Forum Topic

New Charging Station on the A4

I have now twice used the all electric charging station on the Great West Road by Oil Mill Lane. https://www.hammersmithtoday.co.uk/#!pages/shared:common:hfroad008On Sunday evening it was at full capacity. It’s an absolute dream compared to relying on the dodgy lamp posts in Chiswick. , So often they malfunctioned or I got a PCN because I didn’t understand Hounslow’s  complex parking rules. Don’t get me started on non functioning Source chargers. Or the fact that Mid Chiswick doesn’t even have any lamp post chargers at all, we just got left out of the plan  East Chiswick and Glebe have stacks. As so often,  the private sector delivers the solutions that people need, rather the top down way Hounslow operate. Oh and the new M&S is open too. Even you don’t have an EV it’s useful to park and shop. Perhaps it’s the beginning of the end for charger anxiety.  My car was fully charged in 40 mins while I stocked up with food, and caught up with family on the phone.  A little cafe might be nice. PS no I don’t work for BP, just relieved.

Jackie Elton ● 7d17 Comments

Considering the stret ones are so expensive and often don't work you would think that there was something both in the contract to guarantee a better service and also something that would easily show that a charger was out of service - so you wouldn't bother to look for it and try to use it.

Philippa Bond ● 2d

I used to regularly see a cable going up through a tree and across into a second floor window.

Philippa Bond ● 2d

Was thinking why don't they run them overhead.

Janice Evans ● 2d

There are also 'Dutch charging arms' advertised - https://wepoweryourcar.com/about/chargearm/ - that swing out over the pavement and hold the cable above head height to reach the car.  However, in the small print it does mention that you might need council permission!

Peter Evans ● 2d

Charging over the pavement is not necessarily illegal. It is only so if the council has a local bye law against it. You can't guarantee parking in front of your house but I'm sure lots of residential streets are like mine where there is a convention where you leave your car in front of your own if you can. This predates the introduction of electric cars. By the evening, with usually only residents' vehicles parked, there would be a good chance of getting a space in front of your house. Legal over pavement charging is only ever allowed when appropriate measures are taken to protect pedestrian safety. Any car owner not using the right equipment deserves to be sued.

Andrew OSullivan ● 3d

I tripped over a cable running under some thin narrow ramp in the dark but stayed upright. Did not even see it.Im surprised no person has taken such action to extort money

Julian Pavey ● 5d

You don't at the moment. Council's know that charging outside your house is illegal even though you have a yellow and black plastic tunnel covering the lead. I wonder how much they take from the supplier of the points (selling power at 20% VAT) as opposed to just 5% VAT if you charge off a simple 5amp plug? There was a solution around a year or so ago whereby the cable could be placed in a trough that was installed in the pavement but that seems to have come to nothing.

peter king ● 5d

But how do you guarantee parking in front of your own house any more than finding an accessible lamp post?

Peter Evans ● 5d

People seem to be happier with the hybrids.

Janice Evans ● 6d

Both Ealing and Hounslow ban over the pavement charging and they may be hoping for extra revenue from the lamppost chargers as a result. However, these are expensive and unreliable and personally I am ruling out a switch to an EV until either there is a guarantee I can charge it in front of my house or prices of the vehicles come down a lot more. If the government want to accelerate the switch to EV over pavement charging should be legal as long as it meets safety standards.

Andrew OSullivan ● 6d

In theory lamp post charging should be good, but too often they are frustrating, buggy, poorly maintained and  not supported. The councils install them without bothering to test levels of use and satisfaction.  Which is why people give up on them.  They will be used less and less. We prefer solutions which work reliably.

Jackie Elton ● 6d

Of course the private sector should be providing these faster charging solutions, this particular thing (fast charge facilities) is something that the councils definitely shouldn't be doing.What councils are doing (appropriately in my view) is facilitating a slower on street charging solution  that is achievable without a significant contribution from their council tax payers.

Andrew Jones ● 7d

It will survive simply because of the obscene amount charged per KwH - 66p when a home charger can be as low as 7p/ KwHIt certainly wn't have a future when prices for charging tumble. An ICE vehicle takes five minutes to fuel and pay and an EV 40 minutes to gaet a decent charge. No one would sensible dedicate a refuelling space for eight times as long if they were not making a decent margin. Until something MUCH better than the current batch of EV is available then hybrid is the way ahead.

N V Brooks ● 7d

Love my second hand hybrid. 65 miles to the gallon. Five minutes to fill up, infrequently, including paying.

Chris Dakers ● 7d

Well I hired a hybrid for a holiday and it was bliss not to worry about filling up all the time.  But EVs do have other advantages! No Road tax, low parking charges, no congestion charge for now,and mainly cheaper to run. And of course being theoretically cleaner!

Jackie Elton ● 7d

If you are only taking 30 seconds to fill up and be on your way, you must be omitting to make payment !

Richard Greenhough ● 7d

..while it takes about thirty seconds to fill up with diesel and be on your way for another 500 miles!  No contest!?

Peter Evans ● 7d