Vacation in Devon

[Bennie]

Hello, I’m planning a vacation in Devon in september this year. Just back from France, I’m a bit worried about the charging facilities. In France the majority of the chargers didn’t react on my two cards (Shell recharge and Chargemap). Therefore there were days that I was mainly searching for chargers that did work. Even one Ionity was in maintenance for two days and the battery was almost empty?
I saw that the number of Ionity‘s in England is limited. There is one in Cullompton with 6 chargers, but that’s it. My question to my fellow English Taycan drivers: how ‘safe’ is it to go to Devon without searching for chargers as I had to do in France? What/where are chargers that work guaranteed, perhaps with my Shell card? By the way, I’ll be staying in Brixham. Thanks!

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[Midlifecrisis]

I suggest you go online and look up zap map. That will show you where all of the chargers are and you can filter it for power. I wouldn’t expect many over 50kW but there appear to be a reasonable number that are at least 50kW
https://www.zap-map.com/

 

[Bennie]

I suggest you go online and look up zap map. That will show you where all of the chargers are and you can filter it for power. I wouldn’t expect many over 50kW but there appear to be a reasonable number that are at least 50kW
https://www.zap-map.com/

Thanks Ian for your quick response. Not much Shell… I see for instance the Lidl and payment with Pod Point. Perhaps the best option? Is Pod Point a charging service, comparable with Shell?
What do you recommend for a foreigner in the UK?

 

[4EVer]

Hello, I’m planning a vacation in Devon in september this year. Just back from France, I’m a bit worried about the charging facilities. In France the majority of the chargers didn’t react on my two cards (Shell recharge and Chargemap). Therefore there were days that I was mainly searching for chargers that did work. Even one Ionity was in maintenance for two days and the battery was almost empty?
I saw that the number of Ionity‘s in England is limited. There is one in Cullompton with 6 chargers, but that’s it. My question to my fellow English Taycan drivers: how ‘safe’ is it to go to Devon without searching for chargers as I had to do in France? What/where are chargers that work guaranteed, perhaps with my Shell card? By the way, I’ll be staying in Brixham. Thanks!

Hi Ben. Please don’t be put off coming to the UK. It’s really not as bad as some people say!

Planning where to charge in Devon really depends on your proposed route to get there in the first instance. Would you be using the Eurotunnel? I recently came back from the Le Mans 24 race via Plymouth in Devon where my son lives and had no problems at all. For example you have the excellent new Ionity chargers just a few kms from where you exit the tunnel in Hythe, so if you top up to 90% there are then a lot of potential options for you before you get to Exeter where there are a bank of 12 new Gridserve chargers which just need a credit card to use.

Closer to Brixham there is now a new MFG 150 kW charge point. I’ve used these MFG chargers before and they are generally reliable and only require a credit card to use.

I’d be very happy to help further if you send me a PM with your proposed route.

 

[Bennie]

Hi Ben. Please don’t be put off coming to the UK. It’s really not as bad as some people say!

Planning where to charge in Devon really depends on your proposed route to get there in the first instance. Would you be using the Eurotunnel? I recently came back from the Le Mans 24 race via Plymouth in Devon where my son lives and had no problems at all. For example you have the excellent new Ionity chargers just a few kms from where you exit the tunnel in Hythe, so if you top up to 90% there are then a lot of potential options for you before you get to Exeter where there are a bank of 12 new Gridserve chargers which just need a credit card to use.

Closer to Brixham there is now a new MFG 150 kW charge point. I’ve used these MFG chargers before and they are generally reliable and only require a credit card to use.

I’d be very happy to help further if you send me a PM with your proposed route.

That’s very kind of you Viv! I’ll PM you ?

 

[Midlifecrisis]

I haven’t had to use any charging away from home but I think they are all supposed to work with contactless card payment. I am really not an expert but with zap map and a credit card you will hopefully be fine!

 

[jontybutts]

There are plenty of 50kw chargers, some 150kw and a few 350kw in Devon, I don't use many of them as I live in the county, but Porsche centre Exeter and Exeter services are both useful as are the frequent Instavolts now dotted around at Fast food joints and leisure centers.
Zap Map is your 1st port of call.

 

[Bennie]

There are plenty of 50kw chargers, some 150kw and a few 350kw in Devon, I don't use many of them as I live in the county, but Porsche centre Exeter and Exeter services are both useful as are the frequent Instavolts now dotted around at Fast food joints and leisure centers.
Zap Map is your 1st port of call.

Thank you all! Sounds good and no reason for expecting the same charging problems as in France.

 

[Lofty]

I work down that way a lot and the I always charge fully in cullompton on the IONITY there although I don’t find them very fast tbh compared to the newer ones installed in Stafford and the cullompton services are awful! Exeter has quite a few 50kw options and I hope that tesla might open up something soon that we can use. But the key is taking your destination charger with you, I don’t use my work IHG account and stay in B&Bs pretty much all have a way to plug in and atleast every night I get about 1/3 battery top up.

 

[Bennie]

I work down that way a lot and the I always charge fully in cullompton on the IONITY there although I don’t find them very fast tbh compared to the newer ones installed in Stafford and the cullompton services are awful! Exeter has quite a few 50kw options and I hope that tesla might open up something soon that we can use. But the key is taking your destination charger with you, I don’t use my work IHG account and stay in B&Bs pretty much all have a way to plug in and atleast every night I get about 1/3 battery top up.

That’s a good one Adrian, I didn’t take the destination charger with me in France and that surely would have helped. Have to buy a strong enough travel plug.

 

[Lars]

Hello, I’m planning a vacation in Devon in september this year. Just back from France, I’m a bit worried about the charging facilities. In France the majority of the chargers didn’t react on my two cards (Shell recharge and Chargemap). Therefore there were days that I was mainly searching for chargers that did work. Even one Ionity was in maintenance for two days and the battery was almost empty?
I saw that the number of Ionity‘s in England is limited. There is one in Cullompton with 6 chargers, but that’s it. My question to my fellow English Taycan drivers: how ‘safe’ is it to go to Devon without searching for chargers as I had to do in France? What/where are chargers that work guaranteed, perhaps with my Shell card? By the way, I’ll be staying in Brixham. Thanks!

Hi Ben,

I see you have been given good advice on charge station apps in the UK. I use the Charge planner to good effect but my PCM is latest version (coloured icons). I am not concerned and I am driving to Brixham for holiday too in early September. Have a good holiday!

 

[Bennie]

Hi Ben,

I see you have been given good advice on charge station apps in the UK. I use the Charge planner to good effect but my PCM is latest version (coloured icons). I am not concerned and I am driving to Brixham for holiday too in early September. Have a good holiday!

Thanks Lars, I have also the latest version with the coloured icons. I wish you a nice holiday too!

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