Featured Electrify America press release

Interesting development with the announcement of the partnership with Tesla / battery backup / powerwall.
Electrify America Adds Tesla Battery Storage to 100 Stations - Tesla Motors Club
Considering how much these devices can pull, presuming many are working, if you had 2 or more running simultaneously, it wouldn't be hard to make a mess of things without battery backup - if Electrify America was running them at a little kiosk type area.
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Just a followup to the above, relating to potential 350kW stations .... here's a good illustration of how 350kW charging actually works in reality - due to today's existing battery chemistry;



The above illustrates how a NEW battery receives power. The time before throttle down (presently experienced by all DC/QC EV's) is an algorithm that can be OTA modified my manufacturers - if /when they decide (if a manufacturer's vehicle is so equipped - as are Teslas) that YOU are using DC/QC too frequently - that "over-use" may make it likely you may not reach end of factory warranty with enough remaining capacity. Tesla owners (in some instances) have already experienced an even quicker "throttle-back" when they DC/QC too frequently ... not just supercharging owners either. Folks using the CHAdoMO adapter regularly on their Teslas - despite the fact tthe CHAdeMO may only output 38kW's .... too bad - even slower QC operation brings on the quicker throttle-back software re-write. Owners' charge time might be several minutes longer, due to OTA monitoring, coupled with OTA software re-programming capability.
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Tesla has been tight lipped about the algorithm ... whether it's the # of QC's .... the length of QC operation .... the temps when owners use a QC, etc. But one thing's pretty likely from the chart above. If the 250 & 350kW charging curves drop quick for the same rational that Tesla incorporates - that 350kW potential won't be as spectacular as all the hype makes it out to be.
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Hmm, the recently completed “Nationwide” charging network leaves something to be desired, it’s like there is a giant hole or slice missing.

you can drive coast to coast (if you live in the south)

 

with gas, i don't need a map to find a place to refuel

 

Hence the appeal of the PHEV, I think folks in Europe can’t comprehend a hundred mile stretch of road with absolutely no services nearby. Most of the vehicles I saw along that route were carrying 1+ 5 gallon gas cans off their hitch or in their pickup

 

Basically, select Interstates. No support yet for those who do lots of sightseeing on the back roads routes.

 

or anyone too far north or anyone who drives in one of the 10 states not included

 

roam wasn't built in a day

 

Anyone know if they are having more luck with these stations working properly? I know early on they were a complete mess. Heard so many stories of people getting stuck on road trips.

 

& not by many units - do they beat hydrogen stations

Notice how void i40 is through the Fort Smith Arkansas area the VW network are ... i40 is a disaster. Even other networks are pathetic. And i40 is a major route! Now, there ARE 2 or 3 chademo just west of the OK / arkansas border, finally, & tesla has an adapter for chademo - but for the past few months the chademo have not been active. And therein lies the status of most of the other networks in that area.
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Must have been built by the same vendor the U.K. used, probably open it up and the harnesses say “Lucas insta smoke”

That said these are just bloody extension cords off a DC source, you would think by now we could build them to be reliable even if they sometimes slow down.

What makes me sad is that these rarely have a L2 J connector included. Those of us who have a 1st generation plug in or PHEV can’t ever take advantage of the charge network when we have a longer stop.

And in the rare cases where they have an L2 and charge Per hour the price is astronomical And only worth it if you have a dc charge port

 

We live in a rural state but Electrify America has done very well by us placing stations in strategic places along our interstate system. Not perfect but a welcome site for electric vehicle drivers. I have never used them as I drive a PHEV and am not willing to waste time plugging in waiting for a charge any place other than our home where our vehicle is always plugged in if it isn't being used.

One exception = Whole Foods parking lot that has very thoughtfully placed two electric car chargers for their customers in their lot. You can charge your vehicle while you grocery shop - for free. What a great idea and service for their customers.

 

we used to have that, then they dumped them for charge point when amazon took over

 

A lot of their stations made by ABB have issues. They're working on it.

 

Remember ABC

I drive a PHEV as well and am very disappointed that they do not ever include L2

on my trip to Niagara I had several stops in Ohio something happened I’ve never seen before

There were rows of EV chargers open On the tollways (to be honest I don’t think I’ve ever seen an EV charging at a public place except in Arizona)

I was there around an hour but none of the charge spots were compatible with my car.

I could have easily gained 15+ miles at the longer stops well worth 5 seconds of my time.

too bad charging locations pretty much don’t exist or aren’t used

 

It's great your state has QC's - but MAN! Electrify America charges WAY too much. But it's like a gas station - if it's the only thing going on, that price is no object.
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true, but at least there are usually enough gas stations to shop around

 

The ones near an interstate exit all seem to be the same price.