Opportunity charging

[wurly]

I’ve only made a few enquiries so far and all have been negative even though I have tried to explain, as best I can, that charging my battery doesn’t use much electricity and I am not putting anyone in danger. Offering to pay generously for the privilege of doing so doesn’t seem to sway folks either.

One reply was anything electrical has to be PAT tested. (I had already figured that would be the first thing they would ask) so I replied my charger has a current ‘indate’PAT test label on it, to which they just said no……

At one establishment, the guy working there wouldn’t mind except his boss has camera’s everywhere and calls him about anything he has seen on camera that he doesn’t like. Not wanting to put this job at risk I thanked him and moved on to the next place. Except by now I thought it was a lost cause and what I am seeking to do doesn’t meet with general acceptance.

Would it be the same if I were to ask to plug in a laptop or a phone charger?​

[FONT=&quot]Just wondering if any of you fellow ebikers have ever asked to recharge your bike away from home at any time and what was the response?
[/FONT]

 

[Synthman]

Well, most people have the misconception that electric bikes are expensive to charge. Never tried charging it anywhere else except at my dad's. His house power monitor barely showed an increase.

I have to use a plug-in power monitor on my charger anyway. At most it would use 1/3rd of a unit on a complete full charge, and businesses get cheaper units I think anyway, probably less than the 15p/unit it costs me at home.

The main issue is not the cost, but whether it is electrically safe, since batteries are hazardous especially when charging.

If anyone would say to me it costs a lot to charge I'd terminate the conversation there and then.

 

[funkylyn]

I have only ever asked in pubs or restaurants where I was a customer and have never been refused.

People are just generally wary of anything different......they are used to mobile phone charging .....but electric bikes ??

Where have you been asking in Yeovil and I will boycott them ?

Lynda

 

[kitchenman]

I would just go to a place where you can charge notebook computers. Almost all coffee houses. I wouldn't ask. I would just plug in. If anyone asks just say its the new apple ibrick or ibot depending on whether you have a box style or bottle battery! ..
Also, check if any members are on your route. I'm sure most members would be happy for you to plug in.
If your journey involves a train then most of them now have power sockets under the seats ...

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I took my charger to school. Normally I wouldn't have asked, but I thought I might be able to get it PAT tested, which could be useful in other establishments. However, the guy pointed out that it didn't have the double insulation symbol on it so it wouldn't pass the test. I think it's the symbol with one square inside another. If you only have one square, it's single insulation.

 

[wurly]

Lynda, there is a free charging point in Yeovil available to all ebikers. My house...no need for boycotts!

I've been talking about a trip to West Bay and back, but i've yet to do it. It would be a disappointment to find i had to pedal all the way back because i couldn't 'volt up'.

I remember staying at a Bideford B&B to cycle the Tarka trail. Although they were reluctant at first, we did get the batteries charged up by paying more to stay there.

Has anyone read about 'kingfish' on the endless sphere forum? 2500 miles in 20days charging as he went. I can't imagine travelling anywhere in this country by ebike when people are so suspicious of anything they don't understand. Do they think their energy bills are going to sky rocket because a 10ah battery was charged up for an hour?

Anyway, aren't laptop batteries dangerous as well, there was a popular youtube video of one going up in flames.

 

[wurly]

Good point D8veh, i'll check mine out, don't want to give them any more excuses

Alan, yes i normally like direct action, but i think it is always best to ask first out of politeness. My ping batteries unfortunatly look like shrinkwrapped bombs with detonators attached which of course adds to the suspicious nature of trying to sneekily charging them up.

 

[Scottyf]

I did the same as Alan and just said it was a laPtop battery for more run time.

I explained the once that even when it was empty it only took 324watts which was roughly 8p in electric to charge. I just said it's like am it phone battery.

I'm sure if I took my larger lipo chargers about there would be questions!

 

[funkylyn]

Lynda, there is a free charging point in Yeovil available to all ebikers. My house...no need for boycotts!

I've been talking about a trip to West Bay and back, but i've yet to do it. It would be a disappointment to find i had to pedal all the way back because i couldn't 'volt up'.

I remember staying at a Bideford B&B to cycle the Tarka trail. Although they were reluctant at first, we did get the batteries charged up by paying more to stay there.

Has anyone read about 'kingfish' on the endless sphere forum? 2500 miles in 20days charging as he went. I can't imagine travelling anywhere in this country by ebike when people are so suspicious of anything they don't understand. Do they think their energy bills are going to sky rocket because a 10ah battery was charged up for an hour?

Anyway, aren't laptop batteries dangerous as well, there was a popular youtube video of one going up in flames.

Thats handy to know Mel......same here in Ilminster........and Alora ......if anyone ever cycles that far.......but shame about the boycott idea........it would certainly have made a lot more people aware of electric bikes ( though in retrospect, perhaps not the best of publicity )

OMG...what sort of B&B would charge more just to charge your batteries...shall I boycott them instead ?

Tarka trail is fabulous isnt it....I loved it......the Granite Way from Okehampton is stunning too

Hope you manage to find somewhere in West bay to charge up......I have cycled there but drove there in the motorhome .
If you head for Abbotsbury on that coast road from West Bay/Bridport there is a farm with cafe and small CL type campsite on your left and they were happy to charge my battery whilst I had lunch there.
Which enabled me to go on and do the cycle way from Maiden Newton to Dorchester......and that was good too.

Lynda

 

[Deleted member 4366]

It's interesting to see that you live in Illminster Lynda. I used to work at Daido Bearings (formerly Federal Mogul) as their Quality Manager. Do you know anyone from there?

 

[mike killay]

Has anybody tried going to an ordinary garage. They will charge car batteries.

 

[funkylyn]

Well,d8veh.......I have to admit I had to google them to even see where they are !

Then realised that I've cycled past them many times up Winterhay lane.

My excuse is I have only been here 3 years and also Ilminster has lots of companies tucked away all over the place that unless you are a local you dont know about them.

So, anyway, no, I dont know anyone who works there.....at least not to my knowledge.

Did you live in Ilminster long then ? What did you think of it ?
I really love it here

Lynda

 

[muckymits]

I have a little BnB in Durham very close to NCR1, so we get a few cyclists every year. I will be feeding a power supply in to the storage shed this winter, We WONT charge extra. It might even encourage the wife to use it rather than me draping leads all over the garage.

Been looking in to the new hire scheme but its far too expensive and restrictive, so may go it alone.

 

[funkylyn]

Good luck with the B&B ......you are lucky living up there....so many cycle routes, at least from my home town of South Shields its amazing how many and they all inter connect.....oh, if only the weather was better......I've got soft living further south

Would it not be a really good idea to have a list of members with, say B&B's, pubs, coffee shops, campsites, etc, on/near cycle paths or anywhere really, who would be happy to allow battery re- charges ?
Or would it just be too difficult and fraught with possible problems ?

Lynda

 

[kitchenman]

Good point D8veh, i'll check mine out, don't want to give them any more excuses

Alan, yes i normally like direct action, but i think it is always best to ask first out of politeness. My ping batteries unfortunatly look like shrinkwrapped bombs with detonators attached which of course adds to the suspicious nature of trying to sneekily charging them up.

You need one of funkylyn's knitted battery covers ...

 

[kitchenman]

I would hope that cycle shops would be glad to offer charging facilities .. if I had a cycle shop I would have a charging station right at the front of the shop with a big sign saying something like EBIKE CHARGING POINT ... imagine the variety of bikes that would turn up ....making the front of shop look more interesting ....
Also, after the recent announcement by Mercedes then all the Smart garages should be willing ... in fact, anyone who wants to sell ebikes or ebike conversion services is missing out on a marketing opportunity ..

 

[funkylyn]

Reaction Electric already have this facility outside their shop in Taunton.....oh that all will follow soon.............however its not much good to those of us who mainly cycle either on country lanes or traffic free cycle paths ........maybe persuade a few farmers ....

Lynda

 

[kitchenman]

Reaction Electric already have this facility outside their shop in Taunton.....oh that all will follow soon.............however its not much good to those of us who mainly cycle either on country lanes or traffic free cycle paths ........maybe persuade a few farmers ....

Lynda

Yes. Thats a good shout.. Farmer's shops should put up the "EBIKE CHARGING POINT" sign. Funny enough I passed some farmers this morning. They were very friendly. One recognised that I had a motor and another shouted out "good man" as I negotiated a tricky watery, leafy, muddy bend where they were standing ...

 

[funkylyn]

Hope you didnt swamp them in mud Alan......that wouldnt do our cause much good...especially at the speeds you go at...

Lynda

 

[carpetbagger]

I took my charger to school. Normally I wouldn't have asked, but I thought I might be able to get it PAT tested, which could be useful in other establishments. However, the guy pointed out that it didn't have the double insulation symbol on it so it wouldn't pass the test. I think it's the symbol with one square inside another. If you only have one square, it's single insulation.

you do know you have to be 14 to ride an ebike ..hahaha