Instavolt Charging Hub - Banbury

[SteveMc]

Just wanted to share my experience at this new charging venue that opened only 12 days ago.

I always find the Ecotricity motorway chargers either out of order, charging at something like 3kW, or already in use. I now never plan a route that relies on using them, they are a colossal waste of time.

The Ionity chargers coverage is still incredibly thin, for example none on my drive London - Birmingham - Manchester, you'd have thought they would have some on the connections of three of our largest cities?

I am however finding the Instavolt network much more reliable, if sometimes a little off the beaten track. The new Banbury hub is at J11 of the M40 and has 8 (yes 8!) shiny new 150kW chargers, one of which just gave me a mega fast charge on the way back to London tonight.

We need more of these please!!

Sponsored

 

[jetbox]

Perfect. Good shout as I will be heading down the m40 soon. How long did it take you to charge?

 

[SteveMc]

Perfect. Good shout as I will be heading down the m40 soon. How long did it take you to charge?

I was on about 28% when I arrived, plugged in and walked to the Costa next to the chargers. Spent around 30 minutes having a coffee and leg stretch and returned to about 90% battery, which by my maths equates to about a 114kW charge.

I didn't really log it in the car or Connect app, but the charger screen said it was charging at 125kW when I plugged it in, which seems about right given the above.

 

[TAYC4N]

Yes Instavolt are on a roll and their chargers are being rolled out way faster than IONITY! Very easy to use too. Many more coming within the next 6 months. They have had a massive equity injection by their funders.
35p per kw not bad too!

https://instavolt.co.uk/for-drivers/

 

[TAYC4S]

Good to know. What I am a bit unclear on is how do you find these places. Is the Porsche inbuilt GPS picking up all these potential charge locations, or do you have to use Apple Carplay and a different GPS/navigation app? Just trying to figure out how many steps/complex it is to find when you are out on the road and need a charge.

 

[Sonic]

Good to know. What I am a bit unclear on is how do you find these places. Is the Porsche inbuilt GPS picking up all these potential charge locations, or do you have to use Apple Carplay and a different GPS/navigation app? Just trying to figure out how many steps/complex it is to find when you are out on the road and need a charge.

https://www.zap-map.com - and the app on your phone.

Edit: Ironically the Banbury ones are not yet on there

 

[TAYC4S]

https://www.zap-map.com - and the app on your phone.

Edit: Ironically the Banbury ones are not yet on there

yes - more apps to manage :-( I think I might use the app "A Better Routeplanner" and connect it via Apple Carplay if that works...

 

[SteveMc]

https://www.zap-map.com - and the app on your phone.

Edit: Ironically the Banbury ones are not yet on there

Yes I totally recommend Zap Map as well

The Banbury hub is on there (it's how I found them )

 

[Sonic]

Yes I totally recommend Zap Map as well

The Banbury hub is on there (it's how I found them )

You're absolutely right - i was filtering by Ionity, but they're also listed at only 100kW.

 

[Gogs]

I’ll be swinging in past these next week for a charge. Heading to southampton for the boat show! I’ll be leaving my cheque book at home!!

 

[Squarecircle]

I used my first instavolt charger yesterday, a 125kw one and it worked flawlessly. Very easy to use, just tap and charge.

 

[andyd]

Used it a few times, good, especially when costa is open. Similar one, ionity at Milton Keynes coachway.

Just wanted to share my experience at this new charging venue that opened only 12 days ago.

I always find the Ecotricity motorway chargers either out of order, charging at something like 3kW, or already in use. I now never plan a route that relies on using them, they are a colossal waste of time.

The Ionity chargers coverage is still incredibly thin, for example none on my drive London - Birmingham - Manchester, you'd have thought they would have some on the connections of three of our largest cities?

I am however finding the Instavolt network much more reliable, if sometimes a little off the beaten track. The new Banbury hub is at J11 of the M40 and has 8 (yes 8!) shiny new 150kW chargers, one of which just gave me a mega fast charge on the way back to London tonight.

We need more of these please!!

 

[Gogs]

These chargers are great. Used them 4 times now. Perfect speed for charging.

 

[andyd]

I used this twice yesterday !
It was raining. Hopefully they'll start putting canopies over them soon. Always seems to rain when I charge these days .

I drive into Beaconsfield services on way to see how the ionity units were coming along. They don't look far off but still no covers.

I've emailed Instavolt in the vain hope they might listen!

Device 2 - the card reader wouldn't work yesterday. Someone else tried too.

Did you find it strange that you had to use your card to end the charge though before you could remove the plug ?

Just wanted to share my experience at this new charging venue that opened only 12 days ago.

I always find the Ecotricity motorway chargers either out of order, charging at something like 3kW, or already in use. I now never plan a route that relies on using them, they are a colossal waste of time.

The Ionity chargers coverage is still incredibly thin, for example none on my drive London - Birmingham - Manchester, you'd have thought they would have some on the connections of three of our largest cities?

I am however finding the Instavolt network much more reliable, if sometimes a little off the beaten track. The new Banbury hub is at J11 of the M40 and has 8 (yes 8!) shiny new 150kW chargers, one of which just gave me a mega fast charge on the way back to London tonight.

We need more of these please!!