Latest news with #homecharger
Top Gear
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Polestar 3 - long-term review - Report No:3 2025
Contrary to some scaremongering, running an electric car is pretty straightforward. Ten years since my first EV, there is no novelty. This is now the mainstream. But every so often things go awry. If you have a home charger, chances are you'll do about 80 per cent of your charging on it with occasional top ups on a public system. So when your domestic set-up goes on the blink, it's a problem. Mine is from BP Pulse, and it turns out that it missed an OTA firm-ware update because it had zoned out of the home wi-fi. Not that I was made aware that it needed this update, or indeed that problems would arise if it wasn't connected to the wi-fi. Advertisement - Page continues below Into the circle of hell that is a customer helpline I ventured. The BP home charger has a little button underneath that's supposed to re-set it, triggering a series of yellow lights whereupon a wi-fi connection can be re-established and the update process begun. Except that it simply refused to do it, which stumped the patient lady on the other end of the line. A follow-up email informed me that my case was being picked up by a colleague, equally patient, who insisted I do the same thing again, with identical results. Now, at this point I was expecting helpline person two to say, 'OK, we'll send out an engineer, there's clearly a problem'. But the warranty on the charger is only good for three years, we're passed that, and BP Pulse were adamant that they had done all they were required to do. The company exited the home charging business in 2023 – it's only interested in big fleet business now – so the messaging here is clear: 'You're on your own. We don't give a toss.' Or words to that effect. I'm in the process of sourcing a new home charger, from a specialist rather than an offshoot of an oil company not known for its customer care. And so to the public charging network. Gridserve is an impressive set-up with reliable fast chargers and contactless payment. But be warned: it costs 85p per kWh. I went for a top-up at its Thurrock site rather than the whole enchillada. Bear in mind that my home tariff with costs me 6.9p per kWh between midnight and 7am. Advertisement - Page continues below Then there's Evolt, whose site beside Stansted airport offers charging at speeds 'up to 150 kW' and costs 65p per kWh. Alas, three of their 10 outlets were out of order when I rocked up, although if you use the QR code and webpay the company still takes £45 each time as an upfront payment even if no charging occurs. I explained to the – patient – helpline guy on this occasion that this was something of a liberty, and he suggested I get an RFID card. I maintain that until charging your car involves exactly the same process as filling it with fuel, people are going to be a) confused or b) cheesed off at laying out money upfront for something that doesn't then happen. Helpline guy was able to direct me to a functioning charger, but that was ended prematurely when the customer on the other side had a problem and Evolt stopped both our sessions. A sub-optimal experience all-round, although there was a Café Nero nearby and I had an enjoyable iced coffee. Meanwhile, the Polestar 3 is working beautifully. So that's something.
CBC
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- CBC
Some EV owners in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., choosing to rent rather than buy charger, private utility says
Social Sharing Some Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., drivers who have opted to ditch their gas-powered car for an electric vehicle (EV) are choosing to rent a charger rather than buying, according to the private utility company PUC Services Inc. PUC says it launched its EV home charger rental program in October 2022, and there are currently 31 active participants. Noting that "EVs are not the most inexpensive vehicle out there," Jairus Patterson, PUC's manager of corporate communications, said the program offers a simple, reliable and trustworthy at-home charging option to people who have purchased EVs. "When you purchase [an EV], you do need to get a charger and this is a great way, an affordable way to help lower some costs, by renting a home charger from us," Patterson told CBC Sudbury. "We do know those [chargers] can [cost] upwards of $2,000 to $3,000 if you're going to purchase it yourself. Under the PUC program, EV drivers can have a charger installed at their home for a $35 monthly fee, which covers rental of the unit, a lifetime warranty and an installation credit. 'The uptick has been good' Patterson said the contract is "month-to-month," giving people the opportunity to opt out at any time in case they decide to install a permanent charger. "We have seen growth in the adoption of EV vehicles here in Sault Ste. Marie, and with our program, the uptick has been good," Patterson said. "We are seeing some people are going the route where they just want to buy it themselves and they don't want to rent it, so that's fine as well. But we are starting to see more and more people deciding to go the rental route." Devin Arthur, chapter president at the EV Society of Greater Sudbury, welcomes the program, which he says helps to encourage the adoption of EVs "Any way to make it easier for people to purchase an EV is a win, especially if you are purchasing a used EV as these purchases often do not come with a 'free' home charger install like a new vehicle would," Arthur wrote in an email to CBC News. In November the Ontario government announced it's building more than 1,300 new EV charging stations in small and medium-sized communities, marking a major milestone in the province's plan to increase access to EV chargers outside of large urban centres and support the electrification of transportation across the province. At the time, the government said the new charging stations will provide critical supporting infrastructure in communities across the province, including for EVs made in Ontario. "With more than 201,000 electric vehicles on the road in Ontario, we're putting shovels in the ground to build more charging stations and make life easier for drivers," said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification. "That includes a focus on smaller and underserved communities across our province where we are providing more certainty for parents and workers during their commutes." The chargers will be located at 270 sites across the province, such as arenas, hospitals, parks and recreation centres. This includes 190 charging stations in northern Ontario, providing drivers across the north with more options when travelling.
