Club EV charging costs

ChocolateTrees replied on 12/04/2021 16:35

Posted on 12/04/2021 16:35

Hi all, 

as a PHEV and EV driver, I am really please to see the introduction of a cost structure and policy for PHEV and EV charging on site, but I am somewhat confused by the cost structure. 

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/uk-sites/club-sites/facilities-on-club-sites/electric-vehicle-charging/

While I understand the desire to ensure that full battery EVs do not "overuse" the service, the 4x cost seems somewhat odd given the constraint that any EV only be charged using the caravan supply at 2.3Kw (10amp). 

In my experience charging my PHEV, realistically a charger has to be turned down to 8A or 6A in order to share the power available with other caravan systems (heating, kettle, microwave, cooker). This means that for a relatively small PHEV battery (11Kwh) a full charge takes 8 hours. Given there are only 24 hours in the day this would give a maximum realistic charge of 33Kwh, about the same as the largest battery quoted in the policy in a PHEV vehicle. 

If charging from a dedicated 16A socket on a power bollard were allowed, this would potentially increase the rate and hence value of the electricity consumed, making the difference in price for BEV and PHEV understandable. It would also make the use of a BEV as a tow vehicle far more viable, not requiring the member to have to find a charging location for the vehicle in what may be a remote location. 

I would love to know other members thoughts on the topic :-)

 

Tobes 

 

ChocolateTrees replied on 13/05/2021 13:58

Posted on 13/05/2021 12:51 by ocsid

"I should have my EV about 2 days before hand, and I am absolutely ready to try it, but polestar recommend driving 1000km before towing very heavy loads just to bed the car in... :-("

 

How really odd on the face of it considering the nature of the mechanics of EVs, rolling element bearing not journals, no sliding or reciprocating  bits, tyres probably benefit from a few gentle miles.

Is there some characteristics of the battery technology that needs "running in"? Our e-bike needed a claimed three deep cycles to "learn" its battery's capacity.

Posted on 13/05/2021 13:58

Indeed - it does seem odd, and the concuss from most of the owners group is "its a mistake". Polestar "inherited" a lot of their manual from the Volvo XC40 range that it shares the chassis with. For example, it tells you not to drive with the boot open as the cabin might fill with exhaust fumes... Really, there is nothing in the drive train to need wearing in.

Anyway some folks have suggested bedding in break pads and getting the sheen off the tyres might be a good plan, but that is the work of 10s of minutes, not 1000kms. The battery needs no "bedding in". 

But it seems the hardest thing will be

1) getting some suitable towing mirrors - my excellent Milenco aero wont fit as the wing mirrors are rimless - I think I will have to try the "suck it an see" mirrors. 

2) Getting an extra rear number plate made in time, as I wont have a copy of the V5C for a few weeks!

 

 

JVB66 replied on 19/05/2021 17:56

Posted on 13/05/2021 13:58 by ChocolateTrees

Indeed - it does seem odd, and the concuss from most of the owners group is "its a mistake". Polestar "inherited" a lot of their manual from the Volvo XC40 range that it shares the chassis with. For example, it tells you not to drive with the boot open as the cabin might fill with exhaust fumes... Really, there is nothing in the drive train to need wearing in.

Anyway some folks have suggested bedding in break pads and getting the sheen off the tyres might be a good plan, but that is the work of 10s of minutes, not 1000kms. The battery needs no "bedding in". 

But it seems the hardest thing will be

1) getting some suitable towing mirrors - my excellent Milenco aero wont fit as the wing mirrors are rimless - I think I will have to try the "suck it an see" mirrors. 

2) Getting an extra rear number plate made in time, as I wont have a copy of the V5C for a few weeks!

 

 

Posted on 19/05/2021 17:56

Why would you need the v5to get an extra number plate ,it would be a very poor car dealer that must already be fitting plates to the car, not to make an extra for your caravan , our dealers always have, at no extra costundecided

ChocolateTrees replied on 19/05/2021 20:41

Posted on 19/05/2021 17:56 by JVB66

Why would you need the v5to get an extra number plate ,it would be a very poor car dealer that must already be fitting plates to the car, not to make an extra for your caravan , our dealers always have, at no extra costundecided

Posted on 19/05/2021 20:41

In the end they are - It just took finding the right way to ask the question.

Polestar don't have dealers - they sell direct on line, though mine is coming through a lease company. They have a series of "spaces" and demonstration locations around the UK. Servicing (SW updates, topping up wahser fluid, and checking for break and tyre wear) is carried out at Volvo dealer. 

 And I just got some "suck it and see" towing mirrors - look good at first glance - hope they work well! 

So the full BEV tow to a non-hookup CL 2 days after the new car arrives is on! 

JVB66 replied on 19/05/2021 20:48

Posted on 19/05/2021 20:41 by ChocolateTrees

In the end they are - It just took finding the right way to ask the question.

Polestar don't have dealers - they sell direct on line, though mine is coming through a lease company. They have a series of "spaces" and demonstration locations around the UK. Servicing (SW updates, topping up wahser fluid, and checking for break and tyre wear) is carried out at Volvo dealer. 

 And I just got some "suck it and see" towing mirrors - look good at first glance - hope they work well! 

So the full BEV tow to a non-hookup CL 2 days after the new car arrives is on! 

Posted on 19/05/2021 20:48

Not far from home thencool

ChocolateTrees replied on 20/06/2021 23:25

Posted on 20/06/2021 23:25

Update for anyone still interested. Ownership of the car is now 3 1/2 weeks in with 2 caravan trips done. One three nighter on a Non-hookup CL about 39 miles away, and one 8 nighter on a non-hookup CL 140 miles away in the Brecon Beacons. (Both CLs excellent and worth a trip if you are into off grid caravan / MH). 
Electric towing is amazing - very quiet, lots of torque and power. Charging at the destinations not too bad, just needs a little planning. Charging en route, the same. Stopped after 2 hours on the way out and 2.5 on the way back. I could have done with stopping earlier on the way back, but pushed on to a new charger I wanted to try out. 
Slight faff to un hitch and re hitch to charge, but no more than 5 extra mins with a suitable helper. Each stop was about 40 mins or so of charging, while grabbing some food, comfort break and chatting with the passers by, most of whom were asking about electric towing. 

The hardest part of the entire move to an EV, was figuring out the right weight balance to keep the caravan under MTPLM, and the train under max train weight. That was more about just a new car than about an EV. All in good. Planning to use EV for Northants to Whitby in a month. Great performance!

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