BP Chargemaster/Polar Plus

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londiniumperson
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Post by londiniumperson »

All mouth and no trousers.

Standard BS from the EV charging companies which are bank rolled by fossil fuels.
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milligoon
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Post by milligoon »

Screenshot_20201105-195113.png

According to zapmap the warminster charger at station road
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advance2020
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Post by advance2020 »

Despite the problems, I have signed up for Polar Plus - because it is currently FREE for 3 months* - and some local Charge Points are free to use for Polar Plus members - but they they require an RFID to access.

Tried to Sign up via their Polar Plus App - unsuccessful - phoned them and they told me you have to sign up online (via website) - you can't sign up via App - even though there is a process there!

Hope it will prove to be worth the hassle. Nothing ventured ........

*have set a reminder to cancel early Feb
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advance2020
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Post by advance2020 »

My twitter rant paid off.
I had replies from BPChargemaster via twitter, and their team escalated the priority of a response to my email. In the end their Customer Service team phoned me, and I found them quite helpful in unraveling their plans.
They are winding up Polar Instant but not Polar Plus. I think Polar Instant ends 01 December.
As Polar Plus is Free for 3 months, I have signed up, and await my RFID Card, otherwise known as a Membership Card.

Hopefully this Card will make it much easier to communicate with Polar Charge Points and successfully charge. The benefit is that some Charges will then be free, whereas with Polar Instant you had to pay a £1.20 Connection Charge, even if the Electricity is supplied free. For example our local ASDA in Gillingham, Dorset has a 'free' Polar charge point, and some local Polar units located in car parks operated by Wiltshire Council are also free to use.

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So I will give it a go for 3 months, and then probably cancel, depending on how reliable and convenient they prove to be. It will be hard to beat the Tesco/Pod Point customer experience, which I exploit at every opportunity.

One tip the adviser did say, which might prove useful. He said NOT to Plug In to your car, before you have used their App and Membership Card to get the Charge Point up and running. He said if you Plug In first, the Charger might think "it is in use" and get confused. Seems a rather basic flaw, as I have gotten so used to Plugging In first at Pod Point, which gives you are charge, up to 15 mins free, while you Confirm the Charge via their App. However if that it is the logic required, it may prove to be useful tip.
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A fan of One Pedal Driving max >>> and physical buttons
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advance2020
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Post by advance2020 »

I will ask Google to update the above, as this Charger does work. However it is only a Single device, so despite having 2 dedicated EV bays in the Car Park, it would appear that it can ONLY charge ONE car at a time. Last time I was there, armed with my new Polar Plus RFID card, there was a ZOE already plugged in. So I was unable to charge. ZapMap confirmed, as it was showing One socket Charging Type 2 and the others CCS etc Not Available.

As it is Free to Charge, I guess you just have to take advantage when you can. At least there is an Instavolt not far away, if you need it.

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A fan of One Pedal Driving max >>> and physical buttons
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londiniumperson
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Post by londiniumperson »

Thanks for update, especially as that's the charger that the route planners advise me to use if I need to go to Westbury for the 150 mile round trip in the Honda which I'll need to do once a year or so.
2022 Advance in Crystal Black Pearl on 17's - 08/2020-Current
2015 VW Tiguan (Pure White) - 04/2018-Current
1991 Honda Beat PP1 (Festival Red) - 11/2022-Current
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advance2020
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Post by advance2020 »

I would recommend Instavolt at Longbridge Deverill on A350
Slightly further West on A303, but well worth the extra miles. 2 Chargers. Contactless. Reliable.
Or take A36 and detour thru Sutton Veny - good straight road
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londiniumperson
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Post by londiniumperson »

advance2020 wrote: Fri Nov 27, 2020 10:22 pm I would recommend Instavolt at Longbridge Deverill on A350
Slightly further West on A303, but well worth the extra miles. 2 Chargers. Contactless. Reliable.
Or take A36 and detour thru Sutton Veny - good straight road
Thanks again. That seems a good alternative seeing as I'd be low on juice by then especially as there's little alternative at that point with no other rapids until Solstice Park services on the A303.
2022 Advance in Crystal Black Pearl on 17's - 08/2020-Current
2015 VW Tiguan (Pure White) - 04/2018-Current
1991 Honda Beat PP1 (Festival Red) - 11/2022-Current
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