Electrify America Sucks

[ljnelson109]

My highest was 234kW. I don't recall the starting SOC but generally don't go unless I am down below 40%. I will continue to collect data. I guess the moral of the story is, when presented with a choice, I was trying to grab the 350kW station but it doesn't sound like it buys me much.

On cooler days, I am starting the routing at least 5 miles away. The pre-conditioning has never started immediately. Again, I haven't been paying attention to figure out if it starts by time or distance.

 

[gvjim]

I am starting the routing at least 5 miles away.

I believe depending on the temperature it can take up to a half hour for pre-conditioning to fully work. So 5 miles probably isn't enough to make a difference.

I was trying to grab the 350kW station but it doesn't sound like it buys me much.

Yeah, I'll definitely take a 350 stall if it is available, but if it isn't, I don't feel too bad. Even in the best case it probably only saves 3-4 minutes.

I'm very glad, though, that EA doesn't have any stalls below 175kW, and for me, I've had good luck getting full rated speed out of EA stations. When you get out in the boonies you start seeing other brands with 62kW, 50kW, sometimes even 25kW. Fortunately so far I haven't had to rely on any of these, but I definitely see them on PlugShare when doing route planning.

 

[skiingj]

EA - 243kW highest for me but I don't often look enough during the session. Until recently most EA stations in my area you were lucky to get 140kW on a 350.

 

[gvjim]

but I don't often look enough during the session

Doesn't EA send you an email summary after each session? That contains the peak rate. Here's from my last session this past weekend.



However, I also pay attention for the first couple of minutes anyway, since I do a PlugShare check-in pretty much every time. I appreciate seeing other users reports, so I figure I should do it myself.

 

[Sampras]

It's typical that the GV60 throttles down to a very low number at around 82-83%. Then it usually goes back up again.

I've charged twice at Magic Dock locations, once to 90% and once to 86%. I only went over 80% to see what would happen. I did not see a drop to 7kw, but it did gradually drop to about 50kw.

I did one time see a drop to 7kw at an EA station at 82%, but then it jumped back up to 75kw or so after a minute.

Anyway, I don't think Tesla has any policy of intentional throttling above 80%. Why would they do that? - it would just tie up the charger longer! I think what happened to you was simply the car requesting lower power, perhaps to manage the battery temperature.

In my case, it stayed at 7 kW for 10ish minutes before I decided to leave. If it was a battery temp issue, it's the first time I've seen it and I've charged at 350 kW EA stations several times.

With that said, I have charged at this Magic Dock before and did not have the 97-7 drop off. Maybe it was a fluke...

 

[skiingj]

Doesn't EA send you an email summary after each session? That contains the peak rate. Here's from my last session this past weekend.

View attachment 60557

However, I also pay attention for the first couple of minutes anyway, since I do a PlugShare check-in pretty much every time. I appreciate seeing other users reports, so I figure I should do it myself.

Good point. Yes they do, I like to see what the car also reports as well.

 

[CVale]

Electrify America is simply the worst: terrible company, faulty chargers, slower-than-expected charging speeds. They're just horrible. Check out their profile on the Better Business Bureau:

Electrify America | BBB Business Profile | Better Business Bureau

Not BBB Accredited. Electrical in Herndon, VA. See BBB rating, reviews, complaints, and more.

www.bbb.org

 

[ljnelson109]

Electrify America is simply the worst: terrible company, faulty chargers, slower-than-expected charging speeds. They're just horrible. Check out their profile on the Better Business Bureau:

Electrify America | BBB Business Profile | Better Business Bureau

Not BBB Accredited. Electrical in Herndon, VA. See BBB rating, reviews, complaints, and more.

www.bbb.org

Have you used other DCFC services? I haven't. I have only used EA because, well, it's free for now. Yes, there is often one or 2 stations not working. But, based on my experience with Level 2 charging for the past 7 years, I find that public charging stations are often the victim of public users. I have used my Level 2 charger at home (a basic residential quality unit) for about 10 charges per week for the past 7 years. The connector looks brand new. I have been to public stations that are beat to crap after 1 year. So, the question is, how many of these problems are the result of abuse or neglect by users? Are the other DCFC providers doing better to keep up?

The EA business model includes free charging for numerous auto manufacturers. I know of Mercedes, Volkswagen, and Hyundai/Genesis. I wouldn't be surprised if there are others. I am sure that their theory is that we will all stay with them after our promotions end. Will we? How much are the free charges cutting into their profit? It costs money to maintain these things. Even with the federal subsidies, whatever they are getting from the auto manufacturers, they can't be making the kind of money that they ultimately planned to collect.

 

[GreyGV60]

Have you used other DCFC services? I haven't. I have only used EA because, well, it's free for now. Yes, there is often one or 2 stations not working. But, based on my experience with Level 2 charging for the past 7 years, I find that public charging stations are often the victim of public users. I have used my Level 2 charger at home (a basic residential quality unit) for about 10 charges per week for the past 7 years. The connector looks brand new. I have been to public stations that are beat to crap after 1 year. So, the question is, how many of these problems are the result of abuse or neglect by users? Are the other DCFC providers doing better to keep up?

The EA business model includes free charging for numerous auto manufacturers. I know of Mercedes, Volkswagen, and Hyundai/Genesis. I wouldn't be surprised if there are others. I am sure that their theory is that we will all stay with them after our promotions end. Will we? How much are the free charges cutting into their profit? It costs money to maintain these things. Even with the federal subsidies, whatever they are getting from the auto manufacturers, they can't be making the kind of money that they ultimately planned to collect.

In my area, there are several EA charging locations, however they each only have 3 to 4 charges per site. They are normally always full. Once my free charges end, I probably will not be charging with EA. I'm hoping that we will have access to the Tesla Network in early 2025? There are TESLA location all around me.

 

[Kassey22000]

EA is based out of the VW emissions scandal - their origin and business funding/model is different than ChargePoint/FLO, Tesla and others. In the Seattle area (and a few others) the charger cords are cut sometimes just a few days to a week after new ones are installed (which can take 4-8 weeks just to replace). The vandals/thieves are hawking the cooper and some just hate EVs. Most of my experience with EA has been pretty poor (terrible maintenance of simple things that can take weeks to address). While their contracted CS agents are nice folks, they can’t really do much. My limited experience with Flo and ChargePoint were mostly better than EA.

The larger issue is that these often poorly placed locations are in some retail parking lot, not well monitored/secured, and EA (doesn’t seem to want to maintain or secure these expensive units (other than claiming they are installing cameras).

IMHO, until ALL EV charging stations begin to mimic the gas station model with covered ports, travel conveniences, safe/monitored/attended locations, this system is just not viable yet.

What I don’t get (besides Shell’s feeble attempt to have some DC chargers in their gas stations), is why more traditional gas stations don’t add them in (see also a positive move by Pilot filling stations who are doing this on main freeway routes in some states in the US).

Electrify America - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

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[EdP]

EA is based out of the VW emissions scandal - their origin and business funding/model is different than ChargePoint/FLO, Tesla and others. In the Seattle area (and a few others) the charger cords are cut sometimes just a few days to a week after new ones are installed (which can take 4-8 weeks just to replace). The vandals/thieves are hawking the cooper and some just hate EVs. Most of my experience with EA has been pretty poor (terrible maintenance of simple things that can take weeks to address). While their contracted CS agents are nice folks, they can’t really do much. My limited experience with Flo and ChargePoint were mostly better than EA.

The larger issue is that these often poorly placed locations are in some retail parking lot, not well monitored/secured, and EA (doesn’t seem to want to maintain or secure these expensive units (other than claiming they are installing cameras).

IMHO, until ALL EV charging stations begin to mimic the gas station model with covered ports, travel conveniences, safe/monitored/attended locations, this system is just not viable yet.

What I don’t get (besides Shell’s feeble attempt to have some DC chargers in their gas stations), is why more traditional gas stations don’t add them in (see also Pilot filling stations who are doing this on main freeway routes in some states in the US).

Electrify America - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Simple. Money.
Shell is trying, yet you call it feeble. How profitable is it for a gas station?
One of the big problems is a sick society that destroys many of the existing units. Between copper thieves and the idiots that park pickups in the spots, not easy to provide security at reasonable cost.

I'm thinking of installing some charging stations around town. How about investing about $30k of your retirement savings and we do it together? Where should we put them?

 

[skiingj]

Most of my charging is with EA (free...) from Sacramento - Tahoe - Reno. Until a couple months ago they absolutley sucked. Recently many stations have been upgraded to the new units and I must say they are working very well. Whether they maintain them or not is to be seen.

 

[steveinarizona]

The EA business model includes free charging for numerous auto manufacturers. I know of Mercedes, Volkswagen, and Hyundai/Genesis. I wouldn't be surprised if there are others. I am sure that their theory is that we will all stay with them after our promotions end. Will we? How much are the free charges cutting into their profit? It costs money to maintain these things. Even with the federal subsidies, whatever they are getting from the auto manufacturers, they can't be making the kind of money that they ultimately planned to collect.

My guess is that the manufacturers paid up front for the service. That helped EA pay for its infrastructure costs but might have hurt its operating revenue. IMO there is potentially nothing wrong with that playbook. But, as in most things in life, how it is implemented/executed determines success and EA has certainly had, at best, a rocky start.

 

[ljnelson109]

My guess is that the manufacturers paid up front for the service. That helped EA pay for its infrastructure costs but might have hurt its operating revenue. IMO there is potentially nothing wrong with that playbook. But, as in most things in life, how it is implemented/executed determines success and EA has certainly had, at best, a rocky start.

I understand the logic. Remember when Southwest was pre-buying fuel and "won" the gamble when fuel prices skyrocketed? Yeah, that can work. In this case, the cost of repairs (especially copper), electricity, and likely even property leases have outpaced any predictions. In short, for me, I miss the convenience of home charging. I am cheap and the free charging was part of my calculus for making this purchase. I can't pass up free, but I can still charge at home much cheaper than anything I can buy on the street (level 2 or 3). I hope to only buy power on the street during road trips where I don't have reasonable access to EA.

 

[steveinarizona]

I understand the logic. Remember when Southwest was pre-buying fuel and "won" the gamble when fuel prices skyrocketed? Yeah, that can work. In this case, the cost of repairs (especially copper), electricity, and likely even property leases have outpaced any predictions. In short, for me, I miss the convenience of home charging. I am cheap and the free charging was part of my calculus for making this purchase. I can't pass up free, but I can still charge at home much cheaper than anything I can buy on the street (level 2 or 3). I hope to only buy power on the street during road trips where I don't have reasonable access to EA.

Off peak home charging is sufficiently inexpensive to me that I just charge at home and in 18 months have yet to use EA. In my case the nearest EA charger is 4 miles away and next to a supermarket. Not much else to do while charging there. There are a couple by malls but they are probably at least 20 miles or more away.

I have an all electric home (7 tons of AC, heat pump for swimming pool, etc. etc.). The cost of charging off peak is so small, comparatively, that I can't even tell on my bills. The much bigger impact is cooking dinner during peak hours.

 

[gvjim]

I got my GV60 early this year and I've done a fair amount of road tripping, so I've used EA charging about two dozen times so far. All at intercity locations, when I'm home I charge in my garage. There is so much complaining about EA and I'm sure many people have had bad experiences, but (knock on wood) so far I haven't had a really bad experience. I've never had to wait, never encountered a derated charger. Once I encountered a bad stall but another was available so I just moved over. I've had that happen at a Tesla stall as well, when I rented a Tesla. A couple of times I have had to unplug and plug in again to get the session going, but again, I've had that happen at a Tesla stall.

Now if I didn't have a home charger, I'm sure EA would be a pretty bad experience for me. I live in Los Angeles and pretty much all of the EA stations around here are full all the time, usually with a line of waiting cars. There are a lot of EA stations in the area, but it's nowhere near enough. But I never use the stations in the area, I always charge at home. I don't use a fast charger until I'm at least 100-150 miles from home, and that has worked well for me.

 

[TinsleyC]

Last year on a really cold night in Dallas TX, a friend came by in his EV (Bolt) and we were to go to dinner. He drives 25 miles to get home and wasn't sure he'd make it on his charge, especially with the cold weather.

He didn't have his cable (something I would never do) and asked that I follow him to a local charger where he could charge while we ate dinner.

He had some app that showed him where the stations were, so I followed him. We stopped at four stations and three were broken and not working. The fourth had a car already charging on it, and was left alone.

Long story short he did make it home, but was on electrical "fumes" when he arrived.

It has to get better. If I buy an EV, I'm installing the fastest charger I can afford in my own garage, and will use the petrol car for long trips.

 

[gvjim]

He drives 25 miles to get home and wasn't sure he'd make it on his charge, especially with the cold weather.

So you're saying it was a 50 mile round trip to your house and back. Even in super cold weather, the Chevy Bolt should manage triple that. Sounds like he didn't bother to charge the car before he left for your house - AND he didn't bother to bring a charging cable with him. I don't think your story illustrates that the cars have to get better.

He had some app that showed him where the stations were, so I followed him. We stopped at four stations and three were broken and not working. The fourth had a car already charging on it, and was left alone.

This sure sounds like Level 2 chargers, not the EA chargers that this thread is discussing.

If I buy an EV, I'm installing the fastest charger I can afford in my own garage

I installed a 240v/48amp charger in my garage. I've never had to wait for the charger. I just plug it in when I get home and it's always full when I'm ready to leave. So convenient.

will use the petrol car for long trips

The Bolt is also quite a slow charging car - it's limited to a max of 50kw. The GV60 can charge almost 5 times as fast. So the Bolt isn't really a great choice for road trips. In spite of that, some Bolt users have gone on very long trips with them.

So far I've taking my GV60 on trips of up to 1,000 miles. So fun. I don't have a petrol car any more, and I don't miss it a bit. I've never come anywhere close to running out of electrons.

 

[Alfer]

So you're saying it was a 50 mile round trip to your house and back. Even in super cold weather, the Chevy Bolt should manage triple that. Sounds like he didn't bother to charge the car before he left for your house - AND he didn't bother to bring a charging cable with him. I don't think your story illustrates that the cars have to get better.


This sure sounds like Level 2 chargers, not the EA chargers that this thread is discussing.


I installed a 240v/48amp charger in my garage. I've never had to wait for the charger. I just plug it in when I get home and it's always full when I'm ready to leave. So convenient.


The Bolt is also quite a slow charging car - it's limited to a max of 50kw. The GV60 can charge almost 5 times as fast. So the Bolt isn't really a great choice for road trips. In spite of that, some Bolt users have gone on very long trips with them.

So far I've taking my GV60 on trips of up to 1,000 miles. So fun. I don't have a petrol car any more, and I don't miss it a bit. I've never come anywhere close to running out of electrons.

Snarky much?

 

[Alfer]

After last night, Pete B. will be out, so I wonder what will happen to all the 1000's of chargers he keeps promising will be installed (yet only 4 exist?) ?