November 11th: breakdown - 'Battery charging impossible'

Oh dear, is all that I can say.  Today, EV had a ride on a tow-truck.

This morning I went to work and tried charging my car at a POD Point charging unit.  I swiped my car, plugged in it and waited, staring at the charging unit screen for the confirmation message saying that the charge had started.  Nothing happened.  I went to the car to look and see if it was still completing its 'checks'.  This is what I found.

Battery charging impossible?? How can an electric car come up with the error message 'battery charging impossible'? I took out the Zoe Driver's Handbook  and checked the advice.  This is what it says:

I couldn't believe it.  I've had the Zoe a week and it's already having to be returned to the dealer. I  only had 11 miles left on the battery and I wasn't sure that I would make it to the nearest dealer (any I didn't know where my nearest dealer was - being on a campus in the middle of nowhere with limited phone signal and a 10 minute walk to the building), so I had no choice but to abandon work and phone Renault Assistance.  Unfortunately, although the phone number provided by the onboard computer is an 0800 number, to call the number from a mobile (as you're most likely to be doing given that it's a car breakdown) cost me 14p per minute. 

This is getting better and better.  First, my car breaks down meaning that I have to get it fixed rather than going to work.  Secondly, the number I need to call to fix it is 14p per minute. I am not impressed.

Given the fact that the telephone call is costing so much, you'd think that it would be answered by the most eloquent, gentile and understanding of people who are happy to help and understand your predicament.  The gentleman who answered my call had other ideas.  He asked what was wrong, then abruptly asked if I'd at least attempted to take the car to my nearest dealer.  I explained that I was on a campus that I didn't usually work at and I didn't know where my nearest dealer was.  The conversation went something like this (not verbatim, but the gist):

Me: My car has broken down

Renault Assist (RA): Have you tried taking it to the nearest dealer?

Me: No, I only have approximately 11 miles left and I don't know where my nearest dealer is.

RA: Well haven't you looked?

Me: Isn't it your job to help me? I haven't got many miles left on the battery and I don't know how to get to the nearest dealer.

RA: So you're telling me that you haven't even looked?

Me: I'm telling you that I can't look and I need you to help me.

RA: Well you need to get it to the dealer there's one in Bath. 

Me: Is there any point in phoning this number?...

Eventually, he agreed that is was probably best for me to stay where I was and for them to attend the car.  Although, because it's a Zoe, Renault don't authorise anyone to work on the cars by the side of the road, so the car HAS to be towed to the nearest Renault dealer.  

After about an hour, a lovely man from Hinton Rescue turned up to take EV away.  EV was loaded onto the back of his lorry, and I joined the fella in the front while we made the journey back to City Motors Bristol, where I bought the car from. 

Work? Completely out of the window now.

Probably about three hours after the 'battery charging impossible' message came up on the screen the City Motors Bristol mechanic looked at the EV.  He explained that there was a problem with the POD Point charging unit and as a result the car's computer had shut down.  I asked him if there was something wrong with the car.  He told me that the POD Point unit was to blame.  I asked him if the car would have reset itself if I'd tried to charge it at a different unit.  I was told that once the 'battery charging impossible' message is displayed the car will not accept charge from any source and it will need to be reset at a Renault garage (as per the handbook advice).  

This all seems a bit dodgy to me, I can see there the potential for me to be spending a lot of time in and out of towing trucks if the system has to be reset every time it suspects a problem with the charging points. But the mechanic has assured me that it doesn't happen very often and that most charging points are fine.  So, we'll have to see how this one goes.  

Once at home, I telephoned POD Point and told them that their charging point had broken the car.  They told me that the charging point was functional and had been serviced the week before. 

Is it really possible that Renault have made an electric car that isn't able to accept charge from public charging points?  Also, if it suspects a faulty charging point it actually shuts down to the point that you have to be towed back to a Renault dealer? The plot thickens. All in all, not happy with my decision to be an EV pioneer at this moment in time.  Wondering whether I've purchased a car or a very expensive golf buggy. 

Today's final thought:  Is it the car, or the unit?  That is the question.  

Day 3 - Domestic Charging Points: Decisions

Although I am absolutely loving having EV it's becoming more and more apparent that I need a home charging point.  My nearest fast charger is at Ikea Bristol which is about 6 miles away.

Under the OLEV domestic charge point grant scheme, existing EV car owners can apply to have a charging point installed at their home.  At the minute 75% of the cost of a domestic charging point is covered by the grant.  The remaining 25% is either passed on to the EV car user, or absorbed by the manufacturer/installer, depending upon which company you choose to go with.  Because of this, it's worth looking around to see which companies install in your area and what charges you may be liable to incur.

To give some examples:

British Gas install domestic charging points free to all new Renault Zoe customers.  However, for used Zoe customers there is a charge starting at £115 depending upon the unit opted for.

Chargemaster (the Polar Network) offer a free 3kw home charging unit.  However, there is a £95 charge for a 7kw unit and other charges that may also apply depending upon your electricity supply.  Initially, I tried to order my unit through Chargemaster.  I ended my dealings with them because:

1. It would have cost me a minimum of £145 to have a 7kw charging point installed at my home.  
2. I found the company difficult to deal with and organise definite date for installation.  They insist upon a 'free survey' first, at which point they will tell you what extra charges you will incur.  Then they arrange for installation depending upon the survey.

Rolec are still offering completely free charging points, this includs the 7Kw unit that most other companies ask you to pay extra for. In this case, Rolec absorb the 25% left to pay (See leaflet below).

I have spoken to Marie and Simon at SOL Electrical who install the Rolec charging units in my area.  I was asked to email photos of my electricity fuse box, the outside of the house, the position that I'd want the box to be installed and a couple of other things.  After they were received, Simon (the installing electrician) telephoned me to confirm the details of the install and Marie agreed an install date for me.  My date is set for the 20th December - this is a much quicker turn around than any of the other companies that I've dealt with.  Both Simon and Marie have been a joy to deal with so far and I would feel happy recommending SOL Electrical.  Roll on the 20th November!

Day 2: The Bath Debacle

Rather ambitious perhaps, but my second day of owning EV and I was due at the University of Bath for a conference - 16 miles away from my home; I had also had my usual school run trips to complete, which accounts for between 12 and 18 miles.  After the problems charging at Ikea through Ecotricity the night before, my battery was down to 60 miles.  It's not easy for me to trickle charge at my house over night because I do not have an outside socket.  So, I took the decision to wait and charge at the University of Bath while I attended my conference.  That way, I'd have a full battery for the way home and wouldn't need to charge again until the following day.

The Sat-Nav on EV didn't take me to University of Bath from the postcode given on their website.  It took me nearby, but I did waste a couple of miles attempting to find the campus.  Once on campus I'd read that the EV charging points were in the East car park.  I dutifully followed the signs around the campus to the East car park.  There are signs for disabled spaces and coach parking, but none that direct you to the EV charging points.  At this point I should add I was getting a little stressed for a few reasons:

• The conference started at 10.30 and because I hadn't been able to find the campus I was running late.
• The EV charging bays at the University of Bath are only reserved  for EVs until 10.30, after which point they are open for any vehicle to use. 
• I was down to 25 miles on my battery and knew that I'd need a charge to get home without worrying.

With the clock ticking towards the magic 10.30 cut off, I stopped driving around the (large) East car park, found an attendant and managed to get directions to the EV charging bays.  As I arrived at a space the time was 10.28 and there were no fewer that 6 cars waiting to jump into the unused EV bays.  I pushed in front, parked in the correct space and half let out a breath of relief. 

The EV charging points at the University of Bath are run by PodPoint - currently free to charge as long as you register for a swipe card, although I fear that the free charging days are severely limited.  There were two other EVs charging at the University of Bath that day (5th November 2014).  I was confident that it would all be plain sailing from there on in.  

Late for my conference, I got my lead out of the car, went to the POD Point and tried to swipe my card.  The display screen on the charging point said 'initialising'.  I waited, it still said 'initialising'.  I waited some more.  The clock was ticking, I had already missed registration for my conference and the Keynote was about to start. I checked the next POD Point along: 'initialising'.  Bugger, I could feel the tension rising again. I checked the POD Point that was charging the other two vehicles: 'charging has been temporarily suspended'.  So, for the second time in two days and in as many attempts at a public charge, the points were out of order and I was unable to charge my EV.  

By this time I decided to cut my losses and attempt to charge my car at Bath Spa University (BSU), which is a few miles away.  I am a member of staff here and although I haven't seen anyone charging their car, I knew where the charger was, that it was a POD Point charger and that I had until 11am before the spaces were, once again, opened up to non-EVs.  

I made it to BSU just in time for the 11am cut off.  I swiped my card, plugged EV in and waited. EV started to calculate time remaining - a promising sign.  I waited to hear the charge start and to see a charge time on EV's screen.  Nothing.  Went back to the charge point screen, at this point I noticed that the LEDs running down the side of the charging unit had changed from blue to red. My heart sank. The screen on the unit had come up with an error message asking me to call POD Point.  My battery was now down to 20 miles. 

The man on the phone at POD Point was helpful, he called me back so that I didn't have to pay the 0845 charges from my phone.  He tried to access the point remotely but could find no errors with the point.  Eventually it was decided that he'd need to contact the maintenance team at BSU and ask them to reboot the point in an attempt to help me.  He promised me a call back.  After about 10 minutes I had a call from site the maintenance manager at BSU, he and a member of his team came down to the charging point and attempted to reboot the machine, to no avail.  The maintenance manager was lovely and did everything he could to try and get the charging point working.  But, after half an hour, it was decided that while they tried to converse with POD Point, that I should plug my car in at their Security Lodge and trickle-charge to give me enough battery power to get home.  He promised to keep me up-to-date with the charging point and when it was repaired.

Not a good start to my EV public charging: 3 units tried, 3 units unable to charge the car.

I knew that I'd need my car fully charged for the next day so I called Ecotricity to ask if there was an ongoing problem with the Ikea charging point to save me attempting to trickle-charge at home overnight.  Ecotricity promised me that it was just unfortunate that I'd tried to charge at that time: they'd had a freak hour of downtime that had knocked out all of their units and their phones.  They reassured me that if I tried again, the unit would be up and running.

I got to Ikea, now wise to both the location and the manoeuvres needed to get into space, swiped my Ecotricity card, plugged in, and... success!!! Finally, after a day of running around, a missed conference, and the 4th attempt at public charging, EV was hooked up and charging away happily.  Thank you Ikea and thank you Ecotricity.

Still, the odds don't look promising 4 attempts at a public charge, 1 successful.

 Session in progress, a happy sign!

EV drinking up the juice at Ikea Bristol

Day One - Government Subsidies and initial Teething Problems

Government Subsidies

The ideas behind EV ownership are, as far as I could establish, fairly sound.  The government want to cut carbon emissions, motoring is the main culprit for these, electric vehicles are an up-and-coming technology and the global world is investing in this technology.  Although EVs range significantly, both in price and in battery range, there are appealing government subsidies to benefit from at whichever level you engage with:  

• Firstly, the government will give you a grant which counts towards the cost of your new EV.  This can be used against new EVs only, but does help to make a dent in the cost.  
• Secondly, the government will provide a grant for you to have a Domestic Electric Charging Point installed at your home.  
• Finally, should you be unable to charge your car on your own property, you can apply to your local council for them to install a public charging point near your home. 
• A small note, I am in England and I understand that there are slight differences for Wales, NI and Scotland.  However, as far as I understand, the grants available are similar and there are perhaps more options in other parts of the UK. 

In my case, I work between different sites and, while one of my regular sites has an EV charging point, the others do not and I will need to charge my car at home most of the time.  I have applied for a Domestic Charging Point to be installed at my home, but this won't be until 20th/21st November.  Until then, I will have to rely upon either public charging points or a trickle charge.  For those who do not know: trickle charging is when you use a standard 3 pin plug to charge your car, it has the benefit of being able to charge anywhere there is a plug.  The draw back is that it takes about 13-14 hours for a full charge. 

New Car, New Excitement, First Attempted Charge

Having collected EV from Renault with 85% battery charge, and picked the kids up from school, the three of us decided upon the obligatory 'new car' test drive, which in this case also included our first attempt at using a public battery charging point.

The nearest rapid charge point to me is Ikea Bristol, which is an Ecotricity charging point.  We were prepared and took the smooth, quiet and almost ethereal drive to Ikea armed with our Ecotricity card ready for charging.  

The kids loved playing with the gadgets on the Zoe, we now have three different profiles, a list of favourite places in the Tom-Tom, a purple car directing us... the list goes on. My eldest, in particular, is a bit of a techie enthusiast (gets it from his Grandad) and the thought of plugging in a giant Scalextric car to charge up was very appealing. 

It took us a while to locate the EV car charging spaces because they are not signposted and once located the space for a type 2 charger took a little bit of manoeuvring into; there is a pillar on one side and metal posts protecting the charging unit on the other, which means that you have to go against the direction of the traffic in order to be able to drive your car into the space.  Despite these little inconveniences we remained positive, bright eyed, bushy tailed and ready to charge. 

This charging unit has a lead attached to it. My son was poised in anticipation of being able to plug the EV in and watch as the dashboard changed. I swiped my card against the charging point... 'unable to read card'. Hmmmm ok, it's fine we'll call the number on the point and speak to Ecotricity.  No answer.  Went into Ikea for a drink.  Came back, tried again: 'unable to read card'.  Tried calling Ecotricity again, no answer.  That was when littleun noticed the icons in the top right of the screen of the charging unit.  

The unit didn't appear to be online. With no answer at Ecotricity HQ and no interest by the scarce Ikea staff, we returned home, battery down and more than a little despondent. Hopefully tomorrow's experiences will be better. 

Evie (EV) is Born

I'm imagining that Tuesday 4th November 2014 will be a day that I will be telling my grandchildren (should I have any) about for many years to come: today is the day that I bought my first Electric car.

Having grown up in a house where my Dad succumbed to the enchanting promises of developing technology - yes, we were one of the only households that actually owned a Betamax Recorder - I'm hoping that my investment in EV technology will promise to be a little more fruitful, and dependable, than the many emerging (and often failing) technological advances of the 1980s.

Here is my EV:
A Renault Zoe (Zen) 

I'll go into the reasons for choosing both an EV and this EV in another post.  But, just to clarify, I am no expert in cars, electric vehicles, or environmental issues.  I have conducted some (sofa-based) research into electric vehicles, charging points etc. but this is limited to information that I could garner as Ordinary Jo(anne)  - mainly courtesy of the lovely (and impartial ?!) Google.   

I've created this blog to record my experiences from day 1 of ownership, in the hope that it might be useful to others who may also be considering getting an EV. I hope you enjoy!