Do you really know your car?

[DYohn]

Quartzsite Arizona, along I-10. I also charged in Indio, CA, just before that stop and it was full, including this Lightning. There was a Niro waiting when I unplugged at that stop.

Interesting. I've used the EA at Loves in Quartzsite several times and never saw it full like that. Must be greater EV adoption happening, which is a good thing.

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[AZBill]

It's weird to see the Tesla charging there, rather slowly, while a large number of Tesla Supercharger stalls are available 1 block away.

I had that discussion with the Tesla owner, he had some free charging credits with EA and was using them, he claimed when he got there all were open. I think he was telling the truth, because when I checked the app about 20 miles out it was showing 3/4 available. Then 4 more cars show up in a 15 minute span.

The stupid Niro driver (75kw max charging) was using a 350kw charger, and the one I used that was open was 150kw. I plugged in last and left first, the other three were still all charging. The poor ETron GT then got stuck on the 150kw charger I was using.

The other Mach E seemed to be charging to 80-90%, not sure why, the next charger in Buckeye was only 100 miles away (He had an ER). 60% was plenty to get me home from there, and I live past the Buckeye chargers. With the chargers getting more crowded, drivers need to learn to optimize charging times, there is no point to charging to a high SoC when it is not necessary.

 

[kltye]

I find most MME drivers I've met are pretty clueless about their cars, sadly. It ranges from having no idea about charging speeds to not knowing what BlueCruise is (not just the difference between handsfree and hands-on BC). Having said that, I've also met a bunch of Tesla drivers who were equally clueless about charging at non-Supercharger locations.

 

[dmastro]

Average Joe Driver will not know the difference between 150kW and 350kW chargers or the limitations of the car. They will charge at whichever stall is most convenient.

 

[Tampamike]

I had that discussion with the Tesla owner, he had some free charging credits with EA and was using them, he claimed when he got there all were open. I think he was telling the truth, because when I checked the app about 20 miles out it was showing 3/4 available. Then 4 more cars show up in a 15 minute span.

The stupid Niro driver (75kw max charging) was using a 350kw charger, and the one I used that was open was 150kw. I plugged in last and left first, the other three were still all charging. The poor ETron GT then got stuck on the 150kw charger I was using.

The other Mach E seemed to be charging to 80-90%, not sure why, the next charger in Buckeye was only 100 miles away (He had an ER). 60% was plenty to get me home from there, and I live past the Buckeye chargers. With the chargers getting more crowded, drivers need to learn to optimize charging times, there is no point to charging to a high SoC when it is not necessary.

See? That’s what I meant earlier. You “think” the Tesla guy might be telling the truth because you checked the app 20 minutes before you got there. Who knows what happened in that 20 minutes. Maybe the “stupid” Niro driver just pulled in to the first spot he saw because it was the first spot he saw and he didn’t see the 350 sign til he pulled in. Then maybe he figured he didn’t want to pull back out because he saw you coming, or any number of different explanations besides that he was “stupid.” Maybe the other MachE was charging to 90% because he didn’t want to make another stop at Buckeye - he just wanted to get home on one charge. Maybe he was going the other direction.

When there’s a plethora of available DCFC at different speeds, with always one or two open and working, this will be a thing. Right now, there’s just not enough and not enough that work to get too wrapped up about it. The education about the charging differences is good though.

My only ”bad” experience happened at a 50kw charger that had a posted 30 minute limit on it. I pulled up next to the guy and rolled down the window to see how much longer he had. He ignored me - didn’t roll down his window, kept talking on the phone like he didn’t see me. (He did.) I left and went to the next one on the map. It didn’t work, nor did the next one. Finally got to the fourth one that did with about 10 miles left. I guess I could have waited at the first one and pressed the issue. I’m sure his answer might have been “I just got here - it‘ll be another thirty minutes.”

 

[sotek2345]

See? That’s what I meant earlier. You “think” the Tesla guy might be telling the truth because you checked the app 20 minutes before you got there. Who knows what happened in that 20 minutes. Maybe the “stupid” Niro driver just pulled in to the first spot he saw because it was the first spot he saw and he didn’t see the 350 sign til he pulled in. Then maybe he figured he didn’t want to pull back out because he saw you coming, or any number of different explanations besides that he was “stupid.” Maybe the other MachE was charging to 90% because he didn’t want to make another stop at Buckeye - he just wanted to get home on one charge. Maybe he was going the other direction.

When there’s a plethora of available DCFC at different speeds, with always one or two open and working, this will be a thing. Right now, there’s just not enough and not enough that work to get too wrapped up about it. The education about the charging differences is good though.

My only ”bad” experience happened at a 50kw charger that had a posted 30 minute limit on it. I pulled up next to the guy and rolled down the window to see how much longer he had. He ignored me - didn’t roll down his window, kept talking on the phone like he didn’t see me. (He did.) I left and went to the next one on the map. It didn’t work, nor did the next one. Finally got to the fourth one that did with about 10 miles left. I guess I could have waited at the first one and pressed the issue. I’m sure his answer might have been “I just got here - it‘ll be another thirty minutes.”

Only "bad" experience I had was in Canada. Stopped at a fast charge location that had one 50kw and one 100kw stations. It charged by the minute and was the same cost for both.

A bolt got there just before me and took the 100kw side. They hadn't plugged in yet. I asked them to swap since they were limited to 50kw anyways, but they said no. Ended up just waiting the hour plus for the charge and paying the extra (it wasn't too much). Not worth making a scene over.

 

[mkhuffman]

Only "bad" experience I had was in Canada. Stopped at a fast charge location that had one 50kw and one 100kw stations. It charged by the minute and was the same cost for both.

A bolt got there just before me and took the 100kw side. They hadn't plugged in yet. I asked them to swap since they were limited to 50kw anyways, but they said no. Ended up just waiting the hour plus for the charge and paying the extra (it wasn't too much). Not worth making a scene over.

Those Chevy Bolt people are a-holes.

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[kltye]

Only "bad" experience I had was in Canada. Stopped at a fast charge location that had one 50kw and one 100kw stations. It charged by the minute and was the same cost for both.

A bolt got there just before me and took the 100kw side. They hadn't plugged in yet. I asked them to swap since they were limited to 50kw anyways, but they said no. Ended up just waiting the hour plus for the charge and paying the extra (it wasn't too much). Not worth making a scene over.

I don't understand why people have to be so nasty. It literally costs nothing to be nice in this case, but wow...

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