Electrify America Sucks

[brucek]

I pulled in tonight and multiple cats were charging past 90% I wish there was a mandatory etiquette video when you buy and EV or EA should cut people off at 80% if there is a queue. There new prompts are not working.

I was talking to an Uber driver in a Bolt yesterday, and when I was leaving, he was at 90% after charging for 107 minutes. He figured he had another 30 min to get to 100%, which would only give him a range of about 165 miles. He said he hated the slow charging, but they only lease BEV cars for rideshare drivers now and he spends way to much time charging, but he needs 100% to have a chance of a doing a full shift.

 

[Looney100]

A Bolt seems like a poor choice of vehicle for that purpose. Something with a much quicker charging rate (km/min of charging) would be much better suited for use as commercial transportation.

 

[brucek]

A Bolt seems like a poor choice of vehicle for that purpose. Something with a much quicker charging rate (km/min of charging) would be much better suited for use as commercial transportation.

I agree a Bolt seems to be a poor choice, but it is not his choice. The ride-share companies deal with one or more rental companies (I forgot which), and they rent out cars to drivers. They used to do ICE vehicles, but according to this driver, they only do BEV rentals now. According to this guy, they only have Niro and Bolt available, both very slow-charging cars.

 

[ljnelson109]

Okay, today was my day. I pre-conditioned my battery for 20 miles (33 degree outside temp) and arrived at the EA charger to see 2 of 4 available. As I started to back in, I saw 2 people in line waiting. I pulled back out and asked the first driver to be told that 2 of 4 chargers were out of service. I got in line, and walked the chargers. 1 was showing normal display but the app showed it in service. 1 had no display and a post it note saying out of service. 1 of the working chargers had a KIA Nero at 93% with 138 minutes on the charge already.

Just for fun, I called EA. They said that both of the empty chargers were "under maintenance" and had already been reported. I assured her, no one was doing any maintenance on them.

I am not saying anything new here. Bad hardware couple with thoughtless users makes for a bad situation.

I left, but drove by again 20 minutes later and the first car, IONIQ 5, was still waiting.

On a final note, our battery conditioning algorithm also fails in that it terminates when you arrive. It doesn't matter if you sit for 30 minutes on a cold day. That is all of the conditioning you get.

 

[Looney100]

138 minutes! The driver deserves to be put on the rack.

The preconditioning algorithm is easily subverted by choosing a different charger as your destination.

 

[ljnelson109]

138 minutes! The driver deserves to be put on the rack.

The preconditioning algorithm is easily subverted by choosing a different charger as your destination.

I read 138 on the screen, When I went back by 20 minutes later and they were still there! This is easily prevented by EA. At a minimum, they should increase the price after a period. I get they are in the business to make money. If other stations at the same site are available, then let them cook. But when they are tying up 50% of the working chargers, it should be pretty simple logic to shut them down and start charging idle fees.

 

[EVsquatch]

138 minutes! The driver deserves to be put on the rack.

The preconditioning algorithm is easily subverted by choosing a different charger as your destination.

You took the words right out of my mouth.

 

[EVsquatch]

I read 138 on the screen, When I went back by 20 minutes later and they were still there! This is easily prevented by EA. At a minimum, they should increase the price after a period. I get they are in the business to make money. If other stations at the same site are available, then let them cook. But when they are tying up 50% of the working chargers, it should be pretty simple logic to shut them down and start charging idle fees.

EA has a pilot program that started in CA (LA) and has now moved to several states, including NY/PA on the east coast where your session is ended at 85% SOC and you have 10 minutes to leave before they hit you with idle fees. You cannot just end the session and reconnect to subvert this.

I am 100% in support of this and I hope EA instantiates this across their entire network.

Rideshare companies should build and sponsor charging stations exclusively for the use of their drivers, especially in busy metropolitan areas where rideshare drivers are the single biggest congestion contributor at DCFS charging stations.

Congestion Reduction Effort | Electrify America

www.electrifyamerica.com

 

[ljnelson109]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

You are both right. I personally don't even like using the built-in nav to route to a charger. Yesterday I was coming from a location where I wanted to benefit from the logic Waze offers but had to use Genesis routing to ensure the battery was conditioned.

I did go back out later and ended up near another EA location (with 8 chargers). I ended up with one of the 150's and am happy to report I succeeded in seeing 175 kW charge rate (on a 33 degree day). Of course, that location has 2 of the 350s but I couldn't see waiting for one of those when I could swing into an empty 150. During that charge, I took on 52 kWh in 25 minutes. Not bad for a 33 degree day on a 150 (175) charger.

 

[noremacnova]

…I wanted to benefit from the logic Waze offers but had to use Genesis routing to ensure the battery was conditioned

I definitely sympathize. You can, of course, have both Waze and Genesis nav running, but it requires disabling Waze in the phone’s CarPlay settings (assuming you’re using CarPlay) and allowing Waze to run on the phone’s screen only.

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[ljnelson109]

I definitely sympathize. You can, of course, have both Waze and Genesis nav running, but it requires disabling Waze in the phone’s CarPlay settings (assuming you’re using CarPlay) and allowing Waze to run on the phone’s screen only.

I am using AA, but I am sure I could do that. But, seriously, why should we have to? This is easy enough for them to fix in their programming.

 

[007IOU]

Just a visitor now after trading my 2021 G70 3.3t towards a Rivian. Looked at an Ioniq 5 N but dealer had typical "what do I have to do today to get you into this car" attitude. Couldn't find a GV60P to my taste. Anyway, love the Rivian ( first EV ) but I agree, some people at charging stations, are well, just idiots. I have seen Bolts charging at 350kw chargers, many charging to 100%, and Rivians pulling trailers blocking 4 chargers! Don't get me started about ICEing, which is fairly prevalent in Texas. However, EVs are the future and we (the masses) will learn to embrace and learn the finer points of charging and ownership. At least, I hope so. Rant over!!

 

[ljnelson109]

Just a visitor now after trading my 2021 G70 3.3t towards a Rivian. Looked at an Ioniq 5 N but dealer had typical "what do I have to do today to get you into this car" attitude. Couldn't find a GV60P to my taste. Anyway, love the Rivian ( first EV ) but I agree, some people at charging stations, are well, just idiots. I have seen Bolts charging at 350kw chargers, many charging to 100%, and Rivians pulling trailers blocking 4 chargers! Don't get me started about ICEing, which is fairly prevalent in Texas. However, EVs are the future and we (the masses) will learn to embrace and learn the finer points of charging and ownership. At least, I hope so. Rant over!!

Good points and also worth mentioning that the suggestions and workarounds are all welcome. This is why I belong to forums. I do take my turns at complaining, but I really appreciate the ideas and experiences shared from others.

 

[007IOU]

Good points and also worth mentioning that the suggestions and workarounds are all welcome. This is why I belong to forums. I do take my turns at complaining, but I really appreciate the ideas and experiences shared from others.

Yes, perhaps a little harsh with my description for some. Just got back from a long road trip and a few "experiences" were still fresh in my memory! A lot more good than bad out there!

 

[EVsquatch]

Yes, perhaps a little harsh with my description for some. Just got back from a long road trip and a few "experiences" were still fresh in my memory! A lot more good than bad out there!

Unfortunately there is an element of education that is completely missing from the EV purchasing experience and nearly all of it starts with hapless dealers who don't bother to train their staff and who are trying to sell EVs to consumers like they are selling an ICE vehicle.

We have reached the point of EV adoption where it isn't the hyper environmentally conscious or tech nerds who have done their homework running out to buy EV's. It is "average Joe's and Janes" dipping their toes in the EV waters and there is a lot that you need to learn to not only operate an EV effectively but also understand charging etiquette so that your fellow EV drivers don't want to burn your Chevy Bolt to the ground when you sit at a charger for 3 hours because you are trying to get to 100% charge.

Thank god for forums like these and for the regulars who support them and are sources of knowledge and advice that dealers are simply incapable of providing.

 

[007IOU]

Unfortunately there is an element of education that is completely missing from the EV purchasing experience and nearly all of it starts with hapless dealers who don't bother to train their staff and who are trying to sell EVs to consumers like they are selling an ICE vehicle.

We have reached the point of EV adoption where it isn't the hyper environmentally conscious or tech nerds who have done their homework running out to buy EV's. It is "average Joe's and Janes" dipping their toes in the EV waters and there is a lot that you need to learn to not only operate an EV effectively but also understand charging etiquette so that your fellow EV drivers don't want to burn your Chevy Bolt to the ground when you sit at a charger for 3 hours because you are trying to get to 100% charge.

Thank god for forums like these and for the regulars who support them and are sources of knowledge and advice that dealers are simply incapable of providing.

Very true. To your point; at my last charging stop (Tesla SC) before arriving home I observed the following: a gentleman parked at a charging station eating his dinner. Volvo PHEV and he approached asking if I knew why he couldn't charge. Nice enough guy but it never occurred to him he was blocking a charger for no good reason. Stations were full but at least no queue. Then, as I was almost done charging (parked at the end on a diagonal so as NOT to take up 2 chargers) a lady pulled up next in a Volvo sedan ( not sure which model ) and attempted to charge without an adapter. Turns out it was a rental and she received no training and had no idea what to do. Gave some assistance to help continue her trip but got me thinking how irresponsible it is for manufacturers and purveyor of EVs not to educate their customers. You post Sir, is spot on and I could not agree more! We're all in this together!

 

[ljnelson109]

007,

I just had a similar experience at an EA location. I pulled up and all chargers were full. I noticed that a Jeep 4XE (PHEV) was at one of the chargers. I walked up to her and asked if she needed some help. I knew she couldn't charge DCFC with her PHEV. She snapped back, "why?" I said, because I would like to charge. I went back to my car and when she slowly backed out, her passenger rolled the window down and asked me why I was being so rude. WTH? She was at a charger that she could clearly not use. I offered to help her. I would have been happy to educate her (I have had PHEVs in the house since 2017). But, instead, somehow I was the jerk!

I even know where there are free level 2 chargers at this same mall. I would have been happy to direct her.

 

[EVsquatch]

007,

I just had a similar experience at an EA location. I pulled up and all chargers were full. I noticed that a Jeep 4XE (PHEV) was at one of the chargers. I walked up to her and asked if she needed some help. I knew she couldn't charge DCFC with her PHEV. She snapped back, "why?" I said, because I would like to charge. I went back to my car and when she slowly backed out, her passenger rolled the window down and asked me why I was being so rude. WTH? She was at a charger that she could clearly not use. I offered to help her. I would have been happy to educate her (I have had PHEVs in the house since 2017). But, instead, somehow I was the jerk!

I even know where there are free level 2 chargers at this same mall. I would have been happy to direct her.

It's also this. Rude and defensive behavior and a complete lack of awareness for how one's actions are impacting other people. Again, a little education at the point of sale would go a long way from preventing a lot of these types of interactions.

 

[steveinarizona]

Just a visitor now after trading my 2021 G70 3.3t towards a Rivian. Looked at an Ioniq 5 N but dealer had typical "what do I have to do today to get you into this car" attitude. Couldn't find a GV60P to my taste. Anyway, love the Rivian ( first EV ) but I agree, some people at charging stations, are well, just idiots. I have seen Bolts charging at 350kw chargers, many charging to 100%, and Rivians pulling trailers blocking 4 chargers! Don't get me started about ICEing, which is fairly prevalent in Texas. However, EVs are the future and we (the masses) will learn to embrace and learn the finer points of charging and ownership. At least, I hope so. Rant over!!

I don't know the term but I have seen some variants of this among EV owners. I go to the Phoenix Zoo often and parking there is a hassle. There is an area reserved for EVs to charge there and often (but not always) there is a space there. While I have seen ICE drivers pull in there, park and leave for the zoo entrance, I have also seen the following: (1) Ev pulls into the space, parks, and leaves without charging; and (2) EV owner pulls in, plugs in, but never starts the charging (how do I know this; I usually get there well ahead of my grandkids and wander around waiting for them). I think the latter are the worst as they are deliberately subverting the purpose of the charging positions to merely gain a favorable parking spot. I guess rude behavior is not limited to ICE drivers.

 

[EVsquatch]

I don't know the term but I have seen some variants of this among EV owners. I go to the Phoenix Zoo often and parking there is a hassle. There is an area reserved for EVs to charge there and often (but not always) there is a space there. While I have seen ICE drivers pull in there, park and leave for the zoo entrance, I have also seen the following: (1) Ev pulls into the space, parks, and leaves without charging; and (2) EV owner pulls in, plugs in, but never starts the charging (how do I know this; I usually get there well ahead of my grandkids and wander around waiting for them). I think the latter are the worst as they are deliberately subverting the purpose of the charging positions to merely gain a favorable parking spot. I guess rude behavior is not limited to ICE drivers.

My local Trader Joe's has 4 "EV only" spots in their garage. Two of which have a Chargepoint Charger that allows both cars to charge on a shared connection. I would say at least 75% of the time all 4 spots have ICE vehicles in them. I've talked to Trader Joe's management repeatedly and they have told me there is nothing they can do.

That is false since it is their private lot and they could tow anyone who is in violation of their parking rules, but that is for another thread.

Unless and until there is actual enforcement of EV parking guidelines, they are just that - ripe for abuse because everyone knows nothing will happen to them.

EV spots should only be accessible to EVs who are actively charging. If not you should be towed at the owner's expense and there should be a hotline setup that is clearly advertised on the parking sign to call and report a vehicle that parked without meeting the requirements. If you are charging and the cable is locked in, a tow truck can't remove you without damaging the vehicle.

I guarantee you once you start knocking heads, then and only then will people change their behavior.