Europe perspective from a Canadian

[music_cities]

One thing about travelling is it can give you perspective. A visitor can never understand a place like someone who lives there, but, on the other hand, someone who lives there grows accustomed to things and doesn't think about them or see them like a visitor does.

I'm a Canadian. I rented a Byd Seal in Munich and am exploring the Dolomites, with some time in Austria but mostly in Italy.

Thoughts:

I really thought I'd like the bring-your-own-cable level 2 charging, since it's a cleaner install, the chargers in parking lots can be a lot less intrusive with less vandalism risk. But, it's a hassle as a user to have to get out your own cable every time, especially if it gets muddy or wet.

I really thought the chargers would be more reliable in Europe than in Canada, but I've run into many that just don't work, or are under repair.

The most surprising thing I've found about Europe is that Plugshare and Chargemap (which apparently is used more commonly than Plugshare) do not have much engagement, most chargers have no recent comments, checkins, or photos! A DCFC that is roped off with construction would have a comment in Canada. A broken DCFC in a town with a dim display that can't be read in sunlight would have a comment explaining that in Canada. An L2 at a hotel that might have been a public charger back in 2022 but is now restricted access to hotel guests (activated by hotel room key RFID) would have had a comment about this in Canada! So, I'm finding it quite a bit harder to plan a trip in Europe!

It seems that ABRP works just as well in Europe as in Canada, so highway-side DCFC charging on a long road trip isn't the problem. But for detailed sightseeing itineraries choosing specific L2s and even specific strategic DCFCs I really rely on the checkins / photos / comments in Plugshare for trips in Canada.

I looked into getting a Chargemap RFID card to activate chargers. But, I could't really get it delivered to my hotel in time. Hertz gave me an RFID thingy attached to the key, but it hasn't worked *anywhere* yet! So far, I've had to pay for every public charger by using the QR code and a web app! Three different web apps so far! Do you European's also have to use ad-hoc web-apps to pay for charging, or does something like the Chargemap RFID card work more reliably than the RFID that Hertz gave me? (In Canada we also need many apps, although I try to focus on using only the Ford App, the FLO RFID card, and the Tesla app.)

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[GreaseMonkey]

One thing about travelling is it can give you perspective. A visitor can never understand a place like someone who lives there, but, on the other hand, someone who lives there grows accustomed to things and doesn't think about them or see them like a visitor does.

I'm a Canadian. I rented a Byd Seal in Munich and am exploring the Dolomites, with some time in Austria but mostly in Italy.

Thoughts:

I really thought I'd like the bring-your-own-cable level 2 charging, since it's a cleaner install, the chargers in parking lots can be a lot less intrusive with less vandalism risk. But, it's a hassle as a user to have to get out your own cable every time, especially if it gets muddy or wet.

I really thought the chargers would be more reliable in Europe than in Canada, but I've run into many that just don't work, or are under repair.

The most surprising thing I've found about Europe is that Plugshare and Chargemap (which apparently is used more commonly than Plugshare) do not have much engagement, most chargers have no recent comments, checkins, or photos! A DCFC that is roped off with construction would have a comment in Canada. A broken DCFC in a town with a dim display that can't be read in sunlight would have a comment explaining that in Canada. An L2 at a hotel that might have been a public charger back in 2022 but is now restricted access to hotel guests (activated by hotel room key RFID) would have had a comment about this in Canada! So, I'm finding it quite a bit harder to plan a trip in Europe!

It seems that ABRP works just as well in Europe as in Canada, so highway-side DCFC charging on a long road trip isn't the problem. But for detailed sightseeing itineraries choosing specific L2s and even specific strategic DCFCs I really rely on the checkins / photos / comments in Plugshare for trips in Canada.

I looked into getting a Chargemap RFID card to activate chargers. But, I could't really get it delivered to my hotel in time. Hertz gave me an RFID thingy attached to the key, but it hasn't worked *anywhere* yet! So far, I've had to pay for every public charger by using the QR code and a web app! Three different web apps so far! Do you European's also have to use ad-hoc web-apps to pay for charging, or does something like the Chargemap RFID card work more reliably than the RFID that Hertz gave me? (In Canada we also need many apps, although I try to focus on using only the Ford App, the FLO RFID card, and the Tesla app.)

Who gives a shit about the infrastructure! How’s the byd?

No, seriously though, you are extremely courageous. I’m a self-described tree-hugging environmentalist who previously led a life of sin building out Canadian oil and gas pipelines across Canada with the likes of embridge and transcanada (expect nothing less than an afterlife in the bottom layer of hell). My assistant booked me an EV rental in Lisboa last month and I of course declined and opted for a gas Mercedes. I EVEN HAD TROUBLE REFULING A FUCKING GAS CAR IN CITY CENTER! With small, antiquated stations, most non-functioning or requiring special cards to access. I had to call hertz for help. It was a disaster.

Travel is interesting only if you have the luxury of time. Otherwise, get an Uber.

 

[Aulander]

I agree that things are different for a visitor from what someone who lives in a place is used to see.
This would certainly happen to me in your continent.
Charging networks and installations are different here and also the apps used for charging. Plugshare and Chargemap are not common at least here in Italy, I use the charging providers apps or Electroverse that is the official Ford charging partner in EU and is very reliable for the charger status.
Nextcharge is similar to Plugshare or Chargemap including comments and photos.
I use also RFID cards sometimes, but mostly the web apps.
Also the prices are different according to the app provider. EVDC is also good for prices and network access.

 

[music_cities]

Who gives a shit about the infrastructure! How’s the byd?

No, seriously though, you are extremely courageous. I’m a self-described tree-hugging environmentalist who previously led a life of sin building out Canadian oil and gas pipelines across Canada with the likes of embridge and transcanada (expect nothing less than an afterlife in the bottom layer of hell). My assistant booked me an EV rental in Lisboa last month and I of course declined and opted for a gas Mercedes. I EVEN HAD TROUBLE REFULING A FUCKING GAS CAR IN CITY CENTER! With small, antiquated stations, most non-functioning or requiring special cards to access. I had to call hertz for help. It was a disaster.

Travel is interesting only if you have the luxury of time. Otherwise, get an Uber.

Here's the BYD! https://www.macheforum.com/site/threads/byd-seal-awd.56375/

Honestly, I don't like it as much as a the MachE!

I have also struggled with buying gasoline (or diesel) in other countries! Finding electricity has been at least as easy. In fact we only really *need* to charge at our hotels that have their own chargers.

 

[therealpinto]

Here in Sweden I mostly use Chargefinder to find chargers and locations. But comments and reviews are not as common now as they were 4 years ago. My take is that as EVs has become more mainstream, less people put time on writing reviews.

I have yet not opted to rent an EV when visiting other countries in Europe, mostly because it has been work trips when getting money back for paying for charging can be a bit challenging.

Different countries in Europe are different, Portugal for example is as someone mentioned above, also sometimes tricky for gas/diesel. It is kind of a traditional country in some ways where the locals seem to enjoy paying cash to a cashier...

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