Dé Máirt, Bealtaine 31
Day 40 - Definitely a Typical Tuesday
Not much driving today. Just to and from the train station. Altogether a typical Tuesday!
Dé Luain, Bealtaine 30
Day 39 - Not a typical Monday!
Well, I had to take a day off work today - for my car! Yeah I know, seems a little mad. The problem is that I have been driving around for six weeks without any car tax. Now, I was in no rush to give the government any more money. But unfortunately, the law is the law and it was becoming increasingly likely that I was going to get stopped by a Garda. So I decided I should finally get this sorted out.
The problem is, I should have been able to do this online, even though this was the first taxing of a brand new car. However, I couldn't because those wonderful folks at Revenue messed up t.he registration of the first few Leafs. You see, being a zero-emission vehicle meant that the current system of car taxation, which is supposedly based on carbon emissions couldn't handle 0 being put in that Carbon Grammes field. So the site did what all government applications do - it charged the highest amount possible! €2,500! Yes, far from being a Bunny-hugger car,my little Pepé was being treated like an earth-killing Hummer! Not impressed! This necessitated a trip down to the Motor Tax office to resolve this issue. Thankfully, the wonderful guys in the Motor Tax office resolved it very quickly and I proudly paid my (relatively) menial €104 for one year's of road tax.
Next up - car insurance. This one is all me. Stoopid me forgot to get my documents from my previous insurer, and my new insurer was getting anxty! In fact they threatened to cancel my policy unless I delivered all the documents to their door stop by close-of-business today. So, given that this was turning out to be a Pepé and Ciarán day, I decided to go and pay them a visit too. At one point it was suggested that I pay them a visit in Drogheda in order to collect the print out of my insurance disk. However, my poor Pepé would not be capable of doing such a return trip with out the presence of a FCP (fast charging point) in Drogheda, which is due by the end of the year. We all agreed that it was best for them to post out the documents.
The problem is, I should have been able to do this online, even though this was the first taxing of a brand new car. However, I couldn't because those wonderful folks at Revenue messed up t.he registration of the first few Leafs. You see, being a zero-emission vehicle meant that the current system of car taxation, which is supposedly based on carbon emissions couldn't handle 0 being put in that Carbon Grammes field. So the site did what all government applications do - it charged the highest amount possible! €2,500! Yes, far from being a Bunny-hugger car,my little Pepé was being treated like an earth-killing Hummer! Not impressed! This necessitated a trip down to the Motor Tax office to resolve this issue. Thankfully, the wonderful guys in the Motor Tax office resolved it very quickly and I proudly paid my (relatively) menial €104 for one year's of road tax.
Next up - car insurance. This one is all me. Stoopid me forgot to get my documents from my previous insurer, and my new insurer was getting anxty! In fact they threatened to cancel my policy unless I delivered all the documents to their door stop by close-of-business today. So, given that this was turning out to be a Pepé and Ciarán day, I decided to go and pay them a visit too. At one point it was suggested that I pay them a visit in Drogheda in order to collect the print out of my insurance disk. However, my poor Pepé would not be capable of doing such a return trip with out the presence of a FCP (fast charging point) in Drogheda, which is due by the end of the year. We all agreed that it was best for them to post out the documents.
Dé Domhnaigh, Bealtaine 29
Day 38 - Where's MY Granny Cord?
Have a look at this:
What is it I hear you ask? It is a Nissan Leaf EVSE cable aka the 'granny cord'. This is essentially a smart extension lead that allows you to plug your Nissan Leaf into any standard household socket so that you can charge up your Leaf, well, just about anywhere. Unfortunately, I don't own one!
Why? Well, the ESB are not entirely convinced that these cables are safe to use in Ireland. Now, don't get me wrong, this cable has been tried and tested by Nissan and it passed all QC tests they performed. It is also certified with the British Standards Kite mark. However, the ESB feel that while the cable may be ok, people's wiring in their house may not be. Basically, they feel that if someone has faulty wiring in their house and they plug their Leaf in with this cable, then they could, potentially start a fire.
Now the chances of this happening are remote, but the ESB feel that even a remote chance is an accident waiting to happen. And as inconvenient as it is for me, I agree with them. The ESB have an excellent safety record and it is because they don't take chances. I am happy to support them in their search for a safer alternative.
Having said that, I may be getting my very own granny cord soon. More on that later....
What is it I hear you ask? It is a Nissan Leaf EVSE cable aka the 'granny cord'. This is essentially a smart extension lead that allows you to plug your Nissan Leaf into any standard household socket so that you can charge up your Leaf, well, just about anywhere. Unfortunately, I don't own one!
Why? Well, the ESB are not entirely convinced that these cables are safe to use in Ireland. Now, don't get me wrong, this cable has been tried and tested by Nissan and it passed all QC tests they performed. It is also certified with the British Standards Kite mark. However, the ESB feel that while the cable may be ok, people's wiring in their house may not be. Basically, they feel that if someone has faulty wiring in their house and they plug their Leaf in with this cable, then they could, potentially start a fire.
Now the chances of this happening are remote, but the ESB feel that even a remote chance is an accident waiting to happen. And as inconvenient as it is for me, I agree with them. The ESB have an excellent safety record and it is because they don't take chances. I am happy to support them in their search for a safer alternative.
Having said that, I may be getting my very own granny cord soon. More on that later....
Location:Custom House Quay,Dublin,Ireland
Dé Sathairn, Bealtaine 28
Day 37 - A Typical Saturday
Well, today was a very typical Saturday. I did all those household errands you expect to do on a Saturday. Cleaning, cleaning, and yes even more cleaning. I ended up toing and froing all day, and I can tell you, Pepé was more than up to the challenge. Firstly I had to head up to the local glass recycling centre, just 2 Km up the road and then back home again. No problems there. Then I had to head back to up the local shopping centre to hand some clothes into the dry cleaners and of course, back home again. After that it was down to my parents house (5 kms away) for the weekly Ó Floinn Family Lunch Gathering! Always fun! And of course I had to back home again. After that it was a trip to the cinema with a friend to see Captain Jack Sparrow take on the evils of the pirate world (10kms) and of course back again.
While all of these trips were well within Pepé's range (as I had just charged him to full capacity the night before) it did get ne thinking how much I travel. I never before noticed the distance I travelled in particular with regards to these cumulative small trips. But they really do add up. And of course, choosing to go by motorway/dual-carriage way does use up more energy than via standard or back roads. But I guess this is one of the positive side effects of driving a range-limited vehicle - you start to think about the journeys you are making. You start to ask yourself questions like "Do I really need to make this journey?", "Can I do more while I am out?", "Is this the best route to take and how do I determine what makes it the 'best' route?". I think it is a good thing that I have finally started to ask these questions.
While all of these trips were well within Pepé's range (as I had just charged him to full capacity the night before) it did get ne thinking how much I travel. I never before noticed the distance I travelled in particular with regards to these cumulative small trips. But they really do add up. And of course, choosing to go by motorway/dual-carriage way does use up more energy than via standard or back roads. But I guess this is one of the positive side effects of driving a range-limited vehicle - you start to think about the journeys you are making. You start to ask yourself questions like "Do I really need to make this journey?", "Can I do more while I am out?", "Is this the best route to take and how do I determine what makes it the 'best' route?". I think it is a good thing that I have finally started to ask these questions.
Dé hAoine, Bealtaine 27
Day 36 - Bless me Esso for I have sinned! It's been six weeks since I last bought petrol!
Well, it has been six weeks since I last went to a petrol station to buy petrol for my car. And I can't say that I miss it. Although, I have been to many a petrol station during that time, to pick up some nibbles or a newspaper or something else. This brings me to an interesting question - what will happen to all the petrol stations? Well, right now nothing, as there are more than enough petrol powered cars out there to keep them in plenty of profit. But eventually we will reach at least a 50/50 divide on petrol and electricity, and then things will start to get dicey, in particular for some of the smaller stations. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the smaller stations. The staff are usually friendlier, the service is usually better and they are more often than not run by local members of the community.
But if the future is electric, then the needs to power hungry motorists are going to change - from get me in get me out to I need somewhere to have a coffee while my car charges! This is where the motorway service stations have an advantage. The whole point of the motorway stations is to give motorists something to do for a little while - to take a break from the extended excursion. And if they are waiting for their car to charge up, then why not grab a bite to eat, or a coffee and read a newspaper, catchup with email, or just sit a relax for thirty minutes. This is exactly what EV motorists will need. And the rollout of spanky new service stations along Ireland's motorways could not be happening at a more advantageous time for the burgeoning EV revolution.
I recently visited the Applengreen service station on the M6 while heading to Athlone. I had a bite to eat (with plenty of options to choose from) and found myself thinking, this would be an ideal spot to charge up my car (had I driven it!) So I asked to speak with the on duty manager. I mentioned to him that I was a recent EV customer and that I would love to take my car to Athlone and use his facilities again, and would there be any chance that they would consider putting down a FCP (fast charge point) on their grounds. The manager pointed to a spot near where we had parked and said, "that's where the charger is going to be. They are preparing the foundations for it now!" FANTASTIC! Here is a company that is thinking ahead. With more and more of these service stations coming on stream and with managers thinking in this manner, it is only a matter of time before a viable national charging infrastructure will allow me to go the length and breath of this crazy little country of ours!
But if the future is electric, then the needs to power hungry motorists are going to change - from get me in get me out to I need somewhere to have a coffee while my car charges! This is where the motorway service stations have an advantage. The whole point of the motorway stations is to give motorists something to do for a little while - to take a break from the extended excursion. And if they are waiting for their car to charge up, then why not grab a bite to eat, or a coffee and read a newspaper, catchup with email, or just sit a relax for thirty minutes. This is exactly what EV motorists will need. And the rollout of spanky new service stations along Ireland's motorways could not be happening at a more advantageous time for the burgeoning EV revolution.
I recently visited the Applengreen service station on the M6 while heading to Athlone. I had a bite to eat (with plenty of options to choose from) and found myself thinking, this would be an ideal spot to charge up my car (had I driven it!) So I asked to speak with the on duty manager. I mentioned to him that I was a recent EV customer and that I would love to take my car to Athlone and use his facilities again, and would there be any chance that they would consider putting down a FCP (fast charge point) on their grounds. The manager pointed to a spot near where we had parked and said, "that's where the charger is going to be. They are preparing the foundations for it now!" FANTASTIC! Here is a company that is thinking ahead. With more and more of these service stations coming on stream and with managers thinking in this manner, it is only a matter of time before a viable national charging infrastructure will allow me to go the length and breath of this crazy little country of ours!
Déardaoin, Bealtaine 26
Day 35 - What happened to day 34?
Well, I seem to have missed a few days since my last blog entry. Sorry about that. I guess too much has been going on in my life! I'll do my best not to miss any more! And it's a pity, because a lot has been happening in my life with regards to personal private transport - unfortunately not as much of it has been happening in my car!
Basically, I have increased the number of extra-Pale trips that I have been doing i.e. I have been getting out of Dublin a lot more in the last few weeks. But, alas, poor Pepé is not yet equipped to deal with these trips. The trips included:
1. Three journey's to Blackwater, Wexford
2. A trip to Athlone town
3. A journey to Galway Citiy
Now, please don't misunderstand me. Pepé is more than capable of reaching Blackwater or Athlone (not so much Galway City). But the problem with the shorter journeys is the return trip. Yep, Pepé is unable to get me there and back again on a single charge. But I knew this! I had looked at all these distances and figured out a long time ago what I could and could not do on a single charge. So what's the solution? Charge Points!
Just as with any combustion engine vehicle Pepé needs juice! And for that there needs to be an energy infrastructure. The great thing about electricity is that it is ubiquitous in our society. However, the bad thing about being an early adopter is that you get to experience all the hiccups before anyone else. Yes, electricity may be everywhere, but the EV Charging Network is not.
A group of us early adopters have opted to work together to make sure that the "hiccups" that we are currently facing are cured rather quickly. Irish EV Owners (www.IrishEVOwners.com) are all too aware that the use and growth in use of EVs in Ireland is a virtuous circle. If we can make sure that the initial infrastructure is put down in a timely fashion then interest in and consideration of EVs in Ireland will increase. But, if no infrastructure is put in place then less and less people will consider purchasing an EV and then chances of electric driving in Ireland will suffer a serious blow. I guess we'll just have to keep at it.
For now, we have been informed that the first seven fast chargers will be down by the end of June at the following locations:
As you can see, I should be able to do those pesky Athlone and Galway round trips soon! However, Blackwater is still out of reach. (I am currently working on that one with the ESB!) It is my intention to do a number of these longer trips as the Charging Network grows. I intend to put in all the details of the trips - start time, end time, number of chargers, waiting time to use a charger, waiting time while charging etc. But if there is anything else you want me to look out for, drop me a note. Remember, I am doing this for you. I want to male sure you have all the information you need, so get posting and let me know what I should be taking note of!
Basically, I have increased the number of extra-Pale trips that I have been doing i.e. I have been getting out of Dublin a lot more in the last few weeks. But, alas, poor Pepé is not yet equipped to deal with these trips. The trips included:
1. Three journey's to Blackwater, Wexford
2. A trip to Athlone town
3. A journey to Galway Citiy
Now, please don't misunderstand me. Pepé is more than capable of reaching Blackwater or Athlone (not so much Galway City). But the problem with the shorter journeys is the return trip. Yep, Pepé is unable to get me there and back again on a single charge. But I knew this! I had looked at all these distances and figured out a long time ago what I could and could not do on a single charge. So what's the solution? Charge Points!
Just as with any combustion engine vehicle Pepé needs juice! And for that there needs to be an energy infrastructure. The great thing about electricity is that it is ubiquitous in our society. However, the bad thing about being an early adopter is that you get to experience all the hiccups before anyone else. Yes, electricity may be everywhere, but the EV Charging Network is not.
A group of us early adopters have opted to work together to make sure that the "hiccups" that we are currently facing are cured rather quickly. Irish EV Owners (www.IrishEVOwners.com) are all too aware that the use and growth in use of EVs in Ireland is a virtuous circle. If we can make sure that the initial infrastructure is put down in a timely fashion then interest in and consideration of EVs in Ireland will increase. But, if no infrastructure is put in place then less and less people will consider purchasing an EV and then chances of electric driving in Ireland will suffer a serious blow. I guess we'll just have to keep at it.
For now, we have been informed that the first seven fast chargers will be down by the end of June at the following locations:
Location:Ireland
As you can see, I should be able to do those pesky Athlone and Galway round trips soon! However, Blackwater is still out of reach. (I am currently working on that one with the ESB!) It is my intention to do a number of these longer trips as the Charging Network grows. I intend to put in all the details of the trips - start time, end time, number of chargers, waiting time to use a charger, waiting time while charging etc. But if there is anything else you want me to look out for, drop me a note. Remember, I am doing this for you. I want to male sure you have all the information you need, so get posting and let me know what I should be taking note of!
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