Illegal charging of electric cars
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As has been said, the Club have a policy on this and there has been extensive discussions on other threads, however, I am curious to know what kind of electric vehicles have been using site facilities to charge the battery.
There are no pure EVs currently available that are capable of towing a caravan nor are there any motorhomes (although this will change). I guess there could be one or two motorhomes in the country towing a small EV. Plug-in Hybrids of course could be used to tow and therefore could be plugged into a caravan socket to top-up, however, the batteries in PHEVs are fairly small and not a big drain on the power supply, hence the modest £2 charge.When full EV tow vehicles become available and if the Club wished to provide facilities for recharging, dedicated charge points would be the best solution but the site would need an adequate electrical system and be prepared to bear the cost of installation. Alternatively, you could get a partial top up using the “granny charger” plugged into a socket in the van and taking 10 amps continuously, however, by the time that full EV tow vehicles become generally available there will be many more country wide charge points at garages etc. so one would question the need for such facilities.
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Alternatively, you could get a partial top up using the “granny charger” plugged into a socket in the van and taking 10 amps continuously, however, by the time that full EV tow vehicles become generally available there will be many more country wide charge points at garages etc. so one would question the need for such facilities.
Very much my point of view
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Have you seen the video posted by Oneputt on page 30 of this thread? https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-together/discussions/welcome-hobby-talk/caravan-motorhome-chat/a-ban-on-new-petrol-diesel-and-hybrid-cars/?p=30 Quite interesting on a number of levels. I didn't realise that there were different plug types rather than a universal one? Maybe I haven't been paying attention but I don't recall seeing a car being charged on a Club site.
David
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I dont think EV's can be towed on their wheels ? so that means that A- frame towing one is out. A few cars on trailers I expect but nowhere near as many.
The only EV that is capable of towing 2 tonnes (as far as I know) is the Tesla S at over £90,000 ! so won't be many of those on sites either !
So, at the moment, there wont be many cars queuing up for chargers on CMC sites. The odd Phev Mitsibushi Outlander which CAN tow a Caravan, but not many Jaguar I Paces at 750kg either.
I look forward to a GENUINE ev Towcar of the year .......But i am not holding my breath.
Answer to the above, Yes I have seen a car being charged (secretly) it was a Mitsibushi Outlander Phev and the cable was trailed under the caravan to the car. But before the Club mentioned any charges for it.
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Seems grossly unfair to even consider financial charging for electrical charging of bicycles since the amount of electricity is so small. In fact, since when we are out and about on bicycles we are not using the electric heating or cooking in the caravan the overall power consumption is probably less!
And to enfore the charge, will warders be empowered to enter caravans to search for bicycle batteries being charged inside cupboards . . ?
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I understand it, the C&MC don’t provide free Diesel or Petrol fuel so why should they provide free electric fuel🤷🏻♂️. It’s all about fairness & ensuring one section of the membership is not favoured above any other👍🏻
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There is no reason why it should not sit fine with the authorities. The element of electricity usage is spread evenly throughout the pitch users and presumably the CMC have a justifiable figure for that element of pitch fees but of course are not actually selling electricity as such just the provision to use it. It is just the same with car charging. You would pay for the provision to use it for your car.
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"They have put signage up NO charging of electric vehicles, electric bikes and mobility scooters £2.00 per charge, a bit high but I think they are a bit miffed."
Our bike has by bike standards a big battery, a 605 Watt hour, that gives over 100 miles.
Now if I wanted to recharge it fully, that never in reality occurs, then even if the site is charged £0.20 per unit, we are talking about a cost to them of 12 pence.
I would be more than niffed to be charged £2, thats a 1600% mark up.
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"They have put signage up NO charging of electric vehicles, electric bikes and mobility scooters £2.00 per charge, a bit high but I think they are a bit miffed."
I have no idea where that came from Ocsid. Personally I have no desire to see charges for connecting up electric bikes or (more the point) mobility scooters, wheelchairs etc. For me for the club to charge for hooking mobility aids to the caravan is ridiculous and undesirable. Whilst a few nay be concerned at members charging cars I suspect that those not happy to 'subsidise' the charging of mobility scooters and wheelchairs must be minimal indeed.
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I'll probably have fallen off my perch by the time that a viable EV MH comes along unless there really is a quantum leap in EV development. It is currently feasible to replace OH's runabout with a pure EV, which I could utilise my Solar panels to charge, thus reducing operating costs still further. However the capital outlay to replace a perfectly satisfactory vehicle rules it out.
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If they tried it with me I would say, okay forget it. Then I will top my wife's bike up from my van's battery
By the time the van's charger and my pure sinewave inverter's inefficiencies get pulled into the loop he would lose a whole 20 pence worth of mains.
But maybe he would then be a contented site owner, though one destined to not be reused, as I am not yet that gar gar or gulible to shell out £2 for 12p worth of electrical power.
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Very much a different scenario. I doubt that the amount of EVs or PHEVs being charged on the club site has very much impact on club profitability. I think that the club has made the move purely because of some of its members feeling miffed about 'fueling' others vehicles in a roundabout way. I feel it is more about customer perception. When mobility scooters became more common on sites I never heard anybody voice or write of concern at there being charged.
With EHU it is a different situation. CMC sell a pitch package that includes the provision of an unmetered electricity supply. If I stay overnight in a hotel and say to the manager that I do not require to use the air conditioning or heating, nor the TV or the half hour included wifi I cannot see him charging less for the room - can you?
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Like Ted at Cholsey Grange CL, a few pages back. I'm puzzled about the arrangements for charging EVs other than installing chargers and meters. There has to be a "reasonable" explanation for charging costs and these have to be provided on request. (see Ofgem) I know it doesn't cost us £8 to charge our EV per day (at the most around £3) so I'd be interested to know how the club calculated this usage?
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"There has to be a "reasonable" explanation for charging costs and these have to be provided on request. (see Ofgem) I know it doesn't cost us £8 to charge our EV per day (at the most around £3) so I'd be interested to know how the club calculated this usage?"
At home charging your electricity will be priced by the utility that serves you as a "domestic" user, most others like the club will be being charged at "commercial" engergy rates.
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I'm puzzled about the arrangements for charging EVs other than installing chargers and meters.
The club does not charge the user directly for his or her personal power usage and so there is no problem. The club is now charging for consent to charge the vehicle, not to pay for electricity consumed. Take it or leave it I suppose. The club charges nearly £4 a day for a tap and drain on a serviced pitch no matter how much water you take or waste disposed of.
I know it doesn't cost us £8 to charge our EV per day (at the most around £3) so I'd be interested to know how the club calculated this usage?
The club does not need to calculate an individual's usage. Your car is, I thought a hybrid? and so would be charged at £2 to use the facility to charge. Other members then see that you are not getting something for nothing at their expense.
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There's a huge difference in legal terms between charging for the actual electricity used and charging for use of the service. The former is cloaked in legislation while the latter is not. That is why C&CC charge extra for EHU by calling it a charge for use of the bollard.
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Sorry , but I am still unable to see that the cl owner is in the"wrong?"with his charging policy, it will be a suprise if not more owners soon do something similar, I can see what they are up against , not helped by the ever increasing costs they have to deal with ,and the ever more vocal members complaints about higher fees
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No our car is a full EV, the small rex engine tops up the battery but doesn't drive the car. A Hybrid switches between an electrical charge and an ICU.
We haven't taken it to a site and I was surprised that the club offered the use of inclusive electricity. However if we did ever take it I would like to see why £8 is charged. If you look on the Ofgem site on retailing electricity this explains my interest.
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I doubt the CL have looked carefully into the actual cost of charging for any of the aforementioned vehicles. However I can sympathise with why they feel the need to impose such charges. Monitoring it, certainly for the bike batteries will be difficult. Most detach and are trickle charged like an iPad. Probably around same cost as well. No idea on charging a mobility scooter, or a car.
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If you are unable to see what is "wrong" with charging a 1600% mark up on what can't cost more than 12 pence, I am not going to be able to help you understand what I and others I suspect would judge as more equitable.
I suspect along with the owner, you are unaware of the minisule amount of energy an e bike can store, even though I here I detailed the true value.
12 pence for every 100 miles of cycling, so for many a whole week of bike rides.
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