Electrify America needs to get their game going

[Mirak]

I’m still not sure what the complaint is, but I think it has something to do with a lack of chargers. In California.

LOLing from Kansas.

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[Logal727]

I’m so happy that all of you have no problem with charging stations but give me a break for pointing out some issues that need attention since the CEO of EA was busy doing a road trip to his headquarters.

Do…. Do you think he fixes them himself? Also, did you watch the video at all?

 

[Phil Martin]

I read the title alone and knew exactly what the op meant.
I would expand on this further that the CCS public fast chargers, not just EA, are pathetic. In fact it will become very difficult for CCS BEV to become mainstream due to DCFC issues.

 

[Paloverdejoe]

Do…. Do you think he fixes them himself? Also, did you watch the video at all?

Yes I watched the video. How ridiculous to think the CEO would go around fixing them himself. This was almost worth not replying to.

 

[Paloverdejoe]

I’m still not sure what the complaint is, but I think it has something to do with a lack of chargers. In California.

LOLing from Kansas.

My complaint was the fact that months have gone by and the same chargers at Indio, El Centro and Dateland have charging issues. I am perfectly aware that California probably has the most charging stations in the country.

 

[Phil Martin]

As some of us know there is no real business sense in building and maintaining these stations. Charging 48 cents per kWh does not get you the investment back let alone make any money on it. Some might also know EA is owned by VW and came about as a requirement to the diesel settlement. If not for diesel gate, there would be no EA.

While I have never been stuck at an EA location, it is very common to see one or more chargers not working at any given time and not repaired weeks later. It will be interesting to see if this changes in the future, but if it doesn’t I can’t see how there is going to be any big movement to EVs anytime in the next decade.

This is exactly the problem. There is no real profits in selling electricity. The upfront costs are high and the operating costs are high especially on underutilized sites due to demand fees.

Manufacturers don't invest in the charging system because it's an open system and the government injects billions.

Forcing VW to create a charging network was a terrible start. EV makers should have been incentivized to create their own closed system. From this they could have had a consortium of auto makers backing a couple standards but everyone wants charging a car like filling it with gas. It's not the same business at all.

 

[Logal727]

Yes I watched the video. How ridiculous to think the CEO would go around fixing them himself. This was almost worth not replying to.

Man, your whole approach to this thread has been very aggro. It’s saying a lot that the forum posters here would rather defend EA than whatever point you were trying to make lol.

 

[Nikos]

Hello folks.
EA has a big problem. I am also an EA Pass+ member. They are only (EA), viable option for my vehicles, here in the SE with a network extensive enough along the Interstates.
But, I am deeply disappointed about their network operations.
It used to be a lot better in 2021 and early 2022.
The stations would put out what they claimed.
150KW would put out at least 135KW and the 350KW would put out upwards of 180KW or more if your vehicle could handle it.
Now their technology has aged, it is succumb to constant failures at the higher rates of charging and basically, EA, has derated every station in the SE by 60% or more, to preserve the functionality of their network.
Constant pleas to fix what is malfunctioning, you get the same old reply, no parts, waiting for parts or parts are unavailable. Poor excuses to have when you charge your customers $4 a month for hyper charging, to only get 80KW peak charge.
Very disappointing for any of their customers.
It was also ridiculous to watch the CEO of EA to take a trip from CA to VA, EA headquarters, describing the experience as GOOD, with a lot of improvements, including putting awning in all their stations.
Mr Barrosa, CEO of EA, forget the awnings, fix, upgrade your stations to put out true charging rates that EA is advertising, and double the number of stalls. Tesla is raking EA over the burning coals every single day. Tesla has triple the station in every location EA has its own.
It seems to me that EA has become a COMPLIANT charging network at this time.
Meets the intend so they don't have to fork over the BILLIONS of $$$$ in penalties to CA and the Federal Government for their debacle, lies about their Green Diesel ICE machines.
At this point, I don't know what EA is trying to accomplish other than obfuscate their true nature of their existence.
This situation will bite all EV manufacturers by claiming that EA and EV GO would solve all their charging needs on the road. That is a fallacy to believe. People will get angry with the manufacturer of their EVs. Also will turn away most of them back to ICE vehicles.
Tesla does not have this problem. All of us know they have no such problem. They take care their brand holistically, just like Apple does with their products.
All these Legacy and Luxury vehicle manufacturers used to laugh, berate and look the other way when Tesla started making EVs and building they own network from scratch.
Now they bitting their tongues for what they have said about Tesla. Tesla, doesn't have to open their network to anyone, if they don't have to, because they have their own customers to take care. Elon is fully aware of that model.
All these partnerships announced by the various EV manufactures, including Ford, GM, and all others, that they will cooperate with EA, EV GO, CHARGEPOINT, and others are just empty promises. Do the minimum at the last minute.
I know that most of us saw this coming.
I know that most of us see more EVs on the roads lately. Traveling will become a hassle for most of us. I have decided, because of the state of charging is slow and spotty, that I will spend an hour every time I stop for a charge for my Mach E and more than an hour to charge my Lightning.
Adapt and overcome until something better comes along.
Good luck to all of us.

 

[Paloverdejoe]

Pointing out issues you’re having with DCFC stations is more effective when that information is posted on PlugShare and similar app or websites that have greater exposure than this website. Complaining here about a real or perceived problem won’t get diddly done as EA doesn’t have a presence here.

Good point. I have used PlugShare to locate better charging stations and noticed their website has posting—will use it, thanks for the tip. Not so much for the snarky remarks from those that really have nothing beneficial to share, but somehow treat this like Facebook.

 

[Paloverdejoe]

Hello folks.
EA has a big problem. I am also an EA Pass+ member. They are only (EA), viable option for my vehicles, here in the SE with a network extensive enough along the Interstates.
But, I am deeply disappointed about their network operations.
It used to be a lot better in 2021 and early 2022.
The stations would put out what they claimed.
150KW would put out at least 135KW and the 350KW would put out upwards of 180KW or more if your vehicle could handle it.
Now their technology has aged, it is succumb to constant failures at the higher rates of charging and basically, EA, has derated every station in the SE by 60% or more, to preserve the functionality of their network.
Constant pleas to fix what is malfunctioning, you get the same old reply, no parts, waiting for parts or parts are unavailable. Poor excuses to have when you charge your customers $4 a month for hyper charging, to only get 80KW peak charge.
Very disappointing for any of their customers.
It was also ridiculous to watch the CEO of EA to take a trip from CA to VA, EA headquarters, describing the experience as GOOD, with a lot of improvements, including putting awning in all their stations.
Mr Barrosa, CEO of EA, forget the awnings, fix, upgrade your stations to put out true charging rates that EA is advertising, and double the number of stalls. Tesla is raking EA over the burning coals every single day. Tesla has triple the station in every location EA has its own.
It seems to me that EA has become a COMPLIANT charging network at this time.
Meets the intend so they don't have to fork over the BILLIONS of $$$$ in penalties to CA and the Federal Government for their debacle, lies about their Green Diesel ICE machines.
At this point, I don't know what EA is trying to accomplish other than obfuscate their true nature of their existence.
This situation will bite all EV manufacturers by claiming that EA and EV GO would solve all their charging needs on the road. That is a fallacy to believe. People will get angry with the manufacturer of their EVs. Also will turn away most of them back to ICE vehicles.
Tesla does not have this problem. All of us know they have no such problem. They take care their brand holistically, just like Apple does with their products.
All these Legacy and Luxury vehicle manufacturers used to laugh, berate and look the other way when Tesla started making EVs and building they own network from scratch.
Now they bitting their tongues for what they have said about Tesla. Tesla, doesn't have to open their network to anyone, if they don't have to, because they have their own customers to take care. Elon is fully aware of that model.
All these partnerships announced by the various EV manufactures, including Ford, GM, and all others, that they will cooperate with EA, EV GO, CHARGEPOINT, and others are just empty promises. Do the minimum at the last minute.
I know that most of us saw this coming.
I know that most of us see more EVs on the roads lately. Traveling will become a hassle for most of us. I have decided, because of the state of charging is slow and spotty, that I will spend an hour every time I stop for a charge for my Mach E and more than an hour to charge my Lightning.
Adapt and overcome until something better comes along.
Good luck to all of us.

I am so glad you took the time to sit down and put this in a concise understandable message. When I bought my Mach-e back in December I had no idea the learning curve I would be on and not even knowing that Electrify America is owned by VW. Thanks again for your input.

 

[MarkP213]

Good point. I have used PlugShare to locate better charging stations and noticed their website has posting—will use it, thanks for the tip. Not so much for the snarky remarks from those that really have nothing beneficial to share, but somehow treat this like Facebook.

? Speaking of Facebook replies… (How soon we forget)

“Maybe you need some coffee. I simply stated thatafter a trip to California my neighbor down the street knew the same charging stations at Electricity America that we had problems with, dah. That tells me they are not doing any maintenance on the system—can I make it any more clear for you?”

 

[Rt1AWD]

Main stream Manufacturers like Ford are not making profits on EVs currently and funding millions if not billions in charging infrastructure also does not make sense. Ford is trying to push this investment onto its dealers by making it a requirement to have chargers on site available for public use if they want to sell EVs. I know almost 2,000 Ford dealers said they will, but talk is cheap and only time will tell how many actually come through, what speeds are actually delivered and if they are maintained properly.

To make profit - they have to sell more cars. To sell more cars they need to make sure that the charging infrastructure is adequate. Chargers at dealerships is not enough

 

[heisnuts]

To make profit - they have to sell more cars. To sell more cars they need to make sure that the charging infrastructure is adequate. Chargers at dealerships is not enough

That is yet another problem.... Demand for the EVs has been declining... Now it's not a production limitation but a demand limitation on increasing sales numbers.

 

[Vulnox]

That is yet another problem.... Demand for the EVs has been declining... Now it's not a production limitation but a demand limitation on increasing sales numbers.

Stating it like that as if EV demand is down isn't entirely accurate. The number of people taking action, despite desire to do so, because of high interest rates on higher priced cars which many EVs fall into. This is hurting a lot of higher price vehicles of any propulsion type. The evidence that it isn't EV specific can be seen in the huge boost GM has seen with the Chevy Bolt in Q1 '23. If it was EV specific we would see a more even trend lines regardless of EV downward.

Also availability is still hurting, stories within the last day or two have indicated that only about 30% of dealerships even have an EV to sell, and while that still sounds attainable, some area of the country when looked at as a local region have maybe one dealership within a five hour drive that has an available EV.

I am sure there are those holding out on EVs because of charging infrastructure or whatever, but I don't believe there is anything EV specific to the decline.

We will see what happens, but a lot of people are holding out on new purchases due to interest rates. I am buying my F-150 off-lease because of a combination of crazy F-150 prices and higher rates along with features being cut. It will be the first time I have not moved to a new vehicle for my personal vehicle in over 20 years. When I talked to my sales person about it, he said they have been doing more lease buyouts lately than he can remember, and most people have the same reasoning. Rates are higher, as are vehicle prices since incentives are still low. And with many WAH, a lot of people have low mileage vehicles anyway, so they are just hanging onto them. That will hurt EV sales too.

 

[voxel]

Stating it like that as if EV demand is down isn't entirely accurate. The number of people taking action, despite desire to do so, because of high interest rates on higher priced cars which many EVs fall into. This is hurting a lot of higher price vehicles of any propulsion type. The evidence that it isn't EV specific can be seen in the huge boost GM has seen with the Chevy Bolt in Q1 '23. If it was EV specific we would see a more even trend lines regardless of EV downward.

Also availability is still hurting, stories within the last day or two have indicated that only about 30% of dealerships even have an EV to sell, and while that still sounds attainable, some area of the country when looked at as a local region have maybe one dealership within a five hour drive that has an available EV.

I am sure there are those holding out on EVs because of charging infrastructure or whatever, but I don't believe there is anything EV specific to the decline.

We will see what happens, but a lot of people are holding out on new purchases due to interest rates. I am buying my F-150 off-lease because of a combination of crazy F-150 prices and higher rates along with features being cut. It will be the first time I have not moved to a new vehicle for my personal vehicle in over 20 years. When I talked to my sales person about it, he said they have been doing more lease buyouts lately than he can remember, and most people have the same reasoning. Rates are higher, as are vehicle prices since incentives are still low. And with many WAH, a lot of people have low mileage vehicles anyway, so they are just hanging onto them. That will hurt EV sales too.

I don't know... Kia and Hyundai have one of the nation's lowest inventories for cars (along with Toyotas) but Niro EVs, EV6s, and now Ioniq 5s are stacking up. I went to look at an Niro EV because I can't find a Bolt EUV (these are definitely sold out) and there are everywhere. Kia rapists were actually discounting them $2K to $4K and they still can't sell them.

Toyota dealers outside of CA can't seem to sell bz4xs and don't want them.

I think cars over $45K have much softer demand in this economy. Why buy a $50K EV5 or Ioniq 5 when you can buy a Telluride or Palisade for the same price and are vastly better?

EV demand has flat lined.

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