CycleCharge Charge Point Service Options

[kitchenman]

I haven't look at the profile options that we have for charge points and I suspect that this is something that will be enhanced by Morphix in the coming months. There will be different levels of service offered. This thread is an attempt to list them all. So far I have these:

1. Basic leave and charge where the member provides both battery and charger
2. Stay and charge with battery somewhere on the premises
3. Stay and charge with battery at table
4. Leave battery. Charge Point provides charger
5. Exchange battery. Charge Point has a battery charged and ready for the member to use. Member re-exchanges on the return journey.

 

[flecc]

Given the cost and relatively short life of batteries, I can't see any battery exchange occurring for some years yet. The only exception could be with two of an owner's own batteries by prior arrangement with a known chargepoint provider.

Number 4 is also likely to be rare for a long time, given the very specific requirements of many battery types and makes.

 

[kitchenman]

Given the cost and relatively short life of batteries, I can't see any battery exchange occurring for some years yet. The only exception could be with two of an owner's own batteries by prior arrangement with a known chargepoint provider.

Number 4 is also likely to be rare for a long time, given the very specific requirements of many battery types and makes.

4 and 5 are available now from a couple of charge points. Me (cytronex) and my brother(fast4ward) ... I agree though that business charge points are unlikely to offer this service at this time if ever! ...

ps. when I say now, I actually mean ,, shortly ..I need to update my profile and blackmail my brother!

 

[funkylyn]

I haven't look at the profile options that we have for charge points and I suspect that this is something that will be enhanced by Morphix in the coming months. There will be different levels of service offered. This thread is an attempt to list them all. So far I have these:

1. Basic leave and charge where the member provides both battery and charger
2. Stay and charge with battery somewhere on the premises
3. Stay and charge with battery at table
4. Leave battery. Charge Point provides charger
5. Exchange battery. Charge Point has a battery charged and ready for the member to use. Member re-exchanges on the return journey.

No, Alan, there will not be an option in the forseeable future of Chargepoints providing chargers, or exchanging batteries, at the moment we are trying our best to get enough Chargepoints to agree to allow members to at least partially charge their batteries using their own chargers.

Can we please try to keep this simple and uncomplicated for now and all channel our energies into actually getting as many Chargepoints registered as possible.

This surely has to be the main priority for all of us at the moment......the rest, for now at least, is just pie in a very big empty 'chargepoint less' sky ........

Lynda

 

[wurly]

I must have visited about 40 establishments so far and not one has succesfully registered as a charge point even though they were showing great enthusiasm to begin with.
The landlord in our local pub said he tried and failed to register. He doesn't know why nothing happened and to be honest i don't either. I have managed to register as a charge point ok, so maybe the site is difficult to use or maybe they don't have a paypal account to cover the postage.
I don't know what the problem is. I will follow up with some phone calls soon.
Has anyone else had any feedback?

 

[kitchenman]

My butcher registered ok - no help at all from me. I don't think the charge point has to pay for the charge point pack. Perhaps Morphix can clarify...
One thing I am going to do before I go out next time is to put my name and number on the back of the flyer so that the prospect can call me if they have any trouble registering ....

 

[kitchenman]

Are you the "private dwelling" in the directory list?

Also ,. if any of my charge points register I am delivering their packs. In fact, if there is anyone registering in a 15 miles radius of my location I will be delivering the packs.

 

[neptune]

I have contacted about 15 local businesses . Many seemed quite enthusiastic at the time , but so far no one has registered . This included a local bike shop , who has an ebike in his window . I find this disappointing , but I do not want to be too negative about it . Assuming that there is not a problem with registration , we must look elsewhere for the reason . I might be a scruffy old git ,but in the past I have had a lot of success in selling things . The climate for many businesses is grim . They are all looking to cut costs , and it is not impossible that they assume that the electricity costs will be higher than stated . They may fear that ebikers will get in the way of business . They may already be under pressure , and signing up is more hassle that they do not need . Many businesses just serve a local area , and have little interest in national advertising . I personally feel that it might have been a better idea for charge points to levy a small monetary charge .No one is going to miss 50 pence or even a quid . That way , as a salesmen , you can point out that you are giving them something rather than asking for something . Like i say , I do not wish to appear negative , and I take my hat off to those people who have been more successful than me .I welcome the views of others .

 

[kitchenman]

Thats good going. I have only been to 7 places so far. 2 have registered. The 1st place 1stgearcycles failed to register initially but tried again and succeeded on his own. The 2nd place was Joyce and Lucas who registered ok but I will double check with them to see if they found it difficult etc... It would be interesting to see if any of your 15 tried to register although I appreciate that a return visit may be ... umm ... awkward ... on the positive side there are now at least 15 people who know the name "CycleCharge" as we increase in popularity then there is always a chance that they will registered in the future. So, .. keep going! ....

 

[funkylyn]

We have recently had a meeting discussing these problems.

Paul is right now re writing the site and simplifying it, should be finished before the end of this week.
Meanwhile I have encountered similar problems which I have put down to apathy, lack of time whatever.

We think it would be a good idea to ask businesses if they would like US to register for them and see if this helps....what do you think ?

I am going to try this myself when I get back home this week.

None of my chargepoints however had any problem when they registered themselves......

" its a mystery to me.......the game commences.......for the usual fee.....plus expenses " etc........sorry, must be my recent stay in Geordie land.........

Lets see what a new site revamp does and try asking the businesses to let US register them......we are all trying so hard.......we WILL win through......every good idea has its teething problems.....we will all be laughing about this next year as we happily cycle around the country charging as we go

Lynda

 

[kitchenman]

Paul is right now re writing the site and simplifying it, should be finished before the end of this week.
Lynda

I volunteer to test the new site and would suggest we get a few other members to form a test team. One of the golden rules in IT is "he who develops dont test". This is no slight on the developer. This is just good practice.

 

[funkylyn]

Hopefully Alan we will all be testing it very soon with lots of new chargepoints, personally I find the current site easy and straightforward so this one should be a doddle.

Lets just see what the new chargepoints say when they try....hopefully with us there with them.......or us doing genuine tests as we register for them.....

Lynda

 

[kitchenman]

We think it would be a good idea to ask businesses if they would like US to register for them and see if this helps....what do you think ?

No harm offering to register for them? ... umm Dunno .. thinking about my 7 visits none of them could have been registered by me ... Joyce and Lucas computer was at home!, 1stgearcycles had customers waiting and wouldn't have wanted me intruding on his behind the counter space on his companies computer! ....

I think most people would want to read the flyer in their own time without the pressure of the salesperson. But the flyer could certainly contain "call this no. for help with registration" or something .. I was asked to put my number on the back of a flyer and I didn't have a pen! ....

 

[funkylyn]

No harm offering to register for them? ... umm Dunno .. thinking about my 7 visits none of them could have been registered by me ... Joyce and Lucas computer was at home!, 1stgearcycles had customers waiting and wouldn't have wanted me intruding on his behind the counter space on his companies computer! ....

No, Alan, I mean, take down their details and do it for them at your home later........

Lynda

 

[kitchenman]

No, Alan, I mean, take down their details and do it for them at your home later........

Lynda

Ah! I see.. well ,, if they have decided that they want to register then no harm at all.

 

[funkylyn]

Ah! I see.. well ,, if they have decided that they want to register then no harm at all.

Exactly !
As several members have commented, including myself, that we have left seemingly keen to register businesses who never actually do it, this could perhaps work when they say they want to go ahead, we take the details and put them online ourselves........simples.......hopefully

Lynda

 

[funkylyn]

. I was asked to put my number on the back of a flyer and I didn't have a pen! ....

What ......all those blooming bottles and not ONE of them with a pen in it ?????

Lynda

 

[kitchenman]

What ......all those blooming bottles and not ONE of them with a pen in it ?????

Lynda

I suppose this is predictable. I am awake with a head full of a CycleCharge idea! .... and as I've no-one else to talk to .. you'll do! .... Pens? (this is not the idea. I'll explain that in a minute..) lets get some engraved with CycleCharge.org.uk! ... if we have pens people will be sure to take us seriously. Make sure they are light though as I can't have too much weight over my head! ...
The idea: Reward for my Charge Points. It was pointed out to me that I should of had CycleCharge.org.uk on both sides of the bike. Its doable. Currently I'm just using the bottom of the bottles cut and inverted. The tops have screw caps which I can easily attached lettered discs to. However, instead of CycleCharge.org.uk I was thinking of rewarding my charge points by using their company names or web site urls. So, next Saturday I'll go down to 1stgearcycles and show him and get his approval and set off for a ride around the the town. Then I'll go to Joyce and Lucas and do the same. When I stop to sign up my next place I'll show them that they too can have their name up in lights ...

 

[kitchenman]

and another reward/incentive idea ... this would work well for Garden Centre with cafes. Have a CycleCharge promotion event and organise a few of the local members to go. Set up in the car park, show off their bikes, sell the CycleCharge idea to the customers. Have lunch in the cafe. give out leaflets. Obviously the Garden Centre will need to register and provide charging points. Wouldn't need many members. I reckon 4-6 would cause quite a stir. Arrange the bikes by the front entrance ..

 

[flecc]

Don't be misled by apparent keenness to join. People running businesses have reps etc calling all the time with propositions, so they quickly learn the best way to keep such visits brief is to show strong interest. I know at first hand since I always did it myself in the areas I ran. Not showing interest keeps the caller persisting and prolonging the visit.

For each ten or more showing interest you may just get one who goes further. I don't see that as a problem. With the sparcity of e-bikes we don't need several charge points in each street, village or even town, just one or two will do.