Charging Shootout! Ranking the DC Fast Charging Networks

[Illinibird]

What they did not mention about ChargePoint that I learned on the InsideEV's podcast is that ChargePoint is an entirely different model than EA. ChargePoint sells their chargers to independent operators. Their network is more of a "franchise" model than an ownership model. If the individual private owners are not taking care of their stations, it is an issue with that owner. This is also why there are more L2 stations with ChargePoint as that is a much cheaper option for an independent owner.

My bad! When I said "ChargePoint" I didn't mean that particular private or company owned charger; I just meant a charge point (a place to charge your BEV vehicle). You also have a great point about EA; they DO have more DC chargers where ChargePoint doesn't have as many.

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[generaltso]

If you have an ICE car that is as comfortable as the Mach-E, that's certainly the simplest solution for road trips. I went with the SR battery because we'll be taking my wife's Pacifica on the occasional long trip. It has more room for the family anyway, and electricity doesn't really end up being cheaper than gas if you have to pay for it at DCFC stations.

That being said, if I need to go on a longish trip by myself, I may try the adventure of taking the MME just for fun.

 

[Illinibird]

If you have an ICE car that is as comfortable as the Mach-E, that's certainly the simplest solution for road trips. I went with the SR battery because we'll be taking my wife's Pacifica on the occasional long trip. It has more room for the family anyway, and electricity doesn't really end up being cheaper than gas if you have to pay for it at DCFC stations.

That being said, if I need to go on a longish trip by myself, I may try the adventure of taking the MME just for fun.

Great minds think alike! ? EDIT: See my News Flashes - I now have ordered an Extended Range Battery! Also, I "think" the Acura MDX SUV would be a lot more comfortable than the MME SUV but having not sat in one I can't be sure.

 

[ChasingCoral]

Thanks. My wife and I are in our early 70’s and this is still a concern to us. We travel from Chicago to Palm City Florida (to see our youngest daughter and granddaughter) in 2 days now (stop in Atlanta GA) and NO WAY can I see us doing this in the MME even if we stayed 3 nights in hotels rather than the one night in GA. There are too many stretches where stopping for gas is a challenge let alone trying to find an EV chargepoint. I look at it another way in that maybe if we were younger and more adventuresome we might try it. No, The technology and infrastructure isn’t there yet IMHO. And quite frankly, our Acura MDX is a lot larger and more comfortable than a smaller SUV.
PS - We have made the drive from Chicago to Palm City in one day (close to 24 hours) and this would not be even possible with a MME and today’s infrastructure and battery technology. If I’m wrong about doing this trip in 24 hours with an EV vehicle please enlighten me as to how it would be done because no way can I see it! Saying buying a Tesla with their Supercharging Network is no fair ?

As a new EV driver, you might want to familiarize yourself with some of the better route planning tools before deciding based on FUD. I just entered Chicago to Palm City into A Better Route Planner and it looks like a very practical EV route:
https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=47b4ea46-ca53-48ca-9b84-7c501ae39f59
Car sizes and comfort are another matter of course!

 

[dbsb3233]

What they did not mention about ChargePoint that I learned on the InsideEV's podcast is that ChargePoint is an entirely different model than EA. ChargePoint sells their chargers to independent operators. Their network is more of a "franchise" model than an ownership model. If the individual private owners are not taking care of their stations, it is an issue with that owner. This is also why there are more L2 stations with ChargePoint as that is a much cheaper option for an independent owner.

All true, but from the customer standpoint (especially a BEV newbie), it's sort of a distinction without a difference. The customer doesn't really care who's at fault, they just care that the "ChargePoint network" is highly inconsistent, less dependable, and often frustrating.

It's a bit how like an Exxon station may be an independent operator too rather than corporate-owned & run, but customers don't care (or usually even know), they just see it as "Exxon".

 

[dbsb3233]

Thanks. I bought an AWD Std battery ("The Boss" said absolutely not for Ext range battery even though that was my original plan ; "too much money for too few miles extra") so it definitely WOULD NOT work for us! Also, I've seen a lot of the gas stations where neither my wife nor I would stop at in TN and GA. I don't know if your map has charging stations owned by EA so the level of the charge station would be up to grade as opposed to private ownership where it would be more of a crap shoot. Doesn't really matter for us as we'd never do it and IMHO you're being way too optimistic even with the Ext battery and RWD (4 hours 23 minutes charging?? I don't think so). When I said we did the drive in 24 hours it was really ~ 19 hours driving and we got up after about 4 hours sleep the next morning (we'd get NO sleep in your model). Just my opinion so please don't flame me!?

PS- Are those DC chargers in your scenario? I think those would be even harder to find along the way.

This is a good example of why it's just so different for each individual's situation and preferences. From what you've described, I think you probably made the right choice getting the AWD SR and keeping it your around-home vehicle. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I came close to doing the same.

As soon as I saw "Chicago", that meant AWD where we lose 10% off range (same for me in CO). BEV enthusiasts are often just fine stopping 3x more often, for 30 minutes each, killing time walking and eating whatever food happens to be next to the charger, not concerned with whether the only charger in the area is well lit or in a less safe area, etc. It sounds like you guys are more toward the other end of the scale, where people value the freedom to choose better stops, not be limited on where to eat, not have to sit around the car for 30 minutes every stop, etc. In short - just reached a point in their lives where there's no reason to make the drive more difficult and more challenging. I totally get that. And when you own another vehicle that road-trips well without compromise, it makes perfect sense to use it.

Even though we'll try the Mach-E on a trip, I expect we'll still use the Escape on many anyway. It's still gonna get driven some, even though the Mach-E will become the "primary" car getting the most local use.

 

[TheVirtualTim]

One thing I haven't figured out for road trips ... is to be able to tag cities where I'd stop for the night at a hotel. And in those cases... I'd like to prioritize finding accommodations that have an overnight L2 charger rather than a DCFC. But L2 chargers can be a bit tricky ... because many of them have rather low amperage (e.g. 16 amp). I think the 10 hr estimate to completely recharge the car is based on a 48 amp L2 charger.

 

[ChasingCoral]

All true, but from the customer standpoint (especially a BEV newbie), it's sort of a distinction without a difference. The customer doesn't really care who's at fault, they just care that the "ChargePoint network" is highly inconsistent, less dependable, and often frustrating.

It's a bit how like an Exxon station may be an independent operator too rather than corporate-owned & run, but customers don't care (or usually even know), they just see it as "Exxon".

Or more likely the customer see gas station and price. There's little brand loyalty among gas brands any more.

 

[TheVirtualTim]

Thanks. I bought an AWD Std battery ("The Boss" said absolutely not for Ext range battery even though that was my original plan ; "too much money for too few miles extra") so it definitely WOULD NOT work for us!

The extended range batteries have a side-advantage in that you can add miles to your range faster because they have more physical cells in the battery array.

This will be my first EV ... so there is a LOT of information I've learned here that I did not know when I ordered the car.

 

[dbsb3233]

Or more likely the customer see gas station and price. There's little brand loyalty among gas brands any more.

True, not brand loyalty, but sometimes brand disdain from a bad experience. "I'll never use XXXXX again!!".

Price transparency is another problem with ChargePoint.

 

[jhalkias]

Once again, I agree with you and feel the same way about my MME and how we'll use it. The "plenty of other people" probably are much younger and more adventuresome than my wife and me.

I don't plan on giving up adventure until I am pushing daisies. I certainly understand there is a different tolerance level for everyone. Do what makes you happy.

 

[timbop]

Doesn't really matter for us as we'd never do it and IMHO you're being way too optimistic even with the Ext battery and RWD (4 hours 23 minutes charging?? I don't think so). When I said we did the drive in 24 hours it was really ~ 19 hours driving and we got up after about 4 hours sleep the next morning (we'd get NO sleep in your model). Just my opinion so please don't flame me!?

PS- Are those DC chargers in your scenario? I think those would be even harder to find along the way.

Yes, per the detailed capture below almost every one was a 150kw EA charger at a shopping center (mostly Walmarts). One was an EVGO 40kw DCFC at a Hampton Inn. However, if you have a SR AWD it is a very different case. This is not only due to peak charging 30% lower than the ER battery, but also from a smaller battery with 10% less efficiency. Because of that, the time driving was longer to be able to make chargers at the shorter spacing AND the charge time went up to 7.5 hours. So NO, the SR AWD is not practical for a trip as long as this, IMHO. I DO believe the ER RWD is "just good enough".

 

[ChasingCoral]

True, not brand loyalty, but sometimes brand disdain from a bad experience. "I'll never use XXXXX again!!".

Price transparency is another problem with ChargePoint.

True, I avoid Exxon/Mobil, Chevron, Marathon, and Valero as much as I can due to their horrible environmental and climate policies -- and that's by oil company standards!

 

[ChasingCoral]

As a new EV driver, you might want to familiarize yourself with some of the better route planning tools before deciding based on FUD. I just entered Chicago to Palm City into A Better Route Planner and it looks like a very practical EV route:
https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=47b4ea46-ca53-48ca-9b84-7c501ae39f59
Car sizes and comfort are another matter of course!

Sorry, forgot yours is a Standard Range. That adds almost an hour of charging but still a very practical route.
https://abetterrouteplanner.com/?plan_uuid=c7d5d81e-2f89-4b2e-ac19-ef3b0175fc22

Amusing note: one of the charging stops is the Corvette Museum!

 

[Illinibird]

This is a good example of why it's just so different for each individual's situation and preferences. From what you've described, I think you probably made the right choice getting the AWD SR and keeping it your around-home vehicle. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. I came close to doing the same.

As soon as I saw "Chicago", that meant AWD where we lose 10% off range (same for me in CO). BEV enthusiasts are often just fine stopping 3x more often, for 30 minutes each, killing time walking and eating whatever food happens to be next to the charger, not concerned with whether the only charger in the area is well lit or in a less safe area, etc. It sounds like you guys are more toward the other end of the scale, where people value the freedom to choose better stops, not be limited on where to eat, not have to sit around the car for 30 minutes every stop, etc. In short - just reached a point in their lives where there's no reason to make the drive more difficult and more challenging. I totally get that. And when you own another vehicle that road-trips well without compromise, it makes perfect sense to use it.

Even though we'll try the Mach-E on a trip, I expect we'll still use the Escape on many anyway. It's still gonna get driven some, even though the Mach-E will become the "primary" car getting the most local use.

Well said; thank you. You pretty much nailed it right on the head! If I had my way, however, we’d fly down there and avoid all this entirely! My wife is deathly afraid of flying and with Covid car travel remains our only mode to see my other daughter and her family.

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