Charging Station Congestion

[generaltso]

It is time to introduce variable pricing where necessary. Peek time : double rates. There will be no escaping these measures.

A lot of these cars come with free charging. Double free is still free.

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[FLmac]

I’m planning a trip from Tampa area to KC at the end of May. I just realized that the drive home to FL falls over the Memorial Day weekend. Is this typically a free charging weekend? Do I need to worry about charging congestion? How do I know if Memorial Day weekend is a free weekend?

 

[RickMachE]

I’m planning a trip from Tampa area to KC at the end of May. I just realized that the drive home to FL falls over the Memorial Day weekend. Is this typically a free charging weekend? Do I need to worry about charging congestion? How do I know if Memorial Day weekend is a free weekend?

1) Yes, EA has typically had free charging for an entire holiday weekend, often including the day prior.

2) No, they usually don't announce it.

3) You will know when you look at the charger's screen and it says free.

Commonsense would say that as people learn this, holiday weekend charging will become more and more congested.

 

[mkhuffman]

A lot of these cars come with free charging. Double free is still free.

IMO this is one of the big reasons DCFC congestion is getting bad so quickly. At the last two DCFC stops I made the only other cars charging besides me were obviously locals. Why would a local charge at a DCFC station? Because it is free! I suppose they might not have a good alternative, like they don't have a way to charge at home, but I am pretty sure they were charging just because it is free. People love free stuff, including me. ;-)

 

[FLmac]

IMO this is one of the big reasons DCFC congestion is getting bad so quickly. At the last two DCFC stops I made the only other cars charging besides me were obviously locals. Why would a local charge at a DCFC station? Because it is free! I suppose they might not have a good alternative, like they don't have a way to charge at home, but I am pretty sure they were charging just because it is free. People love free stuff, including me. ;-)

I love free stuff! I was devastated when Costco took away the samples! I’m planning a road trip just to try to use some of my free charging. I might be imagining it, but I was under the impression that constant DCFC charging could be bad for the batteries in the long term. Am I wrong?

Let the argument and corrections begin! ?

 

[Triggerhappy007]

These two EV6s were at most, 6 weeks old. If I’m seeing full station usage at stations from cars that are only a month or so old, then I’m thinking it won’t be long before we see some real congestion problems.

You know why they're DC charging? Because Kia doesn't give you an EVSE with purchase. You have to purchase an aftermarket one. I'm glad Ford gives us a dual voltage one.

 

[RickMachE]

I love free stuff! I was devastated when Costco took away the samples! I’m planning a road trip just to try to use some of my free charging. I might be imagining it, but I was under the impression that constant DCFC charging could be bad for the batteries in the long term. Am I wrong?

Let the argument and corrections begin! ?

First correction - Costco free samples ARE BACK! At least near us. ?

Yes, constant DC charging is bad. I've read that some of these "free for X years" vehicles limit the charge to 80%, and maybe one of them was one per week (unsure). But yes, doing that all the time would over time impact the battery.

Reality points:

1) 99% of consumers have no clue if they are impacting their battery, nor how to know that.

2) Impact on battery life is likely to be a non-issue for most consumers, because they'll get rid of the car before it's an issue.

3) Ford warranties the battery to be at 70% or more for 8 years / 100,000 miles.

4) This forum is overwhelmingly people that are very into the technology of the cars. This is NOT the general public here. Go to a EA location and ask some of the "free for X years" people questions. They barely know their vehicle is electric.

 

[Cooper]

Did a road trip to Indy last week and found some fellow MachE drivers charging at a Walmart EA station. Three MachE's at the same time - that's a first for me.

 

[silverelan]

You know why they're DC charging? Because Kia doesn't give you an EVSE with purchase. You have to purchase an aftermarket one. I'm glad Ford gives us a dual voltage one.

Me and the two EV6s were road tripping for the first time and were all 100mi or more away from home.

The EV6 parked next to me was so confused about her charge port location she actually drove her Kia forward and up onto the sidewalk to allow the cable to stretch instead of just backing in like the other EV6 at the station.

At my hotel that night, there was even congestion for the L2s. Three Teslas for two Tesla destination chargers while I called dibs on the J1772.

 

[FLmac]

First correction - Costco free samples ARE BACK! At least near us. ?

Yes, constant DC charging is bad. I've read that some of these "free for X years" vehicles limit the charge to 80%, and maybe one of them was one per week (unsure). But yes, doing that all the time would over time impact the battery.

Reality points:

1) 99% of consumers have no clue if they are impacting their battery, nor how to know that.

2) Impact on battery life is likely to be a non-issue for most consumers, because they'll get rid of the car before it's an issue.

3) Ford warranties the battery to be at 70% or more for 8 years / 100,000 miles.

4) This forum is overwhelmingly people that are very into the technology of the cars. This is NOT the general public here. Go to a EA location and ask some of the "free for X years" people questions. They barely know their vehicle is electric.

Costco samples are back down here too! Makes me super happy! ?

All of your points make sense. I think I will always drive a car into the ground and that’s probably not reality. Plus with the technology changing as fast as it is most EV buyers will probably upgrade even faster than normal.

 

[Deleted member 9461]

Only seen crowds where (2) EA are down, and was in a heavily EV use area.

 

[The Electric Duo]

Side note...
We were one of the 5 cars at the AirBNB that Kyle mentioned in the video. There were two Teslas (the X and the 3 in the video), and 3 CCS cars (Ioniq 5, Taycan, and us). The CCS cars had no problems with busy CCS chargers. Granted, I don't think it will stay that way as more CCS cars are sold (and given free charging).

 

[HuntingPudel]

There is a bank of EA chargers near a mall that I wanted to look at, so I dropped off to look at it this weekend while I was running a errand nearby. At about 10:20 in the morning on a Saturday there was one EV (R1T) there, the other 5 chargers were free. ??

 

[Logal727]

Might encourage Wawa/Buc-ees/etc. to build more DC chargers at their locations if they are finally profitable. There were 8 Teslas... each buying overpriced snacks at the Wawa's. I spent 75 cent on a single banana and $5 on a tiny pinwheel sandwhich - in 15 minutes.

it’s pretty dumb Bucees hasn’t added any yet, I could spend a good hour or so in that store.

 

[Logal727]

I’m planning a trip from Tampa area to KC at the end of May. I just realized that the drive home to FL falls over the Memorial Day weekend. Is this typically a free charging weekend? Do I need to worry about charging congestion? How do I know if Memorial Day weekend is a free weekend?

Yeah usually free, they haven’t been announcing them lately though, more of a surprise

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