Got a signal?
22 April 2022
Electric vehicle drivers with concerns about finding a convenient place to recharge when in unfamiliar territory might sometimes face another kind of charge anxiety.
The issue is that drivers usually need to use the provider’s smartphone app to connect to the electricity charge point but in network black spots it’s impossible.
The Sunday Times reported recently that the prime minister has urged Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, to publish maps of areas where one or more of the big four mobile networks have no coverage, to help drivers.
The blog’s occasional series of posts on the practicalities of EV operation have previously highlighted several challenges that drivers may face.
Such issues suggest that EVs are ideally suited for drivers in urban areas or along main road networks that are well served by charge points and mobile phone masts. In some rural locations, things can get much more challenging.
● Speaking from personal experience, it’s a similar situation with ‘smart’ electricity meters which transmit data via a mobile phone network. A few years ago I enquired about having one at home, but after conducting many tests the friendly power company technician told me that the signal in our rural location simply isn’t strong enough. Isn't technology wonderful?
