Teddydogno1
Active Member
This morning I saw a new video posted by Out of Spec Reviews a couple days ago that mentioned free charging at Electrify America for the holidays. It was posted on 12/29 (but I thought it was newer). I went out today to test the Mini and its new tires in the remains of our snow. After my drive around and errands, I was under 50% and decided to give EA a try. If it was going to be free, even better!
Over lunch I set up an EA account with payment info and saw that stations 1 and 6 (out of 6) were available at my local Wal-Mart. Station 1 had 2 50 kW CCS chargers and Station 6 had 1 150 kW CCS and a 50 kW CHAdeMO.
When I arrived, there were 2 KIA Niros charging, 2 "unavailable" stations and the 2 available ones. I pulled into what I THOUGHT was Station 1 to use a 50 kW port, but I'm a dummy and it was actually Station 6. I went for it anyway since I didn't plan to stay long anyway. If a car that could use the 150 kW showed up, I would move. Due to piled snow, I couldn't get too close to the pole, but it was close enough.
Sure enough, the screen showed "complimentary charging" (or something like that) and I plugged in for my first ever DC fast charging session. It was only the car's second public charging as my wife had used a free Level 2 charger at the Mall a couple weeks back.
Temp was 34 degrees. 45% SOC on arrival at 1:30 PM.
1:30 PM: 46% SOC, 16 kW delivery, est. 2:58 PM for full charge
1:40 PM: 56% SOC, 30 kW delivery, est. 2:43 PM for full charge
1:45 PM: 64% SOC, 41 kW delivery, est. 2:40 PM for full charge
1:50 PM: 75% SOC, 47 kW delivery, est. 2:40 PM for full charge
1:55 PM: 84% SOC, 29 kW delivery, est. 2:43 PM for full charge
2:00 PM: 90% SOC, 21 kW delivery, est. 2:45 PM for full charge
So I gave the car 30 minutes and gained 44% SOC. I had been driving for a bit and the car was warmed up (I thought), so I was surprised that the charge rate took 20 minutes to ramp up to near full power. But hey...it was only about 35 degrees!
Charge Stats:
15.9145 kWH delivered
90% end SOC
31 minutes charging
$0.43/kWH + $0 session fee
$6.45 total cost (but complimentary)
In an emergency or on a trip, I would be OK with that cost, but not as a regular thing. Happily I'm able to charge at home for the vast majority of my needs!
Rob
Over lunch I set up an EA account with payment info and saw that stations 1 and 6 (out of 6) were available at my local Wal-Mart. Station 1 had 2 50 kW CCS chargers and Station 6 had 1 150 kW CCS and a 50 kW CHAdeMO.
When I arrived, there were 2 KIA Niros charging, 2 "unavailable" stations and the 2 available ones. I pulled into what I THOUGHT was Station 1 to use a 50 kW port, but I'm a dummy and it was actually Station 6. I went for it anyway since I didn't plan to stay long anyway. If a car that could use the 150 kW showed up, I would move. Due to piled snow, I couldn't get too close to the pole, but it was close enough.

Sure enough, the screen showed "complimentary charging" (or something like that) and I plugged in for my first ever DC fast charging session. It was only the car's second public charging as my wife had used a free Level 2 charger at the Mall a couple weeks back.
Temp was 34 degrees. 45% SOC on arrival at 1:30 PM.
1:30 PM: 46% SOC, 16 kW delivery, est. 2:58 PM for full charge
1:40 PM: 56% SOC, 30 kW delivery, est. 2:43 PM for full charge
1:45 PM: 64% SOC, 41 kW delivery, est. 2:40 PM for full charge
1:50 PM: 75% SOC, 47 kW delivery, est. 2:40 PM for full charge
1:55 PM: 84% SOC, 29 kW delivery, est. 2:43 PM for full charge
2:00 PM: 90% SOC, 21 kW delivery, est. 2:45 PM for full charge
So I gave the car 30 minutes and gained 44% SOC. I had been driving for a bit and the car was warmed up (I thought), so I was surprised that the charge rate took 20 minutes to ramp up to near full power. But hey...it was only about 35 degrees!
Charge Stats:
15.9145 kWH delivered
90% end SOC
31 minutes charging
$0.43/kWH + $0 session fee
$6.45 total cost (but complimentary)
In an emergency or on a trip, I would be OK with that cost, but not as a regular thing. Happily I'm able to charge at home for the vast majority of my needs!
Rob
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