EV Connect (beware of charging stations)

[BigMach-E]

Hi all,

Being a new EV owner, I am sometimes unfamiliar with how certain charging stations work. One network I would warn you about is EV Connect. They are similar to some other level 2 charging networks, as they work out a deal with locations to install chargers at a location, and then that location does profit sharing with them. The location sets the terms and pricing for charging.

I think that ChargePoint works similarly with their Level 2 stations.

I had a recent session with an EV Connect station that I have used a number of times before. Sice it has been convenient for me to use this station, and always seemed reasonably priced for what I was getting, I had never looked too deeply at their terms. This time I stayed connected to the station longer than normal. I was not aware that they charged 15 dollars AN HOUR connected to level 2 charging, even if the session was idle, after 6 hours of being connected. I ended up with a 44 dollar charge, the highest I have ever paid for any charging session. Highway robbery. Be aware, don't use EV Connect!

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[DevSecOps]

This is quite common. It's not just EV Connect. They do this to prevent people from staying connected and hogging the charger after the car is charged. Ultimately, this prevents others from charging and the charging company from making money.

Most charging networks have this in their app labeled with a price or labeled on the charger. This applies to Electrify America, Charge Point, EVGO, Tesla and most all of them. Especially in high demand areas.

In California we have some free charging networks like Volta who set rules with the property owners to tow vehicles that stay after charging is complete.

Lesson learned, be respectful to others that need to charge. Welcome to EV life.

 

[BigMach-E]

This is quite common. It's not just EV Connect. They do this to prevent people from staying connected and hogging the charger after the car is charged. Ultimately, this prevents others from charging and the charging company from making money.

Most charging networks have this in their app labeled with a price or labeled on the charger. This applies to Electrify America, Charge Point, EVGO, Tesla and most all of them. Especially in high demand areas.

In California we have some free charging networks like Volta who set rules with the property owners to tow vehicles that stay after charging is complete.

Lesson learned, be respectful to others that need to charge. Welcome to EV life.

Well, the examples that you just provided would have cost me about 20 dollars less than my session (I was connect for 9 hours, standard work day, and was charging for 7). It is a lesson learned, you are correct, I won't use EV Connect ever again! I wasn't "hogging a charger". Furthermore, this was in a paid parking garage, not a "public space". Your implication that I wasn't being respectful is presumptuous and trolling. Try again.

 

[DevSecOps]

Your implication that I wasn't being respectful is presumptuous and trolling.

I explained why the rule is in place and further followed up with "lesson learned". Take it how you wish. There's a lot of things in life that I've done, unknowingly being incorrect, until I was taught otherwise.

People get really upset at those who stay charged longer than "full". Maybe instead of calling me a "troll" for stating rules and facts you should be thankful that I am providing information that might prevent additional charges, damages to your car via rage or towing of your car.

My intent isn't to be rude, it's to explain why the rules are in place. It doesn't matter if it's in a parking garage or not. If an ICE vehicle parked in that spot in a parking garage we would have the internet in an uproar... it's no different. Blocking a charger via ICE or "past full" is blocking a charger regardless of how you look at it.

 

[BigMach-E]

I explained why the rule is in place and further followed up with "lesson learned". Take it how you wish.

People get really upset at those who stay charged longer than "full". Maybe instead of calling me a "troll" for stating rules and facts you should be thankful that I am providing information that might prevent additional charges, damages to your car via rage or towing of your car.

My intent isn't to be rude, it's to explain why the rules are in place. It doesn't matter if it's in a parking garage or not. If an ICE vehicle parked in that spot in a parking garage we would have the internet in an uproar... it's no different. Blocking a charger via ICE or "past full" is blocking a charger regardless of how you look at it.

Fair and reasonable. I appreciate the warning, it doesn't change how I feel about EV Connect.

 

[tothemoon]

Well, the examples that you just provided would have cost me about 20 dollars less than my session (I was connect for 9 hours, standard work day, and was charging for 7). It is a lesson learned, you are correct, I won't use EV Connect ever again! I wasn't "hogging a charger". Furthermore, this was in a paid parking garage, not a "public space". Your implication that I wasn't being respectful is presumptuous and trolling. Try again.

I think you are reading a bit much and perhaps still missing the point. @DevSecOps is sharing good info with you so that you are aware that these charges exist even outside of the EVConnect chargers. So when you say "lesson learned...won't use EV Connect ever again" I think its worth noting that you are potentially going to incur a charge for idling at any charger. Not as hefty perhaps but I would imagine you would be similarly unhappy with a charge that cost half as much since it would still have been unexpected based on your original post.

FWIW, I don't think you were being disrespectful, you just didn't know. Now you know.

 

[rohankumar]

I explained why the rule is in place and further followed up with "lesson learned". Take it how you wish. There's a lot of things in life that I've done, unknowingly being incorrect, until I was taught otherwise.

People get really upset at those who stay charged longer than "full". Maybe instead of calling me a "troll" for stating rules and facts you should be thankful that I am providing information that might prevent additional charges, damages to your car via rage or towing of your car.

My intent isn't to be rude, it's to explain why the rules are in place. It doesn't matter if it's in a parking garage or not. If an ICE vehicle parked in that spot in a parking garage we would have the internet in an uproar... it's no different. Blocking a charger via ICE or "past full" is blocking a charger regardless of how you look at it.

I am very curious to understand how these rules (if any) apply to paid charging stations at public locations like airport parking's etc. No one can fairly expect the driver to be available when the car charges up fully and disconnect when they are halfway across the country. How do these penalties apply if any in such scenarios?

 

[JamieGeek]

I am very curious to understand how these rules (if any) apply to paid charging stations at public locations like airport parking's etc. No one can fairly expect the driver to be available when the car charges up fully and disconnect when they are halfway across the country. How do these penalties apply if any in such scenarios?

The EVSE's at my local airport (Detroit Metro) are free: you just have to pay the rate for the parking garage.

In many paid garages around here the EVSE's are free if the garage charges to park.

 

[DevSecOps]

I am very curious to understand how these rules (if any) apply to paid charging stations at public locations like airport parking's etc. No one can fairly expect the driver to be available when the car charges up fully and disconnect when they are halfway across the country. How do these penalties apply if any in such scenarios?

I would say that no one should plug in and leave a vehicle in a charging station if they cannot get back to the car once it's full. It's the same as the gas station at the airport, you wouldn't leave your car parked at the pump when you fly to see grandma.

This is more about respect for the other people who NEED to charge rather than the parking spot itself or the fee you may/may not incur. That being said the "idle" fee or parking fee should always be available either in the app or on the physical charger.

Now I guess if they have the chargers in a "long term" parking only area, that rule might be different. Personally, I still wouldn't use a charger that I couldn't get back to and I would definitely advise checking the fee in the app. I also don't use HOV without 2 people in the vehicle even though in CA you can with an EV. It's a moral issue for me.

 

[kltye]

I am very curious to understand how these rules (if any) apply to paid charging stations at public locations like airport parking's etc. No one can fairly expect the driver to be available when the car charges up fully and disconnect when they are halfway across the country. How do these penalties apply if any in such scenarios?

I've never seen "idle fees" at any airports. What I usually do is leave a note on my windshield saying people are free to unplug, since those L2 charging cords are pretty long, it can reach over to non-EV spots.

@DevSecOps just so you know, I wouldn't be mad if you left your car in the airport for a few days and plugged in - just something to be expected in airports. But thank you for your civic mindedness

 

[DevSecOps]

I wouldn't be mad if you left your car in the airport for a few days

Everywhere is also different. In California we have a 10% EV adoption which is far and above all other States. There's a number of times in my previous EV that I had to wait in line to charge. Also in NorCal, where I am, I checked plugshare and all the chargers appear to be outside the airport (SFO/SMF) so I'm sure if you left your car there not only would people be pissed, it would probably end up stolen.

Personally, what I think should be done at airports is level 1 plugs on retractable in ground outlets at every stall. The cost of doing that would be minimal and for multiple day vacations level 1 is more then enough. There would be no issue with leaving cars plugged in and ICE and EV could share everywhere. I would even say just put in a 120v outlet at every stall and make people use their own level 1... but then that would lead to theft of chargers.

Lastly @kltye my last EV locked the charger to the car so that you couldn't remove it unless you unlocked the car doors, I'm not sure how many EV's do that, but that would prevent the whole "note" thing from working.

 

[Jimrpa]

I’ve been fortunate at the two Level 2 EVSEs that I’ve used overnight. I was traveling and they were both in public parking lots/garages. They didn’t have idle fees and the lots/garages were empty at night. That said, I totally get the concept of clearing an EVSE space when you’re done charging. It’s just like the gas pumps with signs that ask you to pull away when you’re done with the pump. I’m pretty sure FordPass will alert you when your car is charged.

 

[kltye]

Everywhere is also different. In California we have a 10% EV adoption which is far and above all other States. There's a number of times in my previous EV that I had to wait in line to charge. Also in NorCal, where I am, I checked plugshare and all the chargers appear to be outside the airport (SFO/SMF) so I'm sure if you left your car there not only would people be pissed, it would probably end up stolen.

Ohhh right, I forget there are more advanced states in the union than here in the Midwest

 

[RickMachE]

I also don't use HOV without 2 people in the vehicle even though in CA you can with an EV. It's a moral issue for me.

Moral issue? I guess I don't see a moral issue when the rules state that it's 2+ people OR driving an EV. Therefore, driving an EV in the HOV lane is within the rules.

 

[DevSecOps]

more advanced states

Please ... I don't consider us more advanced... More like "more problematic" ?

Moral issue?

To each their own... HOV = High Occupancy Vehicle. That lane was created to encourage people to rideshare (for emissions and traffic purposes) not to purchase an EV. That's how I feel about it and I don't think that EV ownership should make me any more privileged than someone who drives an ICE vehicle. Laws don't = morality. IMO, it's laws like this that make ICE owners despise EV ownership and create divide. I am probably the minority in my thinking and I'm not mad if your beliefs are different. I got for everyone's wacky ideas, even my own.

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