Electric vehicle charging posts go live in Taunton

Electric vehicle charging posts go live in Taunton (From This is The West Country)

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Electric vehicle charging posts go live in Taunton 6:40pm Tuesday 19th April 2011

Print Email Share Comments(8) By Alex Cameron ?

Taunton has become the first place in Somerset to switch on electric vehicle charging posts.

The four devices went live at the Henlade park and ride on Friday and users can charge their electric cars or bikes for free.

They have been installed thanks to ￡30,000 in Growth Point funding from the Government obtained by Project Taunton. The cash covers the four posts and equipment for other posts due to be installed around the area.

Jim Duncan, managing partner of Taunton firm Reaction Electric, based in Priory Bridge Road, instigated and implemented the project after approaching Taunton Deane Council two years ago.

He said the posts would help electric vehicle users overcome ‘range anxiety’ – the fear of running out of power while on the road.

He added: “It’s a workable solution to high fuel costs in an environmentally sustainable way.

“With this exciting development it might not only be possible to drive at a tenth of normal fuel costs, but also to hear bird song in our town centres!”

In this Thursday's County Gazette, there's a special feature on electric motoring, including more on the vehicles - the Nissan Leaf and the Mitsubishi i-MiEV - pictured on this page.

Comments(8)

*Flick*, Broadway says...
9:55am Wed 20 Apr 11

What a nice incentive to encourage both the use of the park and ride, and also to promote electric cars! I for one could not afford one though, but its helping the environment so I am all for it! :) What a nice incentive to encourage both the use of the park and ride, and also to promote electric cars! I for one could not afford one though, but its helping the environment so I am all for it! :)
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Mark1970, Taunton says...
4:20pm Wed 20 Apr 11

This story deffinatly sounds dodgy. FREE electric? There is no such thing as a free ride, excusing the reasonable pun. The Government cannot even provide free solar panels, or wind turbines in houses, let alone free electric to run cars. At only four posts, then if 8 people in Taunton have electric cars, it is going to be a long wait to recharge the batteries. So you have to install more, then 8 become 16 then you have to install more. When does it stop, and when does it start becoming a massive pay as you go industry? Producing electric also harms the enviroment, unless of course from wind turbines, water mills, or solar energy. Deffinatly dodgy. This story deffinatly sounds dodgy. FREE electric? There is no such thing as a free ride, excusing the reasonable pun. The Government cannot even provide free solar panels, or wind turbines in houses, let alone free electric to run cars. At only four posts, then if 8 people in Taunton have electric cars, it is going to be a long wait to recharge the batteries. So you have to install more, then 8 become 16 then you have to install more. When does it stop, and when does it start becoming a massive pay as you go industry? Producing electric also harms the enviroment, unless of course from wind turbines, water mills, or solar energy. Deffinatly dodgy.
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dpeilow, SO23 9SR says...
6:15am Thu 21 Apr 11

These are not the first or even second electric vehicle charging facilities in Somerset.

The Castle Hotel has had a Tesla fast charger and facilities for other electric cars since last month. It allows drivers to travel between London and Cornwall in, say, an evening, stopping for dinner to recharge. Customers are already using the facility.

F J Chalke Nissan at Wincanton also have had a fast charger since last month, allowing their Leaf electric cars to be recharged in 30 minutes.

The park and ride car park is locked out of hours, meaning that EV drivers cannot rely on it. This is not true of the Castle.

I'm astonished that the facility at Blackbrook cost ￡30,000 for what amounts to four 13 Amp sockets. That's over ten times the cost of the fast charge facility at the Castle. Could they not have gone to B&Q and bought four sockets and some posts? These are not the first or even second electric vehicle charging facilities in Somerset.The Castle Hotel has had a Tesla fast charger and facilities for other electric cars since last month. It allows drivers to travel between London and Cornwall in, say, an evening, stopping for dinner to recharge. Customers are already using the facility.F J Chalke Nissan at Wincanton also have had a fast charger since last month, allowing their Leaf electric cars to be recharged in 30 minutes.The park and ride car park is locked out of hours, meaning that EV drivers cannot rely on it. This is not true of the Castle.I'm astonished that the facility at Blackbrook cost ￡30,000 for what amounts to four 13 Amp sockets. That's over ten times the cost of the fast charge facility at the Castle. Could they not have gone to B&Q and bought four sockets and some posts?
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creecher, CREECH ST' MICHAEL says...
10:59am Thu 21 Apr 11

dpeilow wrote:
These are not the first or even second electric vehicle charging facilities in Somerset. The Castle Hotel has had a Tesla fast charger and facilities for other electric cars since last month. It allows drivers to travel between London and Cornwall in, say, an evening, stopping for dinner to recharge. Customers are already using the facility. F J Chalke Nissan at Wincanton also have had a fast charger since last month, allowing their Leaf electric cars to be recharged in 30 minutes. The park and ride car park is locked out of hours, meaning that EV drivers cannot rely on it. This is not true of the Castle. I'm astonished that the facility at Blackbrook cost ￡30,000 for what amounts to four 13 Amp sockets. That's over ten times the cost of the fast charge facility at the Castle. Could they not have gone to B&Q and bought four sockets and some posts?

Yes ￡30,000 i excessive a bit like the ￡2,000,000 for a couple of diggers a few tipper truckers, disposal costs and purchasing some top soil and turf for the replacement of the car park in town. i don't think they care what the cost is when they re not paying out of there own pocket. [quote][p][bold]dpeilow[/bold] wrote:These are not the first or even second electric vehicle charging facilities in Somerset. The Castle Hotel has had a Tesla fast charger and facilities for other electric cars since last month. It allows drivers to travel between London and Cornwall in, say, an evening, stopping for dinner to recharge. Customers are already using the facility. F J Chalke Nissan at Wincanton also have had a fast charger since last month, allowing their Leaf electric cars to be recharged in 30 minutes. The park and ride car park is locked out of hours, meaning that EV drivers cannot rely on it. This is not true of the Castle. I'm astonished that the facility at Blackbrook cost ￡30,000 for what amounts to four 13 Amp sockets. That's over ten times the cost of the fast charge facility at the Castle. Could they not have gone to B&Q and bought four sockets and some posts?[/p][/quote]Yes ￡30,000 i excessive a bit like the ￡2,000,000 for a couple of diggers a few tipper truckers, disposal costs and purchasing some top soil and turf for the replacement of the car park in town. i don't think they care what the cost is when they re not paying out of there own pocket.
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nutbut, Taunton says...
1:16pm Thu 21 Apr 11

With regards the post about the electric points at the castle allowing travellers to stop from London to Cornwall to charge their cars....from what I understand thease cars have an average range of 100 miles, and an average charging time of four hours. Correct me if Ii am wrong. The time it would take to charge would be surely longer than most people would want to spend over dinner, if they still have some way to travel.

Having said this, am sure electric cars will become more affordable and capable in the future. With regards the post about the electric points at the castle allowing travellers to stop from London to Cornwall to charge their cars....from what I understand thease cars have an average range of 100 miles, and an average charging time of four hours. Correct me if Ii am wrong. The time it would take to charge would be surely longer than most people would want to spend over dinner, if they still have some way to travel.Having said this, am sure electric cars will become more affordable and capable in the future.
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*Flick*, Broadway says...
2:24pm Thu 21 Apr 11

Creecher - Yes ￡30,000 i excessive a bit like the ￡2,000,000 for a couple of diggers a few tipper truckers, disposal costs and purchasing some top soil and turf for the replacement of the car park in town. i don't think they care what the cost is when they re not paying out of there own pocket.
*
*
Sums it up nicely! Seems the council know all too well how to waste money whilst needlessly cutting it elsewhere. :( Creecher - Yes ￡30,000 i excessive a bit like the ￡2,000,000 for a couple of diggers a few tipper truckers, disposal costs and purchasing some top soil and turf for the replacement of the car park in town. i don't think they care what the cost is when they re not paying out of there own pocket.**Sums it up nicely! Seems the council know all too well how to waste money whilst needlessly cutting it elsewhere. :(
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dpeilow, SO23 9SR says...
1:51pm Sat 23 Apr 11

@nutbut

Some cars have an average range of 100 but not all: The Tesla has an average range of 211 miles and some have been driven (very carefully) over 300 miles. They can recharge in around 2 hours to reach Cornwall.

The Nissan (which does have a range of about 100 miles) can be recharged in under 30 minutes. Interestingly, the heavy duty chargers that do this cost less than ￡30000... @nutbutSome cars have an average range of 100 but not all: The Tesla has an average range of 211 miles and some have been driven (very carefully) over 300 miles. They can recharge in around 2 hours to reach Cornwall.The Nissan (which does have a range of about 100 miles) can be recharged in under 30 minutes. Interestingly, the heavy duty chargers that do this cost less than ￡30000...
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Doofer1, Creech St Michael says...
9:26pm Sun 24 Apr 11

what a waste of money- of course we all have a spare ￡25,000 to buy one of these limited range cars!! what a waste of money- of course we all have a spare ￡25,000 to buy one of these limited range cars!!
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