Electrify America complaints

[Guss-E 2021]

A couple things.
First, I haven’t had too much heartburn positioning the car to plug in at EA. The units have 2 plugs, either of which (not both) can be used. You can park the car on either side of the unit and use the plug which works best. You don’t have to be facing the screen. I’ve backed in the spot many times to access the open unit. Usually there’s enough fore and aft room to pull forward or slide back a little to access the plug.

Second, P&C and free charge credits - it’s easier than what you described. If you have P&C active on your Blue Oval network account and in the FordPass app, then all you have to do is plug and charge. Don’t use the EA app for those free credits from Ford. If you want to use your EA account to charge, maybe because your credits are used up and you want the cheaper Pass+ rate that you activated for the month, then you’ll HAVE TO use your EA app and activate the charger by swiping on the app BEFORE plugging in. If you don’t activate the unit first, by swiping in the app, then the car will talk with the charger automatically and go through the BlueOval network at the higher regular EA rate. You can also deactivate P&C but I leave it always on - I just use the app if I need to and P&C when I want to.

Hope that helps.

Thank you @Tampamike. I'm a self professed novice at public charging. All tips and tricks are appreciated.

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[Guss-E 2021]

I'd suggest that instead of watching Youtube videos, the OP read some of the threads on here. As stated, positioning isn't an issue at that design of station, nor is using the free Plug and Charge.

Also note at that station you can pull in from the other side also.

I wasn't watching YouTube videos for instructions (I definitely would have checked here first). I only meant reference the dissatisfaction that a few well known YouTube viewers have recently been voicing. Those other spaces were occupied when I arrived. They are not dedicated to EV charging.

Also, people rarely have to visit an online forum to use a gas pump. Charging should be that easy as it was with my Chargepoint experience. That is simply my feelings. I do fully believe we will get there though.

 

[mkhuffman]

I have found using EA chargers to be very easy, because I use Plug and Charge. In fact, I find it easier than pumping gas. I pull up, plug in, verify the charge has started, and then go pee.

My problem isn't with the design or layout of the pumps, it is with the reliability of the pumps and charger congestion. @Guss-E 2021, you were 1 car away from having to wait for a charger.

Considering the number of new BEVs being sold that include "free" charging, we will be lucky if we never have to wait at a typical DCFC station. It will get especially bad at EA stations, since it seems like all the "free" charging credits are with EA. Maybe when planning a trip, it is time to start avoiding EA and targeting the alternatives, like EVgo.

 

[Logal727]

I have found using EA chargers to be very easy, because I use Plug and Charge. In fact, I find it easier than pumping gas. I pull up, plug in, verify the charge has started, and then go pee.

My problem isn't with the design or layout of the pumps, it is with the reliability of the pumps and charger congestion. @Guss-E 2021, you were 1 car away from having to wait for a charger.

Considering the number of new BEVs being sold that include "free" charging, we will be lucky if we never have to wait at a typical DCFC station. It will get especially bad at EA stations, since it seems like all the "free" charging credits are with EA. Maybe when planning a trip, it is time to start avoiding EA and targeting the alternatives, like EVgo.

I’ll definitely use EVGo more once my free EA credits are gone

 

[mkhuffman]

I’ll definitely use EVGo more once my free EA credits are gone

That is the root of the problem! Free charging is causing charger congestion to be much worse! Free charging sucks.

But I am with you on using it - I just finished up my free EA kW last week, and of course I wasn't going to let it expire without using it.

Also, P&C is so great! Has anyone been able to get P&C to work with other stations like EVgo? I have not tried, but it looks like I will need to figure that out.

 

[generaltso]

Maybe when planning a trip, it is time to start avoiding EA and targeting the alternatives, like EVgo.

GM has partnered with EVgo. Not sure if that will eventually include free charging credits.

 

[Maquis]

That is the root of the problem! Free charging is causing charger congestion to be much worse! Free charging sucks.

But I am with you on using it - I just finished up my free EA kW last week, and of course I wasn't going to let it expire without using it.

Also, P&C is so great! Has anyone been able to get P&C to work with other stations like EVgo? I have not tried, but it looks like I will need to figure that out.

AFAIK, P&C is EA-only.

 

[4sallypat]

2 frustrating points for me:

1. When I used EA for the first time with my Lightning was that it stopped at 90%.
When I contacted EA, they said their chargers do not limit to 90% but 100% and to check my vehicle.
I checked my vehicle Sync screen and there is no "1 time limit" placed.

2. Both charger cables on my side, backed in were off line. Could not move it because all the spaces were used. Had to call EA customer service and gave them the charger numbers and they reset it 2 minutes.

Used the free minutes from Ford and got 90% charged.

Next time, I will be using my EA app to actually pay for the charge and get 100% in preparation for an upcoming road trip to Las Vegas.

 

[Tampamike]

That is the root of the problem! Free charging is causing charger congestion to be much worse! Free charging sucks.

But I am with you on using it - I just finished up my free EA kW last week, and of course I wasn't going to let it expire without using it.

Also, P&C is so great! Has anyone been able to get P&C to work with other stations like EVgo? I have not tried, but it looks like I will need to figure that out.

P&C only works with EA.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

AFAIK, P&C is EA-only.

Supposedly (from back in the day) EA and Greenlots (now Shell Recharge). I’ve never been able to get Geeenlots to do p&c but their equipment here is from the Mesozoic era, so it’s likely not very representative. I also haven’t checked Ford’s sales literature about the car since mine arrived either.

 

[mkhuffman]

GM has partnered with EVgo. Not sure if that will eventually include free charging credits.

I hope not.

 

[Maquis]

Supposedly (from back in the day) EA and Greenlots (now Shell Recharge). I’ve never been able to get Geeenlots to do p&c but their equipment here is from the Mesozoic era, so it’s likely not very representative. I also have checked Fied’s sakes literature about the car since mine arrived either.

That’s right, I forgot about Greenlots. Probably because I’ve never seen one!

 

[Lord Polymath]

Didn't really mind the backing in part other than it was raining and I had twin 3 year olds throwing a tantrum in the back seat .

I have twins too - hang in there, it gets better. 3 was a rough age at times...

 

[generaltso]

1. When I used EA for the first time with my Lightning was that it stopped at 90%.
When I contacted EA, they said their chargers do not limit to 90% but 100% and to check my vehicle.
I checked my vehicle Sync screen and there is no "1 time limit" placed.

That’s how all Lightnings work. When you DCFC, it will stop at 90% unless you override it and tell it to go to 100%. But you have to manually override it every time if you want more than 90%.

 

[JohnFoxeSheets]

I'm not a fan of the placement of the chargers on the side either. Seems about half the EA chargers and that way, while the other half are in a row along the front of the parking spots. The ones on the side are usually tight parking spots, and they make it difficult to even open the car door without banging it into the protective bollard.

The side arrangement would be fine if they used wider spots. But that would take up more valuable space in the parking lots.

When they do use the side layout, I'd rather they place all 4 chargers in a single line of a 2x2 pull-thru, rather like a traditional gas station island. Even if it's just a Walmart parking lot, 2x2 instead of 4-across offers much more flexibility for parking the car from the best side, and being able to pull straight through if there's not a car blocking the front one.

I agree. I've only used EA chargers three times - the first at a Safeway with the chargers at the front of the space and it pretty easy to get the cable to the charge port. The second two times were at at the same Target with side placement of the chargers. The time I pulled in everything lined up nicely for my MME and it was all good. But the second time I went there I had to move my car around a bunch to find a way to park it such that the cable reached and I didn't block a 350kW or a CHAdeMO charger. If I recall correctly, I got it done when another car pulled out of the spot I'd used the first time. Meanwhile an elderly man in an EQS struggled to find a spot that worked for his car, though that might have been operator error. (That said, he had also been at the same set of chargers on my first visit there and hadn't seemed to have had issues.)

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