Nothing Has Changed In 7 Years

[scoobybri]

So I roll up to an EV America station with 4 chargers in Asheville, NC. I'm amazed by the diversity of EVs there. (See pic #1)So I park at charger #1, plug in and quickly realize that the charger is broken. The dreaded "Charging Unavailable" showing on the screen. So there's a new Rivian owner there who asks me for some assistance. We look at the charger he is at which has two charge ports. One is plugged into the Hummer and the Rivian guy is trying to use the 2nd port. Meanwhile, the charger screen is showing that the charging session for the Hummer has faulted. I look at the EVA app and it showing that his charger is showing "Charging Unavailable." In 2017, my wife and I bought 2 Chevy Bolts. Back then, half of the CCS chargers were broken and at the time I thought, "5 years in the future they will have all of these charging infrastructure bugs worked out. I've been driving Teslas for 3 years prior to my Lightning so I've been spoiled by the Supercharger network which works EVERY SINGLE TIME I've ever plugged in. So today, rather then fight for 2 working EVA chargers, I did what any good Tesla owner would do...(See pic #2)

 

[RickLightning]

Faulted charger was likely due to the Rivian driver trying to charge.

 

[scoobybri]

That sucks for the Hummer driver. They've got a massive battery that takes a LONG time to change. Imagine coming back in an hour to find you only charged 5%. Ugh!

 

[RickLightning]

That sucks for the Hummer driver. They've got a massive battery that takes a LONG time to change. Imagine coming back in an hour to find you only charged 5%. Ugh!

That's why I never leave.

 

[scoobybri]

I leave but aways check the car or charging app every 10 mins or so to make sure that nothing has happened with the session. Again, with Tesla chargers, they do not fail. You plug in and they just work.

 

[CRAIGC540]

Can't leave now with that priceless priceless adapter hooked up

 

[NCMike]

That Ashville charger is always a mess. Its usually full when I visit there in the fall and has at least one charger offline. Its also the last potential 350KW CCS charger on I40 before a long stretch heading towards TN. Will probably leave the lightning at home this fall and take the wife's tesla instead this year.

 

[RickLightning]

That Ashville charger is always a mess. Its usually full when I visit there in the fall and has at least one charger offline. Its also the last potential 350KW CCS charger on I40 before a long stretch heading towards TN. Will probably leave the lightning at home this fall and take the wife's tesla instead this year.

Because charging the Lightning at those Tesla chargers is ?

 

[hturnerfamily]

similar story at Target GAINSVILLE FL Electrify America NEW units, but only TWO actually 'working'...

I'm watching the activity for avialable charger stations as I am drawing closer to the exit on I75 North... I have the app to 'alert' me by text if someone disconnects, since all currently showed as 'in use', or 'not available', etc...

right as I approach the exit, I get the TEXT ... wow, I take the exit:

I pull into the Target and find that I am the ONLY ev there, although the app still shows only '1 available station'...hmmmm.
I see that #2 is available, pull in and plug in, activate, and start charging....CONGRATS!


well, that's only the BEGINNING of the story:

As I'm allowing the truck to charge, keeping an eye on the initial rate of power, and walking toward the Target bathrooms, my wife sits in the truck, keeping an eye on things.

I come out a little while later, after enjoying some AIR CONDITIONING at the Starbucks inside, watching the flow of energy start to slowly FALL, slower, then slower, then inching even slower. I need to get to 90% to reach my next 'destination' charge stop...

I decide to go ahead and go back out to the truck.
I see that an AUDI E-Tron has parked at the space to the left of me, on the other side of my pedestal island, but NOT plugged into the other station...hmmmm.
I don't say anything, but am ASSUMING that he found none of the other operational, and decided to park there to be 'ready' to use my cable when I was complete. O.k., but he also might not realize how LONG I may have to be there, as my power started at 125kw, but has slowed all the way down to 88.... crazy. But, it is also 100degrees in Florida.

Just then, as my wife is hoping out to go into Target, a HUMMER ev pulls up, starts roaming around the lot to get the best 'angle' to get into a charger, takes several tries at 'parking' that beast, then pulls into the last station and plugs in, and starts charging.

Why did the AUDI not use that available station?? hmmmmm.

don't know... : /

So, I soon see a JAGUAR E-pace(?), in bright ORANGE, pull in, jocky for a station, find that he can't reach one, find one 'not in service', and start to walk around 'wondering' if someone can help him....crazy. Do they not have an APP?

Here's the CRAZY, really CRAZY part, though:

I see him talking with the HUMMER. The Hummer unplugs and moves out of the way, parking in a space BEHIND ME, as though he is now WAITING for MY station, while the Jaguar now pulls into that old Hummer station, plugs in, and starts to charge.

The Audi E-tron is STILL Sitting Next To Me waiting....hmmmmm.
The owner is SITTING in his car, waiting. He's not there to relax, but, he IS relaxed. He must know something I don't know??

Before I know it, a KNOCK KNOCK on my wife's window, as she is now back in her seat, but unprepared for someone 'rapping' on her window... as I'm on my phone, she rolls down her window for a lady who wants to know 'how long will y'all be, you're not trying to get all the way to 100%, are you??'... my wife doesn't know WHAT to tell her, doesn't know WHERE she came from, just a sudden 'someone' who wants to know our business!!
She then discloses that she is from the hummer, and their ev takes FOREVER to charge on anything less than the 'FASTEST' charge station, the one WE ARE PLUGGED INTO.

I then come to the realization the the HUMMER owner, not 'satisfied' with his first attempt to use the other station, whether 'fast' or not, I didn't know, but apparently came to the decision to UNHOOK from a working station, give it to the Jaguar, and then 'WAIT' to be NEXT IN LINE for my station, NOT REALIZING that the AUDI had already been there, waiting, for much longer...

When I was finally ready to unhook, and knowing that there were several 'interested' parties waiting for me(!), I leaned over politely into the window of the AUDI and told him that I was about to unhook. He said "thanks" and jumped out and was ready to take the cable from me. I mentioned that the 'HUMMER owner' might think that he was next in line, and might be ready for an argument. The AUDI owner didn't act worried and immediately went to plug it into his own car.

I was backing out at that time, almost into the HUMMER, and as I left I decided NOT to look back and worry about what 'might' be going on behind me.... I can imagine the HUMMER owner and his wife were going to not only be confused, but NOT HAPPY about there previous decision to unhook from a working charger.


oh well. I can't manage EV owner's expectations and needs at chargers, I have to access what I can, when I can, as we all do. Some seem more confused about the process that others. Some are new and don't know. Some are old and used to it, well, as 'used to it' as one can be.

I hope there was no fighting after we left. : /

 

[Runaway Tractor]

This shit is why I waited until now to get a Lightning.

 

[scoobybri]

EV charging etiquette is much more important when you only have 4 chargers. Tesla stations tend to have 8 or more which alleviates much of the congestion. Maybe once or twice in 3 years I had to wait a few mins for a Supercharger during a holiday weekend on a major highway, but that's the exception to the rule.

 

[AnticitizenG8r]

similar story at Target GAINSVILLE FL Electrify America NEW units, but only TWO actually 'working'...

The Gainesville, FL EA station is the absolute worst. I avoid that place like the plague. Much better to go up the road to Lake City and hit either the EA or the FPL station.

 

[johnnyonetime]

similar story at Target GAINSVILLE FL Electrify America NEW units, but only TWO actually 'working'...

I'm watching the activity for avialable charger stations as I am drawing closer to the exit on I75 North... I have the app to 'alert' me by text if someone disconnects, since all currently showed as 'in use', or 'not available', etc...

right as I approach the exit, I get the TEXT ... wow, I take the exit:

I pull into the Target and find that I am the ONLY ev there, although the app still shows only '1 available station'...hmmmm.
I see that #2 is available, pull in and plug in, activate, and start charging....CONGRATS!


well, that's only the BEGINNING of the story:

As I'm allowing the truck to charge, keeping an eye on the initial rate of power, and walking toward the Target bathrooms, my wife sits in the truck, keeping an eye on things.

I come out a little while later, after enjoying some AIR CONDITIONING at the Starbucks inside, watching the flow of energy start to slowly FALL, slower, then slower, then inching even slower. I need to get to 90% to reach my next 'destination' charge stop...

I decide to go ahead and go back out to the truck.
I see that an AUDI E-Tron has parked at the space to the left of me, on the other side of my pedestal island, but NOT plugged into the other station...hmmmm.
I don't say anything, but am ASSUMING that he found none of the other operational, and decided to park there to be 'ready' to use my cable when I was complete. O.k., but he also might not realize how LONG I may have to be there, as my power started at 125kw, but has slowed all the way down to 88.... crazy. But, it is also 100degrees in Florida.

Just then, as my wife is hoping out to go into Target, a HUMMER ev pulls up, starts roaming around the lot to get the best 'angle' to get into a charger, takes several tries at 'parking' that beast, then pulls into the last station and plugs in, and starts charging.

Why did the AUDI not use that available station?? hmmmmm.

don't know... : /

So, I soon see a JAGUAR E-pace(?), in bright ORANGE, pull in, jocky for a station, find that he can't reach one, find one 'not in service', and start to walk around 'wondering' if someone can help him....crazy. Do they not have an APP?

Here's the CRAZY, really CRAZY part, though:

I see him talking with the HUMMER. The Hummer unplugs and moves out of the way, parking in a space BEHIND ME, as though he is now WAITING for MY station, while the Jaguar now pulls into that old Hummer station, plugs in, and starts to charge.

The Audi E-tron is STILL Sitting Next To Me waiting....hmmmmm.
The owner is SITTING in his car, waiting. He's not there to relax, but, he IS relaxed. He must know something I don't know??

Before I know it, a KNOCK KNOCK on my wife's window, as she is now back in her seat, but unprepared for someone 'rapping' on her window... as I'm on my phone, she rolls down her window for a lady who wants to know 'how long will y'all be, you're not trying to get all the way to 100%, are you??'... my wife doesn't know WHAT to tell her, doesn't know WHERE she came from, just a sudden 'someone' who wants to know our business!!
She then discloses that she is from the hummer, and their ev takes FOREVER to charge on anything less than the 'FASTEST' charge station, the one WE ARE PLUGGED INTO.

I then come to the realization the the HUMMER owner, not 'satisfied' with his first attempt to use the other station, whether 'fast' or not, I didn't know, but apparently came to the decision to UNHOOK from a working station, give it to the Jaguar, and then 'WAIT' to be NEXT IN LINE for my station, NOT REALIZING that the AUDI had already been there, waiting, for much longer...

When I was finally ready to unhook, and knowing that there were several 'interested' parties waiting for me(!), I leaned over politely into the window of the AUDI and told him that I was about to unhook. He said "thanks" and jumped out and was ready to take the cable from me. I mentioned that the 'HUMMER owner' might think that he was next in line, and might be ready for an argument. The AUDI owner didn't act worried and immediately went to plug it into his own car.

I was backing out at that time, almost into the HUMMER, and as I left I decided NOT to look back and worry about what 'might' be going on behind me.... I can imagine the HUMMER owner and his wife were going to not only be confused, but NOT HAPPY about there previous decision to unhook from a working charger.


oh well. I can't manage EV owner's expectations and needs at chargers, I have to access what I can, when I can, as we all do. Some seem more confused about the process that others. Some are new and don't know. Some are old and used to it, well, as 'used to it' as one can be.

I hope there was no fighting after we left. : /

I have used that station many times with similar results. Sketchy area at times with panhandlers. Now with my A2Z I skip it and use the superchargers a few miles north at the Burger King.
BTW knocking on windows in Florida is a bad idea.

 

[hturnerfamily]

one of the reasons that Tesla Superchargers don't tend to have the same type of issues is that they also require EVERY Tesla that has ever been built, sans the CyberTruck, to BACK IN EXACTLY THE SAME AS EVERY OTHER TESLA ...
there is no 'wondering' if you'll fit correctly in the space and be able to 'reach' the cable..
there is no 'jockeying' for position to figure out how to reach the cable...
there is no 'wondering' if someone is trying to 'get to 100% or not', etc...
everything is the same for all Teslas - don't have to concern themselves with these 'things'...

With CCS vehicles, the roadmap is more like the wild WEST... no standard for where the Charge Port is located... front, back, 'near the front', which 'side', etc...no standard as to how long the charge cable is...no 'large' parking spaces at most locations to accommodate much LARGER ev vehicles by different brands and models... etc... and many times little indication that the station you are jockeying to actually will 'work'...

sometimes it's even just the DESIGN of the spaces at CCS chargers, like EA's 'slanted' parking design that some location employ: if you come into the station area from the wrong 'side', you are not pointed in the right direction to either pull in, or back in... and the 'traffic', such as at Walmarts, creates even more pressure when you are RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MAIN LANE!
It's inevitable that when I arrive at EA at a walmart that the only station available is one I need to BACK into, meaning that now I have to circle the station, change directions, and 'hope' that another EV hasn't now arrived and will taking that same space, since they can just easily pull straight in...

the woes of CCS charging... at least for the time being : /

yes, I've been to the FPL in Lake City - and it's NOT my favorite - it has some of the SAME problems any of the EA or others do.
yes, I've been to the EA in Lake City, too, and no, it's not a panacea compared to Gainesville's Target EA - it sometimes, too, has non-operational units, and have probably the MOST RIDICULOUS parking location as any type of CCS charge location I've ever seen - WHY IN THE WORLD would you 'push' all EVs into a 4-space location that is almost totally RESTRICTED ?? Crazy.

If you've ever been there, you know what I mean.

 

[Iroc34a]

Does anyone make an extension cord to use at a high speed charger ? Would be nice to be able to pull up to any charger in either direction to charge ?

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