CARB Holding Hearing on ElectrifyAmerica Compliance with Partial Consent Decree

[Zprime29]

The EA chargers in Deming, NM are taking a nose dive. This past spring I had no problems. Early July, one wouldn't go past 32kW one didn't work. I called support and still didn't work after a reboot, plus my app locked up in the attempt so I had to have support start the session for me on a 3rd. This past weekend same location had the same problems but this time there where other vehicles. A machE had one good charger and a R1T was on the derated one. Since the Walmart parking spaces are angled and I didn't want to back in for the one I knew was good, I chanced pulling in to the one that support said they where going to send someone out to fix 3 weeks prior. No dice, called support and they had trouble even getting it to reboot. Finally did, but still wouldn't work. (Mind you, both the station and the app said it was available.) By this time, an ID4 pulled into the last spot so had to wait. The ID4 left after about 15 min, as soon as he did the R1T adjusted so they could snag it. I opted to wait for the machE rather than try to back in for 32kW. An hour after we arrived, the machE finally left (drive was waiting in the car, I didn't see what SoC but guessing he did 100% since it took an hour). What was supposed to be a 20 min stop to gets to the next station took us 2 hours. We ended up charging longer than expected because we wanted enough to skip the next charger location if needed.

My wife, who was coming around to EV's, has completely dumped the notion of driving one after that experience. Good chance we'll go back to the Pilot for road trips until things improve or I can catch her on a good day and convince her that it's just temporary. CAN...NOT...WAIT...for access to SC network. Will happily pay the premium for it to just work, which is really sad.

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[ivan256]

I have a feeling this thread is disproportionately going to attract people who have had negative experiences and paint a worse picture than is fair. So I want to post my positive anecdotal not-data.

I've done about 500kWh of charging at EA stations. I've used Waterford Commons, Walmart 3301 in Providence, Walmart 1891 in Manchester CT, Chicopee Marketplace, Auburn Mall, and Walmart 2138 in Lebanon NH.

I do not subscribe to their Pass+ service. I've just used the regular Blue Oval network access.

I've never waited in line. I've had one instance where I had to switch chargers because I was getting ~70kW, and got 112kW after switching. I've sometimes seen an out of order pedestal, but it's never caused me a delay or issue. Plug and charge has always just worked. The only real complaint I have is that if it's raining you get wet. And maybe that there could be a little more room to open the door at the ones where the pedestal is alongside the parking space.

 

[RickLightning]

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/CARB/bulletins/367d636

Folks, this is the opportunity to give testimony on the abysmal performance of EA. I don't have access to it right now, but I believe that the language of the Partial Consent Decree permits CARB to review the actual delivery of services to EV drivers, or in EA's case, it utter failure to do so. Given that EA just changed its Terms of Service to block class-action arbitration against the company (it tells you a lot that EA prefers to insulate itself from its customer's ire, rather than actually fix their multitude of problems), using regulatory agencies such as CARB who govern the outcomes from the VW Dieselgate scandal may be one of the few ways to hold the scumbags at EA responsible for their crappy stations, throttled output and legendary lack of reliability.

The hearing is on Wednesday morning, August 16th - the day before EA implements its new pricing policies and legal changes.

Appreciate the insight.

For those that don't live in California, this is a California-specific hearing, but I'm sure info about EA's failures elsewhere will be of interest.

 

[Peddyr]

I have a feeling this thread is disproportionately going to attract people who have had negative experiences and paint a worse picture than is fair. So I want to post my positive anecdotal not-data.

I've done about 500kWh of charging at EA stations. I've used Waterford Commons, Walmart 3301 in Providence, Walmart 1891 in Manchester CT, Chicopee Marketplace, Auburn Mall, and Walmart 2138 in Lebanon NH.

I do not subscribe to their Pass+ service. I've just used the regular Blue Oval network access.

I've never waited in line. I've had one instance where I had to switch chargers because I was getting ~70kW, and got 112kW after switching. I've sometimes seen an out of order pedestal, but it's never caused me a delay or issue. Plug and charge has always just worked. The only real complaint I have is that if it's raining you get wet. And maybe that there could be a little more room to open the door at the ones where the pedestal is alongside the parking space.

Give Manchester, NH and Burlington, MA a try. They are a delight.

 

[Zprime29]

And maybe that there could be a little more room to open the door at the ones where the pedestal is alongside the parking space.

Agree 100%, nearly dinged my door on those.

 

[ivan256]

Give Manchester, NH and Burlington, MA a try. They are a delight.

...can't tell if sarcastic...

 

[On the Road with Ralph]

Agree 100%, nearly dinged my door on those.

I HAVE dinged my door - twice - on those stupid bollards.

 

[Zprime29]

The location at Lordsburg, NM is a Chevron gas station, with the chargers off to the side installed like Tesla does. SO much better than what Walmart did. That location has yet to disappoint me. You do need to creep up close, but it's not bad and the cord has enough length so it isn't stressed.

 

[TaxmanHog]

...can't tell if sarcastic...

I've had great luck at Tewksbury & Wrentham, if you're ever in those locations

 

[ivan256]

For context, I can see the Burlington one out my office window at work, and it was recently literally on fire. Though I believe a driver was at fault, not EA. Also the power can't stay on in the city of Burlington for more than 36 consecutive hours. Which is also not EA's fault.

 

[Silenze]

The EA chargers in Deming, NM are taking a nose dive. This past spring I had no problems. Early July, one wouldn't go past 32kW one didn't work. I called support and still didn't work after a reboot, plus my app locked up in the attempt so I had to have support start the session for me on a 3rd. This past weekend same location had the same problems but this time there where other vehicles. A machE had one good charger and a R1T was on the derated one. Since the Walmart parking spaces are angled and I didn't want to back in for the one I knew was good, I chanced pulling in to the one that support said they where going to send someone out to fix 3 weeks prior. No dice, called support and they had trouble even getting it to reboot. Finally did, but still wouldn't work. (Mind you, both the station and the app said it was available.) By this time, an ID4 pulled into the last spot so had to wait. The ID4 left after about 15 min, as soon as he did the R1T adjusted so they could snag it. I opted to wait for the machE rather than try to back in for 32kW. An hour after we arrived, the machE finally left (drive was waiting in the car, I didn't see what SoC but guessing he did 100% since it took an hour). What was supposed to be a 20 min stop to gets to the next station took us 2 hours. We ended up charging longer than expected because we wanted enough to skip the next charger location if needed.

My wife, who was coming around to EV's, has completely dumped the notion of driving one after that experience. Good chance we'll go back to the Pilot for road trips until things improve or I can catch her on a good day and convince her that it's just temporary. CAN...NOT...WAIT...for access to SC network. Will happily pay the premium for it to just work, which is really sad.

I assume a Tesla automatically backs into the charging parking spot. Ford 100% needs this

 

[Maquis]

Agree 100%, nearly dinged my door on those.

I HAVE dinged my door - twice - on those stupid bollards.

I’ve only done it once.

 

[Peddyr]

...can't tell if sarcastic...

Definitely sarcastic. I work near the Burlington mall and live near the Manchester mall and let's just say my experience with both locations has been disappointing. Nashua on the other hand has been pretty solid for me when I've needed it.

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