Site electricity usage - recharging electric cars???

[TeamBandS]

I've had a long held view on people who use electricity for every thig on site "coz I paid for it". But when it comes to leaving fan heaters on in awnings when going out, heaters on in van/caravan 24/7 and opening windows to cool off ( yes I do know people who do) and buying induction stoves because they do not want to use there own gas, I start to get grumpy! I am not an "eco worrier" but do hate waste. Today on a site in France I saw someone using the electricity to charge their car (German with a medium size caravan so must have come a distance) With the advancement in EV ranges I guess this will be happen more and more. Site owners rising electricity costs must be causing a real problem and at the end of the day they are a business. This can only result in them having to charge more for electricity which could make some increase their usage as they now have to pay more! I for one would welcome being charged for what I use as I do on the site I use in Spain but do appreciate the investment involved for site owners. What do Funsters think - especially those who run/own sites?

 

[SandraL]

I think metered electricity will become the norm. Already exists on some continental sites.

 

[denisejoe]

I'd like to see a choice of non electric pitches. We rarely need EHU so don't want to have to pay for it. The other alternative would be metered electric.

 

[dunnah01]

Most continental leccy is limited power and metered so don't have a problem with it. In the UK the great unwashed will probably take the p1$$ and spoil it for the rest

 

[PP Bear]

Something will need to change, as more and more EV’s will be arriving on sites.

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[philann]

CAMC charge, I think, £9 per day to charge electric cars. You have to do it from your unit, not directly from the bollard for some reason.

Electric vehicle charging on Club sites

www.caravanclub.co.uk

 

[EuroTrotters]

The site we went on in February had electricity charging points for cars, dedicated.

 

[Vipar]

Pay your way in life, don’t be a ponce

 

[Gromett]

Fortunately we have a free market in the UK.

Some campsites will offer separate EV hookup points charged separately.
Some will meter it at the pitch.
Some will ban it entirely.
Others will go off grid.
Others will give you a choice.

The freemarket is a marvellous thing and you will be able to find campsites that suite you.

Here is one thing to remember though. Future EV motorhomes won't be carrying around a leisure battery or gas bottle or any of the related stuff. They will all run directly off the vehicle battery. I personally think solar panels will also become a thing of the past on motorhomes.
A 100AH lead acid leisure battery has <50 AH of usable electric in it. This equates to 600Wh of usable power. An EV can come with between 60,000Wh and 100,000Wh. So running out of leisure battery is not going to be an issue anymore.
Going off grid is going to be much much easier.

If a campsite starts charging excessive amounts for EV charging/hookups. It will be worth charging up your vehicle at the nearest services and arriving on pitch fully charged and declining a hookup.
Lots of variations, options and possibilities going forward. We will be spoiled for choice in the medium to long term. Short term, yes there are going to be issues, some price gouging and some failures. But medium to long term I think it will be great.

 

[Tigger-Tim]

....

Here is one thing to remember though. Future EV motorhomes won't be carrying around a leisure battery or gas bottle or any of the related stuff. They will all run directly off the vehicle battery...

The Kia EV6 can power 230v items from the vehicle battery - perfect for campers.

Hands-on: Hyundai, Kia's V2L feature can literally save your bacon in a power outage

Hyundai's new E-GMP EVs can output power to run tools, gadgets or even appliances during power outages and emergencies.

www.cnet.com

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[Gromett]

The Kia EV6 can power 230v items from the vehicle battery - perfect for campers.

Hands-on: Hyundai, Kia's V2L feature can literally save your bacon in a power outage

Hyundai's new E-GMP EVs can output power to run tools, gadgets or even appliances during power outages and emergencies.

www.cnet.com

It is becoming a pretty common feature. Ford's Pickup has an inverter built in as does the upcoming Telsa Cybertruck and the Rivian Pickup.

I think in the future there will be legislation that forces all EV's to support V2G as well.

 

[Trevor Wbm]

I suspect there's a limit to the number of cars that could be recharged at the same time on the same site given the power available is not infinite. The 'granny charger' for my hyrbid takes 10amps, so I assume wouldn't work with an 8 or 6 amp supply which isn't uncommon - fully electric cars take more power. Upgrading the network to cope with a majority of electric cars is going to be a challenge for everyone - single phase can support 100amps (I'm told), so that's only 10 cars like mine, charging at 2.3Kw, concurrently.

 

[Tombola]

I suspect there's a limit to the number of cars that could be recharged at the same time on the same site given the power available is not infinite. The 'granny charger' for my hyrbid takes 10amps, so I assume wouldn't work with an 8 or 6 amp supply which isn't uncommon - fully electric cars take more power. Upgrading the network to cope with a majority of electric cars is going to be a challenge for everyone - single phase can support 100amps (I'm told), so that's only 10 cars like mine, charging at 2.3Kw, concurrently.

my ev will go down to as low as 5 amps

 

[Fontie]

Sooner sites go metred the better, those that want electric pay for what they use, those that don't want it just pay the pitch price.

The pitch price should be reduced by whatever is factored in at the moment for electric included. Doing this would stop the wee wee takers that leave their heaters on 24/7 in their unit and awning if they have one and charging their cars which at the moment we all pay for because this is factored in the price at the moment. Everyone pays for what electric they use much fairer IMHO

 

[gus-lopez]

hat do Funsters think - especially those who run/own sites?

Ehu shouldn't be supplied.

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[teddybear]

Do remember some years ago begin on a site. The guy behind me was on a non electric. Every couple of nights he would run a cable to a empty socket as soon as it got dark then pull it out early the following day. I assume there will need to be locks somewhere to stop things like that.

 

[Gromett]

Ehu shouldn't be supplied.

Why not? Can you please explain your logic around such a bold statement.

 

[Tombola]

Do remember some years ago begin on a site. The guy behind me was on a non electric. Every couple of nights he would run a cable to a empty socket as soon as it got dark then pull it out early the following day. I assume there will need to be locks somewhere to stop things like that.

quite possible switchboard at the receprion/office

 

[Tombola]

Ehu shouldn't be supplied.

eh?

 

[Puddleduck]

Ehu shouldn't be supplied.

I'm a bit confused by that. We use EHU for medical equipment and have the motorhome so we can actually get away for a break.

Personally I think electric should be metered so if you use a lot you pay for it and the other way round.

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[Lenny HB]

Do remember some years ago begin on a site. The guy behind me was on a non electric. Every couple of nights he would run a cable to a empty socket as soon as it got dark then pull it out early the following day. I assume there will need to be locks somewhere to stop things like that.

Lots of sites have the sockets in a locked box.

 

[gus-lopez]

Why not? Can you please explain your logic around such a bold statement.

My logic is that you are camping. It is inconvenient for site owners as well as expensive to install. The general public,regardless of what you charge, will always take liberties. If you don't supply it you won't have problems.

 

[Phill D]

I was only commenting last evening of the huge number of electric bikes on site that get charged every night.
I think your right it us only going to get more use which will require more investment by sites ergo prices will rise.
A choice and a metered supply would suit us.

 

[Puddleduck]

My logic is that you are camping. It is inconvenient for site owners as well as expensive to install. The general public,regardless of what you charge, will always take liberties. If you don't supply it you won't have problems.

If I was camping I'd still have a tent.

Without the motorhome we would really struggle to have time away from home. Hotels are often a no go but one cruise line does manage really well.

 

[TeamBandS]

Thanks everyone - it's nice to know that I am not completely out on a limb and just being a grumpy old man!

No easy answers - perhaps if sites down sizes the fuses and if you pop them tuff. In Spain the site has the fuses with a usage counter that show how much you use and charges accordingly. They used to have to read the fuse when you left but this year they seem to be able to have remote access which makes life easy when you check out.

I suspect that this would be a large expense for site owners but with the way Elec prices are rising they may have to. It also needs to be remembered that should everyone suddenly start to draw their 16 amps for the car for long periods than the site supply might need upgrading - a significant expense especially if site is somewhat remote.

Could this be a subject for a Funsters pole? Something like " Should sites charge for the electricity you use?" No idea how this is set up - Big man in the sky?

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[gus-lopez]

I'm a bit confused by that. We use EHU for medical equipment and have the motorhome so we can actually get away for a break.

Personally I think electric should be metered so if you use a lot you pay for it and the other way round.

Can you not run off of solar or is there not enough to keep up? I charge most of my wife's stuff in the van parked outside at home here as it costs nothing with the amount of sun & cheaper than using electric in the house.

If I was camping I'd still have a tent.

I'd be using a genny in that situation.

It also needs to be remembered that should everyone suddenly start to draw their 16 amps for the car for long periods than the site supply might need upgrading

16 Amps!! I wish i had that in the house. On the other hand i don't as I would have to pay another 10€ a month for the increase in potencia.

 

[Gromett]

My logic is that you are camping. It is inconvenient for site owners as well as expensive to install. The general public,regardless of what you charge, will always take liberties. If you don't supply it you won't have problems.

Erm, it is up to the site owners to choose. Running any business has inconveniences and expenses. If you don't supply 9/10 you won't have a business.

 

[funflair]

We are in Germany and using stellplatz with electric option penny in the slot type meters, people are driving in so should be fully charged but still plugging in, the sun is belting down and a lot have big roofs that could be filled with solar

 

[busbuddy]

I struggle with the whole argument, if you have 13amp then whatever you plug in is up to the individual
If you want led twinkly lights that can be seen from space
If you want to charge leccy bikes
If you want to charge leccy car
If you want to run your heater, hot water, microwave, coffee machine, hair dryer , travel iron
If you just want to run fridge

It's up to the individual, wasting the electric is a personal view not the rules...if someone runs a coffee machine I dont see the point but it not waste......its their choice, they pay the bill
I cant tell my neighbours they must not leave a light on all night because it is not my choice and not my bill
If they cut ehu to 5amp will people still complain that some use the whole 5amp, there are bigger problems in all our lives than worrying about what my 'neighbour' is plugging in his/her ehu

 

[gus-lopez]

Erm, it is up to the site owners to choose.

And speaking if I was one they wouldn't be getting any.

Running any business has inconveniences and expenses.

But if you can exclude the ones who want 'live at home' benefits all the better.

If you don't supply 9/10 you won't have a business.

The only site I use in UK has no ehu,no dump no showers,but toilet and water. No rubbish facilities all must be taken away.No music of any sort allowed or tv s that can by heard outside. Tends to be full most weekends?

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