DCFC in America - it’s falling apart

[EELinneman]

Yeah, because supply chain issues don't affect EA...

When did I ever say or imply this? Other vendors who are using the same hardware are not experiencing the same rate and duration of outages.

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[daverp]

That's not the"free" that Mark was referring to. It's free to the user that creates the problematic behavior of people charging at a "free" charger rather than at home, or some other more efficient and logical place that's a better use of limited resources. Like for instance ID4 owners tying up precious EA chargers for 3 years rather than charging at home.

It's their right to use them if they want. They bought a car that includes that benefit. The revenue for these "problem" makers are funding the network. Can't have your cake and eat it too. No"free" users means less stations.

 

[SnBGC]

Always been that way in the 14 months we've been driving an EV. Not checking a station is crazy.

I suppose. Maybe that is why my experiences with DCFC have been so horrible. How do we even check?

For example, there are 10 plugs in Tucson. I know for a fact that at least 4 are not functional and another 2 run at 31 kW or less. When I check the app, they all show as green?

 

[RickMachE]

I suppose. Maybe that is why my experiences with DCFC have been so horrible. How do we even check?

For example, there are 10 plugs in Tucson. I know for a fact that at least 4 are not functional and another 2 run at 31 kW or less. When I check the app, they all show as green?

https://www.plugshare.com/location/169510

 

[AZBill]

Given the current supply chain issues, it could be they really are waiting for parts. IDK?

So yesterday I talked to a tech working on a new EVGO site. His company also services the EA sites in AZ. He told me they were in the process of upgrading all the circuit boards in the older chargers, and they had a shortage of those.

It is the older ABB chargers that they initially installed in AZ that have the most issues.

one specific upgrade he mentioned was moving to 5G from 4G.

 

[timbop]

How about this: why don't you more deserving folks propose to EA and EVgo that at each location a portion of the chargers should be designated with a higher "premium" service rate. The charging fee would be 2x to 3x the normal rate of the other chargers, and anyone using "free" charging credits would still have to pay the difference between the premium price and the regular rate. That way you'd be assured of not being blocked by the greedy rabble.

 

[AZBill]

I suppose. Maybe that is why my experiences with DCFC have been so horrible. How do we even check?

For example, there are 10 plugs in Tucson. I know for a fact that at least 4 are not functional and another 2 run at 31 kW or less. When I check the app, they all show as green?

Interesting, I just looked in the EA app and it shows 6 of the 10 as unavailable.

last time I charged there, only 4 were working, and that was back in March.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

I usually don't check to see if the airports are open when I take a flight

As your captain I always checked that the airport was open before leaving. It’s hard to fly the airplane if the airport doors are locked.*

*Yes, we showed up at the Osaka Airport once to find every door closed and locked and not a soul in sight. They had just waxed the floors and didn’t want us walking on them. Always check your airport and DCFC stations. You never know when someone may have waxed the charging stalls.

 

[dbsb3233]

It's their right to use them if they want. They bought a car that includes that benefit. The revenue for these "problem" makers are funding the network. Can't have your cake and eat it too. No"free" users means less stations.

Of course it's their right. It's just bad for the overall picture since DCFC is so expensive and limited.

It hasn't become too much of a problem for CCS yet, but it likely will with stations filling up soon as way more vehicles hit the roads in the coming months.

Tesla went thru this same issue. They had unlimited free DCFC on their early models, which they got away with when there were few cars on the road. But then more and more hit the roads, and stations started filling up with wait lines. The realized they need to end unlimited free DCFC, and gradually shrink all free allotments because it caused the counterproductive behavior.

 

[SnBGC]

https://www.plugshare.com/location/169510

Shows 2 plugs under repair yet the comments echo what I have observed in real life. Half work at best.

So you are saying we have to check PlugShare and read all the comments to know if they actually work?

Screw that. I am busy trying to manage my own company let alone manage some else's.

I will just drive my ICE on road trips and avoid the stress and anxiety.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Shows 2 plugs under repair yet the comments echo what I have observed in real life. Half work at best.

So you are saying we have to check PlugShare and read all the comments to know if they actually work?

Screw that. I am busy trying to manage my own company let alone manage some else's.

I will just drive my ICE on road trips and avoid the stress and anxiety.

At least at the Shell station I buy gas at, if one pump is down I can just go to one of the other 5. And if they’re full, in 5 minutes they won’t be. It’s a bit harder with broken DCFC stations.

 

[DevSecOps]

How about this: why don't you more deserving folks propose to EA and EVgo that at each location a portion of the chargers should be designated with a higher "premium" service rate. The charging fee would be 2x to 3x the normal rate of the other chargers, and anyone using "free" charging credits would still have to pay the difference between the premium price and the regular rate. That way you'd be assured of not being blocked by the greedy rabble.

Instead of paying more for electrons I would gladly pay a tow company to haul your car away from the charge station.

The only thing we are deserving of is respect and courtesy. For the 1% who can't figure out that limited resources should be prioritized for those who NEED it are deserving of a tow. Same applies to handicap spots. They aren't there for the privileged or lazy, they are there for those who need it.

 

[SnBGC]

At least at the Shell station I buy gas at, if one pump us down I can just go to one of the other 5. And if they’re full, in 5 minutes they won’t be. It’s a bit harder with broken DCFC stations.

Yeah. I hate burning fossil fuels but sometimes that is our only reasonable choice. I much more prefer to drive electric.....but I need to be able to buy it when and where I need it. Home and work are slow but reliable and that works for 96% of my driving. Road trips are rare for me but when they happen, I want them to be as uneventful as possible.

Checking apps isn't really something that I want to spend all my time on and hope things work out.

 

[RickMachE]

Shows 2 plugs under repair yet the comments echo what I have observed in real life. Half work at best.

So you are saying we have to check PlugShare and read all the comments to know if they actually work?

Screw that. I am busy trying to manage my own company let alone manage some else's.

I will just drive my ICE on road trips and avoid the stress and anxiety.

Suit yourself. It's for all networks. ChargePoint is much worse.

 

[mkhuffman]

How about this: why don't you more deserving folks propose to EA and EVgo that at each location a portion of the chargers should be designated with a higher "premium" service rate. The charging fee would be 2x to 3x the normal rate of the other chargers, and anyone using "free" charging credits would still have to pay the difference between the premium price and the regular rate. That way you'd be assured of not being blocked by the greedy rabble.

Instead of paying more for electrons I would gladly pay a tow company to haul your car away from the charge station.

The only thing we are deserving of is respect and courtesy. For the 1% who can't figure out that limited resources should be prioritized for those who NEED it are deserving of a tow. Same applies to handicap spots. They aren't there for the privileged or lazy, they are there for those who need it.

This is definitely a popcorn worthy debate. Don't stop now guys!

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