How to charge up at Pod Point (Tesco)

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Tell me your thoughts about the Tesco charging service? Free service = good service?? Let me know

[@manwithcorsae7738]

It works fine, but I'm rarely there long enough to get a decent charge. I suppose when this is all over and we can get back to having breakfast it'll become more useful.

[@TakeItFromMe.]

My local Tesco only has 3kw charging so there's no point. It's a 25 mile round trip so it would take an hour of charging just to get half of the route covered for me. Also they chose the most inappropriate area of the car park to place the units and i know that people have had their new cars hit by trolleys and careless parking. Conversely the nearest lidl has a rapid charger and it's in a quiet corner so that's where i shop now. 20minutes of shopping whilst charging and I'm covered for 90 miles.

[@davyhoogy]

My local tesco about 300m away has 3 hours free parking, I plan on parking up, doing a little shopping and walking home, then walking back with the dog to get the car 3 hours later! That should give me a decent top up. Let's see if tesco say anything haha.

[@ukcarver]

I have tried charging my ipace at these podpoint chargers, they start off fine but as soon as I lock my car they stop charging, help.

[@adrianwhetton6674]

I find these pod point chargers brilliant use these regular at clay cross as I live close.

[@charlesholland-keen2222]

As a EV newbie any information on charging is always useful. A clear and well presented demonstration. Thankyou.

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Thank you Charles for your feedback 😃

[@anignorantbrit]

Great video. My Tesla is arriving Monday and I am so glad of their supercharger network. The government really needs to sort out the non Tesla network. The amount of apps, card and other things needed is ridiculous. Contact less should always be an option.

[@CastleKnight7]

Yup, I agree wholeheartedly that contactless should be offered on every public EV charger.

[@peterwalker6020]

Thanks for posting this, as an old boy even simple technology can baffle me.you have done a great job.

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Thanks Peter, that's really nice of you to say 😃

[@montyzumazoom1337]

I'm considering buying an electric vehicle and found this very helpful and interesting, so thanks for the detailed and practical description. It all sounds and looks pretty much obvious, but its easy to get a bit flustered if you haven't done this before. There's a first time for everything after all.

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Hi Monty, thanks for your comment. Glad I was able to help. Totally understand the fluster. Take your time and you'll be OK 👍

[@clairefisher5191]

Not bad to say that was the first time using a Pod Point AND first time the car was plugged in ever!! Thanks for your help Tina 👍⚡

[@beckyroberts5344]

That was really useful thank you!

[@bellshooter]

You have a much smaller battery in the Hybrid VW at 9.9kWh and it has a 3.6kW charger so it will only charge at a this rate max.

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Thanks Dave 👍

[@warrenboswell1176]

@@PlanetSavingNovice Actually I have exactly the same car, and the new battery size is 13.4kw, but the charging speed is the same. Tesco may be free but suspect even with a VW, paid for Podpoints will still be billable.

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Thanks Warren. Yes, that seems to be the case re Podpoint billing outside of Tesco from what I can tell

[@alisonmike2912]

Thanks for that, just about to go to my local Tesco to shop and use the charger for the first time. Just a thought, look in your cars charging settings to see if you can turn up the rate at which it accepts charge. My car has 5 speed settings for charging. 7kw chargers are said to be capable of 25 miles in an hour.

[@alanwoods6922]

My wife just managed to put her Volvo XC90 on charge at our local Tesco with help from your video, so thanks

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

That's great news Alan. Thank you for the feedback 😃

[@williamcox1176]

The reason you only got 4kw is your car is only capable of charging a that rate, i often use the chargers and see 6.4kwh on a Nero EV, most hybrids charge at around half that rate.

[@philmbridges]

Ours at Bridlington Tesco s fantastic! Four points, all free, so easy to use! We didn’t need the ap either as it charged anyway!

[@JamesRattray]

Thank you, that his given me the confidence to tackle our Tesco charger with our new EV (3 days old)

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

That's fantastic James. Thanks for letting me know. Congratulations on your new car too 😃

[@CastleKnight7]

This was very helpful thank you.

[@Thereishope664]

Thanks very much for the video. For some reason Tesco hasn't put any of these chargers in their Havering stores as of yet.

[@markhamilton4351]

Excellent thanks for that. I'm taking delivery next week of an id3. Not a clue b4 watching this of what to do re charging lol

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Thanks Mark, glad you found it helpful. I have several videos re charging. My advice would be download Zap Maps and see what chargers you can use in your area so you can register beforehand(see my planning a journey video kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpurhWVqdpt7f9E). It pays to be prepared in the EV world 😃 I'm very excited for you and your new car! I hope you love it!

[@RyanSintonOneVanguard]

This was useful, my mum is looking at getting an electric but bit unsure about charging it and things

[@lesgunnell5613]

EV is the way to go, I have an MG5 which returns me around 230 miles in a single charge, no petrol stations, no road tax, love it👍

[@TheJasonappleton]

Just had my new PEHV (BMW 2 series active tourer) delivered 3 hrs ago and downloading the pod app as I type this so very useful to see how it all works. Going to Tesco later to try it out LOL

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Congratulations!! Very exciting! Best of luck at Tesco. Don't expect loads of charge as it's quite slow but it's good to have a little, free top up while you shop. The experience will give you confidence though. Let me know how you get on 😃

[@bvgb921]

It may be a slow charge for you in a car, but for me on an Ebike it's a fast charge, all you need is an adapter and away you go.

[@davidridge8182]

Hi took my hybrid to my local Tesco only to find it is not a tethered charger,I did not have a cable,In to bmw to buy a plug in charge cable.Not all Tesco chargers are the same.Good video.😊

[@douglaswares8296]

Do Tesco PodPoint CCS chargers have a maximum charge % setting. I charged today at Inverness and it stopped at 80% although my car is set to charge to 100% while I make longer journeys to give me the maximum range.

[@lesgunnell5613]

I went into Tesco Portsmouth today and used the new podpoint chargers, I normally use the type 2 option which is free but on this occasion I tried the CCS fast charger, unfortunately I had left my phone at home so didn’t have the app, After reading the instructions I found that I didn’t need it, simply connect the charger ( which is tethered) touch a contactless on the display, and press start. On return, tap card again, press stop and disconnect, it was really easy, not free but not expensive either 👍

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Hi Les, thanks for your comment. That's great to hear that they have provided more options. The contact contactless payment method is much easier than having numerous apps so I'm really pleased to hear this. Tina

[@Knightlore10]

brave of you to video your first experience of charging your car at Tesco but you both done a great job. What's the tie in with VW and Tesco? I assume its open to all plug in vehicles?

[@manwithcorsae7738]

It's a DieselGate bonus and any plug-in car can use them.

[@nicksportster8711]

Silly question (i dont own an ev yet...) but... what if you plug your car in, go into the store to buy all your food etc, return to your car and find that someone's nicked your charging lead.?

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Hello Nick, this isnt a silly question, a lot of people have this worry. Once your car is locked the charging cable is also locked into the charging point. You have to open the car again to disconnect it. Hope that helps.

[@nicksportster8711]

@@PlanetSavingNovice Thank you Tina(?) yes that makes perfect sense...

[@mikefealey5221]

Tesco chargers are fab. Sometimes ICED but generally available. With my Tesla Model 3 I usually get around 25 miles with an hour charge.

[@roadbikeman]

If you carefully look at the chargers some 22s are free also. Can charge 47miles an hour. That's what I've been getting recently.

[@grahammoore-grundy9944]

Very useful as my local Tesco has just had one installed and has made me think about getting an EV as charging looks easy, thanks!

[@sloeginandsleep1170]

I can only speak of my local Tesco stores, both me and my wife now have EV’s (me a Tesla Model 3, her a VW ID4) and our local store chargers never go above 3KW, despite being rated at 7KW. It’s a little frustrating. The local store has now changed the parking to 60 mins free too, so it’s a rush to do the shopping and get only around 5/15 miles of range. We are just making the best of it none the less. The home charger is well worth the purchase though! Didn’t waste the spends getting a home Tesla charger for insane cost, went for a dual 22KW charger and it’s working nicely 😃

[@colinharvey1049]

Thank you look forward to these free chargers coming to a Tesco near me. Currently charging at home. BTW (you probably have worked this out by now) the max current spec Passat can charge at is 3.6kW).

[@craigjtodd]

Helpful video and super nice couple! 😍 I'm now a subscriber to your channel.

[@danmather6983]

I’m trying Tesco in Clay Cross today for the first time - BMW I3S charge!

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

How did it go Dan? How did you find your first time?

[@psychicguru]

I haven't actually bought my EV as yet, but thank you for your very useful video. I'll be sure to refer back to it when I get mine.

[@jakjan1]

Well explained, thank you

[@johnbev2336]

I don’t have an EV yet, I’m intending to buy one, Information is valuable. I find a lot of faffing around on the app, not sure if have the correct machine. Why not scan your bar code & that should identify the machine.

[@GHOOGLEMALE]

Excellent vid and explanation - I've just ordered an ID3 (not as posh as your lovely Passat) and I'd heard of the free charging at Tesco - Nice incentive, and I suppose its in Tesco's and my interest to make a nice long shop of it! I read in the comments that as yours is Hybrid it can only charge at 4kw - Is this correct?

[@rodden1953]

Im quite close to Tesco so i come home with more range than i went with

[@theonerightreview3537]

How long can you charge in Tesco for free? I mean if I done shopping and decide to leave the car there for another 6 months could I do that or car park rule applies?

[@PNH750]

My local Tesco that has EV charging is 2 miles away. It too says that 7.2Kw is available but never actually delivers this amount. More like 3Kw.per hour. As others have pointed out, having to use a mobile to get more than 15 min of free energy is a pain, especially in bad weather. Why can't I just wave my Tesco Points card at the machine. On the bonus side is the free parking as well as free charge. My town centre car park has a charge point that is never used because you are charged for parking, only allow to charge for 1 hour and ripped off 30p/Kwh which makes the package more expensive per mile than an ICE vehicle.

[@JoshLStuff]

possibly a longshot but you don't have a polestar 2 by any chance? the early models only came with 16amp cables but now Polestar customer service is giving out 32amp cables, which can often be the cause of getting 3kw rather than 7

[@PNH750]

@@JoshLStuff Josh....I think you are correct. The dealer supplied the cable which is marked Delphi 20A. So it is not going to deliver 7.2Kw. This makes it useless for trips over 200 miles.

[@JoshLStuff]

@@PNH750 it's a pretty odd number, might want to check with customer service (was i correct in identifying the car as a polestar 2? i don't recognise that 20Amp cable as one Polestar distributed with its cars). You shouldn't be using that cable for long distance charging anyway though, instead using a rapid charger with CCS or CHAdeMO which will be at the 30p+/kWh price but it's only intended for those long journeys

[@PNH750]

@@JoshLStuff Thanks for the info. The dealer sold me the ex-demo car with just the single cable. After paying the sod, he then informed me I would need a home charger £600 and a fast charge cable £200 plus. They then ripped me off £120 per hour investigation why the Tesco PoinPoints were disconnecting and the SatNav and speedo illumination kept going dark for no reason. All I got for my monery was excuses and not solutions.

[@JoshLStuff]

@@PNH750 If it's ex-demo, might you be able to contact the manufacturer? The dealer should have told you about the home charger (especially as i'm hoping the electrician who installed it claimed the grant for you) and you should have a double ended Type 2 cable (as seen in the video) as well as a type 2 to 3 pin (home plug) cable. High speed cables for DC 25Kw+ charging are built into the chargers and slower AC machines (like the podpoints) require your own cable

[@manwithcorsae7738]

Great video. Just a couple of tips. Better to plug in to car first. You're not wrong in how you did it, but some chargers respond with less fuss if you plug in the car first. There's (usually) no need to search for the charger as the app will be (if you've ok'd location services) showing where you are. Have a look at the bottom of the screen. Enjoy you're new car and I hope you have many happy miles in her.

[@martinwinlow]

I'm guessing you have not read the manual yet, then, as the GTE only has a 3.7kW charger. The most you will ever get is about 10 miles of added range per hour of charging. Personally, I believe hybrids are sold essentially fraudulently as there is absolutely no reason why you could not have spent your money on a *real* EV instead (assuming you, like 95% of other UK motorists, rarely do a trip of more than 150 miles). Keeping an engine is just a comfort blanket and simply perpetuates the myth that we must all still rely on fossil fuels to maintain our quality of life.

[@Stephenuk-zc3xo]

Do u have to use your own cables of ones already there?

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Hi Stephen, for this particular charger you needed your own cable. Some chargers do have their own. I generally travel with my own cable so I always have options.

[@Stephenuk-zc3xo]

@@PlanetSavingNovice ah ok cheers 👍

[@stuartmather3514]

Great tutorial thanks

[@danielrichards8472]

Most Tesco car parks have a two hour parking limit does this apply to the charging bays?

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Hi Daniel, thanks for your comment. I'm not sure about the charging bays but I would presume the 2 hour limit applies 🙂

[@danielrichards8472]

@@PlanetSavingNovice if it’s a slow charger two hours is not long enough but no complaints if it was free lol

[@craigyboy7843]

Are the non VW EV vehicles free to charge at Tesco too?

[@rohinimathur6392]

yes all EVs can charge for free on the 7kw or 22kw chargers.

[@SirHackaL0t.]

You are in Eastbourne? Have you tried the Beacon shopping centre chargers?

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Hi Clive, I live in Derbyshire so a few miles away from Eastbourne. Is it a good set up at the shopping centre?

[@SirHackaL0t.]

@@PlanetSavingNovice a shame, your first screen showed eastbourne station. Yes, they have 15 chargers in the car park.

[@box.10]

well done girls, I tried this for my 1st charge but it didn't work. Reported it and PP thanked me, repaired 2 chargers out of 4 there (3 days later) and said "all doors are now open.". Not been back yet to check but as its so slow.......yawn.......best...to...charge...at...home.

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

😄 Well done for taking action and reporting it! Easy to walk away and not do anything about it. Yes it is slow, I have to agree. Thanks for your comment 👍🙂

[@sterlingarcher4989]

8 miles isn’t too bad, considering your journey to Tesco’s may have been less overall. Did you need to have mobile data to get the charger going?

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Hi, thanks for your comment. Yes the journey to Tesco was less than 8 miles . We did need data but I know Tesco have their own wifi. I'm not sure how far the range is for the wifi and if it would reach the charging points but we did just rely on our own data.

[@aculeus1971]

Also, got an EV cable bag from Amazon for £10 for each of your type 2 and 3-pin plug chargers. I think VW owners only get the type 2. Don’t drop your Type 2 cable into puddles as shown in this video !

[@husseinasrasalah7348]

I like this video

[@aculeus1971]

Tesco podpoint chargers are good (7kW, 29 miles per hour charge) ….mostly reliable. Aldi Newmotion chargers are better (11kW, 54 miles per hour or 47 miles if you sit in and leave your a/c running)… no app Charge master have some free chargers too, just turn them on and plug in for 7kW charging.

[@nickhickson8738]

Yes, but how many people spend and hour shopping? At our local Tesco in Bromley we don't or would want to spend an hour there as there are no other distracting facilities other than plain shopping to do. It is not a Tesco Superstore for example just an isolated store on a road.

[@ihmcallister]

At Tesco my charger stops after 15 minutes and starts again if I remove and replace the cable. It says confirm charge but I don't see how to do this. Help a non-tech duffer!

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Are you pressing 'confirm charge' on the app Ian?

[@robertwagner9322]

you may be able to plug in for a charge ..... however Tescos will fine you for parking! £70 ! if over two hours in there store.... watch out!

[@nasalprolapse]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@SirHackaL0t.]

But why a hybrid and not a full EV? Missed opportunity. :(

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

It is a company car. There were no full EV options on the list at the time but the company have since changed their policy to be a selection of hybrid or fully electric which is great news 😃

[@SirHackaL0t.]

@@PlanetSavingNovice that’s good to hear, but a shame for you. :(

[@leesmith9299]

a qr code on the charger would be nice rather than having to search for it in the app

[@danster1988]

Imagine not knowing how to unplug the ev cable for 30 mins, with people waiting to use it.....thats was me 🤣

[@EdgyNumber1]

Oh great another app to use a charge point. A contactless clubcard and a debit card should suffice. I say no more app barriers to charging!! Make charging easier.

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

I quite agree - if Instavolt can do it then they all can

[@manwithcorsae7738]

@@PlanetSavingNovice It's about the type of charger you are using. Usually called a 'fast' charger. These are normally limited to 7 to 22 kW. These are difficult to add a card reader to because of their size. The Instavolt chargers you refer to are 'Rapid' chargers (50 kW plus) and are usually much larger and are therefore able to have readers. There's also a lot with security and so forth in where a reader can be placed. May I point you in the direction of the SpeakEv forum where you will find a whole host of extremely useful information. There is a section on the GTE.

[@xperyskop2475]

Ridiculous! Imagine if every one will have to do that at petrol stations! And I have an electric car for the past three years! Primary access to chargers should be credit/debit card not aps prepaid cards

[@Brian-om2hh]

There is legislation on the way ( maybe here already?) forcing any new charger installations to be capable of contactless payment.......

[@patdbean]

Contactless is best, but you should only have to set the app up once.

[@kjh789az]

Thanks for this demo.! The UK charging infrastructure is in a pathetic state because our useless government has no plan. It's good that Tesco offers a free vend, but even this is too slow a charge rate for most full EVs given an hours shopping time. Other supermarkets have different chargers or none. Solution? Move to Norway where the government has a very effective plan which has wired the road network, or buy a Tesla if you can find one/afford one.

[@christophersmith-zn2kn]

So the charging is free who actually covers the cost of the charging as we all know electric isn't free so do Tesco's cover by charging more for your goods

[@Jock55]

5 Tescos within easy commuting distance of my home.......... NO Charging Facilities! Come on Tesco, ASDA have done it.

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Come on Tesco indeed. Hopefully it won't take them much long 🙏

[@slippyg]

Way easier if you just type the name of the charger

[@richardwilton722]

Yes. If you have a 4 kilowatt (kW) charger in your car, and you charge for an hour, you will get 4 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy.

[@Ronin.r1der]

Maybe not use a echoey room on the next video

[@CortinasAndClassics]

Interesting but I don't understand the logic with electric. Why do we need to give them every piece of info about us? More data tracking and big brother following everybody. And why can't we just use chip and pin to pay when needed or actual money for what we use. Madness.

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Hi, thanks for your comment. Yes I totally agree, it does seem unnecessary and is inconvenient at time but I think a lot of providers have realised now that chip and pin is the way forward 👍

[@Brian-om2hh]

Contactless payment is coming to all newly installed chargers now. There are currently a further 30,000 new public charging connections being installed this year alone. All will have contactless payment facility. The complete Gridserve network will also be contactless payment, on all 100 sites throughout the UK.

[@CortinasAndClassics]

@@Brian-om2hh why? I don't like, trust or want contactless. We are all being pushed like sheep into this idiotic method of payment.

[@hottopics7561]

@@CortinasAndClassics i agree , people dont seem to understand the game plan of this technology

[@letsberealistic2288]

8 miles after charging a full hour oh dear 😳

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Let's be realistic about things...its a free charge at their expense. You don't get 8 miles of free petrol.

[@taz2392]

@@PlanetSavingNovice that is very true. Are you still using these now or going down the rapid charge route? We are getting out e-2008 and thinking how to charge it once a week as we can’t do it at home.

[@slartybartfarst9737]

So you have to have a phone that works, and a signal, to have an electric car. Frikin nonsense.

[@Brian-om2hh]

Not necessarily. If you charge at home you don't.

[@chrislecouteur2360]

Question ..... how are you saving the planet ? The electric still has to come from somewhere ..... should be how to get free electric

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Hi Chris, thank you for your question. Obviously I can't say where and how Tesco, or any other EV charging points, are getting their electric but I personally do most of my charging up at home. I am with a renewable energy provider so I can be safe in the knowledge that my electric isn't coming from fossil fuels. My electric car is reducing carbon emissions which contribute to climate change. I hope that helps clarify.

[@manwithcorsae7738]

Hi Chris, for a couple of years now the UK grid has been predominantly renewable. Coal/Gas have been an extremely small part of the mix. In fact there have been weeks now when coal hasn't been used and it won't be long until it's not used at all.

[@Brian-om2hh]

@@manwithcorsae7738 Coal and gas generation for energy now accounts for less than 5% of the UK's total needs.

[@silverismoney]

what ?? Right now gas (CCGT) makes up 30-40% of the UKs energy production method. You can see for yourself www.gridwatch.templar.co.uk/ coal is more or less gone from the UK power grid now, except in cases of extreme demand.

[@montyzumazoom1337]

@@Brian-om2hh And I bet coal supplies a great deal of China's needs. I read a few years ago they were building or planning to build 300 coal fired power stations!

[@donofarrel]

Very helpful. Thank you.

[@craigjtodd]

Helpful video and super nice couple! 😍 I'm now a subscriber to your channel.

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

Thank you Craig. That's very kind of you. Welcome to my channel 😃

[@craigjtodd]

@@PlanetSavingNovice Thank you! I just got my first electric car this week, so your videos have been very helpful for me. 👍😃

[@PlanetSavingNovice]

@@craigjtodd ahhh congratulations Craig!! Very excited for you! I hope you love it. Get all of your apps downloaded and register with them - prior preparation is key when charging out and about 😃

[@craigjtodd]

@@PlanetSavingNovice Yep! I've subscribed to Polar (now BP Pulse) and have also downloaded apps for PodPoint and Ecotricity. I'll let you know how I get on! 😃