterday all the slow chargers in bettystown were busy. Half of them EVs and not charging at all

Liffey4A

I've a Zappi getting installed hopefully in next 10 days.

We got decent solar PV system installed in November and don't know ourselves. I was once an EV hater but to be honest was convinced by the figures/cost savings.

Out of curiosity I went to a car showroom and realised that the range on them has improved significantly.

Went home done the maths and even with spending more money on the Elroq we would be saving money at end of the month thanks to 0% finance and fuel savings.

Also if the export rate ever drops for solar export at least I can use it to charge the car.

Slightly nervous about going full EV but I'm told I'll not look back. 😁

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728562#Comment_123728562

Best of luck. Whatever about buying a new car and it saving money, I just find EVs much nicer to drive. In EV 3 years myself and I drove a Kodiaq diesel Automatic recently around some windy mountain roads and I hated it.

Wildly Boaring

YYeah 6 or 7 weeks driving ev

Sat back into my a7 3 litre the other day. The noise of it!!

id4 doesn't handle as well as it, but thats not a fair comparison. Acceleration in ev is instant and hard to go back from.

They are just a step forward as a drive train

Buddy Bubs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123728997#Comment_123728997

I just found that little delay trying to find the right gear a bit frustrating. Not a bad car at all the kodiaq but I agree with you that it feels way behind in trying to find the power. And the noise of course

Water John

Best wishes with the new EV. Would like an update in a few weeks as to how you find it, please.