We woke early in our comfy pad over looking the Firth of Fourth and it was with some reluctance that we packed the car to make a 10.00 am departure. The journey was to be 190 miles (+/-) which we assumed would be 2 rapids and one fast charge - how wrong we were !First activity is to cross the Forth Road Bridge - here is the Dash Cam view!
Stop 1 Kinross Services cold, windy sunny!
Stop 2 - Our Luck Runs Out
What bugged most was the reason given "Loss of Comms". It's is an unacceptable reason for taking a charger off-line surely. What more there is no phone number on the unit to ask for a reset. Yet again users are inconvenienced and problem detection reporting is a user issue. The operator feels no obligation to rectify the situation spontaneously.
The only upside was that we were able to use the time to raise funds for Help for Heroes! 3 hrs 40 was more time than we could afford!
Stop 3 - Kingussie - was to be a Rapid Charger, but isn't.
We knew that Kingussie would be a long stop over, but after Pitlochry we were concerned that we wouldn't get there until after 6 pm and it was cold and bleak! Imagine our dismay to find it powered off! Not u/s - no error warning - no noticed from the operator - nothing. I'm convinced that some civil servant switched it off at cease work on Friday. Quite oblivious to the fact that this was an advertised service!
I know the conventional wisdom is to call a tow truck - but that would not be our style. So we took local advice - actually the place was deserted and one elderly gent summarised the hotels - starting with the largest. 10 mins later and we were at the Duke of Gordon and after a further 5 mins - we were charging from their Annex!
There is a touch of serendipity about this part of the story. Had the Pitlochry Rapid Charger been working they we would have got to Kingussie for 3 p. m. and been philosophical about boring wait. However having been faced with having to find 'options', we discovered that the alternative was actually 100% more preferable!The duke of Gordon Hotel made us very welcome indeed and we enjoyed a snack meal and the comfort of their lounge, while the car was drip fed from a 13 amp plug. OK it took longer that the CYC one might have done, but the experience was quite exceptional. We sat in an oak panelled lounge, under the stags heads and adjacent to a splendid log-fire! There was live entertainment in the room next door and an exquisite selection of local beers and whiskies!
If you are going to travel the A9, by EV, the the Duke of Gordon Hotel is the recommended place to take a break and recharge! Thats not saying that they are advertising that this as a regular facility; however, I believe that if you agree to have a meal, of bar snacks - they will welcome your presence!
Last Leg Kingussie to Lossiemouth
We the last leg from Kingussie to Lossiemouth is about 75 miles (routing via Aberlour). A bit shorter, if you go over the moors to Forres; however, since we would start at 1130p. m. that route looked foolish. We know the road (sort of) from many years ago and remember it as very scenic, as it follows the course of the Spey River. So we took the long route, by-passed the charging options at Elgin and arrived with 7 miles range to spare!
Summary
The A9 route only became a possibility for short range EVs about 2 weeks before our trip and we considered it a safer bet than the A95, via Aberdeen. Sciattie Park was u/s and it's a long 50+ mile uphill drag to Keith. This route is not recommended for a short range BEV. The route we took (charging aside) is feasible for as short range BEV - if going N-bound. However, I am doubtful of getting from Inverness, Forres or Elgin to Kingussie!
Our return route will be quite a detour as it will include Harris, Lewis, Uist, Barra, Islay and Arran! More of that in subsequent blogs!
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