LIttle Chef

Got a hot news story concerning EV's, be it on the TV, Radio or seen it in the press, then share it with us here.
mattcarr
Posts: 389
Joined: Sat May 12, 2007 2:27 pm
Location: Hampshire

LIttle Chef

Postby mattcarr » Tue Oct 04, 2011 9:25 pm

I saw on the news tonight that Little Chef will be installing charging points at all of their locations. They showed the point at their A303 location with an e-mini using it. The points are being installed by SSE.

User avatar
Kevin Sharpe
Posts: 489
Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:39 pm
Location: Bradford on Avon
Contact:

Re: LIttle Chef

Postby Kevin Sharpe » Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:58 am

some photos and discussion here...

http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showthread.php/6462-Little-Chef-and-Chargemaster-installing-UK-national-charging-network

IMO they are installing the wrong Charging Stations once again... 32A would force me to charge for 8 hours and I'm never going to do that at a Little Chef. IMO they need to invest in 63A "mennekes" and CHAdeMO at these locations :(
Kevin Sharpe - Founder and Patron for UK registered charity Zero Carbon World. Founder and Chairman Mainpine Group. http://about.me/kevinsharpe

mattcarr
Posts: 389
Joined: Sat May 12, 2007 2:27 pm
Location: Hampshire

Re: LIttle Chef

Postby mattcarr » Wed Oct 05, 2011 10:41 am

I have to say I would be happy with a 13 amp socket as that is all I can use on my car. I would have to replace the charger in my car with a more powerful one before I have to think about higher power charging points.

Grumpy-b
Posts: 991
Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 12:06 pm

Re: LIttle Chef

Postby Grumpy-b » Wed Oct 05, 2011 12:34 pm

If I could afford a Tesla, I doubt I would rush to eat at a Little Chef.
But with most of their sites on the Trunk and motorway network, they need to have facilities that could be used by vehicles able to get to them.

Grumpy-b

User avatar
Kevin Sharpe
Posts: 489
Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:39 pm
Location: Bradford on Avon
Contact:

Re: LIttle Chef

Postby Kevin Sharpe » Wed Oct 05, 2011 1:57 pm

Grumpy-b wrote:If I could afford a Tesla, I doubt I would rush to eat at a Little Chef.
But with most of their sites on the Trunk and motorway network, they need to have facilities that could be used by vehicles able to get to them.
It's nothing to do with a Tesla... do you really want to sit in a Little Chef while your Nissan Leaf charges at 16 miles of range per hour? I don't think anyone does and we need to stop accepting that this rubbish is worth having. We need to educate companies that they should be focusing on 44kW AC and 50kW DC at these locations because people will actually find that useful.

For the record a 44kW AC "mennekes" Charging Station will cost ~£500 and a 50kW DC Charger ~£8000.

Here's an example of what Little Chef should be installing http://instagr.am/p/NI4zz/
Last edited by Kevin Sharpe on Wed Oct 05, 2011 2:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Kevin Sharpe - Founder and Patron for UK registered charity Zero Carbon World. Founder and Chairman Mainpine Group. http://about.me/kevinsharpe

User avatar
Kevin Sharpe
Posts: 489
Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:39 pm
Location: Bradford on Avon
Contact:

Re: LIttle Chef

Postby Kevin Sharpe » Wed Oct 05, 2011 2:05 pm

mattcarr wrote:I have to say I would be happy with a 13 amp socket as that is all I can use on my car.
my focus is on mainstream production cars which all have much faster charging capabilities than 13A.

Locations such as Little Chef are designed for a quick stop and therefore slow charging simply will not attract any customers.
Kevin Sharpe - Founder and Patron for UK registered charity Zero Carbon World. Founder and Chairman Mainpine Group. http://about.me/kevinsharpe

Grumpy-b
Posts: 991
Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 12:06 pm

Re: LIttle Chef

Postby Grumpy-b » Wed Oct 05, 2011 7:25 pm

I have no problem with anyone installing a high capacity power outlet. For many locations its just not an option, with a single phase supply and perhaps a 63amp meter. Especially if you already use anything at the site thats electric powered.

It would be great if the menkes plugs come down in price or become more readily available. I gather they cost quite a lot.

The std Leaf cable is only a 10amp supply so not even taking full capicty from a UK std 13a socket.

Grumpy-b

User avatar
Kevin Sharpe
Posts: 489
Joined: Thu Jul 29, 2010 5:39 pm
Location: Bradford on Avon
Contact:

Re: LIttle Chef

Postby Kevin Sharpe » Fri Dec 09, 2011 10:15 pm

Kevin Sharpe - Founder and Patron for UK registered charity Zero Carbon World. Founder and Chairman Mainpine Group. http://about.me/kevinsharpe

User avatar
retepsnikrep
Posts: 1387
Joined: Sat May 26, 2007 4:50 pm
Location: North Yorkshire England
Contact:

Re: LIttle Chef

Postby retepsnikrep » Sat Dec 10, 2011 8:37 am

Kevin Sharpe wrote:
Grumpy-b wrote:If I could afford a Tesla, I doubt I would rush to eat at a Little Chef.
But with most of their sites on the Trunk and motorway network, they need to have facilities that could be used by vehicles able to get to them.
It's nothing to do with a Tesla... do you really want to sit in a Little Chef while your Nissan Leaf charges at 16 miles of range per hour? I don't think anyone does and we need to stop accepting that this rubbish is worth having. We need to educate companies that they should be focusing on 44kW AC and 50kW DC at these locations because people will actually find that useful.

For the record a 44kW AC "mennekes" Charging Station will cost ~£500 and a 50kW DC Charger ~£8000.

Here's an example of what Little Chef should be installing http://instagr.am/p/NI4zz/


I think a range of sockets at each point is the key. I'm never going to use a 44kw AC station unless I win the lottery.
£500 or an eye popping £8000 is also too much for a lot of businesses to absorb for the higher power options.
I like a lot of others will be content with a standard 13 amp or blue 16amp socket with the option of a 32A/63A one later.
Any charge point IMHO must have the 13amp/16amp option as well as any other higher power connection.

I'm stopping at the Abbey farm shop on the A17 today on a long journey in my phev and I will be asking to plug in and mentioning the ZCW idea. I've even printed out the FAQ to give them. ;)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Abbey ... 849596.jpg
Regards Peter

Two MK1 Honda Insight's. One running 20ah A123 Lithium pack. One 8ah BetterBattery Nimh pack.
One HCH1 Civic Hybrid running 60ah A123 Lithium pack.

User avatar
ChrisB
Posts: 4657
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:33 am
Location: Hampshire on the Southcoast
Contact:

Re: LIttle Chef

Postby ChrisB » Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:35 pm

Kevin Sharpe wrote:"Little Chef Charging Network - Not quite what I thought"

http://mynissanleafstory.blogspot.com/2011/12/little-chef-charging-network-not-quite.html



mmmmm why does this not surprise me :|

ChrisB
I reject reality and substitute my own !!!!!!


Return to “Hot off the press....”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 21 guests