Yay! First check-in & photo on the Orewa charger!

In somewhat related news I spotted yesterday that the Govt is looking at a nationwide charging network for their fleet vehicles.

..The New Zealand Transport Agency is seeking to engage a network charging infrastructure management supplier to ensure our vehicles are charged and ready for our staff to utilise when required. The proposed engagement forms part of a pilot programme that will support a nationwide rollout of 48 electric vehicles (EVs) across its fleet with remote network integration by the 31st of May 2018. The agency intends to return to the market for a complete end-to-end solution (hardware and software) in the future....

 

https://www.gets.govt.nz/NZTAHNO/ExternalTenderDetails.htm?id=19574712

Just had 2 charges at Waihi today when doing the Coromandel loop. Thanks Chargenet 

numberonekiwi:

 

Just had 2 charges at Waihi today when doing the Coromandel loop. Thanks Chargenet 

 

SaltyNZ:

 

Yay! First check-in & photo on the Orewa charger!

 

Was I the first to charge in Waihi 

plugshare shows checkin before officially marked open and we know not all people use plugshare.

SaltyNZ:

 

Yay! First check-in & photo on the Orewa charger!

 

I made it to Orewa today. I noted passing Silverdale there were 4 EVs charging or waiting at the free chargers. But at the Orewa ChargeNet charger there was no one. A lot of people don't appear to be plugged in to the EV community so the Orewa charger may be too new. 

But there is also an element of the paid chargers being "Koru Lounge" while the free ones are more like the long check-in queue in the Departures area. I never have to wait at a paid charger.....and for the $4.90 it cost me to charge up, I can't see any sense in waiting longer than 15 mins at a free one. 

Linuxluver:

 

SaltyNZ:

 

Yay! First check-in & photo on the Orewa charger!

 

 

I made it to Orewa today. I noted passing Silverdale there were 4 EVs charging or waiting at the free chargers. But at the Orewa ChargeNet charger there was no one. A lot of people don't appear to be plugged in to the EV community so the Orewa charger may be too new. 

But there is also an element of the paid chargers being "Koru Lounge" while the free ones are more like the long check-in queue in the Departures area. I never have to wait at a paid charger.....and for the $4.90 it cost me to charge up, I can't see any sense in waiting longer than 15 mins at a free one. 

 

Oh, that's completely normal. The Albany & Rosedale ChargeNet chargers are always available, and there are always four EVs lined up for the two Vector chargers at Silverdale. I've been past the Orewa one a few times in the last week, and it's been available every time. To be fair, though, I often stop at Silverdale on my way home because the butcher and fruit & vege shops are so good. If there happens to be a free charger, I take advantage of it while I'm shopping.

PhantomNVD: Except where the only possible charger IS a free one (like Takanini and Te Kouwhata) which are also (unfortunately) key links for my Gen1 (now 10 bars 😢) to make the Auckland->Hamilton trip...

Perhaps a fix could be a mode on PlugShare/ChargeNet to Queue with, where people willing to pay are given priority over the ones who would rather wait to be free (I.e. convenience charging)?

SaltyNZ:

 

Oh, that's completely normal. The Albany & Rosedale ChargeNet chargers are always available, and there are always four EVs lined up for the two Vector chargers at Silverdale. I've been past the Orewa one a few times in the last week, and it's been available every time. To be fair, though, I often stop at Silverdale on my way home because the butcher and fruit & vege shops are so good. If there happens to be a free charger, I take advantage of it while I'm shopping.

 

Linuxluver:

PhantomNVD: Except where the only possible charger IS a free one (like Takanini and Te Kouwhata) which are also (unfortunately) key links for my Gen1 (now 10 bars 😢) to make the Auckland->Hamilton trip...

Perhaps a fix could be a mode on PlugShare/ChargeNet to Queue with, where people willing to pay are given priority over the ones who would rather wait to be free (I.e. convenience charging)?

Plugshare does let you checkin as "waiting". The key there is to set the time long enough so your wait doesn't expire... :-)  

But 90% of EV owners don't use Plugshare. They either don't like sharing their location or they say they can't afford the mobile data ($19 / month for 1.25GB prepay package  on Spark who have the best coverage anyway.....)

There is always someone who refuses to participate for the limpest of excuses.....because then they do whatever they like. 

PhantomNVD:
But if the QC wouldn’t authorise the next user until the registered (next in line) user used their app/fob to auth it, people would quickly learn to use the app/etc correctly or not get to charge at all 👍

Say I’m ‘next In line’ and you squeeze in before me ‘cos I was slightly slower to notice the last user drive off (for e.g. after 20 mins of waiting) and the charger said “unauthorised user, please allow the queue to work correctly and make space for the next booked customer” (plus the app ‘pings’ me to say I’m next) ... then I drive up, swipe my fob or auth though app, and it ‘unlocks’ and lets me pay and charge.

Possible provisa being that I have max 5 mins to plug in (or report on app that I’m blocked) or get pinged $5 for my unused booking and the charger allows the next in queue to go?

Could be a few irate drivers for a month or so, then EVERYONE learns to use the app or take their chances :)

It's just better to just be there......

I had someone almost jump in front of me at Thames one day recently, but I knew to the minute when the previous person would be done.....and arrived just as they were unplugging. My car was already in the parking space, too. No one was delayed. 

Sorry....My turn. :-)  

This week: 

ChargeNet opened a new DC fast charger at Amberley, north of Christchurch, yesterday. This make getting to Kaikoura from the south on SH1 MUCH easier! (going via the charger in Culverden was also possible) Now we just need to close the gap from the north. 

There is a new ABB fast charger at Murupara, I'm told. It's operational. It's free. But the photo shows no company livery other than ABB (the charger manufacturer). This charger lets cars with bigger batteries go direct from Rotorua to Wairoa via SH38 and also opens up the Uruwera area for EVs of all kinds. This is, in a way, a true hinterland fast charger. It's not really on any well-trodden path to anywhere else.......but it makes the 100km-150km radius around it more accessible. It's great to see the bits in between being filled in. :-)