Enel X exiting North America
- Thread starter ericy
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ericy
Well-Known Member
It does highlight the question of why so many things seem to need a cloud connection these days. I suppose in theory a techie sort of person could run some local app to capture and store data, but the vast majority of people aren't techies, and don't want to bother. So they put the data in the cloud, which sort of works until the company goes out of business, and then what? Then again, some devices use open standards, so there is no one company that is in a critical position.
The other piece of this is that if something breaks, we will no longer have support and no access to replacement parts.
The basic Juicebox will still function without a cloud connection - I guess it is still usable as a dumb EVSE. At least until something breaks, and I guess then you go out and get something else.
Ouch! I have three of them since 2016:
Well there has been a lot of progress since 2016 so I look forward to replacing them WHEN THEY FAIL.
Bob Wilson
Here's what you need to know:
- Residential charging hardware (JuiceBox) will maintain the physical operating ability to charge vehicles.
- All Enel X Way software will be discontinued. Commercial charging stations will lose functionality in the absence of software continuity.
- The Enel X Way App and all other Enel e-mobility apps in North America will be discontinued and removed from the App Store.
- Enel X Way customer support is no longer available, effective immediately. Any Enel X Way related questions and claims should be directed to juiceboxnorthamerica.com.
- The decision to close Enel X Way USA, LLC and related impacts do not apply to Enel X Way customers in other countries outside of the U.S. and Canada.
Well there has been a lot of progress since 2016 so I look forward to replacing them WHEN THEY FAIL.
Bob Wilson
JumpingIntoEV
New Member
I was shopping for a new charger, as my Juicebox(es) failed so often. They would replace under warranty, I'd get a year, then more issues. Usually software -related in the unit. Modem, and communication with the vehicle. Nice people, lousy product. My next unit will be simpler. Less to fail.
My pre-Enel, Juicebox 40 Pro ain't broke but Enel destroyed the management software. Sad to say, I have one to replace. It is offering free charging at a local shopping area: (1) charge limited to 8 kWh, and (2) operational during business hours.
I'll research the "State of Charge" units and get one that has this minimum capability. I'll test it at home and replace the public one.
Bob Wilson
I'll research the "State of Charge" units and get one that has this minimum capability. I'll test it at home and replace the public one.
Bob Wilson
With little notice ENEL X has quit supporting the Juicebox chargers they manufactured. They are killing off the app that allows one to schedule charging. Does anyone know if there is an app I can substitute for the EnelX app? I know I can schedule in-vehicle, but that is a pain, and I have two EVs.
DisgruntledSanta
Active Member
Unless someone buys Enel’s assets and reboots the servers seems pretty unlikely. They didn’t used the ChargePoint standard (not the company, but the EU charging commutation protocol) here in the states, so it would take a lot of work - or someone buying the software assets - to get the apps working again.
There isn’t a lot of incentive to do that here in the states, since there aren’t a ton of physical assets here in the states that could be monetized to recoup the costs…
I hope you like your exceedingly expensive dumb charger now. We are a bit miffed with ours as well. C’est le vie…
Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
I decided to merge the 2 related threads into this one for easier discussion
There is a website called Juice Rescue (organized by a group of people who own JuiceBoxes or whose organizations rely on them) and another tridens that possibly help migrate for some functionality. I am sure others will jump on the opportunity as well given time.
There is a website called Juice Rescue (organized by a group of people who own JuiceBoxes or whose organizations rely on them) and another tridens that possibly help migrate for some functionality. I am sure others will jump on the opportunity as well given time.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
I'm replacing my JuiceBox 40 Pro with a Tesla Universal wall charger. It handles both Tesla and J1772 charge ports with a "magic dock" style plug.
Once I've got my Tesla charger working, I'll have 2-3 JuiceBox 40 Pro to either eBay or give to someone with a J1772 charge port EV.
Bob Wilson
Once I've got my Tesla charger working, I'll have 2-3 JuiceBox 40 Pro to either eBay or give to someone with a J1772 charge port EV.
Bob Wilson
I think this situation is going to get worse. Not Enel X itself, the broader issue. Manufacturers have created all these items that require ongoing work for them.
One does not buy a new toaster/coffee maker/EVSE for no reason. They can and will last decades. What happens when you sell one for 150 bucks and you end up supporting it for decades. New firmware, app updates. Answer is you don't support it.
I bought a high end 7.1 receiver and it has all these great wired services. Until it didn't. Denon decided it didn't want to support Pandora anymore.
These companies are designing in costs to them. Software updates, app updates, firmware updates, web portals.
All this software is written by 17 year olds who have no idea about concepts like reverse compatibility, product lifecycle.
Then some other company's 17 year old writes some bad code that makes your 12 year old popular product brick.
You made 7 dollars net profit on these things years ago, and you are still supporting it.
IF your company even exists anymore.
Look at my Kia, it has 4g connectivity, but not wifi. Built in cost, so they have to charge for the app. Sure, looks great today, with money coming in but when the older stuff gets outdated, they will stop supporting it.
Not a big deal with the Kia as it has limited integration, but what about Tesla? Elon is already bored with making cars, after he tanks the company, what then?
One does not buy a new toaster/coffee maker/EVSE for no reason. They can and will last decades. What happens when you sell one for 150 bucks and you end up supporting it for decades. New firmware, app updates. Answer is you don't support it.
I bought a high end 7.1 receiver and it has all these great wired services. Until it didn't. Denon decided it didn't want to support Pandora anymore.
These companies are designing in costs to them. Software updates, app updates, firmware updates, web portals.
All this software is written by 17 year olds who have no idea about concepts like reverse compatibility, product lifecycle.
Then some other company's 17 year old writes some bad code that makes your 12 year old popular product brick.
You made 7 dollars net profit on these things years ago, and you are still supporting it.
IF your company even exists anymore.
Look at my Kia, it has 4g connectivity, but not wifi. Built in cost, so they have to charge for the app. Sure, looks great today, with money coming in but when the older stuff gets outdated, they will stop supporting it.
Not a big deal with the Kia as it has limited integration, but what about Tesla? Elon is already bored with making cars, after he tanks the company, what then?
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R P
Well-Known Member
Wow, a wild thought, but not totally out of the question. Sometimes the weight of complexity can bring down a good product because it no longer can be supported.
ericy
Well-Known Member
There was a security vulnerability reported in August that may have set the ball rolling on this. Each JuiceBox has an unsecured telnet port on port number 2000 that lets you do all sorts of stuff.
And then there is the issue that Silicon Labs regards the board that was used "no longer supported" and there will be no patches or updates for it.
So fundamentally some of the underlying hardware is effectively EOL, and EnelX was between a rock and a hard place with no way to update anything.
Personally my thinking now is that a dumb charger is adequate - I can manage schedules from the car itself. If I did decide to get a new EVSE, I would get one that is OCPP compliant, and not one that uses a proprietary protocol.
And then there is the issue that Silicon Labs regards the board that was used "no longer supported" and there will be no patches or updates for it.
So fundamentally some of the underlying hardware is effectively EOL, and EnelX was between a rock and a hard place with no way to update anything.
Personally my thinking now is that a dumb charger is adequate - I can manage schedules from the car itself. If I did decide to get a new EVSE, I would get one that is OCPP compliant, and not one that uses a proprietary protocol.
I just wish they'd put their software and last schematic out for open source maintenance. They don't have to support it forever, just let the people that paid them have a chance to keep it working.
Bob Wilson
Bob Wilson
EOL for hardware should be when it dies electrically, not when the manufacturer gets bored with emails about it
Another example. I bought a heat pump for the garage. Bought the wifi adapter for it, but it was out of stock. Bought a cheap wifi puck with IR remote output.
wifi adapter died[well, or the app died or something] the cheap amazon puck runs the heat pump just fine.
When it dies, actually EOL or app is unsupported or whatever, another cheap programmable device will take its place, ty wrapped to a shelf upright.
The actual expensive heat pump will last as long as it lasts, but not be replaced for lack of wifi integration
there is something about the way they are designing/implementing things now that is really dumb.
Why does some stupid electrical board require updates and patches?
I have a windows XP laptop that still does its thing[don't really surf the web, but I guess it can]
I have an iphone 4s that use for Pandora at work[even though it is no longer a phone]
I have a windows 2000 desktop that probably still works
Another example. I bought a heat pump for the garage. Bought the wifi adapter for it, but it was out of stock. Bought a cheap wifi puck with IR remote output.
wifi adapter died[well, or the app died or something] the cheap amazon puck runs the heat pump just fine.
When it dies, actually EOL or app is unsupported or whatever, another cheap programmable device will take its place, ty wrapped to a shelf upright.
The actual expensive heat pump will last as long as it lasts, but not be replaced for lack of wifi integration
there is something about the way they are designing/implementing things now that is really dumb.
Why does some stupid electrical board require updates and patches?
I have a windows XP laptop that still does its thing[don't really surf the web, but I guess it can]
I have an iphone 4s that use for Pandora at work[even though it is no longer a phone]
I have a windows 2000 desktop that probably still works
And probably guys who worked on the product would make a few bucks on the side doing support
ericy
Well-Known Member
It can get complicated for companies to continue to maintain old stuff. They need to maintain build environments, source code, and most importantly have people on staff who know something about how this all works. Maybe the key people retired. Or quit. Or died.
If I read the stuff on the Silicon Labs website closely, it is the Gecko OS that is no no longer supported. You can still buy the hardware. But Silicon Labs is encouraging people to migrate to open source software.
The thing that is weird about this one is that EnelX is only pulling out of North America. Apparently the same circuit board is still being used in Europe.
If I read the stuff on the Silicon Labs website closely, it is the Gecko OS that is no no longer supported. You can still buy the hardware. But Silicon Labs is encouraging people to migrate to open source software.
The thing that is weird about this one is that EnelX is only pulling out of North America. Apparently the same circuit board is still being used in Europe.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
This could be the "car mechanic" vocation of the EV future. There will be plenty of maintenance needs for modern vehicles, just not necessarily involving a bunch of wrenches and canisters of oil.
There ideally should be a Chilton's of EVSEs being written right now...a different manual for each brand of EVSE.