ESB eCars pricing introduction

jasonb · 01-11-2019 05:23PM

I really feel like I'm missing something here, or are ESB not explaining this very well?

I'm looking at the Pay As You Go option, as I only use a Fast Charger maybe twice a month.

My payment optoins are Pay As You Go or Pre Pay, and it says an initial €20 credit is needed for Pre Pay.

I'm signing up for Pay As You Go, but it's telling me 'an initial amount of €20 will be charged as Pre Pay Credit'. But I don't want the Pre Pay option, I want the Pay As You Go option.

Can someone explain the different choices to me?

Thanks...

Silent Running · 01-11-2019 05:47PM

jasonb wrote: »

I really feel like I'm missing something here, or are ESB not explaining this very well?

I'm looking at the Pay As You Go option, as I only use a Fast Charger maybe twice a month.

My payment optoins are Pay As You Go or Pre Pay, and it says an initial €20 credit is needed for Pre Pay.

I'm signing up for Pay As You Go, but it's telling me 'an initial amount of €20 will be charged as Pre Pay Credit'. But I don't want the Pre Pay option, I want the Pay As You Go option.

Can someone explain the different choices to me?

Thanks...

My understanding is that there are two PAYG options: pre-pay a credit and use that as you go, and pay at the charger by debit/credit card. The card needs to be added to the app if they ever get it working and rolled out.

There's a promotional offer available where you sign up for the subscription model and there will be no monthly payments for the first year. This gives you the cheaper kW rate of €0.29.

I'm an occasional user, so I'm going to use the subscription model for the year and then transition to the PAYG by credit card option at the end of the 12 months.

jasonb · 01-11-2019 05:50PM

Silent Running wrote: »

My understanding is that there are two PAYG options: pre-pay a credit and use that as you go, and pay at the charger by debit/credit card. The card needs to be added to the app if they ever get it working and rolled out.

There's a promotional offer available where you sign up for the subscription model and there will be no monthly payments for the first year. This gives you the cheaper kW rate of €0.29.

I'm an occasional user, so I'm going to use the subscription model for the year and then transition to the PAYG by credit card option at the end of the 12 months.

Thanks for your reply. If I'm trying to sign up to the Pay at the Charger by Debit/Credit Card, why am I being asked to add credit to my account while signing up?

Have you read anywhere that we can transfer from subscription to PAYG at the end of the 12 months?

zg3409 · 01-11-2019 06:00PM

jasonb wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. If I'm trying to sign up to the Pay at the Charger by Debit/Credit Card, why am I being asked to add credit to my account while signing up?

Have you read anywhere that we can transfer from subscription to PAYG at the end of the 12 months?

There are two Pay As You Go payment options:

Pay As You Go: Make a once off transaction at any ESB fast charge point or via the ecar connect app

Pre Pay: Purchase pre-paid credit with a registered account on our website our via the ecar connect app

What's Included?
• Charge and go via our ecar connect app
• Live charge point map
• 24/7 customer care support
• Free ESB charge point access card worth €10. Initial top up of €20 required (Pre Pay only)
• Option to purchase additional ESB charge point access card for a once off €10 fee
From:

https://esb.ie/ecars/price-plans/pay-as-you-go

So use the app (when it comes out) if you don't want to have a small balance in esb account. Its a bit safer to have a balance if card is declined for a weird reason when you are at charger. Bank fees are probably less for you too, less transactions.

jasonb · 01-11-2019 06:02PM

Thanks, I read that text on the website, while I was signing up. But on the second page of registration it's telling me that an initial fee of €20 will be charged to my card, and that's the part I don't understand. If I'm not doing PrePay, then why is money being charged to my card now?

Silent Running · 01-11-2019 06:21PM

jasonb wrote: »

Thanks for your reply. If I'm trying to sign up to the Pay at the Charger by Debit/Credit Card, why am I being asked to add credit to my account while signing up?

Have you read anywhere that we can transfer from subscription to PAYG at the end of the 12 months?

Yes, I believe the question was asked on their facebook page and the answer was that it would be possible to terminate the subscription and then to set up the PAYG.

tom_tarbucket · 01-11-2019 06:38PM

Has this gone fully live yet?
I know they introduced new pricing etc but not sure if live yet.

Sabre Man · 01-11-2019 07:14PM

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

Has this gone fully live yet?
I know they introduced new pricing etc but not sure if live yet.

Payment starts 18 November.

tom_tarbucket · 01-11-2019 07:20PM

Sabre Man wrote: »

Payment starts 18 November.

So can you still rock up to a rapid charger with your old esb card and charge away as before?

Black_Knight · 01-11-2019 07:27PM

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

So can you still rock up to a rapid charger with your old esb card and charge away as before?

Correct

tom_tarbucket · 01-11-2019 11:42PM

Black_Knight wrote: »

Correct

Thanks. The when the new charging system comes in, can you still use the ‘old’ card or so you have to do a completely new registration for a new card?

fricatus · 01-11-2019 11:44PM

tom_tarbucket wrote: »

Thanks. The when the new charging system comes in, can you still use the ‘old’ card or so you have to do a completely new registration for a new card?

The registration page allows you to enter the number of your existing card. This is printed on the front and is a bit difficult to see at first glance (I thought it wasn’t there at first). If the number isn’t visible, IIRC you’ll have to get a new card.

Northumberland · 02-11-2019 08:49AM

Take a look at this map and article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50261278

It only shows UK 'regions', it is interesting that NI comes out bottom of the league for both regular and fast chargers, and that Scotland is far ahead on both. It would be great to have a similar map for Ireland, come on ESB ECars if any of you read these posts, which I doubt (and even if you do, I expect you are absolutely banned from replying - such a pity). From my personal experience I suspect that the Republic would come out pretty close to NI in the rankings.

adunis · 02-11-2019 10:33AM

Pay the 20 euro,card is on file and will only top up when your balance drops to a fiver,Handy if your card is lost damaged or you forget your wallet etc etc.....

DrPhilG · 02-11-2019 10:59AM

First charge since the new site started.

Plus-
The live status is proper live now. Not like the old system where there was often up to 20 minutes delay. Today I plugged in at 9:13 and within a minute the site showed that a charge started at 9:13.

Minus-
The swipe to start didn't work. Swipe away, made no difference. Had to start with a card as normal.

McGiver · 03-11-2019 12:53AM

DrPhilG wrote:

Minus- The swipe to start didn't work. Swipe away, made no difference. Had to start with a card as normal.

Swipe where? With what? In the Web app?

zg3409 · 03-11-2019 01:06AM

Northumberland wrote: »

Take a look at this map and article https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-50261278

It only shows UK 'regions', it is interesting that NI comes out bottom of the league for both regular and fast chargers, and that Scotland is far ahead on both. It would be great to have a similar map for Ireland, come on ESB ECars if any of you read these posts, which I doubt (and even if you do, I expect you are absolutely banned from replying - such a pity). From my personal experience I suspect that the Republic would come out pretty close to NI in the rankings.

NI is far worse than ROI. Many fast chargers have no CCS. Little to no maintenance, no ionity, no easygo, no plans for the ROI esb rollout to take place in NI. Heck the new fees don't apply in NI either. No replacement of slow chargers. They are waiting on free money from stormont which has not sat for 3 years.

People are ditching small range EVs in NI as they can't get from A to B due to state of network. Beware anyone heading north, particularly if your car is CCS

Black_Knight · 03-11-2019 02:20AM

McGiver wrote: »

Swipe where? With what? In the Web app?

Yeah, the new web app has swipe to start. Not tried it though, card is quicker

DrPhilG · 03-11-2019 08:28AM

Charged at a SCP in Derry last night, used the swipe option and it worked fine.

Card may be quicker but a few of the SCPs in Derry (and there's only about 3 left in operation) have been failing to read cards and needing a remote start.

jasonb · 03-11-2019 09:42AM

Black_Knight wrote: »

Yeah, the new web app has swipe to start. Not tried it though, card is quicker

Is the new App out on Android yet? My app 'updated' a week or so ago, to just a Google Map page of eCars chargers and nothing else, and the loading page of the App says a new App will be available soon.

Silent Running · 03-11-2019 09:47AM

jasonb wrote: »

Is the new App out on Android yet? My app 'updated' a week or so ago, to just a Google Map page of eCars chargers and nothing else, and the loading page of the App says a new App will be available soon.

It was supposed to launch last Tuesday. Because ESB ecars haven't really taken EVs seriously they continue to display apathy towards the project. Hence the lack of an app on the date it was supposed to launch.

zg3409 · 03-11-2019 10:24AM

jasonb wrote: »

Is the new App out on Android yet? My app 'updated' a week or so ago, to just a Google Map page of eCars chargers and nothing else, and the loading page of the App says a new App will be available soon.

That's all for now

Dempsey · 03-11-2019 11:47AM

Would I be right in saying that there is no down side to the 'Introductory Offer', 12 months of 0.29c/kWh, i.e. after 12 months you can opt out of the subscription?

Also, I have a card but it seems like i have to sign up again to get a subscription?

JohnC. · 03-11-2019 11:58AM

You do need to sign up, but can use the same card.

Black_Knight · 03-11-2019 12:38PM

Dempsey wrote: »

Would I be right in saying that there is no down side to the 'Introductory Offer', 12 months of 0.29c/kWh, i.e. after 12 months you can opt out of the subscription?

Also, I have a card but it seems like i have to sign up again to get a subscription?

Correct. No downsides so long as you cancel in 12 months time.

Your card should have a number on it. Top right. You can use that card number when prompted when registering.

Northumberland · 03-11-2019 12:59PM

zg3409 wrote: »

NI is far worse than ROI. Many fast chargers have no CCS. Little to no maintenance, no ionity, no easygo, no plans for the ROI esb rollout to take place in NI. Heck the new fees don't apply in NI either. No replacement of slow chargers. They are waiting on free money from stormont which has not sat for 3 years.

People are ditching small range EVs in NI as they can't get from A to B due to state of network. Beware anyone heading north, particularly if your car is CCS

I have a Nissan Leaf with Chademo so do not notice the lack of CCS in NI, but I agree with the comment. One of the slow chargers close to the Erneside shopping centre in Enniskillen is broken, not repaired for months and covered over in tape. Although the closest fast charger to where i live in Cavan, in the Republic, is in Enniskillen in NI, and there are absolutely no fast chargers at the moment in the whole of County Cavan, some planned we read, and the nearest is in Monaghan, and there is only a single fast charger in the whole of that County as well.

zg3409 · 03-11-2019 02:50PM

Northumberland wrote: »

nearest is in Monaghan, and there is only a single fast charger in the whole of that County as well.

2 fast in Monaghan. Easygo about 300 metres from esb at hotel. See plugshare app. It has chademo and you need to pay via app

Northumberland · 03-11-2019 02:53PM

oh, I stand corrected, yes, I did hear about that but forgot.

reboot · 04-11-2019 03:30PM

Ecarni,( Not of this planet), inform me a charge of 33 cents per unit will be applied. If I'm not mistaken that's around 3 times the 8p/ unit I pay at present on Economy 7.

Black_Knight · 04-11-2019 04:04PM

reboot wrote: »

Ecarni,( Not of this planet), inform me a charge of 33 cents per unit will be applied. If I'm not mistaken that's around 3 times the 8p/ unit I pay at present on Economy 7.

Yup. You're correct. Twas announced 2 weeks back. You should charge at home so.

ESB eCars pricing introduction

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