EVGo offering free Level 2 chargers..

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FloridaSun

FloridaSun

Well-Known Member
I wasn't aware until recently that EVgo was offering free Level 2 EVSE's at some of their Fast charging locations. I went yesterday to pick up my wife from Orlando Airport and her flight was delayed and I decided to get a charge while waiting for her flight to arrive. I looked on the Plugshare app and I found that the only "free" EVSE on my route was at an EVgo Station. So I went there and I didn't even need my EVgo RFID card to activate it.. Plugged my car in and it started charging. Charged there for over 1 hour. Very nice of them adding FREE Level 2 chargers at some of there DC Fast Charging location.. That's also nice to get people to move off the fast charger once charging speeds starts to drop at higher SoC..
Big Thumbs up to EVgo!! I will probably use their Level 3 wherever I have the option over Electrify America, at least until EA solves the Kona pricing issue..
 
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BlueKonaEV said:
I wasn't aware until recently that EVgo was offering free Level 2 EVSE's at some of their Fast charging locations. I went yesterday to pick up my wife from Orlando Airport and her flight was delayed and I decided to get a charge while waiting for her flight to arrive. I looked on the Plugshare app and I found that the only "free" EVSE on my route was at an EVgo Station. So I went there and I didn't even need my EVgo RFID card to activate it.. Plugged my car in and it started charging. Charged there for over 1 hour. Very nice of them adding FREE Level 2 chargers at some of there DC Fast Charging location.. That's also nice to get people to move off the fast charger once charging speeds starts to drop at higher SoC..
Big Thumbs up to EVgo!! I will probably use their Level 3 wherever I have the option over Electrify America, at least until EA solves the Kona pricing issue..
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We have lots of chargepoint where we are, and that's becoming my go-to. Not many EVgo.

Would still like a resolution to the EA pricing problem however.

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ericy said:
We have lots of chargepoint where we are, and that's becoming my go-to. Not many EVgo.

Would still like a resolution to the EA pricing problem however.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Inside EVs mobile app
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There's very few 50k+ Chargepoint stations in Florida.. The only 50k Chargepoint charger that I'm aware of is near Naples in Southwest Florida.. Most of the Chargepoint chargers are usually Level 2 or the slow 24k charger that often can be found at car and Harley dealerships.. On a road trip, 24kw charging is just too slow. 50kw is just fine for me. 10 minutes more than at the faster EA chargers.. Not a big deal.. EVgo has a fairly decent network even though those are really only 40kw and not 50kw chargers. .35 per minute is expensive but nothing compared to the .58 that EA charges per minute. EVGo chargers are also pretty reliable..
 
BlueKonaEV said:
There's very few 50k+ Chargepoint stations in Florida.. The only 50k Chargepoint charger that I'm aware of is near Naples in Southwest Florida.. Most of the Chargepoint chargers are usually Level 2 or the slow 24k charger that often can be found at car and Harley dealerships.. On a road trip, 24kw charging is just too slow. 50kw is just fine for me. 10 minutes more than at the faster EA chargers.. Not a big deal.. EVgo has a fairly decent network even though those are really only 40kw and not 50kw chargers. .35 per minute is expensive but nothing compared to the .58 that EA charges per minute. EVGo chargers are also pretty reliable..
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It is weird how some charger networks are sort of regional, but regular gas stations are the same way. I like CP because I found a free 50kw charger, but there are some convenient pay stations as well. I sometimes use them, not because I need a charge, but just to make sure that I know where the station is and verify that it works. On longer road trips, a broken charger could put you in a really tough spot.

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ericy said:
Also correct. As to why it still fixed, I can only guess. My hunch is that EA wants Hyundai to change something and vice versa.

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Hyundai is not going to change the handshake software , I can almost guarantee that. There are a lot of charging systems /networks on the planet and advertising the appropriate charging information is critical to that process. It is entirely up to EA to change their firmware/software to adapt.
If the Electrify Canada set-up uses the same methods at the Canadian Tire locations or wherever (which they are advertised to do),
https://www.electrify-canada.ca/pricing
I will be avoiding them like the plague. And I am sure most will do the same hopefully before pinching their wallets/purses.;)
 
electriceddy said:
Hyundai is not going to change the handshake software , I can almost guarantee that. There are a lot of charging systems /networks on the planet and advertising the appropriate charging information is critical to that process. It is entirely up to EA to change their firmware/software to adapt.
If the Electrify Canada set-up uses the same methods at the Canadian Tire locations or wherever (which they are advertised to do),
https://www.electrify-canada.ca/pricing
I will be avoiding them like the plague. And I am sure most will do the same hopefully before pinching their wallets/purses.;)
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I would tend to agree. At the end of the day, no matter where EA sets the boundaries of their tiers, there will always be someone right on the edge.

For a car that can take 125kw, the faster charge rate might even be worth the higher price, at least until it tapers. But at 125 the price jumps yet again.

At the end of the day, it would only be for a longer road trip that I would probably be forced to use EA. The convenience of faster charging is ultimately what you are paying for.

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electriceddy said:
Hyundai is not going to change the handshake software , I can almost guarantee that. There are a lot of charging systems /networks on the planet and advertising the appropriate charging information is critical to that process. It is entirely up to EA to change their firmware/software to adapt.
If the Electrify Canada set-up uses the same methods at the Canadian Tire locations or wherever (which they are advertised to do),
https://www.electrify-canada.ca/pricing
I will be avoiding them like the plague. And I am sure most will do the same hopefully before pinching their wallets/purses.;)
Click to expand...
Hyundai allows you to throttle the speed on Level 2 charging.. Don't see a reason why they could not add a similar feature for DC Fast charging..
 
BlueKonaEV said:
Hyundai allows you to throttle the speed on Level 2 charging.. Don't see a reason why they could not add a similar feature for DC Fast charging..
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Because the "throttling" is done with the on board charger, the EVSE just supplies the juice.
To do the same with a DCFC would involve a more involved process mutual to both pieces of equipment. Perhaps someday this may be done, but an easier way is just to get rid of the present tier setup. I get enough charging errors as it is using DCFC (when I occasionally use it)- not looking forward to more potential software/firmware issues.
 
electriceddy said:
Because the "throttling" is done with the on board charger, the EVSE just supplies the juice.
To do the same with a DCFC would involve a more involved process mutual to both pieces of equipment. Perhaps someday this may be done, but an easier way is just to get rid of the present tier setup. I get enough charging errors as it is using DCFC (when I occasionally use it)- not looking forward to more potential software/firmware issues.
Click to expand...
Maybe this could be a potential aftermarket opportunity. I know that for example for Corvettes, you can get software that can re-program the entire engine management system of the car.. I wonder if such software could become available for owners to edit the handshake part of the software..
 
BlueKonaEV said:
Maybe this could be a potential aftermarket opportunity. I know that for example for Corvettes, you can get software that can re-program the entire engine management system of the car.. I wonder if such software could become available for owners to edit the handshake part of the software..
Click to expand...
In theory, but it would be a really niche product. US and Canada only. How many Kona did they sell here? Niro has the same issue, I guess.

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Electrify America has a handful of 50kw chargers. I wish that they had at least one at each of their locations.. I have no problem paying their Tier 1 rate of 21 cents per minute for 50kw. Beats EVgo by 14 cents and those also charge at 46kw compared to a maximum of 39kw at EVgo chargers..
 
I just thought of another option to charge at the Tier 1 rate at Electrify America.. Every EA station does have 1 Chademo plug that is limited to 50kw. I found a Chademo to CCS adapter on Alibaba.. It's pricey at $2200 but if someone charges a lot on the road, it may be an option. I'm not sure if this thing actually works. The listing does not even have an actual pic of the adapter...

https://www.alibaba.com/product-det...pm=a2700.7724857.normalList.12.4d4f79b6IgT0Hy
 
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