Do you really know your car?

[Shayne]

Nah the answer is simple etiquette, you take the 150kw.

Knew it was a trick question but not really tricky. The answer you were looking for most on this forum know. Since I have not seen anything over 50 KW yet I would be happy with either. At first it was just me and two 50 KW chargers and now last time I was at a dcfc I waited 20 minutes as both were in use. Even two MME side by side now one mine. Charging definitely lacks here. The answer is make them all 350 KW and then no more whining.

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[mkhuffman]

If the station was empty I'd use the 350 kW dispenser. If one 350 kW was already in use then I'd use the 150 kW dispenser. That way you always leave a 350 open if an 800V car shows up.

Mach-E does charge slightly faster on a 350kW because of the higher current limit (500A vs. 350A).

It's similar logic to leaving the CHAdeMO open for Leafs unless all the other dispensers are in use.

This ^^^^

From what I understand, all 150 kW chargers are current limited to 350 Amps. It is not a power limit, it is a current limit. Since the MME uses a 400V architecture, the max it can charge at 350 Amps is 140kW. In reality, the MME battery voltage is slightly less than 400V (Lee, I believe you know the actual voltage), so on a 150 kW charger the MME can never actually reach 140 kW.

On the other hand, the MME could theoretically charge at a little less than 200 kW if you use the 350kW pump. As Rod pointed out, you can exceed 160 kW for brief periods but you can't hit 200, of course.

The bottom line is 350 kW chargers charge the MME faster than the 150kW chargers. It is certainly not the benefit other cars see, but there is a benefit. So I think EV6 owners should not be upset when they see a MME on a 350kW charger. Just because you benefit more does not mean you deserve it over a MME owner who also benefits by using it.

That said, unless I am in a hurry, I pick the 150kW charger first. But l will take a 350kW charger if I am in a hurry and need a long charge.

 

[Logal727]

I’ll pull into the 150 if no one else is around, but if all that’s available is 350 when I arrive, that’s what I’m using. The speed difference due to charge curves is negligible anyways. It’s not worth fighting over a spot.

 

[Logal727]

This ^^^^

From what I understand, all 150 kW chargers are current limited to 350 Amps. It is not a power limit, it is a current limit. Since the MME uses a 400V architecture, the max it can charge at 350 Amps is 140kW. In reality, the MME battery voltage is slightly less than 400V (Lee, I believe you know the actual voltage), so on a 150 kW charger the MME can never actually reach 140 kW.

On the other hand, the MME could theoretically charge at a little less than 200 kW if you use the 350kW pump. As Rod pointed out, you can exceed 160 kW for brief periods but you can't hit 200, of course.

The bottom line is 350 kW chargers charge the MME faster than the 150kW chargers. It is certainly not the benefit other cars see, but there is a benefit. So I think EV6 owners should not be upset when they see a MME on a 350kW charger. Just because you benefit more does not mean you deserve it over a MME owner who also benefits by using it.

That said, unless I am in a hurry, I pick the 150kW charger first. But l will take a 350kW charger if I am in a hurry and need a long charge.

It really isn’t worth waiting for 350kw charger for the other vehicles either, so it works both ways, some people will wait 20 mins for the 350 lol.

 

[mikeinet]

Silly question on this topic…
If there’s a row of chargers, like a 350, a 150 then a 50…
Are they typically all dedicated circuits or is it shared between the chargers? If latter, would a 350 get “more share” of that circuit for some reason?

 

[sotek2345]

Can I just put out a general request for larger power numbers on the chargers? I try to go for the 150 units, but usually I can't read the little sticker until I have half way into the parking space. I have pretty good vision too.

 

[AZBill]

From what I understand, all 150 kW chargers are current limited to 350 Amps. It is not a power limit, it is a current limit. Since the MME uses a 400V architecture, the max it can charge at 350 Amps is 140kW. In reality, the MME battery voltage is slightly less than 400V (Lee, I believe you know the actual voltage), so on a 150 kW charger the MME can never actually reach 140 kW.

Not true. The EA ABB 150kw chargers are limited to 350A, while the 350kw are 450A. The Signet chargers used by EA support 500A, for either kw limit. I have gotten 150kw on a Signet 150kw charger, while I have seen up to 160kw on a Signet 350kw charger. I got 153kw on an ABB 350kw charger this weekend while on a trip.

Typically on an ABB 150kw charger, I will see ~125kw. The nominal charging voltage at low SoC is 360V, not 400V, so you will not get 140kw at that 350A limit. 400V is the voltage at 100% SoC.

 

[AZBill]

Silly question on this topic…
If there’s a row of chargers, like a 350, a 150 then a 50…
Are they typically all dedicated circuits or is it shared between the chargers? If latter, would a 350 get “more share” of that circuit for some reason?

Electrify America does not use power sharing, they all have individual power supplies.

 

[DYohn]

I charged twice today with full chargers and others waiting.

Which Loves is that?

 

[Valkyrja]

On my recent trip I charged wherever there was room. Crazy amount of EVs in and around Los Angeles. That said I did enjoy seeing so many different EVs in one location.

Highesti have managed to get from a 350 station is 158. It did not last long and eventually settled in around 130-ish.

 

[mkhuffman]

Not true. The EA ABB 150kw chargers are limited to 350A, while the 350kw are 450A. The Signet chargers used by EA support 500A, for either kw limit. I have gotten 150kw on a Signet 150kw charger, while I have seen up to 160kw on a Signet 350kw charger. I got 153kw on an ABB 350kw charger this weekend while on a trip.

Typically on an ABB 150kw charger, I will see ~125kw. The nominal charging voltage at low SoC is 360V, not 400V, so you will not get 140kw at that 350A limit. 400V is the voltage at 100% SoC.

It's good to know that some 150kW EA chargers can supply 500 Amps, and thanks for the specifics about the charging voltage. It is very helpful and it sounds like we agree. The MME will charge faster on a 350kW charger so the EV6 people need to chill out and not get upset when a MME is charging at a 350kW pump. A MME has just as much right to get a faster charge as the other guys, IMO.

 

[Tampamike]

Then there’s the problem of how many are working? My recent experience has me approaching the bank with an expectation of inop chargers. Between that and the difficulty of seeing which one is which before I pull in, I’m just happy if I pick one that’s working. One station only had one operating plug out of four. If I had been lucky and picked that one and it was a 350, moving while looking for a 150 could have cost me the spot or at least led to a lot of jockeying around to end up back at the 350 where I started.

I’ve also picked the wrong one when a Porsche picked the right one at the same time. Had I picked the working 350 unit and then moved out of courtesy, I would have been SOL.

Maybe I just picked the only open one when I arrived. By the time I come back from Walmart, you arrive with your Ioniq to two open 150’s, giving me the side eye.

So, it’s not always a cut and dried case of being obnoxious or ignorant. I don’t purposely pick 350’s to get a faster charge - it’s like a matter of 2 or 3 minutes faster. Now that I know about the faster charging cars, I keep that in mind but don’t have a cow if I’m at your 350. (I know it’s probably not you.)

 

[AZBill]

Which Loves is that?

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.

 

[ctenidae]

Can I just put out a general request for larger power numbers on the chargers? I try to go for the 150 units, but usually I can't read the little sticker until I have half way into the parking space. I have pretty good vision too.

I've only charged away from home 4 or 5 times with the MME, but the other day was the first time I even saw that some were 150 and others were 350. Mostly because it was painted in the parking spots (Stroudsburg East, PA Walmart)

The fact they painted it on the asphalt indicates to me there should be an etiquette element to charging choices. I ended up taking a 350 spot, primarily because there was an ICE F150 about to back in and I wanted to charge.

 

[macchiaz-o]

I charged twice today with full chargers and others waiting.

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

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