Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13906
Day 2 PCR test cancelled. I potentially lose another day in quarantine and I've got to do the same trip again next week. New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
1st Dec 2021 11:13 am
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8052
Paul J. wrote:
It is a myth that Tesla has an unrivalled infrastructure. What they did do was to deploy multiple charging units at Motorway services, which is where other providers have some catching up to do. However, these hubs do exist and are usually located very close to major routes.
Its how the 'facts' present themselves though, I can only go by my experiences delivering cars where I am told to go...... A 'standard' motorway service station has a couple of 'normal' chargers, maybe 5-6 if you're lucky. Often these can't charge all variants of the differing plug types so 4 chargers may actually only be 1-2 suitable for your car...... if they are available to use.
Scan across the carpark and they'll often be a bank of 10+ Tesla chargers (and even they are often 40-50% occupied, I am always surprised.
Lets drill into those numbers. Hopwood services on the M40 (chosen only as it was the 'last one' I was at on Monday night) officially has four chargers. However these have four different plugs on them so only 'one' available to me and that didn't work. As I exited I counted (I think) at least 16 Tesla chargers and quite a few were occupied by Tesla's (and another 'quirk' is that Tesla's often use them as personal parking bays - must be ex-BMW drivers I reckon ).
I am delivering more EV's every week. Less of them come out the depot charged now (they don't even have the infrastructure available and its their business ), many I pick up are from people 'trying before buying' so often have no means yet to charge them and just use them until they get low or are picked up with whatever charge is left in them. If you pick up from a business most will usually be charged and you have a 150-200 mile range so OK for most jobs to get back in. I am becoming more dependent on the public charger network and that is not keeping pace. More are not working, more are occupied (by dint of more EV's out there), more are not being maintained.
That's my experiences and any of my 20 colleagues you care to ask
1st Dec 2021 12:08 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8052
Moo wrote:
Day 2 PCR test cancelled. I potentially lose another day in quarantine and I've got to do the same trip again next week.
How/why cancelled?
Have to say I have no faith in the outfits assigned to run these test. Evidenced by make a price up as you go along and that I did our day 2 lateral flow tests and nearly four days on still no confirmation email, just the OK photo on their app I want off my phone. They have been quick enough to email me though telling me as a valued customer they will do me a special deal on the 'new' PCR tests at fifty quid a pop
What is the alternative for you - just book another company?
1st Dec 2021 12:16 pm
RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13100
astonbuilder wrote:
That's my experiences and any of my 20 colleagues you care to ask
A good example of reality vs expectation/belief. No doubt people that use EVs to drive between home / office and know that they will always have access to sufficient charge think the system is great. Those that need randomly to rely on the general infrastructure have differing experiences of course.Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
1st Dec 2021 12:17 pm
RogB
Member Since: 15 Jun 2018
Location: Mansfield
Posts: 1651
my commute to work (if was currently commuting) is 35-40 miles depending on which way i go, there are currently no chargers at work, although the boss is going to request a couple get installed however that will no doubt be a year or two before the bids are in and contract allocated.
So most MHEV/PHEV's might only make it one way on full electric before the return journey is made on fossil fuel.
To buy a full EV that i actually like (thinking IPace, EV6) is still way beyond my pay grade. I really dont like the Japanese offerings although to be fair i havent driven any other than a hybrid CHR and i dont want to buy an 8/9/10 year old EV that will need new batteries within months costing thousands.
I also like going on camping trips to the south coast and Cornwall so would have to plan a stopover at some point that may or may not have a working unoccupied charger.
Ill stick with my ICE Land Rover thanks which does everything i need and can reach Newquay on half a tank, until such time as the infrastructure and grid can provide whats needed at an affordable cost to me2011 D4 XS 305 MY12 - gone but not forgotten
1st Dec 2021 12:38 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13906
astonbuilder wrote:
Moo wrote:
Day 2 PCR test cancelled. I potentially lose another day in quarantine and I've got to do the same trip again next week.
How/why cancelled?
Have to say I have no faith in the outfits assigned to run these test. Evidenced by make a price up as you go along and that I did our day 2 lateral flow tests and nearly four days on still no confirmation email, just the OK photo on their app I want off my phone. They have been quick enough to email me though telling me as a valued customer they will do me a special deal on the 'new' PCR tests at fifty quid a pop
What is the alternative for you - just book another company?
This was Concepto Bristol. Just got a call to say they were shut and I would be refunded unless I wanted to book eleswhere but that was London way.
To be fair, I've never had a problem with any compnay I've used. I tend to use Concepto for fit to fly or rapid testing and Goodbody in Bath for everything else. I was using Rainbow Labs for Lat Flow Day2 and they were good.
I've booked with Goodbody in Bath but they are a 36 hour service, not same day. It just means I'm at home under constant demand to tidy my office! New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
1st Dec 2021 1:58 pm
astonbuilder
Member Since: 29 Sep 2006
Location: MIDLANDS
Posts: 8052
MSE have a section on PCR tests with cheapest/quickest/best, etc. Worth a look?
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 13906
Thanks. Its all pretty much of a muchness. I paid £129 with Concepto for same day which I think is pretty good. it was £105 with Goodbody for 36 hour. Both of them are walk in with appointments.New Defender L663 110 SE (known as Noddy!)
Sold Volvo XC90 R-Design (known as Basil)
Sold - D4 HSE (Known as Gerty)
No longer the Old Buses original owner
231,000 miles and counting
05 S manual owned from March 2005
D4 Face lifted
Still original injectors and turbo
V8 Front brakes
BAS Remap, Allisport Intercooler and deCat
EGRs blanked
T-Max split charge
Hanibal Expeedition rack
Prospeed ladder
Duratrac tyres
IID BT
BAS FBH control
1st Dec 2021 2:29 pm
Batfink
Member Since: 31 May 2017
Location: Isle of Sheppey
Posts: 1510
Inconsiderate people. I will let the picture show you what I mean.
Click image to enlarge
2006 TdV6 HSE.
2nd Dec 2021 8:02 pm
BBDisco3
Member Since: 23 Nov 2008
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3640
Do we get a clue
2nd Dec 2021 8:07 pm
Batfink
Member Since: 31 May 2017
Location: Isle of Sheppey
Posts: 1510
The poor parking by the Mondeo and the Fiesta on the other side. The Fiesta is a repeat offender. Him and his wife both just get out wherever they stop with no consideration for other residents. The Mondeo pulled up and at the time there was nothing in front and that’s how he left it. My car is behind and hasn’t moved since Tuesday. I did ask if he was leaving it abandoned like that and he just shrugged and walked off.2006 TdV6 HSE.
2nd Dec 2021 8:19 pm
BBDisco3
Member Since: 23 Nov 2008
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 3640
It's not possible to tell from the photo, who actually arrived first.
2nd Dec 2021 8:22 pm
Batfink
Member Since: 31 May 2017
Location: Isle of Sheppey
Posts: 1510
Got my car booked into local Protyre Monday morning for Mot and two tyres. Get a phone call at 15:00 this afternoon telling me they have no Mot tester and won’t for another week. Would I like to reschedule? No. The Mot runs out on the 10th so luckily managed to find another local garage with a slot for Wednesday. Will still be going there for the tyres though as prepaid for them. They must have known they didn’t have an Mot tester so why wait to give such short notice? Opted for refund which will take 3-5 working days. I’m guessing if I went there and said I will pay them in 3-5 working days they would say can’t do that so why do companies think it’s ok to do it to us paying public?2006 TdV6 HSE.
Uninterruptible Power Supplies that fail to deliver power in an uninterrupted way.
It's dead Jim. Right when we hit the time of year where we tend to see voltage drops or cuts with the weather. Grrrrr.
Battery checks ok, so likely some of the caps have let out their magic smoke. On the plus side, APC gave a decent trade-in on a new one. Just have to cross my fingers we don't have any power issues in the next few days while I wait for the new one to be delivered.I know it's not considered "kind" to say no these days, but no. Just no, ok? And if it's not ok, still no.
11th Dec 2021 8:23 pm
mse
Member Since: 27 Jun 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 2702
My ups died yesterday, same thing well out of warranty thoughMike
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
I potentially lose another day in quarantine and I've got to do the same trip again next week. 
).
), many I pick up are from people 'trying before buying' so often have no means yet to charge them and just use them until they get low or are picked up with whatever charge is left in them. If you pick up from a business most will usually be charged and you have a 150-200 mile range so OK for most jobs to get back in. I am becoming more dependent on the public charger network and that is not keeping pace. More are not working, more are occupied (by dint of more EV's out there), more are not being maintained.
