"GM, Pilot, & EVgo Made The Best EV Charging Station I’ve Visited Yet" - Article

[Tooney]

https://cleantechnica.com/2024/05/2...the-best-ev-charging-station-ive-visited-yet/

Plugshare: https://www.plugshare.com/location/547994

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[TXAG]

I liked the large Electrify America station in Baker, California USA better than what's shown in this photo. Sorry that I don't have a picture of it, but I remember the lot being painted to eliminate confusion about who was waiting first, second, third etc. in line. You waited in the sun, but you charged in the shade just like this photo. And there's a huge Tesla supercharger station next to it.

First time I smelled weed when charging, too.

 

[daveo4EV]

I liked the large Electrify America station in Baker, California USA better than what's shown in this photo. Sorry that I don't have a picture of it, but I remember the lot being painted to eliminate confusion about who was waiting first, second, third etc. in line. You waited in the sun, but you charged in the shade just like this photo. And there's a huge Tesla supercharger station next to it.

First time I smelled weed when charging, too.

https://www.plugshare.com/location/196551

 

[thecoloradokid]

About the only downside to the station was the cost of using it. EVgo prices are high compared to most other EV charging stations, and even with a discount I get from having a Lyft driver account it was 57 cents per kWh! But, the much better charging environment makes it worth a few extra bucks to use.



If I paid $.57 per kWh I am pretty sure that charging station would not qualify as the "best EV charging station I have visited" if it were me. That price is not exactly a bargain.

 

[d00d]

That location can only charge two at a time, the other one four.
Not enough to alleviate congestion anxiety, needs at least eight.

 

[daveo4EV]

About the only downside to the station was the cost of using it. EVgo prices are high compared to most other EV charging stations, and even with a discount I get from having a Lyft driver account it was 57 cents per kWh! But, the much better charging environment makes it worth a few extra bucks to use.



If I paid $.57 per kWh I am pretty sure that charging station would not qualify as the "best EV charging station I have visited" if it were me. That price is not exactly a bargain.

while I agree paying more is not the "goal" - for fast charging years ago I changed my "perspective" - when fast charging away from home I'm not paying for "kWh's" (even if that is the billing metric) - I'm paying to "save time"…

generally speaking fast charging sessions net 65-80 kWh's in about 30 minutes or less - that's a savings of 5.5-10 hours of my time (at a 9.6 kW charging rate, even more if it's the more traditional 6 kW slow charging rate found at most public L2 EVSE's…

when looking at virtually any fast charging "invoice" in terms of saving 6-10 hours the actual cost melts away in my perspective - especially in the context of a 24 hour day…again when away from home.

when fast charging you're not paying for kWh's - you're paying to save time - and time is way way more precious than virtually any resource - and given in all honestly you can really only fast charge 2 to 3 times a day in practice

if I'm paying those rates for "daily" usage well then that's different - but a few times a year away from home - I'm pretty much cost immune for fast charging cause the alternatives are so dire.

 

[Jonathan S.]

"Numbers can only take you so far."
Indeed yes, as in, two chargers can only take you so far, especially if one charger is broken (as has been reported on PlugShare), then the other charger is occupied by a Bolt going from negative 5% to 110%.
Seriously though, how is a two-charger station deserving of praise? Could end up waiting hours at such a station.

 

[thecoloradokid]

"Numbers can only take you so far."
Indeed yes, as in, two chargers can only take you so far, especially if one charger is broken (as has been reported on PlugShare), then the other charger is occupied by a Bolt going from negative 5% to 110%.
Seriously though, how is a two-charger station deserving of praise? Could end up waiting hours at such a station.

I don't have much experience with EVGo chargers, but can't two cars charge at the same time of a single cabinet?

 

[Tooney]

"Numbers can only take you so far."
Indeed yes, as in, two chargers can only take you so far, especially if one charger is broken (as has been reported on PlugShare), then the other charger is occupied by a Bolt going from negative 5% to 110%.
Seriously though, how is a two-charger station deserving of praise? Could end up waiting hours at such a station.

EVgo dispensers have 2 plugs which may be used simultaneously.

None of this is relevant to you because there are only 4 Pilot truck stops in 6 New England states.
New England don't want any more redneck truck stops.....

 

[thecoloradokid]

while I agree paying more is not the "goal" - for fast charging years ago I changed my "perspective" - when fast charging away from home I'm not paying for "kWh's" (even if that is the billing metric) - I'm paying to "save time"…

generally speaking fast charging sessions net 65-80 kWh's in about 30 minutes or less - that's a savings of 5.5-10 hours of my time (at a 9.6 kW charging rate, even more if it's the more traditional 6 kW slow charging rate found at most public L2 EVSE's…

when looking at virtually any fast charging "invoice" in terms of saving 6-10 hours the actual cost melts away in my perspective - especially in the context of a 24 hour day…again when away from home.

when fast charging you're not paying for kWh's - you're paying to save time - and time is way way more precious than virtually any resource - and given in all honestly you can really only fast charge 2 to 3 times a day in practice

if I'm paying those rates for "daily" usage well then that's different - but a few times a year away from home - I'm pretty much cost immune for fast charging cause the alternatives are so dire.

I certainly get what you have laid out, but it is a different ball game when someone is a frequent road tripper in an electric vehicle. When I can get the same charging speeds at a different high speed charger that charges $.10 less a kWh then I would leverage that if I was road tripping in my Rivian - the Porsche and its free charging at EA does not factor in unless you really have to use one of these new EVGo stations at a Flying J or Pilot Travel Center. Let's say I put 80 kWh in my Rivian each charging stop on my drive from Scottsdale to Denver and I have to stop 5 times to charge that is an $8 difference per charging stop, and $80 for the round trip drive. That $80 covers half of a nice dinner in Scottsdale, and I did not lose any time while on the road.

Anyway, I have yet to use one of these new EVGo chargers at a Flying J or Pilot Travel Center, so I am hoping that the location placement on most sites does not require a person to have to dodge a bunch of huge semi trucks to make it into use the facilities. Say what you want about Electrify America and Walmart, but at least at a Walmart you only have to dodge inattentive car drivers to get in to use the facilities as opposed to potentially someone who is behind schedule and in a huge Peterbilt semi truck.

 

[thecoloradokid]

EVgo dispensers have 2 plugs which may be used simultaneously.

None of this is relevant to you because there are only 4 Pilot truck stops in 6 New England states.
New England don't want any more redneck truck stops.....

thanks for the extra detail on EVGo chargers.

Do you know if two cars are using the same cabinet simultaneously do they split the 350kW speed, so each would max out at 175kW? Or, would each car still get that max charging speed of 350kW? I am just curious because that would make a difference in the whole "saving time to leverage higher charging speeds versus spending more money" equation if you were road tripping in a vehicle that could handle higher charging speeds.

 

[daveo4EV]

I certainly get what you have laid out, but it is a different ball game when someone is a frequent road tripper in an electric vehicle. When I can get the same charging speeds at a different high speed charger that charges $.10 less a kWh then I would leverage that if I was road tripping in my Rivian - the Porsche and its free charging at EA does not factor in unless you really have to use one of these new EVGo stations at a Flying J or Pilot Travel Center. Let's say I put 80 kWh in my Rivian each charging stop on my drive from Scottsdale to Denver and I have to stop 5 times to charge that is an $8 difference per charging stop, and $80 for the round trip drive. That $80 covers half of a nice dinner in Scottsdale, and I did not lose any time while on the road.

Anyway, I have yet to use one of these new EVGo chargers at a Flying J or Pilot Travel Center, so I am hoping that the location placement on most sites does not require a person to have to dodge a bunch of huge semi trucks to make it into use the facilities. Say what you want about Electrify America and Walmart, but at least at a Walmart you only have to dodge inattentive car drivers to get in to use the facilities as opposed to potentially someone who is behind schedule and in a huge Peterbilt semi truck.

I agree 100% my "position" becomes less tenable as frequency of usage goes up…I think we both understand each other

 

[Tooney]

What Happens When We Can Get Picky About Charging Stations?

On a recent road trip I took from home (New Mexico) to North Carolina, I experienced something I hadn’t really experienced before: choice!
. . .
After I got to Dallas, I noticed that I had some choices. I started out sticking with what’s familiar: Electrify America. And, honestly, it sucked. Sam’s Club has bathrooms, but the parking lot was packed, it’s a ways off the highway, and it was clearly more aimed at serving local drivers than travelers. So, I decided to try something different for the next stop.
. . .
I found a really nice Mercedes-Benz-branded ChargePoint station in Royse City, Texas, at a Buc-ee’s travel center. Unlike the crowded Sam’s Club parking lot, there was plenty of room to easily pull up and charge without blocking any spaces, even with a trailer.
. . .
The next station I had a choice on was in Little Rock, Arkansas. I chose Franklin’s Charging both because DCFC pricing was reasonable and the amenities were better than at most charging stations. You can read all about my experiences at Franklin’s here. Again, the choice was a nice place with snacks and a bathroom or a Walmart parking lot.
. . .
One of the good stations I came across was at a Circle K in Hickory, NC. My other options were Electrify America stations at closed Walmarts or other stations at businesses that were closed. Sure, I’d get a charge, but the Circle K station offered a place to go to the bathroom and get some snacks and drinks. It was also an easy place to go into and out of, had plenty of room near the chargers to park, and otherwise was easy to use for my vehicle and good for my needs.

 

[Tooney]

thanks for the extra detail on EVGo chargers.

Do you know if two cars are using the same cabinet simultaneously do they split the 350kW speed, so each would max out at 175kW? Or, would each car still get that max charging speed of 350kW? I am just curious because that would make a difference in the whole "saving time to leverage higher charging speeds versus spending more money" equation if you were road tripping in a vehicle that could handle higher charging speeds.

From EVgo blog:

https://www.evgo.com/blog/simultaneous-charging-less-equipment-more-happy-customers/

 

[Jonathan S.]

EVgo dispensers have 2 plugs which may be used simultaneously.

None of this is relevant to you because there are only 4 Pilot truck stops in 6 New England states.
New England don't want any more redneck truck stops.....

I think that mainly obscured location on the far left of the map is where I gassed up once years ago -- just off of the Mass Pike.
Overall, I'm all in favor of big truck stops. I even took a shower once at one (Love's in Napavine WA), and it was quite nice. (Probably even cleaner than our own bathrooms at home!)

So okay, that's a lot better with four drivers being able to charge at once. But they really couldn't install a third charger? If one charger is broken, and both plugs at the other charger are taken ...

I recently noticed this tally from two months ago:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2024/03/28/ev-charging-stations-slow-rollout/
"But after two years, that program has only delivered seven open charging stations with a total of 38 spots where drivers can charge their vehicles, according to a spokesperson for the Federal Highway Administration."
That ratio of "spots" (however defined) to stations is so much lower than TSCN.

This though is wonderfully ironic:
"“We have significant concerns that under your efforts American taxpayer dollars are being woefully mismanaged,” wrote Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.) and Morgan Griffith (R-Va.)."
... given that these taxpayer dollars aren't mismanaged at all since they haven't been spent!

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