Trip to the South West from the Midlands

[CrowSysE243]

Ooh - I didn't know that about Electroverse and Ionity. I'll use that instead now. However there's only really one Ionity charger locations anywhere near the routes I tend to drive, which is a shame.

At least they are expanding the network quite fast. When we first had an EV there was only one near any of our normal routes. Now there are 10. There are now 27 in the UK with a further 16 currently in build so you may get a few more convenient ones sometime.

[DazAutomatic]

Lots of good advice. We do Yorkshire to Cornwall and back on a regular basis. Rarely have a problem. Grab an app like ABRP, WattsUp, ZapMap or PlugShare to help you plan in advance. Cullompton (Ionity + 2 old Gridserve + Instavolt round the corner) and Exeter (Gridserve) are good suggestions for plan A and B, but can get busy at peak times, and Cullompton is difficult to queue at. But it's unlikely both will be completely down. I'd probably joint the A30 at the end of the M5 instead of going A38 via Plymouth and Saltash, but at least your way provides a number of other charging options like Salmon's Leap at Buckfastleigh (Osprey) and St Mellion (Instavolt). All these (apart from the Ionity at Cullompton if memory serves) take contactless, the Ionity will take your PowerPass RFID card. As others have suggested, an Electroverse RFID card offers some discounts; whilst I have a PowerPass and Shell RFID card, the Electroverse one is all I ever need alongside the contactless. You'll need the Tesla app if you use the superchargers off the A30 Lifton near Launceston. I wouldn't necessarily rely on getting a charge from the single rapid in Bude centre. Remember to account for use while there and for your return journey.

[RichR]

Yeah, I gave up on the Bude charger - it'd more reliable to just granny charge off a socket in my mum's kitchen if I need it However I tend to charge to 90% at Exeter, and that'll get me to Bude, over to my sister in Bideford, then back to Bude, and back to Exeter with about 20% remaining. If the weather's poor or I've been elsewhere, I'll tend to call in at the farm shop in Lifton for a little boost. That's bad though as I almost always end up buying nice pies and things from the shop whilst I'm there I tend to stop every 2 hours on the drive down from just south of York, and put a bit of charge in (maybe only 30% additional), usually that means a stop around Warwick (Instavolts at McDonalds off the Longbridge roundabout, rarely busy and a good place for the toilet and a cup of tea), then Gloucester for lunch and a bit of a charge, finally Exeter or Cullompton depending on traffic.

For Changomutney though, Looe should be much easier, there are more decent chargers on that route, and might not even need anything after Exeter or Plymouth/Saltash anyway.

[Amaso]

For your drive from Leamington Spa to Looe, you might want to stop at service stations like Exeter or Taunton Deane, where you’ll find fast chargers. Plug & Charge should work when the car is connected to a charger, but testing it at home first is a good idea. Besides your Power Pass card and Visa card, consider downloading additional charging apps like Zap-Map or PlugShare for real-time charger locations and status updates. I recently stayed at this hotel and it was a great experience, so it might be worth looking into for a comfortable stay on your journey.

[cherryboy]

There are 2 Tesla supercharger stations at Exeter both within a couple of miles of the M5. We use the one at Darts Farm in June - able to check on availability using the Tesla app and much cheaper than most fast chargers

[IanJ]

Plug and Charge only works with Ionity charge points. With PowerPass it only works when you have a paid subscription. However it does work with the Octopus/Electroverse membership.

[RichR]

I’m in Cornwall again - can confirm that the Tesla chargers at Gloucester and Lifton worked a treat. Lifton (on the A30 near Launceston) has a huge number of chargers - and it’s tucked away behind a hotel and deli (with toilets) in the small village. Can recommend the sandwiches in the deli too.

[Dorsetandy]

The new Gloucester services are great both north and southbound - Tesla chargers plus some others and really great home cooked food - owned by the same company that operates T Bay services on the M6. The Lifton superchargers have recently been upgraded with the V4 Tesla chargers with contactless terminals and at least doubled the number there.

[RichR]

Back in North Yorkshire - left north west Cornwall at 8am, got home at 4pm. Lifton really is a game changer for my trips, as it’s in the perfect place and with so many Tesla chargers there you’re pretty sure to find one free.

Did about 900 miles, average of 4.2 mi/kWh. Charged whilst I had lunch at Gloucester on the way down, Hopwood (lots of new Applegreen chargers) on the way back. Plus Lifton in both directions.

[Goaty]

/\ ah good to know about Lifton . We were in Cornwall last weekend (the sunny one ) and although I had a petrol car, I was thinking about where I’d charge when I go electric again later this year. Two years ago when I had the Enyaq, I charged at Cullompton on the M5 and again at Cornwall Services just off the A30; their fast chargers were still being built then but they had some 50kW ones on free vend. Almost certainly not free now, I’d assume.

Quick question (as I’m a bit out of touch now) : how much are you paying per kWh these days? Thanks.