Recharging Round Britain Day 1 - 13 July 2026
About this episode
Hosts kick off Day 1 of their recharging road trip around Britain (13 July 2026), framing EV charging as less stressful than before. They compare today’s charging infrastructure to a decade ago, then recap the route from near Preston to Cornwall Services/Bodmin and the traffic they hit. Charging details follow: 7 kW overnight timing, app and live availability, and a strategy of topping up to around 80–85%. They also troubleshoot a removed hotel charger, then find low-power destination charging at the Eden Project.
Today, Monday 13 July 2026, we began Recharging Round Britain, where we try as closely as we can to recreate the route we undertook nearly a decade ago. Hear our daily updates as we find out what has changed, if anything, to the infrastructure, electric car technology and if its easier or not to do this harebrained adventure.
CHARGING SPONSORThanks to our charging sponsor, GRIDSERVE, They have an EV charging network that spans almost the whole of the UK.
While you can just turn up and pay with a debit card or their app, you can also get 25% off charging rates at all 200 of their locations with GRIDSERVE Plus.
GRIDSERVE Plus costs just £7.99/month and can be cancelled at any time, much like many gym memberships, and as well as the discounted charging, there are many other seasonal membership benefits such as EV heathchecks while you charge, pet portraits, and similar.
Many people take out Gridserve Plus for a month at a time to cover a holiday or seasonal travel.
There's more information at gridserve.com/membership/
VEHICLE SPONSORThank you to Hyundai, who once again have loaned us an electric vehicle enabling us to travel around as much of Britain as we can in six days. This time, we are using an Inster 02. To find out more on the Inster, you can listen to Alan’s time with one during the UK launch of the car, by clicking this link here.
To see more about the car, from Hyundai themselves, click this link here.
If you like what we do, on this show, and think it is worth a £1.00, please consider supporting us via Patreon. Here is the link to that CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST
Dodge Charger
"...are not, like we did last time, standing beside a charger somewhere at the far end of Bourbonneau."
The Dodge Charger is a car model made by Dodge. It’s a larger sedan that’s often offered in faster, sportier versions. The podcast is mentioning it as a specific vehicle name, not just the word “charger.”
The Dodge Charger is a full-size American sedan that’s known for its performance-focused trims and long-running presence in the muscle-car segment. It often comes up in news and enthusiast discussions because it’s a recognizable nameplate and a common reference point when talking about “charger” branding and models. In your podcast context, it’s mentioned as a specific car rather than a generic term, which is why the hosts clarify they’re not just “standing beside a charger.”
seven kilowatt charger
"And the car is sitting outside on charge as we speak, it's just on a seven kilowatt charger, so there's no real rush."
“Seven kilowatts” is how strong the charger is. Stronger chargers can add energy faster, while a 7 kW charger is slower—so it’s the kind of setup you’d use when you have time, like overnight.
A “kilowatt charger” describes the charging power level, which largely determines how fast the battery can be refilled. A 7 kW charger is relatively modest compared with high-power DC fast chargers, so charging tends to take longer and is often used overnight.
Hyundai Ioniq
"Car. So last time we used a Hyundai Ioniq Electric, the very first generation pre-facelift ..."
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an all-electric car, meaning it runs on a battery instead of gasoline. The podcast is talking about the first version of it before Hyundai made a mid-cycle update. That’s important because the earlier and updated versions can have different features.
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an all-electric crossover designed around modern battery-electric packaging and usability. Your podcast context specifically references the first-generation Ioniq 5 before a facelift, which matters because early and updated versions can differ in details like equipment and software. It’s discussed because it’s a prominent EV model and often used as a reference point when comparing earlier versus later updates.
Hyundai Ioniq Electric
"So last time we used a Hyundai Ioniq Electric, the very first generation pre-facelift one."
The Hyundai Ioniq Electric is an all-electric Hyundai (it runs on a battery, not gasoline). They’re talking about the early first version of it, which matters because older EVs can charge and behave a bit differently than newer ones.
The Hyundai Ioniq Electric is a dedicated battery-electric car from Hyundai, known for being one of the early mainstream EVs. In this episode, they specifically mention the first-generation, pre-facelift version, which helps listeners understand the kind of EV they’re charging and living with on a road trip.
Hyundai Ioniq 9
"And Ioniq 9 would have been lovely. [361.4s] But we held out and said, no, we don't want your great big car."
They’re talking about a big, luxury Hyundai EV called the Ioniq 9. They didn’t want the large car for this challenge, so they went with a smaller one instead.
Hyundai Ioniq 9 is described here as a large, luxurious car the hosts were offered. The key point is that it’s positioned as a bigger, more premium alternative to the smaller EV they chose for the trip.
range plus kit
"It has a smaller battery, so a range plus kit. [379.0s] The top of the range is the InstaCross, which has a decent sized battery, decent range,"
“Range plus kit” is a set of features or settings meant to help an EV get more miles out of its battery. Here, they connect it to the smaller-battery version so it can still do a decent distance.
“Range plus kit” is a package aimed at improving electric range, typically by optimizing energy use. In this segment it’s linked directly to the smaller-battery InstaO1, suggesting it’s meant to help the car go farther than you’d expect from the battery size alone.
aircon
"Oh yeah, more than. [394.9s] It's got aircon. [397.2s] It has comfy seats."
“Aircon” is the car’s air conditioning. In an electric car, using it can use some of the battery, which can slightly reduce how far you can drive.
“Aircon” is shorthand for the car’s air conditioning system. In an EV context, it matters because heating and cooling can affect battery consumption and therefore real-world range.
ADAS suite
"It has lots of gadgets and toys, which will bonnet you quite a lot. [405.9s] It has the usual ADAS suite of safety stuff. [412.3s] I don't mind."
“ADAS suite” means the car’s safety tech that helps the driver. Think features like keeping you in your lane or helping avoid crashes, working in the background while you drive.
The “ADAS suite” refers to a set of driver-assistance systems—like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping, and adaptive cruise control—designed to reduce driver workload and improve safety. The hosts mention it as part of the InstaO2’s standard equipment.
maximum range
"It's got a maximum range of 220 miles, which is over 100 more than we had a decade ago."
Maximum range is the distance an EV claims it can go on a full battery. In real life you might get less, depending on driving style and conditions.
Maximum range is the furthest distance an electric vehicle is expected to travel on a full charge under specific test conditions. Real-world range can be lower depending on speed, weather, terrain, and how aggressively you drive.
ownership
"So that original trip was a big learning curve as we drove around for a variety of reasons and a variety aspects of the ownership and the driving."
Here, “ownership” means what it’s like to live with the car day to day—especially how charging and trip planning work with an EV.
In this context, “ownership” refers to the day-to-day practical experience of living with an electric car—charging routines, planning trips, and understanding how the car behaves in different situations. It’s more than just driving; it includes how you manage energy and logistics.
EV
"This time we've come into it knowing a lot more, driven lots of electric cars between now and then, and we're very comfortable with how to drive them, how to set them up."
“Electric cars” are cars that run on electricity stored in a battery, not gasoline. How far you can go depends on the battery and how you drive, and you’ll need charging access.
“Electric cars” refers to vehicles powered primarily by an electric motor and a battery pack rather than a gasoline engine. Their driving feel and planning needs are heavily shaped by battery capacity, charging access, and energy consumption.
Portland Bill
"And it gets to go to Portland Bill and things as well, it was very cool."
Portland Bill is a famous coastal spot in Dorset, England, with a lighthouse. It’s the kind of place people drive to for scenic roads and views.
Portland Bill is a coastal headland in Dorset, England, known for its lighthouse and dramatic seaside roads. It’s a recognizable destination for scenic driving routes in that region.
charging points
"So far, it's all been very, very smooth. Well, the first two charging points we rocked up to, we had 100 miles range still left."
Charging points are the places you pull up to so your electric car can plug in. Different chargers can add energy faster or slower, so it affects how long you’ll be stopped.
Charging points are the specific locations where an EV can plug in to recharge. They can be different types of chargers, and the available power affects how fast you’ll add range.
charging up
"We would actually have got here with about 20, 30 miles range left. But instead, just whilst we were in, we plugged in and we charged up. Yeah. We charged up there."
“Charging up” just means topping up the battery by plugging in. How long it takes depends on the charger and how full the battery already is.
“Charging up” is the everyday way of saying the EV is recharging its battery at a charger. In practice, the time and how much range you gain depend on the charger’s power and the car’s battery state.
via the app
"We charged up there. Charging has been pretty seamless via the app."
A lot of EV chargers use a phone app to start charging and handle payment. If you don’t have the app set up, you might have trouble getting the charger to work.
Many EV chargers are controlled through a smartphone app for tasks like starting a session, authenticating payment, and monitoring charging progress. This can make charging smoother but depends on having the right account and connectivity.
preconditioning
"I haven't worked out yet if there is preconditioning and stuff going on when it's preparing to charge,"
Preconditioning means the car gets ready for charging ahead of time. It helps the battery be at the right temperature so charging can be faster and smoother.
Preconditioning is when an EV prepares its battery and sometimes cabin systems before charging. The goal is to get the battery into a better temperature/state so it can accept charge more efficiently when you plug in.
press card
"You just walk with a press card, to be honest,"
A press card is a contactless card you can tap at a charger to start it. It’s an alternative to using the charging app.
A press card (likely a contactless RFID card) is an access credential used to start charging at some public EV stations. Instead of using an app, you tap the card to authenticate and begin the charging session.
battery
"In terms of how quickly it can consume the electricity and put it in the battery, but it's fast enough."
In an EV, the battery is the big power pack that stores electricity. Charging speed depends on how the battery is set up to accept power.
In EV context, the battery is the high-voltage energy storage pack that receives electrical energy during charging. How quickly it charges depends on factors like battery temperature and the charger’s power output.
100%
"it says, well, it's going to be an hour to 100%, which generally went..."
“100%” means the battery is charged all the way up. Charging usually gets slower near the top, so going from high to full can take a while.
“100%” refers to charging the EV battery to full state of charge (SoC). Many EVs will slow down charging as the battery nears full, so the last portion typically takes longer than earlier stages.
Audi 90
"It's thank you folks who have answered my question about the difference between the Audi 80 and the Audi 90. It turns out the big difference is that the 90 had five cylinder engines and not four cylinder engines..."
The Audi 90 is another older Audi model. In this segment, they say the main difference versus the Audi 80 is that the 90 used a five-cylinder engine instead of a four-cylinder engine.
The Audi 90 is an Audi model that, in this discussion, is distinguished from the Audi 80 by engine configuration. The key point the host makes is that the Audi 90 used five-cylinder engines rather than four-cylinder engines (with additional small differences).
five-cylinder engines
"It turns out the big difference is that the 90 had five cylinder engines and not four cylinder engines..."
A “five cylinder engine” means the engine has five working cylinders. The host is using that as a simple way to tell one Audi model apart from another.
“Five cylinder engines” refers to an engine design with five pistons/cylinders working in sequence. Compared with a four-cylinder, it can change how power delivery feels and how smooth the engine runs, which is why the host uses it as a distinguishing detail between Audi models.
four cylinder engines
"It turns out the big difference is that the 90 had five cylinder engines and not four cylinder engines..."
A “four cylinder engine” means the engine has four cylinders. Here it’s mentioned just to contrast with the five-cylinder engine used in the Audi 90.
“Four cylinder engines” are engines with four cylinders/pistons. In this segment, the host contrasts them with five-cylinder engines to explain the difference between the Audi 80 and Audi 90.
EV charging network
"They have an EV charging network that spans almost the whole of the UK."
An “EV charging network” is a group of electric car charging stations that work together as a service. The host is saying GridServe’s network covers most of the UK.
An “EV charging network” is a set of charging stations operated under a common service so drivers can find and use chargers across a region. In this episode, GridServe is described as having an EV charging network spanning almost the whole of the UK.
GridServe Plus
"whilst you can just turn up and pay with a debit card or via that, you can also get 25% off charging rates at all the 200 of their locations with GridServe Plus. GridServe Plus costs just £7.99 per month..."
GridServe Plus is a paid membership for GridServe’s electric car chargers. The idea is that you get cheaper charging—here they mention 25% off—and it costs £7.99 per month.
GridServe Plus is a subscription membership tied to GridServe’s EV charging locations. The host says it provides a discount on charging rates (25% off) at their sites and costs £7.99 per month.
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