EV Charging

Below is a step-by-step guide and also an FAQ but please contact Tim Bystedt (No. 28) if you would like to be shown how to use the chargers and he can meet you to run through it. 

It would be appreciated if residents avoided parking in front of the chargers unless they are charging, if possible.  See point 3 below for their locations. 

Steps to follow for those wishing to charge: 

1. Download the Fuuse app onto your mobile phone. You can find it here: Apple App Store or Google Play Store (Android).
2. Register an account with Fuuse and add a credit card to your account.
3. Find a charger at Fieldend. There are two chargers on posts at the northern end of the west block of garages, next to No. 43. There is also one charger fixed to the wall at the southern end of the east block of garages next to the substation behind No. 20.
4. Plug in your car using your own Type 2 charging cable (should have been provided with your car). Then plug the other end of the  cable  into the port on the charger (lift cap)
5. Open the Fuuse app  (allow the app to use your camera). You can then scan the QR code on the sticker on the charger. The home screen of the app automatically enables the camera to scan the QR code. Alternatively, you should see a list of nearby      chargers and  then  choose the one with the ID code
6. Start charging by pressing the 'Start' button on the app.
7. To finish the charge, open the app and slide up from the bottom and hold to stop the charge.
8. Unplug the charging cable from the car first (you will need to unlock the charge port in your car), then allow a few seconds and then the end connected to the charger will unlock and you can remove it. Close the cap on the charger.

FAQ. 

• How much does it cost to charge my car?
  • The  £/kw rate is set about 10% above what FRAL pay for the electricity to cover the overheads and cost of the chargers. At time of writing (February 2022), the unit rate is 30p/kWh and the charging rate is set at 33p/kWh. The rate is visible on the Fuuse app and will be updated as the cost of electricity varies, so please check before charging. 
• Is there an off-peak rate?
  • No.  Currently, we are unable to change our electricity tariff to a  peak/off-peak tariff but as soon as we can we will look at changing to a peak/off-peak tariff to enable us to hopefully have a lower tariff off-peak.
• Is the electricity from a renewable source?
  • Yes. The electricity is 100% from renewable sources. More information here.
• How do I pay?
  • The Fuuse app will charge your credit card for the amount charged at the end of your charge.
• Do I have to pay a  connection charge?
  • No.  You only pay for the electricity used. However, FRAL  pays a  small connection charge, so we encourage you to charge in longer sessions if possible.
• What is the speed of the chargers?
  • The chargers all run at 7KW. (ie. roughly 20miles of range per hour, depending on the car)
• Can all the chargers be used at the same time?
  • Yes.  The chargers are dynamically balanced which means that if demand exceeds supply they automatically reduce in charging speed to stay within the supply capacity. But with the number of chargers we have, there is enough supply for all chargers to be used at once without any load balancing being required.
• Can I leave my car plugged in to charge overnight?
  • Yes.  Once the battery is fully charged or reaches a limit you've set on your car (or the app), the charging will stop automatically.  Please do, however, move your car as soon as you can from the charging spaces in case someone else needs to move it.
• Do I need to charge my car to 100% or can I set a lower limit?
  • Most car batteries stay in better condition if they are not charged to 100%. Would recommend limiting the charge to 70-80%  unless you're going on a trip. You should be able to set a charge limit on your car and then the charge will automatically stop at this limit.
• Can someone steal my charging cable when charging?
  • No.  The cable is locked into the charger until it's released from the car and your car won't release the charging cable until you unlock it.
• Are the chargers visible/available to the public?
  • The chargers are not visible to the public but are available to use by all residents and their guests.
• Can I charge without using a smartphone?
  • It is possible to get an RFID card (like an Oyster card) at a  small cost. Please contact Tim Bystedt for further information.
• Can I charge from the 3-pin plug inside the garage?
  •  The electrical sockets in the garages should no longer be used to charge your EV due to there being a risk of the circuit being overloaded since the new EV chargers are connected to the same mains supply. The new EV chargers have built-in load balancing, so there is no danger of them overloading the circuit even if many people charge at once.
• Can I charge from my own electricity supply from the back of my house?
  • Yes, as long as you are not obstructing the road and the cables are not causing an obstruction.

Background: 

In 2021 FRAL board laid out a plan to upgrade the power supply to the  3   main garage blocks so that a 7kW supply was available to residents who wanted to buy and install their own charging points on their garage.  The board also wanted to find a way for residents without garages or who have awkward parking spaces to be able to access dedicated 7kw  charging points, as well as give all residents the option to avoid the expense of installation and visual clutter of personal chargers.