Electrify America Price Increase Coming March 6, 2023

[RickLightning]

Really wish they based these prices on local utility costs. Here in my part of WA (with 3 EA stations) rates haven't increased in 16 years and just announced they won't change for 2023 either. Or get more battery buffers in place to avoid the demand charges. Keep up the terrible work EA upper management.

Couldn't be a worse idea IMO. People love paying the same anywhere. Great that EA does that (except in states where they have to charge by the minute).

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[LightningShow]

I'm surprised they didn't increase the per minute cost more. As more and more cars come on the road with very high charging rate the cost per kwh on the per minute stations is far, far lower than the per kwh stations. Like @TaxmanHog said, even at $0.29/min the energy cost is significantly less than local home utility rates here in New England. I supposed when averaged out across all regions it probably makes business sense but presents an odd incentive for places with higher electricity cost.

 

[RickLightning]

I'm surprised they didn't increase the per minute cost more. As more and more cars come on the road with very high charging rate the cost per kwh on the per minute stations is far, far lower than the per kwh stations. Like @TaxmanHog said, even at $0.29/min the energy cost is significantly less than local home utility rates here in New England. I supposed when averaged out across all regions it probably makes business sense but presents an odd incentive for places with higher electricity cost.

They are focused on charging by the kWh in all states. Last year they converted at least 5 states. Then they added new states. They have to go to the utility commissions I believe to get approved to charge like a utility does, then they get approved and make the change.

 

[SmokingtheMeats]

If only EA had reliable equipment to justify an increase.. they are literally slowing down chargers to increase charge times, which means more money in their pocket. Last weekend I charged at EA I couldn't get any of the 4 chargers to output more than 68kWh.

I was able to pull 156kwh last night at my local EA. I’ve been fortunate with my experiences

 

[kwalt21]

I was able to pull 156kwh last night at my local EA. I’ve been fortunate with my experiences

I was able to say the same until recently. It has been cold, but not 20 degrees cold. And each time my battery temp was in the upper 60's.

They have a note that comes up on the chargers that says they lowered charge speeds for reliability and an update.

 

[SmokingtheMeats]

I was able to say the same until recently. It has been cold, but not 20 degrees cold. And each time my battery temp was in the upper 60's.

They have a note that comes up on the chargers that says they lowered charge speeds for reliability and an update.

Interesting. It was 33 degrees where I’m at.

 

[kwalt21]

Interesting. It was 33 degrees where I’m at.

You in eastern or western PA? My slow experience is in Cranberry, PA at the Sheetz off Freedom Rd

 

[LightningShow]

All of the EA stations around me are restricted. I would usually get 120-150kW, lately it’s around 60kW. And they are still charging the >90kW rate. I’m not sure how they figure that out, is it based in the vehicle?

 

[TaxmanHog]

I’m not sure how they figure that out, is it based in the vehicle?

The vehicles maximum rate capacity, but you bring a good point that the deration should push your session into the lower rate tier!

 

[SmokingtheMeats]

You in eastern or western PA? My slow experience is in Cranberry, PA at the Sheetz off Freedom Rd

Eastern, King of Prussia and Wilmington DE locations

 

[jazzmanmonty]

Go figure. Their charging stations blow up EVs and now they have to raise the rates so they can pay for them. Based on how crappy and intermittent their service is, they should be lowering rates to attract people. It's like going to a gas station that puts water in ur tank, if their pump even works, then thinking it's a good idea to raise prices. Stupid.

 

[luebri]

Go figure. Their charging stations blow up EVs and now they have to raise the rates so they can pay for them. Based on how crappy and intermittent their service is, they should be lowering rates to attract people. It's like going to a gas station that puts water in ur tank, if their pump even works, then thinking it's a good idea to raise prices. Stupid.

Well to be fair the free market normally fixes crap like this. Premium price = premium service, discount price = discount service. Competition = the Cream rises to the top. Once government starts putting their thumb on the scale of any industry it gets all messed up. Since the entire EV industry and especially EV chargers are built on government forced investment it is a mess. Basic capitalism and service goes down the toilet. The EV industry has gotten what they lobbied for.

 

[Jim Lewis]

Well to be fair the free market normally fixes crap like this.

OTH, unregulated free markets and unregulated regional banks led to stupendous economic boom and bust cycles, particularly in 19th-century America and leading up to the Great Depression. Sometimes there's very little to keep humans from all rushing over to one side of the boat like lemmings. And it's dirt cheap to dig up coal and petroleum products out of the ground and burn them. There is no great economic incentive in the short term not to self-destruct (the paradox of the commons: Tragedy of the commons - Wikipedia ). So, the history of the world is not a lesson in how unregulated free enterprise is a solution to all mankind's problems. Basically, humans are tribal folk and don't always play nice together, whether it's in economic markets, territorial claims, or whatnot. The best situation, IMHO, is enough government to make sure we all play nice together and have sustainable economic, social, and environmental policies. Most people don't think very much about any of the preceding, just making as many bucks as possible and kicking the can of facing long-term consequences as far down the road as possible. Unbridled capitalism encouraged slavery, for example. It didn't make it go away. Too much government is as bad or worse than too much unbridled capitalism, but I don't see the world averting really bad climate change without government nudging around the world to lessen the economic incentives to keep using fossil fuels.

 

[luebri]

OTH, unregulated free markets and unregulated regional banks led to stupendous economic boom and bust cycles, particularly in 19th-century America and leading up to the Great Depression. Sometimes there's very little to keep humans from all rushing over to one side of the boat like lemmings. And it's dirt cheap to dig up coal and petroleum products out of the ground and burn them. There is no great economic incentive in the short term not to self-destruct (the paradox of the commons). So, the history of the world is not a lesson in how unregulated free enterprise is a solution to all mankind's problems. Basically, humans are tribal folk and don't always play nice together, whether it's in economic markets, territorial claims, or whatnot. The best situation, IMHO, is enough government to make sure we all play nice together and have sustainable economic, social, and environmental policies. Most people don't think very much about any of the preceding, just making as many bucks as possible and kicking the can of facing long-term consequences as far down the road as possible. Unbridled capitalism encouraged slavery, for example. It didn't make it go away. Too much government is as bad or worse than too much unbridled capitalism, but I don't see the world averting really bad climate change without government nudging around the world to lessen the economic incentives to keep using fossil fuels.

I agree with your views on unbridled capitalism. Gov't has its place... I just prefer to be a lot less! Because normally when Gov't is the majority participant in any industry it turns into a s**t show.

Case and point... right now there is way too little free market and way too much government influence and that is why this industry is a complete mess.

Let's be honest, America has it's warts. Capitalism has its warts, but it's still the greatest place on earth to live, and its still the greatest economic model!

Right now the EV market is just to polluted with gov't money to trust anything to work effectively.

P.S. I dont think EV's are going to do anything to "save the planet". Yes I know, I'm evil.

 

[davehu]

seems to me they've got a lot of nerve raising their prices with all the quality issues they've got

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