BP Pulse vs Ionity

[kevgallacher]

it doesn’t say anything about BP or Ionity but there is an option to upgrade to Bp Pulse on the subscription page

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[cyberman]

it doesn’t say anything about BP or Ionity but there is an option to upgrade to Bp Pulse on the subscription page

You are quite right. It doesn't say anything about BP Pulse. I must have misremembered that. Anyway, I certainly didn't sign up for the £6.54 plan for BP Pulse. I just used the BlueOval Charge Network card at BP Pulse and got 37.5p/kWh. Incidentally, I could not "find out more" on my Ford Account or anywhere else on Ford's website or BP Pulse's website. But it works and I'm happy about that!

 

[Dunc999]

Right then, my "1st year" BP Pulse and Ionity susbscriptions both expire tomorrow.
Based on Cyberman's info, I am NOT going to renew the BP Pulse and then I will use one of their chargers that I have frequently used on Sunday to see what rate I get charged. I can always add it later if it shoots up. I can then try Ionity at my leisure.

Thanks for the info!!

I also got the above notification.

 

[kevgallacher]

So I have paying for Ionity for nothing this whole time? My understanding is that the Ford Blueoval Network had been extended but Ionity and BP Pulse were optional premium extras.

This is why I made this thread there is not enough info o Fords site to say how much all this costs. Also made more confusing by allowing you to sign up to subscriptions that we don’t even need.

Dunc999 can you let us know what costs you see if you you don’t renew

 

[kevgallacher]

Looks like Ionity has just raised their standard price from 79p to 86p. Can anyone confirm the Ford pricing is still 36.6p

 

[cyberman]

So to make sure I am not just dreaming this: I DCFC charged at the BP Pulse installation behind the BP petrol station at Stafford Services M6 Northbound yesterday afternoon. The results are absolutely clear: using the Ford BlueOval Network RFID card to authorise the charge, I got:

21.712 kWh of energy delivered
in 18 minutes and 3 seconds
giving an average power delivery of 72 kW
£ 8.14 billed via FordPass to my credit card
Cost per kWh = 814/21.712 = 37.49 p

By the way, it was a horrible rainy cold afternoon with slush and snow on the ground. I think the battery temperature of my SR battery would have been on the cold side. Yes, I should have plugged in my ODB-II reader to get a measurement. I think 72 kW is a good steady charge speed for these conditions.

Conclusion: using the Ford RFID card to authenticate a DCFC session on BP Pulse really does cost 37.5p per kWh. No subscription to BP Pulse.

These particular BP Pulse chargers leave the session information on their screen after charging has finished so I took a photo to get to the exact kWh delivered:

 

[kevgallacher]

OK thanks for the info. I might try using BP Pulse more then.

 

[Dunc999]

I haven't managed to charge since my sub ran out on Saturday yet, but I have had numerous emails saying my sub has been cancelled. Will update accordingly when I get the chance to charge.

 

[Dunc999]

Right then, charged last night, after the free 1 year sub had expired and I have had a couple of emails reminding me and trying to get me to pay for a new sub.
So it is definitely the same price as before, as @cyberman said.
17.8 kwh for £6.39, so 0.359 p per KWH as before.
We ought to lock this thread in case anyone from BP sees it!
I'll try a test on Ionity as well when I get a chance.

 

[cyberman]

Right then, charged last night, after the free 1 year sub had expired and I have had a couple of emails reminding me and trying to get me to pay for a new sub.
So it is definitely the same price as before, as @cyberman said.
17.8 kwh for £6.39, so 0.359 p per KWH as before.
We ought to lock this thread in case anyone from BP sees it!
I'll try a test on Ionity as well when I get a chance.

That's interesting: your price works out as 639/17.8 = 35.9 p rather than the 37.5 p which I got on Sunday at BP Pulse Stafford M6 Northbound. @Dunc999 are you saying that you have always calculated around 35.9 p per kWh or just something in the high 30 p range? Can there really be a variation in the discounted price?

I am interested to see what price you calculate using Ionity with no subscription. I haven't used Ionity since the free first year subscription ran out. I might start using it again...

 

[Dunc999]

I've been consistently charged 35.9 yes, since April last year.

 

[kevgallacher]

They really need to make all this clear on their website somewhere. It’s really confusing. The problem is you don’t know how much it costs till it’s finished charging and they send you the bill and the prices can change at any time. Could you imagine petrol stations worked this way, it would be a disaster.

 

[kevgallacher]

I have just used ionity several times today and noticed that the charge has went up significantly it now costs 52.9p/kwh. It was 36.66p/kwh that is a 44% increase is this correct. Or have they made a mistake

 

[cyberman]

I have just used ionity several times today and noticed that the charge has went up significantly it now costs 52.9p/kwh. It was 36.66p/kwh that is a 44% increase is this correct. Or have they made a mistake

You are right that these "discounted" prices change without notice and are not available to inspect anywhere.

I have been continuing to use BP Pulse with the RFID card that came with the card. In January 2024 I paid 37.5 p/kWh but from March 2024 I found it had increased to and has stayed at 69 p/kWh.

To check out your observations on Ionity I have used it a couple of times with the RFID card and was charged 69 p/kWh most recently in March 2024. That is the same as BP Pulse but once again different to what you are being charged!

I tried out the new installation of v4 Tesla Superchargers at M5 Frankley Services Southbound recently and was charged only 59 p/kWh. The charging cable is long enough on these v4 Superchargers but only just. It's not ideal but usable.

 

[kevgallacher]

Ionity through Ford has now just increased their prices from 36.7p to 43p/kwh. (17% increase)
As it costs £149 a year the subscription is no longer worth it. You' be better going direct through Ionity as it still costs 43p/kwh but the yearly sub is only £122.5

How can they justify raising prices by that much?

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