Another bad EA charger

[RickLightning]

Are you saying there is no problem to solve because @OutofSpecKyle is saying there is a problem?

Yes, that's what I'm saying... OMG...

No, I'm saying it's the same location, same person.

See post #19 for my position if you want.

Yes, there are issues.
Yes, some locations are bad.

And it's getting better at many locations.

By the way, Lightning is not spelled with an "E".

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[Maquis]

My experience:

Over the past couple of years, I've observed that roughly 25-35% of the stalls at EA chargers are inoperable, at the stations where I've stopped (Central MO, St. Louis area, Chicago area, corridor between them, and a few trips down to the southeast).

Other DCFC networks (aside from Tesla) have been the same (NC, VA). I've observed:

* Calling the toll free support number, only to reach someone who didn't understand what a fast charger is (!!)
* "We don't have that location"... well, your phone number was right there on it! No remote activation capable and screen dead on kiosk.
* Front desk at the state park: "oh, yeah, the cord's been missing off that thing for about 3 months now, we've called them 3 times"
* App required to start charger won't run on later Android versions
* Stations/kiosks limited to 30 kW even at 10% SOC
* All kiosks dead upon arrival with nothing other than L2 in range.

While I've encountered the occasional dead stall on Superchargers, only once (in 2014) did I experience a whole station down.

I'm sure it will get better, but this situation sure reminds me of the 2012-2014 era for Tesla drivers.

That’s interesting. I use the EA in St. Charles quite a bit and Booneville a couple times.

The only time I had a problem was when EA had free charging and I tried to activate the session using FordPass. It gave me some generic error message. I called the 800# and she knew right away what my problem was. Told me just to plug in - it’s free. And it worked. This was when I first got the car and plug & charge was still flaky so I hadn’t enabled it yet.

 

[FlasherZ]

That’s interesting. I use the EA in St. Charles quite a bit and Booneville a couple times.

As noted, I'm sure it also has something to do with the contractors who are supposed to fix these things.

Just for another example, look at the Sullivan, MO EA station and read the PlugShare check-ins. Most people only getting 35 kW, if working at all - for the past 3+ months. There are a very few that said they got 90-100 kW. This is at a 350 kW station. Then there's the 10.0-rated Collinsville, IL station, except if you look you'll find that "charger #3 is broken, charger #2 works but cord 1 is broken", etc. There are far too many exceptions here.

It's not just EA, either. Check out the ChargePoint/Ameren station at Dierbergs in Osage Beach, MO - Lake of the Ozarks. Months of not working, rated even worse than the EA charger at Sullivan. The Schnucks charger in Eureka (also ChargePoint/Ameren) seems to only give 30-50 kW as well.

There's no doubt that some people are having good experiences. Some people probably don't complain when they have to move their truck 1 or 2 times, as long as they find one stall that works.

Another story about Bloomington, IL's EA charger from a baseball tournament a few months back - there was a poor woman who was practically crying over the EA kiosks refusing to process her payment and asked how I managed to make it work because she watched me pull in and use "plug and go". She had borrowed her sister's Polestar, and was on the phone with EA trying to get things to work. After being on hold 45 minutes, I think they worked out something manually and they got her charging - but you could clearly see distress as they didn't know how they'd get back home.

 

[sotek2345]

IMO, the EA network is marginal but functional for early adopters (that would be us) that are willing to take a few risks and deal with checking status in apps to manage travel. I trust it (and my own planning skills) enough to go full EV when my Lighting show up.

Our network today, is no where near ready for mass adoption. I would argue that Tesla's isn't really there either. Until the non-tech savvy can be driving along, notice they are low on charge, then pull off the next exit and follow signs to a working charger we are not there. Using a vehicle should not require the use of an app or any type of internet connectivity.

 

[Maquis]

As noted, I'm sure it also has something to do with the contractors who are supposed to fix these things.

Just for another example, look at the Sullivan, MO EA station and read the PlugShare check-ins. Most people only getting 35 kW, if working at all - for the past 3+ months. There are a very few that said they got 90-100 kW. This is at a 350 kW station. Then there's the 10.0-rated Collinsville, IL station, except if you look you'll find that "charger #3 is broken, charger #2 works but cord 1 is broken", etc. There are far too many exceptions here.

It's not just EA, either. Check out the ChargePoint/Ameren station at Dierbergs in Osage Beach, MO - Lake of the Ozarks. Months of not working, rated even worse than the EA charger at Sullivan. The Schnucks charger in Eureka (also ChargePoint/Ameren) seems to only give 30-50 kW as well.

There's no doubt that some people are having good experiences. Some people probably don't complain when they have to move their truck 1 or 2 times, as long as they find one stall that works.

Another story about Bloomington, IL's EA charger from a baseball tournament a few months back - there was a poor woman who was practically crying over the EA kiosks refusing to process her payment and asked how I managed to make it work because she watched me pull in and use "plug and go". She had borrowed her sister's Polestar, and was on the phone with EA trying to get things to work. After being on hold 45 minutes, I think they worked out something manually and they got her charging - but you could clearly see distress as they didn't know how they'd get back home.

I guess it must vary pretty widely. I’ve used the Ameren station at LOTO twice without issues also - June last year and July this year. I know they are shared capacity. I was fortunate to be the only one there both times. I charged at over 100 KW, tapering to 43 at 80%. All of those Superchargers at Hy-Vee there (that I can’t use) make me a bit jealous!

 

[PungoteagueDave]

Tesla opening up the superchargers to all EV's is the best thing that ever happened to the lightning!

Not a thing yet.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

If this does not already exist, there should be a federal database each station and each charger is required to register with. Owners of charging station should feed live data with last time each charger (with unique ID) is used. An app or the navigation on the vehicle could use that data to guess what is the likelihood of a location having a working and available Charger. Basically automated version of plugshare with additional functionality.

That database could be used with some carrots and sticks to improve performance but some tax payer’s money may have to go into this if all needed locations are not profitable.

Dumbest. Idea. Ever. Just what we need. Big brother. Wrong user name. Maxx should be Marx.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

It hasn't been mentioned, so folks should understand this: EA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen of America, as a result of the dieselgate settlement. It is a corporate subsidiary, not a joint venture with Ford. Ford, Volvo, Kia, etc, are simply participants as customers, so that's where they have influence. If you want changes, that's the place to go. There are limitations that come with it being nonproprietary. One of those limitations is that, unlike the Tesla Supercharger network, the onscreen information is not real-time. For that reason, and apropos to the OP, when on a road trip, you MUST NOT RELY on the trip planner to simply pick your charging locations. It WILL send you to places that are down or closed.

Every Lightning driver or navigator on a road trip should keep the Plugshare app open and rely on it for up-to-date information on the target charging locations. And equally importantly, you should leave reports on the app about your experience at each charge so that others can benefit. This crowdsourced information is the best we can do until EA catches up to Tesla's far superior technology, if it ever does. The Tesla that I traded in on the Lightning would actually anticipate arrival at a Supercharger and precondition the battery to accept the maximum charge. Ford's tech and the EA system overall are Neandertal by comparison, but it is all we have at this point. They are doing the best they can, but meeting the divergent needs of a dozen different car manufacturers with different models and charging rates, and different payment interfaces, is a huge software and hardware hurdle. Tesla has a far easier and elegant system because they "own" it all. Like Apple, it just works. because it isn't messy. With our Lightnings, we live in a messy world, with every charger looking different, and a dozen different payment systems, etc. Not fun. but it is the life we have chozen.

 

[Kev12345]

It hasn't been mentioned, so folks should understand this: EA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen of America, as a result of the dieselgate settlement. It is a corporate subsidiary, not a joint venture with Ford. Ford, Volvo, Kia, etc, are simply participants as customers, so that's where they have influence. If you want changes, that's the place to go. There are limitations that come with it being nonproprietary. One of those limitations is that, unlike the Tesla Supercharger network, the onscreen information is not real-time. For that reason, and apropos to the OP, when on a road trip, you MUST NOT RELY on the trip planner to simply pick your charging locations. It WILL send you to places that are down or closed.

Every Lightning driver or navigator on a road trip should keep the Plugshare app open and rely on it for up-to-date information on the target charging locations. And equally importantly, you should leave reports on the app about your experience at each charge so that others can benefit. This crowdsourced information is the best we can do until EA catches up to Tesla's far superior technology, if it ever does. The Tesla that I traded in on the Lightning would actually anticipate arrival at a Supercharger and precondition the battery to accept the maximum charge. Ford's tech and the EA system overall are Neandertal by comparison, but it is all we have at this point. They are doing the best they can, but meeting the divergent needs of a dozen different car manufacturers with different models and charging rates, and different payment interfaces, is a huge software and hardware hurdle. Tesla has a far easier and elegant system because they "own" it all. Like Apple, it just works. because it isn't messy. With our Lightnings, we live in a messy world, with every charger looking different, and a dozen different payment systems, etc. Not fun. but it is the life we have chozen.

hello fellow cybertruck reservation holder!

 

[jefro]

Plugshare is usually more helpful that any charge station app. I even called EA support asking if the next location will actually be working since I'd be running on fumes. They assured me they stations all reported operational. When I got there only one would charge and would shut off after 4 minutes. 12 minutes and I could go to next L2 location.

I've not found any app or connected map to be very accurate except Tesla's.

Currently, don't expect the next station will be working on any service. Was suprised none of the EV connect chargers don't show on plugshare.

If someone needs Tesla's charge network they might as well get the Tesla app. They added the feature to search for non-Tesla stations a few weeks ago.

 

[greenne]

Dumbest. Idea. Ever. Just what we need. Big brother. Wrong user name. Maxx should be Marx.

Wow. For once I actually agree with you. Not a good idea to get government involved with tracking.

However.. what the government *should* do is insist every DCFC installed is operating properly and meets stds for uptime/performance. There should be some method of ensuring the taxpayer is getting what he/she paid for. Whether that is anonymous statistics, spot checks..whatever else I don't know..there needs to be some method in place.

That method should NOT be taking EA's word for it...(or any other DCFC operator). Yes, Tesla should be held to standards too if they take taxpayer money..but I don't anticipate problems.

 

[PungoteagueDave]

Plugshare is usually more helpful that any charge station app. I even called EA support asking if the next location will actually be working since I'd be running on fumes. They assured me they stations all reported operational. When I got there only one would charge and would shut off after 4 minutes. 12 minutes and I could go to next L2 location.

I've not found any app or connected map to be very accurate except Tesla's.

Currently, don't expect the next station will be working on any service. Was suprised none of the EV connect chargers don't show on plugshare.

If someone needs Tesla's charge network they might as well get the Tesla app. They added the feature to search for non-Tesla stations a few weeks ago.

EV Connect stations are definitely on Plugshare. You should check your PlugShare filters to see if it was turned off, or if you at some point selected which systems to turn on before EV Connect existed, so it is now excluded.

It would be very strange for any charging station to NOT be on Plugshare because you can add a missing station yourself - so any station that isn’t there will get added within a day or two. Hell, until recently my farm was shown on Plugshare as an available “home” charging station, added in the early days sound 2013 before there were Superchargers. Our farm is in a remote spot on Virginia’s Eastern shore, and is still a DCFC desert. I’ve provided charges to a couple dozen EV drivers over the years - always Teslas, but decent 80 amps Level 2. We have 32 kWh of solar panels, sell power to the grid, so seemed the right thing to do. Now there are enough hotels on Rt. 13 with Tesla and other level 2 chargers that I was able to drop off the app.

 

[jefro]

See what yours says about the Corpus Christi area.

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