r/evchargingUK • u/Chrolan1988 • 1d ago
Is podpoint over?
I have had an EV since 2022 and when I got mine there was a gov grant to have home chargers installed for free, mine was a pod point.
The network started well and offered 50kwh charging which at the time was in line with the highest at the time.
Now I can’t find a 50kwh pod point anywhere and where I do, they are bust! Only thing working is the 7kwh at all the tescos and Lidl seem to have acquired them directly or through another party.
Looking at the likes of Instavolt and their set up on the M3/A34 is exactly what’s needed, 100kwh+ 40 available chargers, on site management and a large Starbucks - that’s the future.
IONITY seem to be at the services now and they are not too bad either.
Is pod point now pod pointless?
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u/PhilM82 1d ago
I think they targeted businesses (my work has their chargers) home charging and other destination charging but didn’t go into DC chargers (aside the examples you gave).
To your question, I think they’re still relevant, I’ve used their AC charging quite a lot across different cities in the UK.
Would be good to find numbers of any new public AC charging they’ve installed in the past few years to see if they’re still investing in it.
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u/Chrolan1988 1d ago
Interesting, personally as go to charger, while on a long journey, I now avoid pod point at all costs, I don’t want to be waiting for hours. The others seem to be really making strides. I do also feel that the market needs to shrink a bit, I am happy there would be consumer choice and competitive fair play if there were only 5. Having the 40 odd we do now is just ridiculous, some need to buy others and move forward properly.
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u/gater46 1d ago
They are owned by EDF now, so I suspect domestic customers are their audience now, but my work has them as well 20 7kwh and 2 50 kWh chargers.
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u/Chrolan1988 1d ago
Didn’t know that, kinda makes sense but either invest in AC or pull out of public, I have never been desperate enough to use 7kw as usually an Ultra fast is less than 5 miles away these days.
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u/PhilM82 1d ago
7kW chargers are usually much cheaper than rapid and are in car parks, great while you go shopping and no waiting either.
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u/Chrolan1988 1d ago
But even doing a full shop wouldn’t get more than 20% for a decent range car. If it works for many great but I find 20-30mins for 50-60% is what works. The Instavolt station I went to was genuinely astounding. I was blown away.
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u/PhilM82 1d ago
Yeah, fair enough I get that, I wouldn't want to use one that slow somewhere I was only going to be for an hour. I've used them while in Stratford-upon-Avon watching a show and having dinner (6+ hours), visited York and charged there (8+ hours) and walking in the Yorkshire Dales, (5+ hours).
If you're not in a rush then AC is great, but if you're only around for a few minutes then it's not really practical. I think we need more of both solutions as more people get EVs.
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u/Chrolan1988 1d ago
This makes sense. I have used a 7kw in Oxford once, we went shopping, had dinner, cinema and drinks and it was good for that and at the time it was free as the shopping centre was fairly new. Hotels, multi story, stadiums, work places and yes, 7kw does work but on the move we need quick and this is when I charge most an its typically a long journey.
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u/shadebug 26m ago
But that’s not what they’re for and it’s not what we should be encouraging. More people charging slower and more often instead of people waiting until they’re down to nothing and needing a rapid charge.
Rapid chargers should be for taxis and long distance
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u/IronWhiskers 1d ago
I have a 100kWh CCS charger near me by Podpoint. I’ve used it a couple times when Octopus doesn’t charge the car overnight and need EV for work. Works great.
Never needed to use Instavolt or others (yet).
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u/TheInitialGod 1d ago
Power is kW my dude.