Received an Interesting Call from Electrify America

[andrewket]

it is interesting to me that EA is implementing a fix. this is good, all I care about is that I can get a charge when I need a charge

I didn't say that EA is implementing a fix. I said it was one hypothesis. It would certainly be a better customer experience and less expensive solution than hardware swaps.

Most people who bought the 19.2kW on-board charger option did so because they primarily charge at home. Not having P&C isn't a big deal to them. They won't complain.

I think your hypothesis wouldn't pan out if we could analyze the data. I don't think there is a correlation between those that optioned the 19.2kW charger and the amount of public charging one does. My family I road trip a lot since switching to EVs. I spec'd the 19.2kW charger not because I charge a lot at home (I do), or because I think I'm going to find >11kW AC EVSEs in the wild (it happens occasionally), but because I'm on a time of use (TOU) plan at home which provides me with super cheap electricity between 1-5am. I have to charge 3 EVs during this window, and the only way to do it consistently and without having to manually manage everything is with >11kW charging and 3 EVSEs. I used to have ~19.2kW charging on my Teslas too, but Tesla discontinued that option. It's really created problems for me, although I think Tesla may have finally implemented a "charge between x-y to a max SOC of z%" feature. So now my worst case is the Teslas just don't reach the target SOC, whereas before they would charge during the penalty pricing period and cost me $$.

Sponsored

 

[Chalk]

I was using EA when I first got my Taycan and encountered the failure you describe here after a few charging sessions at the same station. But then I noticed that if I initiated the charging session in the mobile app first (either Porsche Connect or the Charging NA app), then the station worked. I figured it was a way to avoid the need for the handshake, because the station was already turned on by the app.

Not sure if you've tried this but thought you might like to know.

 

[kort]

I was using EA when I first got my Taycan and encountered the failure you describe here after a few charging sessions at the same station. But then I noticed that if I initiated the charging session in the mobile app first (either Porsche Connect or the Charging NA app), then the station worked. I figured it was a way to avoid the need for the handshake, because the station was already turned on by the app.

Not sure if you've tried this but thought you might like to know.

that hasn't worked well for me.

 

[SWORDER]

I was using EA when I first got my Taycan and encountered the failure you describe here after a few charging sessions at the same station. But then I noticed that if I initiated the charging session in the mobile app first (either Porsche Connect or the Charging NA app), then the station worked. I figured it was a way to avoid the need for the handshake, because the station was already turned on by the app.

Not sure if you've tried this but thought you might like to know.

I'll certainly give it a try. Pretty much all public chargers, EA or otherwise, are very clear in their instruction screen that they want you to "plug in first." Figured that clicking start on the app prior to plugging in would just lead to an error. But hey, easy enough to try it. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Genau]

I spec'd the 19.2kW charger not because I charge a lot at home (I do), or because I think I'm going to find >11kW AC EVSEs in the wild (it happens occasionally), but because I'm on a time of use (TOU) plan at home which provides me with super cheap electricity between 1-5am. I have to charge 3 EVs during this window, and the only way to do it consistently and without having to manually manage everything is with >11kW charging and 3 EVSEs.

Just curious (I have zero knowledge/experience on this topic): is it possible to charge a Powerwall during the off-peak electricity rate period, then power your EVSEs anytime from the Powerwall?

 

[andrewket]

Just curious (I have zero knowledge/experience on this topic): is it possible to charge a Powerwall during the off-peak electricity rate period, then power your EVSEs anytime from the Powerwall?

Yes, you can do this. You can use power walls to arbitrage, but you’ll need a sufficient delta in price to pay for the degradation of the power walls for it to make sense.

 

[Ferdinand]

As you can see from my post history, I absolutely love my 2021 TTS while having no fondness at all for Electrify America. They are to EV charging what Internet Explorer is to browsers.

Anyway, there's this app called PlugShare that I use where you can indicate whether particular chargers in the neighborhood are working, at what speed (kW), and leave comments. Since EA fails so frequently, I try to avoid EA and use EvGo and ChargePoint. The latter two work 100% of the time for me so most of my comments on EV chargers are positive.

With EA though -- not so much. I have about a 50% success rate with them. And judging from all of the PlugShare comments I've read, it's clear I'm not alone. With the 50% failed sessions, I typically leave an "EA sucks" remark in the comments [but I also make note of the successful charges too to keep things accurate and balanced].

Anyway, I guess EA does monitor the PlugShare comments. They gave me a call, probably just to chat with the guy who keeps posting "EA sucks" in the comments. The rep was pleasant enough. She suggested calling EA at the posted number whenever I have a problem. I told her that I've tried that but no one ever answers. She said to send an email to them when I'm about to charge at one of the bad chargers so they can see what's going on. I said I might try it. Their chargers over at Caesars Palace Forum Shops in Las Vegas fail 100% of the time for me (and plenty of others) so maybe that'll be a good test case.

I don't flatter myself to think that VW actually cares about a peon car owner like me, but at least they're making an effort to collect info about the constant stream of charge failures.

Sorry to hear about the bad experiences. I’ve used EA 350-kW chargers in a couple of out-of-the-way rural locations in Missouri and Illinois, and they worked flawlessly, including the Plug & Charge function on my 2021 4S.

 

[Alemany]

I wish you guys with this issue would bring to porsche's attention, they seem to believe that I am the only one with this "handshake" issue.

I have. Its something that irritates me as I bough the enhance charger at the dealers recommendation and now it is a liability. Last couple of times I complained they told me it had mot been turned on yet. I guess it has, so time to complain again.

 

[kort]

I have. Its something that irritates me as I bough the enhance charger at the dealers recommendation and now it is a liability. Last couple of times I complained they told me it had mot been turned on yet. I guess it has, so time to complain again.

turned on? more like turned off, they are making believe that it doesn't exist. they SOLD us something that has a baked in flaw that diminishes the car's capabilities, they are not doing a darned thing to fix, repair or compensate us.

 

[Damond]

How timely your thread is! I have just completed a week long 1300 mile documented test drive of a 2021 Taycan 4S with the Performance Battery Plus option (aka 93.4 kWh battery) and 21 inch Mission E Design wheels, plus 28 other options. I rented the Taycan 4S using the Porsche Drive Rental Program. The car had only 781 miles on it when I picked it up.

The purpose of the test drive was to experience and document what happens when one drives a Taycan 4S here in the desert Southwest at Interstate & US highway speeds of 74-84 mph when it is over 105F in Normal and Range modes. I was also interested in the charging times in the 105F plus ambient temperatures. Additionally, I had installed a 240VAC 14-50R receptacle in my garage. I did this so I could also test how the Porsche Mobile Charger Connect (PMCC) with a 25 ft vehicle charging cable would work when my single-car garage temperatures hit over 100F.

I live in Tucson AZ. My co-driver was a member of our local PCA.

So what was our major finding...the Electrify America (EA) charging infrastructure REALLY sucks!!. During the week we used/attempted to use EA charging stations 13 times. The stations we used were the EA charging stations located at: Marana (4 times), Casa Grande (2), Buckeye (3), Dateland (1), Tempe (2), and Quartzite (1). After a 255 mile drive to Quartzite with a "successful" charging stop at Buckeye, we experienced all 4 chargers (7 total plugs) failing. We started with the 350 kW chargers and then with the 150 kW chargers. We used each of the chargers plugs. Each charger displayed a "Charger Error" immediately after we started charging. We used the EA app on my iPhone11. One plug actually started charging for 10 seconds before displaying the Charger Error screen. We had used the same iPhone11 app in Buckeye to start a charger there. We contacted EA support after three of the chargers (6 plugs) failed. When we attempted to use the 4th one ( one with a CCS and CHADEMO plug ) and when it failed, we were asked to provide the Error Code that appeared at the bottom right of the touch screen. He said after checking that this error was a "hard" error that could not be corrected by him [using a software reset?]. Essentially all 4 chargers had the same "hard" error.

We had 35% SOC and 83 miles remaining. It was only after consulting PlugShare did we find that there were 50 kW Charge Point chargers at Blythe CA, 22 miles away. Otherwise we were SOL. It was 100 miles back to an EA station at Buckeye, 82 miles to an EA station in Yuma. We ended up charging up at the Charge Point stations in Blythe CA and drove the 122 miles back to Buckeye and then back to Marana. NOTE: We tried RANGE mode. We drove the entire route at 65 mph on I-10 from Blythe CA to EA Buckeye with the A/C at ECO and set at 78F...just made it to Buckeye, and it wasn't a comfortable drive!

What was angering was this occurred AFTER having checked the status on the app at the start of our trip at Marana, when charging at Buckeye (100 miles from Quartzite), and the restroom stop, Pilot Travel Center-Salome (72 miles from Buckeye & 28 miles from Quartzite).

We did note that Quartzite AZ had that day experienced 115F daytime temperatures. We drove in it. In fact all the stations visited during that week had experienced temperatures over 105F.

This was not the only "adventure" we had with EA stations. We always tried to use the 350 kW chargers at EA stations. Even when our SOC's were under 50%, we ran into maximum starting charging rates of 66 kW. This occurred both times at Casa Grande, once at Buckeye, and once at Tempe.

The only good news about EA stations is that 3 times we ended up getting charged nothing. When plugging in, the charger immediately started charging and the screen said it was Free.

Here's our concern. EA is the only non-Tesla game in town here in the desert Southwest. Along I-10 and I-8 west of Phoenix and Tucson there are EA 4-charger stations only in Quartzite, and Dateland. These are critical charging points if one wants to drive an EV on I-10 to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and on I-8 to San Diego. The issue isn't necessarily location since along I-10 and I-8 we have 70-80 miles between human habitation. So EA saying it is putting in more stations all the time doesn't necessarily work for us. It's the reliability of the stations that is important, and if reliability is a problem, then increasing the number of stations at critical locations is. Tesla stations have at least 8 chargers.

EA Dateland is particularly critical if one is heading to San Diego. There is only EA Casa Grande 113 miles to the east where I-8 ends at I-10, and 66 miles west to an EA in Yuma. Our testing revealed that if one drives at 74-84 mph on I-8 in NORMAL Mode, with the A/C set at Auto & 74F when it is 105F, one averages about 40-41 kWh/100 miles in a Taycan 4S with the 21 inch wheels. If one starts out at EA Casa Grande at an 85% SOC with a 10% SOC reserve (21 miles), one gets about 155 mile range before hitting 10%SOC. That's not enough range to safely & comfortably to get one to Yuma if EA Dateland is completely out of commission (unless one shuts down the A/C and drives 60 mph!).

Before and after our test period we checked the EA app to see how EA Dateland was doing, twice it reported all 4 of its chargers "unavailable". Both times the ambient daytime temperature at Dateland was around 112F. On our test drive to EA Dateland from EA Marana via EA Casa Grande we were lucky to have all 4 chargers (8 plugs) displaying Ready. NOTE: Below 10% SOC the Taycan in Normal mode starts to shut down the air conditioning (A/C)! In RANGE mode we found out what ECO feels like when its over 100F. The rear A/C is shut off, and the front fans are slowed down.

From our experiences with the EA charging system (infrastructure), it seems that EA is having a reliability problem with its charging equipment out here when the temperatures actually have hit over 115F. It also has a reporting system that doesn't accurately report in a timely fashion the status of its chargers.

Thankfully there was 2 networked Charge Point chargers in Blythe. However, one of them stopped after 22 minutes of charging. We had to use the second charger for an additional 24 minutes of charge to get a 61% SOC. Enough to drive the 122 miles back to EA Buckeye. Oops for Charge Point.

The rest of the story is that I was able to contact a Supervisor at the EA Support Center after several attempts to use their phone number and getting through the first level support. I spoke with this person in an attempt to find out if they have some method by which the Support center is made aware of when chargers are out of commission (aka unavailable) due to some problem with either the charger or even the associated transformer OTHER THAN have the users report problems ala WAZE. I told her about our adventure at EA Quartzite, and how the Support person wasn't even aware when we had the Charger Error failures that there was an Error and what that Error code was!

I was told it was not EA policy to divulge how they determine if chargers are having a problem. The supervisor said she would elevate this issue. I have yet to hear a response.

CONCLUSION: Electrify America charging infrastructure in the desert Southwest sucks.

and an EV is only as good as its charging infrastructure!

There is more to report about what its like to use the PMCC in a garage at 95-100F and at 40 amps...the cables all get hot 120-130F! and so does the PMCC in the dock, but not hot enough to stop. Ended up using a 30 amp setting. Things still get hot, but not enough to set the garage on fire!

Take care and stay safe!

 

[andrewket]

I completely agree that consistency and reliability are EA’s largest opportunities, even above expansion of existing sites or to new sites. I have not yet experienced an EA site with all pedestals in use. They don’t yet need more pedestals. What they need is for all of them to work, 99.99% of the time.

We own two Teslas and the Taycan. I have taken some trips with the Taycan, but my wife won’t let us take it for extended trips or when our schedule is paramount because we just can’t trust EA. The Tesla SpC network works 100% of the time.

 

[feye]

this happens to me about 60% of the time! "Ziel Suchen" almost 90% of the time in the search bar

I also get that often, but it's just that. If you tap on it, the rest is in English, right?

 

[submatrix]

How timely your thread is! I have just completed a week long 1300 mile documented test drive of a 2021 Taycan 4S with the Performance Battery Plus option (aka 93.4 kWh battery) and 21 inch Mission E Design wheels, plus 28 other options. I rented the Taycan 4S using the Porsche Drive Rental Program. The car had only 781 miles on it when I picked it up.

The purpose of the test drive was to experience and document what happens when one drives a Taycan 4S here in the desert Southwest at Interstate & US highway speeds of 74-84 mph when it is over 105F in Normal and Range modes. I was also interested in the charging times in the 105F plus ambient temperatures. Additionally, I had installed a 240VAC 14-50R receptacle in my garage. I did this so I could also test how the Porsche Mobile Charger Connect (PMCC) with a 25 ft vehicle charging cable would work when my single-car garage temperatures hit over 100F.

I live in Tucson AZ. My co-driver was a member of our local PCA.

So what was our major finding...the Electrify America (EA) charging infrastructure REALLY sucks!!. During the week we used/attempted to use EA charging stations 13 times. The stations we used were the EA charging stations located at: Marana (4 times), Casa Grande (2), Buckeye (3), Dateland (1), Tempe (2), and Quartzite (1). After a 255 mile drive to Quartzite with a "successful" charging stop at Buckeye, we experienced all 4 chargers (7 total plugs) failing. We started with the 350 kW chargers and then with the 150 kW chargers. We used each of the chargers plugs. Each charger displayed a "Charger Error" immediately after we started charging. We used the EA app on my iPhone11. One plug actually started charging for 10 seconds before displaying the Charger Error screen. We had used the same iPhone11 app in Buckeye to start a charger there. We contacted EA support after three of the chargers (6 plugs) failed. When we attempted to use the 4th one ( one with a CCS and CHADEMO plug ) and when it failed, we were asked to provide the Error Code that appeared at the bottom right of the touch screen. He said after checking that this error was a "hard" error that could not be corrected by him [using a software reset?]. Essentially all 4 chargers had the same "hard" error.

We had 35% SOC and 83 miles remaining. It was only after consulting PlugShare did we find that there were 50 kW Charge Point chargers at Blythe CA, 22 miles away. Otherwise we were SOL. It was 100 miles back to an EA station at Buckeye, 82 miles to an EA station in Yuma. We ended up charging up at the Charge Point stations in Blythe CA and drove the 122 miles back to Buckeye and then back to Marana. NOTE: We tried RANGE mode. We drove the entire route at 65 mph on I-10 from Blythe CA to EA Buckeye with the A/C at ECO and set at 78F...just made it to Buckeye, and it wasn't a comfortable drive!

What was angering was this occurred AFTER having checked the status on the app at the start of our trip at Marana, when charging at Buckeye (100 miles from Quartzite), and the restroom stop, Pilot Travel Center-Salome (72 miles from Buckeye & 28 miles from Quartzite).

We did note that Quartzite AZ had that day experienced 115F daytime temperatures. We drove in it. In fact all the stations visited during that week had experienced temperatures over 105F.

This was not the only "adventure" we had with EA stations. We always tried to use the 350 kW chargers at EA stations. Even when our SOC's were under 50%, we ran into maximum starting charging rates of 66 kW. This occurred both times at Casa Grande, once at Buckeye, and once at Tempe.

The only good news about EA stations is that 3 times we ended up getting charged nothing. When plugging in, the charger immediately started charging and the screen said it was Free.

Here's our concern. EA is the only non-Tesla game in town here in the desert Southwest. Along I-10 and I-8 west of Phoenix and Tucson there are EA 4-charger stations only in Quartzite, and Dateland. These are critical charging points if one wants to drive an EV on I-10 to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and on I-8 to San Diego. The issue isn't necessarily location since along I-10 and I-8 we have 70-80 miles between human habitation. So EA saying it is putting in more stations all the time doesn't necessarily work for us. It's the reliability of the stations that is important, and if reliability is a problem, then increasing the number of stations at critical locations is. Tesla stations have at least 8 chargers.

EA Dateland is particularly critical if one is heading to San Diego. There is only EA Casa Grande 113 miles to the east where I-8 ends at I-10, and 66 miles west to an EA in Yuma. Our testing revealed that if one drives at 74-84 mph on I-8 in NORMAL Mode, with the A/C set at Auto & 74F when it is 105F, one averages about 40-41 kWh/100 miles in a Taycan 4S with the 21 inch wheels. If one starts out at EA Casa Grande at an 85% SOC with a 10% SOC reserve (21 miles), one gets about 155 mile range before hitting 10%SOC. That's not enough range to safely & comfortably to get one to Yuma if EA Dateland is completely out of commission (unless one shuts down the A/C and drives 60 mph!).

Before and after our test period we checked the EA app to see how EA Dateland was doing, twice it reported all 4 of its chargers "unavailable". Both times the ambient daytime temperature at Dateland was around 112F. On our test drive to EA Dateland from EA Marana via EA Casa Grande we were lucky to have all 4 chargers (8 plugs) displaying Ready. NOTE: Below 10% SOC the Taycan in Normal mode starts to shut down the air conditioning (A/C)! In RANGE mode we found out what ECO feels like when its over 100F. The rear A/C is shut off, and the front fans are slowed down.

From our experiences with the EA charging system (infrastructure), it seems that EA is having a reliability problem with its charging equipment out here when the temperatures actually have hit over 115F. It also has a reporting system that doesn't accurately report in a timely fashion the status of its chargers.

Thankfully there was 2 networked Charge Point chargers in Blythe. However, one of them stopped after 22 minutes of charging. We had to use the second charger for an additional 24 minutes of charge to get a 61% SOC. Enough to drive the 122 miles back to EA Buckeye. Oops for Charge Point.

The rest of the story is that I was able to contact a Supervisor at the EA Support Center after several attempts to use their phone number and getting through the first level support. I spoke with this person in an attempt to find out if they have some method by which the Support center is made aware of when chargers are out of commission (aka unavailable) due to some problem with either the charger or even the associated transformer OTHER THAN have the users report problems ala WAZE. I told her about our adventure at EA Quartzite, and how the Support person wasn't even aware when we had the Charger Error failures that there was an Error and what that Error code was!

I was told it was not EA policy to divulge how they determine if chargers are having a problem. The supervisor said she would elevate this issue. I have yet to hear a response.

CONCLUSION: Electrify America charging infrastructure in the desert Southwest sucks.

and an EV is only as good as its charging infrastructure!

There is more to report about what its like to use the PMCC in a garage at 95-100F and at 40 amps...the cables all get hot 120-130F! and so does the PMCC in the dock, but not hot enough to stop. Ended up using a 30 amp setting. Things still get hot, but not enough to set the garage on fire!

Take care and stay safe!

While this definitely is a terrible experience, fwiw Tesla Superchargers also have loads of problems charging in hot temperatures. I still follow the Tesla community somewhat closely and believe it or not, the accepted workaround right now is to bring an ice cold towel (or minimally, a wet towel) with you to wrap around the Supercharger handle. Evidently that is the element that overheats causing the station to shut down.

I vaguely remember this trick also working for EA stations. It's possible it could have worked in your case.

Obviously it's super lame to have to do this, but I always keep it in the back of my mind in case I ever run into this situation, because I know how much it sucks to struggle with a charger when it's 110F outside (I just did a week ago on my road trip).

 

[thecoloradokid]

How timely your thread is! I have just completed a week long 1300 mile documented test drive of a 2021 Taycan 4S with the Performance Battery Plus option (aka 93.4 kWh battery) and 21 inch Mission E Design wheels, plus 28 other options. I rented the Taycan 4S using the Porsche Drive Rental Program. The car had only 781 miles on it when I picked it up.

The purpose of the test drive was to experience and document what happens when one drives a Taycan 4S here in the desert Southwest at Interstate & US highway speeds of 74-84 mph when it is over 105F in Normal and Range modes. I was also interested in the charging times in the 105F plus ambient temperatures. Additionally, I had installed a 240VAC 14-50R receptacle in my garage. I did this so I could also test how the Porsche Mobile Charger Connect (PMCC) with a 25 ft vehicle charging cable would work when my single-car garage temperatures hit over 100F.

I live in Tucson AZ. My co-driver was a member of our local PCA.

So what was our major finding...the Electrify America (EA) charging infrastructure REALLY sucks!!. During the week we used/attempted to use EA charging stations 13 times. The stations we used were the EA charging stations located at: Marana (4 times), Casa Grande (2), Buckeye (3), Dateland (1), Tempe (2), and Quartzite (1). After a 255 mile drive to Quartzite with a "successful" charging stop at Buckeye, we experienced all 4 chargers (7 total plugs) failing. We started with the 350 kW chargers and then with the 150 kW chargers. We used each of the chargers plugs. Each charger displayed a "Charger Error" immediately after we started charging. We used the EA app on my iPhone11. One plug actually started charging for 10 seconds before displaying the Charger Error screen. We had used the same iPhone11 app in Buckeye to start a charger there. We contacted EA support after three of the chargers (6 plugs) failed. When we attempted to use the 4th one ( one with a CCS and CHADEMO plug ) and when it failed, we were asked to provide the Error Code that appeared at the bottom right of the touch screen. He said after checking that this error was a "hard" error that could not be corrected by him [using a software reset?]. Essentially all 4 chargers had the same "hard" error.

We had 35% SOC and 83 miles remaining. It was only after consulting PlugShare did we find that there were 50 kW Charge Point chargers at Blythe CA, 22 miles away. Otherwise we were SOL. It was 100 miles back to an EA station at Buckeye, 82 miles to an EA station in Yuma. We ended up charging up at the Charge Point stations in Blythe CA and drove the 122 miles back to Buckeye and then back to Marana. NOTE: We tried RANGE mode. We drove the entire route at 65 mph on I-10 from Blythe CA to EA Buckeye with the A/C at ECO and set at 78F...just made it to Buckeye, and it wasn't a comfortable drive!

What was angering was this occurred AFTER having checked the status on the app at the start of our trip at Marana, when charging at Buckeye (100 miles from Quartzite), and the restroom stop, Pilot Travel Center-Salome (72 miles from Buckeye & 28 miles from Quartzite).

We did note that Quartzite AZ had that day experienced 115F daytime temperatures. We drove in it. In fact all the stations visited during that week had experienced temperatures over 105F.

This was not the only "adventure" we had with EA stations. We always tried to use the 350 kW chargers at EA stations. Even when our SOC's were under 50%, we ran into maximum starting charging rates of 66 kW. This occurred both times at Casa Grande, once at Buckeye, and once at Tempe.

The only good news about EA stations is that 3 times we ended up getting charged nothing. When plugging in, the charger immediately started charging and the screen said it was Free.

Here's our concern. EA is the only non-Tesla game in town here in the desert Southwest. Along I-10 and I-8 west of Phoenix and Tucson there are EA 4-charger stations only in Quartzite, and Dateland. These are critical charging points if one wants to drive an EV on I-10 to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and on I-8 to San Diego. The issue isn't necessarily location since along I-10 and I-8 we have 70-80 miles between human habitation. So EA saying it is putting in more stations all the time doesn't necessarily work for us. It's the reliability of the stations that is important, and if reliability is a problem, then increasing the number of stations at critical locations is. Tesla stations have at least 8 chargers.

EA Dateland is particularly critical if one is heading to San Diego. There is only EA Casa Grande 113 miles to the east where I-8 ends at I-10, and 66 miles west to an EA in Yuma. Our testing revealed that if one drives at 74-84 mph on I-8 in NORMAL Mode, with the A/C set at Auto & 74F when it is 105F, one averages about 40-41 kWh/100 miles in a Taycan 4S with the 21 inch wheels. If one starts out at EA Casa Grande at an 85% SOC with a 10% SOC reserve (21 miles), one gets about 155 mile range before hitting 10%SOC. That's not enough range to safely & comfortably to get one to Yuma if EA Dateland is completely out of commission (unless one shuts down the A/C and drives 60 mph!).

Before and after our test period we checked the EA app to see how EA Dateland was doing, twice it reported all 4 of its chargers "unavailable". Both times the ambient daytime temperature at Dateland was around 112F. On our test drive to EA Dateland from EA Marana via EA Casa Grande we were lucky to have all 4 chargers (8 plugs) displaying Ready. NOTE: Below 10% SOC the Taycan in Normal mode starts to shut down the air conditioning (A/C)! In RANGE mode we found out what ECO feels like when its over 100F. The rear A/C is shut off, and the front fans are slowed down.

From our experiences with the EA charging system (infrastructure), it seems that EA is having a reliability problem with its charging equipment out here when the temperatures actually have hit over 115F. It also has a reporting system that doesn't accurately report in a timely fashion the status of its chargers.

Thankfully there was 2 networked Charge Point chargers in Blythe. However, one of them stopped after 22 minutes of charging. We had to use the second charger for an additional 24 minutes of charge to get a 61% SOC. Enough to drive the 122 miles back to EA Buckeye. Oops for Charge Point.

The rest of the story is that I was able to contact a Supervisor at the EA Support Center after several attempts to use their phone number and getting through the first level support. I spoke with this person in an attempt to find out if they have some method by which the Support center is made aware of when chargers are out of commission (aka unavailable) due to some problem with either the charger or even the associated transformer OTHER THAN have the users report problems ala WAZE. I told her about our adventure at EA Quartzite, and how the Support person wasn't even aware when we had the Charger Error failures that there was an Error and what that Error code was!

I was told it was not EA policy to divulge how they determine if chargers are having a problem. The supervisor said she would elevate this issue. I have yet to hear a response.

CONCLUSION: Electrify America charging infrastructure in the desert Southwest sucks.

and an EV is only as good as its charging infrastructure!

There is more to report about what its like to use the PMCC in a garage at 95-100F and at 40 amps...the cables all get hot 120-130F! and so does the PMCC in the dock, but not hot enough to stop. Ended up using a 30 amp setting. Things still get hot, but not enough to set the garage on fire!

Take care and stay safe!

Great write up of lack of performance of EA chargers in hot weather. I think you guys should post this info in its own thread, so both Porsche and Electrify America can see what you guys experienced in +100F temps while charging the car.

Also, I think It would interesting to have Porsche pull the logs on the car to see if the car limited the charging rate as well in the high temps besides the EA chargers just not working as designed. I wonder if the battery every got so hot in those temps that it would limit charging rates?

We should open this up conversation to Taycan owners in Spain, Italy, or the South of France where it may get to 95c or 40c in the summer and see if Ionity chargers exhibit the same charging behavior as what EA is showing in the SW of the US.

Solid write up.

 

[TycanNewHampshire]

I also get that often, but it's just that. If you tap on it, the rest is in English, right?

yes, exactly.

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