The Trouble with Electric Car Charging

This week I’m in a Polestar 2.

Polestar is made in a Volvo factory alongside other Volvos, but was spun off as the performance brand. And, perform it does. It is a cracker, and it tempts you to flatten your foot at every chance. This ruins any chance of economical driving, so charging will become your most important consideration.

I wanted a full day of frisky frolicks on the morrow, and needed to top up that nasty old 70% for the occasion. Chargefox Ultra Fast NRMA outlets are close by, and was our first choice, Hoorah.

Normally I’d check the app to make sure one is available, but as I was passing, I took a chance and dropped in.

This Week: 2022 Ford Puma ST Line V Review

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ABOVE: 2022 Polestar2, Chargefox, chargefox charger broken

What emerged was a conga line of catastrophe.

First, there isn’t a reliable way of locating charging stations. Google is a good start, but lists a dizzying array from which to select. It doesn’t say which are in use, or indeed, which are actually in service. But, back to my story.

I arrived to find a Model 3 Tesla at the 50kw charger. “No worries,” I uttered pluckily. I was going to use the ultra-fast 350kw unit. Yay me, right?

Yeah nah!

Of the two 350kw units, one displayed a red status bar with the power of a thousand suns. Its display (which wasn’t working at all last time I saw it) proudly said, “OUT OF ORDER. The other was green, free, and ready to roll. I backed the Polestar 2 in, got out, raring to go.

The man in the model 3 leaned out the window and said, “Yeah mate, not working mate. They’re both buggered.” My heart sank. Undeterred, I tried it anyway, and as the helpful Tesla owner had asserted, both 350kw Chargefox units were indeed, buggered.

Upon consulting the app, I discovered the cooling sensor had failed on both units. Although a call went out for parts, the notice was over a month old so there was little hope of a fast fix. Curse and damn.

To make matters worse, a handsome stranger hailing from Newcastle-Upon-Steel, up north, had driven his Nissan Leaf down, requiring an immediate boost. I had the strong urge to give him a helping hand, cos I’m that kinda guy. He was next in line and I was pressed for time, so I abandoned my venture.

There is an Audi 50kw unit 100 metres away, with its parking spots clearly labelled, “e-Tron”. I’ll nip back later tonight to top up.

What a complete and utter clusterphuck!