Free Charging Sucks! Article: Here's Why Free Electric Car Charging Should be Banned

[Vulnox]

I agree with Tom on this as far as the vehicles that allow 30 min+ of charging free for two years. I don't agree that the way Ford does it is a negative. Having a set allowance isn't going to create significant added pressure at the chargers and even if someone does try to "just get it used", they would burn through it in relatively short order. Myself and I imagine most MME/Lightning owners (and any other manufacturer that gives just a flat kWH allowance) save theirs for when they actually take road trips.

Out of Spec Motoring, Tom, Out of Spec Dave, they all spend a lot of seat time in EVs and time at chargers, and some vehicles have a bad rep for hogging chargers even at high states of charge and they are almost always the vehicles with free charging. The MME, despite being one of the highest selling EVs besides Tesla, is rarely noted as doing the same. Which tells me that Ford's approach isn't an issue so much as the free for two years instances.

Not saying that as an MME fan or anything even though I clearly think it's the better approach. Since in the end this was what Ford picked and MME or Lightning doesn't matter.

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[ArthurDOB]

This is interesting information. Does anyone know why these chargers slow down once you get to 80%? I've seen it mentioned quite a few times but can't recall ever seeing a reason why.

 

[Logal727]

EA has no way to enforce it.

Oh there are certainly ways to enforce it, they just choose not to. If a company is interested in money, they will find out a way to charge for things like this. I present to you the Disney Rapid Fill Fountain Machine....
https://www.disneytouristblog.com/refillable-mugs-disney-world/

People were taking too many refills so they made it 2 minute between refills and each cup has an RFID chip in it and you only get 4 or 5 refills till it expires 2 hours later

 

[azerik]

(Not related to the article)Just tried to use a EvGo 50kw dc blocks from my house. After 10 min of plug, unplug, try again, still doesn't see the car to start and wants some card I don't have I gave up. Awesomesauce. Good job Tesla. If only ANYONE else could get remotely close to the SC network we might actually have adoption.

 

[Blue highway]

Because people like me go to 90% at DCFC.

100% when I am on a road trip.

Charging to 100% at a DCFC while on a road trip is not usually a good use of time. If people are waiting while you do this, you will eventually have a confrontation.

 

[Logal727]

Charging to 100% at a DCFC while on a road trip is not usually a good use of time. If people are waiting while you do this, you will eventually have a confrontation.

I think after the speed increase that going to 90% isn't too bad anymore, but 100 is still a slog.

 

[Logal727]

This is interesting information. Does anyone know why these chargers slow down once you get to 80%? I've seen it mentioned quite a few times but can't recall ever seeing a reason why.

Fast charging at high speeds into the top level of the battery capacity is bad for the battery pack, all cars have a charge curve. I suggest watching some videos about charging curve, definitely lots of results on google

 

[Blue highway]

This is interesting information. Does anyone know why these chargers slow down once you get to 80%? I've seen it mentioned quite a few times but can't recall ever seeing a reason why.

all lithium battery chargers do this to some extent. (your phone, ipad etc.)

Fun fact:
As lithium batteries charge, the charge current will fall because they are constant voltage chargers and as the cell voltage rises, the current falls...

Specific to your car:
The Battery management system in the car throttles back the charge it asks for from the charger to minimize heat in the cells as the state of charge rises. The level of throttling (AKA charge curve) depends on a few things, but mostly how much stress the engineers are willing to put on the batteries. The level at which the charge rate has to fall off to minimize heat (and thus cell damage) is usually around 80% state of charge.

 

[voxel]

In the summer of 2021... I ONLY saw "German EVs with free charging" at EA.

Maybe the odd Leaf or Bolt or Kona... but 95% of the cars were ID.4s, e-trons, Taycans at Florida EA locations.

It's a different world in 2023 though.

 

[Logal727]

In the summer of 2021... I ONLY saw "German EVs with free charging" at EA.

Maybe the odd Leaf or Bolt or Kona... but 95% of the cars were ID.4s, e-trons, Taycans at Florida EA locations.

It's a different world in 2023 though.

I've been looking at the CFL EA stations on Plugshare recently and they are not looking good, all the ratings are in the toilet, used to be a lot of 10s

 

[4sallypat]

Charging to 100% at a DCFC while on a road trip is not usually a good use of time. If people are waiting while you do this, you will eventually have a confrontation.

If I am paying for the charge and I am waiting for 100% (no idle time), then I am entitled to charge to 100% - especially not knowing if my trip will require a detour, wait in traffic, weather, elevation/terrain changes, etc..

 

[SWO]

Oh there are certainly ways to enforce it, they just choose not to. If a company is interested in money, they will find out a way to charge for things like this. I present to you the Disney Rapid Fill Fountain Machine....
https://www.disneytouristblog.com/refillable-mugs-disney-world/

People were taking too many refills so they made it 2 minute between refills and each cup has an RFID chip in it and you only get 4 or 5 refills till it expires 2 hours later

The EA chargers have no way to enforce that rule in their current software. Hell, EA can't even make their chargers work half the time...

 

[Blue highway]

If I am paying for the charge and I am waiting for 100% (no idle time), then I am entitled to charge to 100% - especially not knowing if my trip will require a detour, wait in traffic, weather, elevation/terrain changes, etc..

the time it takes you to charge from 90-100% is ~ same as charging from 30-80%... which anyone waiting for you will know... you are entitled to do this the same way you are entitled to drive 10 miles below the speed limit in the fast lane... you can expect similar responses from anyone you impact.

 

[Mirak]

So.... it seems pretty indisputable that public chargers are becoming a LOT more congested because of "free" charging incentives. You can't drive by a charger these days without seeing at least one EV6, I5, or ID.4 - if not more - and I guarantee you the vast majority aren't road trippin. They're using their free charging.

It's a problem. And sure we'd all love to see more charging stations, but that's slow and expensive. The major manufacturers ought to sit down and enter into an arms control agreement which puts a reasonable cap on the free kWh. Charge your car at home, cheapskate.

 

[Logal727]

So.... it seems pretty indisputable that public chargers are becoming a LOT more congested because of "free" charging incentives. You can't drive by a charger these days without seeing at least one EV6, I5, or ID.4 - if not more - and I guarantee you the vast majority aren't road trippin. They're using their free charging.

It's a problem. And sure we'd all love to see more charging stations, but that's slow and expensive. The major manufacturers ought to sit down and enter into an arms control agreement which puts a reasonable cap on the free kWh. Charge your car at home, cheapskate.

Or just build their own charging network, we need BIG ideas

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