New EA Chargers Are Failing in the Cold

[RVAtom]

Kyle did a bit of testing with the extreme cold that hit recently. Looks like Electrify America is going to need to do some retrofits to make these new dispensers work in colder weather.

He did comparisons against older EA chargers and competitors as well. It seems like a solved problem for the units that have been in use for years. It would be nice if EA would have tested this themselves before they rolled it out, but I'm guessing a year from now the new dispensers will be fine in the cold.

Sponsored

 

[newmme]

EA is a joke. Around here they are always down. Hopefully in the next 3-5 years it will get better.

 

[TheBraydenKyle]

They don’t work that great in mild temperatures. Even the newest stations. That company should be ashamed of their shoddy equipment and tech.

 

[RickMachE]

They don’t work that great in mild temperatures. Even the newest stations. That company should be ashamed of their shoddy equipment and tech.

Have you actually used an upgraded location? If so, which one?

 

[roamtheworld]

How do charging stations work fine in countries like Norway but not US? The EA older stations do have real issues and can be confirmed via the EA app. But Scandinavian countries use a lot of the same manufactures as US deployed chargers and reports of issues don’t appear to be a big issue.

 

[RVAtom]

They don’t work that great in mild temperatures. Even the newest stations. That company should be ashamed of their shoddy equipment and tech.

Yeah I was really hoping this would be a lessons learned kind of situation, and that this new generation of chargers would be more reliable.

Before the MME came out there were some videos about how Ford had tested it on their winter proving grounds. Now as it turns out the heat on the MME isn't a top performer in the really cold conditions, but I do think they at least tried. It'd be nice if EA had done some similar testing. Maybe they could install a fast charger at the testing facility.

 

[dhoerl]

Have you actually used an upgraded location? If so, which one?

I was at the Wawa location in Wilmington DE early Dec. one 350 station had crashed, and not one of the “working” 350 stations would successfully connect to my MachE. Fortunately there was a single old 150 station that did work for me. I was really sweating as this is the sole fast charge location in DE.

 

[Logal727]

Once again Kyle being a bit dramatic, like this is the death of EVs, this shit will get figured out.
I also find it hard to believe there was no cold testing, my guess is it was a software issue since these are newly installed everywhere.

 

[RickMachE]

Once again Kyle being a bit dramatic, like this is the death of EVs, this shit will get figured out.
I also find it hard to believe there was no cold testing, my guess is it was a software issue since these are newly installed everywhere.

This ^^^

Thinking that they don't test in extreme weather is simply ridiculous.

 

[AhardFSU]

AFter watching Kyle's video, I have to ask if EA worked with BTC to test those dispensers in cold weather. It just seems like EA isn't even trying and that's a shame because they are the main CCS DC fast charging option along the main corridors. Fortunately, as we see from Kyle's video and as has been my experience, EvGo is just rock solid for the most part. They also seem to get their stations online quicker than EA if the dispenser has been down.

I'm happy that EvGo is working with GM and Pilot to add EVGO stations at Pilot locations. Once they're done with that, EvGo will be the main corridor alternative to EA.

 

[AhardFSU]

Once again Kyle being a bit dramatic, like this is the death of EVs, this shit will get figured out.
I also find it hard to believe there was no cold testing, my guess is it was a software issue since these are newly installed everywhere.

I agree that Kyle was being a bit dramatic with saying that he couldn't recommend CCS EVs if you're doing road trips. I find that a bit of a stretch and I wouldn't go that far. But he is correct is in stating that EA is the main CCS option along the major corridors and that EA can be hit or miss. As he said, which I agree with, until EvGo has their stations setup along the main corridors via the Pilot stations, it's a bit of Russian roulette when it comes to dealing with EA.

 

[Guss-E 2021]

EA is a joke. Around here they are always down. Hopefully in the next 3-5 years it will get better.

You would hope. I would also think Blink or EVgo or Chargepoint would try to capitalize on EA's failings.

How does installing a new LV3 charger compare to installing new gas pumps (underground tanks and all)?

 

[AhardFSU]

This ^^^

Thinking that they don't test in extreme weather is simply ridiculous.

I get what you're saying. But the testing should have spotted the software issue, if it was a software issue. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if it was software or hardware. It's completely unacceptable for EA that put that product out there such an issue.

 

[AhardFSU]

You would hope. I would also think Blink or EVgo or Chargepoint would try to capitalize on EA's failings.

How does installing a new LV3 charger compare to installing new gas pumps (underground tanks and all)?

Blink and Chargepoint don't much installation along the major corridors. Again, the EvGO, GM, Pilot alliance is starting to build the EvGo stations at the Pilot stations, which will give EA plenty of competition along those major routes. And that is what we need.

 

[RickMachE]

I get what you're saying. But the testing should have spotted the software issue, if it was a software issue. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter if it was software or hardware. It's completely unacceptable for EA that put that product out there such an issue.

You have no idea if they have any issue with the design. Maybe a subcontractor made a mistake in installation? Maybe the power supply to the location has a problem?

Sponsored