We don’t like: Not easy to use at first
The dreaded parking notices were present at this station but this time to deter non-EV drivers.
Unlike the other sites I visited for this survey, it is by no means a major location but it is close to the busy A12 and M11. It is a classic MFG site, with just enough manoeuvring space, good weather protection and a well-stocked forecourt shop. There were four 150kW CCS chargers. However, I had to call MFG to understand how to operate a charger, which wasn’t obvious (using buttons, you have to select your connector, tap, then press continue).
Plugged in, my Kia drew power at around 75kWh. Later the same day, I called in at a 300kW MFG station at a Morrisons in Fleet, Hampshire, with more space and where, at 60% full, the EV9 drew an impressive 150kW, still for 79p/kWh. This time I knew which buttons to press.
Applegreen
Test location: Welcome Break, M40, Warwickshire
Charging speed: 180kW
Cost: 79p/kWh
We like: Low refundable pre-authorisation charge, reasonably easy to use
We don’t like: Charging time restriction
The traditional parking notice had a fresh twist here: “£100 fine if not charging in bay for longer than 10 minutes.” I hoped the allowance included operating the charger, which was one of 16.
Fortunately, it was a straight plug and tap. Drawing 133kW, the Kia’s battery went from 79% to 92% in just nine minutes. But how to stop: tap my card? It wasn’t recognised. Customer services said it happened occasionally, so just unplug. The session cost £12 a reasonable sum for 10 minutes’ parking, surely? The refundable pre-authorisation charge was only £1.
There were no canopies offering shelter but, as an alternative to waiting in the car, there was a Starbucks. Directions to the site were good off the motorway but soon became confusing. This was first-time EV driver Philip Major’s second experience of charging. “Twice now, I’ve had to second guess which button to press to charge. The machines don’t tell you!” he wailed.
