THE ELECTRIC dreams of green drivers in Alton are turning into a nightmare because of problems with charging points.

A disabled motorist from Derbyshire and Eleanor Hill of the Alton Climate Action Network both reported reliability issues with those in the Manor Way car park and at Alton Sports Centre.

Eleanor, who drives a Renault Zoe, said: “Add to this the fact there are now dozens of different providers of electric vehicle charge points, all slightly different and most of them requiring the user to download a phone app in order to use them, and you will understand why my stress levels are rising just describing the complications of charging on longer electric vehicle journeys.”

She added that it would be “wonderful” if all electric vehicles had the same charging system and connectors, charge points were properly maintained, no apps were required so owners could pay by debit or credit card without registering with many different providers, and petrol and diesel car drivers did not use electric vehicle charging bays when car parks were full.

Eleanor, who usually charges up at home, described how a Christmas trip home from Weybread, near Diss in Norfolk, to Basingstoke – a 170-mile journey which ought to have taken a driving time of three hours and ten minutes – turned into a ten-hour trek as she visited seven locations before finally finding somewhere to fully charge her car, which has a winter range of 130 miles.

Jane Devlin – the climate and environment lead at East Hampshire District Council – said: “Charging facilities at Manor Way car park are owned and operated by Engie EV, Genie Point. I have notified them of the issue. The charge points at the sports centre are the responsibility of the sports centre operator, Everyone 
Active.”

Town councillor Gideon Cristofoli said: “Alton Town Council has guardianship of a large number of open spaces and buildings which could facilitate charging points.”

Alton Town Council clerk Leah Coney said: “There are free to use trickle chargers at Anstey Park. We are currently in discussion with a provider of fast chargers who has agreed in principle to install two on Alton Town Council land, one at Anstey Park and one at Jubilee Fields. We are currently awaiting a site survey on each site to confirm final locations.”