Man tests every rapid EV charger to highlight what the actual reality is like

This YouTuber wanted to test out every EV charger in his area to see which one fared the best.

Efficient Alex had set out to test rapid EV chargers in the UK.

He wanted to compare them on app requirements, pricing, discounts/perks, ease of use, and how fast they charge cars.

Which one would tick the most boxes?

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Testing every EV charger

The following chargers were examined: Shell Recharge, MFG, Gridserve, Instavolt, Tesla, Ionity, BP Pulse, and Fastned.

As far as Shell was concerned, a high price of $1.20 per kWh and the need to have a subscription for 30 percent off were cited against it.

Using the app would get you a cheaper charging price, but Alex opted for a card payment.

Over at the MFG hub, the app use was relatively straightforward despite some minor annoyances, like notification warnings.

There was plenty to praise from the fast start on the charging, to free coffee, and a free car wash on every fourth visit.

At Gridserve, the price was roughly $1.06 per kWh, but Alex noted that it took a bit longer for charging to ‘show’.

For Instavolt, the app felt clunky to use, and he accidentally got charged for a $26.98 top-up while signing up.

And of course, what round-up of EV chargers would be complete without paying a visit to the Tesla Superchargers?

How Tesla compared to the rest of the chargers

You don’t need us to tell you that Tesla Superchargers have been under a significant amount of scrutiny, whether in California or in the freezing temperatures of Canada.

So how would they rank in Alex’s estimations over in the UK?

He complimented the app as very easy to use, as well as the low prices at $0.72 per kWh.

And that price could go even lower depending on overnight charging ($0.43) or membership ($133 a month).

But a key drawback at this specific location was the parking constraints and the feeling that he needed to leave quickly.

Over at Ionity, the session was ‘smooth’ and ‘reliable’.

BP Pulse was a little confusing, as it was required that users start in the app before plugging into the car.

That’s not forgetting the app was a little tricky to navigate, but once it was set up correctly, it started quickly.

And finally, at Fastned, he complimented the app, strong local amenities, and rapid completion as the car reached 80 percent within around three minutes.

All in all, he concluded that all the chargers worked, as the differences mainly came down to prices, holding fees, and app performances.

To see his review for yourself, visit Efficient Alex’s YouTube channel.

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