GM & Pilot to build 2000 EVgo charging stations at 500 locations along US highways

[SWO]

I mean this is cool if they actually put something better than 50 kW every EV go in the area of Sacramento is 50 kW of trash I drive by them and give them the middle finger lol

FWIW the highest charging speed I've ever reached was on an EVGO 350.

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[SWO]

I use mostly EA too (largely due to coverage in the right spots), but even more dependable for us have been the ChargePoint 125's. Done roughly a dozen charges on them and they've been highly dependable. CO and UT use those for their state-sponsored charger locations spread around the state. Kyle Connor uses the ones in Wellington CO all the time for his range tests (just north of his office and home in Ft Collins). He rarely seems to have any issue with them.

My only issue with the Chargepoint (CPE250?) chargers is that the cables need to be longer. If they are installed with an angled parking space, or the bollard is too far away, it can be a PITA plugging a MachE in. Oh yeah, the Chademo cable also has to be positioned so as to not add extra tension.

 

[jammic]

Does EVGo have a 150 kW tower? All the EVGo's I've crossed paths with are 50 kW, which isn't going to be that useful for folks making long distance runs.

I charged at a 150kW EA station on my last trip after using only 50kW EVgo stations and I couldn’t believe the difference.

 

[kltye]

Do you know what they looked like? Were they the "Fat Boy" chargers? They are squat-looking ones, very aptly named unfortunately lol.

So I spoke to a BTC (makers of said "Fat Boy" chargers) rep at a show on fleet EVs and he said they've pretty much swapped out all the fat boys in the country with newer chargers.
And a small tidbit: fat boy was supposed to be an internal term, until they used it while on a call with a customer inadvertently, and that's how it got leaked .

 

[Logal727]

So I spoke to a BTC (makers of said "Fat Boy" chargers) rep at a show on fleet EVs and he said they've pretty much swapped out all the fat boys in the country with newer chargers.
And a small tidbit: fat boy was supposed to be an internal term, until they used it while on a call with a customer inadvertently, and that's how it got leaked .

I’ve definitely still seen some on plugshare

 

[UnforAll]

I have never heard of Pilot or Flying J on the east coast but I'm glad for expansion anywhere. Hopefully, this will boost EVGo as an organization.

Milford and North Stonington according to the Pilot/Flying J locator. Don't know if they are part of the planned charging network
Find a Pilot Flying J Location Near You

 

[blkadr08]

I have never heard of Pilot or Flying J on the east coast but I'm glad for expansion anywhere. Hopefully, this will boost EVGo as an organization.

Me neither. But the website shows 772 locations in 44 states - many on the eastern half.

 

[dbsb3233]

I have never heard of Pilot or Flying J on the east coast but I'm glad for expansion anywhere. Hopefully, this will boost EVGo as an organization.

They're mostly outside of the cities along interstates. Which is perfect, as that's where most the DCFC should be. Travelers need DCFC. Locals should be using L1/L2 almost exclusively. Better for the batteries, better for the grid, much cheaper, and much easier to charge while sleeping overnight than to DCFC-sit for half an hour during the day.

 

[Ztug]

Because truck stops are exactly where I want to charge...

Actually, for F-150Ls, this MAY be ideal.

Actually most Pilots and Flying J's cater to cars at least as much as trucks and have restaurants as varied as Subway and Denny's.
Being open 24/7 and having some food and convenience items available at all times makes it more useful than a lot of locations. Especially since they are located right off the major highways which is where most people want fast charging on road trips.

 

[Ztug]

Me neither. But the website shows 772 locations in 44 states - many on the eastern half.

Florida has a bunch off I95. I75 and the Turnpike.

 

[silverelan]

Just wish Buc-ees would do it for everyone not just Tesla.

They’re coming.

Buc-ees was awarded a half dozen or more grants by Texas to install DCFC stations.

 

[silverelan]

They're mostly outside of the cities along interstates. Which is perfect, as that's where most the DCFC should be. Travelers need DCFC. Locals should be using L1/L2 almost exclusively. Better for the batteries, better for the grid, much cheaper, and much easier to charge while sleeping overnight than to DCFC-sit for half an hour during the day.

How’s the EA at the Love’s between Vegas and Denver?

There’s an EA at the Space Age truck stop in Hermiston, OR and it’s terrific. Lots of food options, huge clean bathrooms and space to walk around to stretch the legs. It’s a much better experience than a Walmart parking lot.

 

[dbsb3233]

How’s the EA at the Love’s between Vegas and Denver?

There’s an EA at the Space Age truck stop in Hermiston, OR and it’s terrific. Lots of food options, huge clean bathrooms and space to walk around to stretch the legs. It’s a much better experience than a Walmart parking lot.

It's good. Salina UT. Used it last week. We normally use the EA in Richfield 17 miles away (Walmart) because the spacing works a bit better, but it was warm and we had a tailwind so we tried Salina this time. Quick in and out from I-70, and Arby's sounded better than Subway.

We've been happy with nearly every EA location we've used. 33 of them now, by my count. Wish the Grand Junction one were closer to I-70. Flagstaff could have been a bit easier to get to. Same in Albuquerque. But I think every other one we've used has been pretty convenient right by an off-ramp. Most were at Walmarts, Sam's, or Target, which works good too. Same with Love's, Flying J, etc. All good.

 

[nvabill]

Trader Joe’s in Virginia Beach, these have been around for a while.

 

[silverelan]

I should have added... the reliability has been great, but the CP125's are usually paired/shared and only peak at about 72 kW for the Mach-E (in part because the way the power sharing setup works, and in part because the MME only runs at about 88% of rated max kW (if below 150) because of lower pack voltage than normal.

So while dependable, it's a slower option.

I’ve been wondering how well these “125kW” CPE250 stations work for road tripping. I’ve gotten up to 57kW on the 62.5kW stations which was fine for a convenience charging opportunity but frustrating for a road trip.

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