Tesla driver here, but I want to echo your basic premise: apps don’t always work. Physical backups ups are essential. My Tesla came with two physical keycards (just like a credit card) which is a terrific backup to using their (nearly always) amazing phone app. I’ve used my keycard a few times over the past two years of ownership. My wife has a VW ID.4 PRO, so I’ve had some experience with ChargePoint as well as EA on long road trips. I’m going to encourage her to get one of these cards (she still has 2+ years left on her free EA account). Great info, Max!

same goes for Europe as well for the networks over here, the cards a good backup. I have a few RFID tags, like plugsurfing & chargemap for international travel.

True, apps do not always work. Great backup plan.

Agree completely, just returned Florida to Atlantic Canada. Used EVgo card a number of times flawlessly every time. Canadians have a problem with most apps when you try to set up account we are asked for your zip code which we don’t have. Ea could learn from EVgo there use of charge cards most unreliable I had to phone four or five times to have charge started.

Generally enjoy using EVgo Autocharge on my Bolt EUV. However, on the new 100 kW Delta units, the handshake takes soooooooo long (haven't timed, but maybe 90 seconds?). On an old 50 kW BTC, it takes maybe 20 at most. Weird that the new hardware is slower.

I have a Bolt EUV and ID4. Only the Bolt is compatible for Autocharge+ . I have to use the EVGo car for my ID4. So 2010's. :)

TFTC I had to pay for the cards but definitely find them useful as some of the chargers I've used are in the boonies and I couldn't get them to activate via the app, due to crap signal I think.

You can call the to activate ea if you don’t have a phone

@LiteGamer52

Жыл бұрын

How?

Nitpick here but autocharge and plug and charge are not the branded same standard. Autocharge is based on EVgo identifying the car based on VIN number. This doesn’t require the automakers cooperation to enable. Plug and charge is a different non VIN based authentication where the vehicle and charger have to communicate and handshake and this requires the automakers participation and activation of the standard in their vehicles. EVgo went with VIN authentication because auto makers have been slow to implement plug and charge. EA and toners have shied away from VIN authentication because of security and abuse concerns with accepting a vehicles VIN as the identifier

@outofspecguide

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the clarification!

Vin the video is mentioned the card needs to have a ev vin onfile... i got the card to use with rental evs, how would it function in that scenario? Thank you.

How long are others waiting for their EVgo card to arrive? I requested mine on April 19. It’s been a month and I’m still waiting.

Do you know any EV chargers that use those gas station card machines that are contact based? I don’t think there’s one.

If your phone dies or gets broken or lost or stolen, you can't continue your road trip on electrify america. It's insane that they don't offer rfid cards

RFID is not that reliable on electrify America, just wondering if EVgo with membership the price is similar to electrify America, I did charge at EVgo while traveling the price is 3x more then electrify America which I pay $5 / month and get around .29-.37 cents per kWh.

My $500 card never came in the mail. It's been 23 days since they emailed me and said it's on the way. :(

Chargepoint card activates she’ll regarge stations too

I would be way more excited about this if EVgo and ChargePoint actually had chargers available in eastern Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, the Texas panhandle, and New Mexico, which is the predominant region of the US that is pretty much un-served by any of the major charging companies, and is the region in which I live and work. Find me a charger from one of these companies anywhere between I-25 and I-35 and between I-40 and I-70 and I will eat my hat.

@COSolar6419

Жыл бұрын

Plenty of ChargePoint chargers, both L2 and DCFC, in western Colorado.

@73av8r5

Жыл бұрын

Agreed. I have a Tesla and it’s not always easy in these areas.

Agreed 100%, I have never had any issues with my physical cards. I’ve always wished Electrify America had a physical card too, I asked them about it back in 2019 and they said they had no plans to offer them, apple wallet works on at least. Autocharge+ on EVgo has been flawless for me, wish more networks would adopt that sort of system since it’s supported by so many makes/models

You work for Out of Spec….you should be using an ELECTRIC razor. 😜

@outofspecguide

Жыл бұрын

Yeah 😅

Be more careful with cards on video. Of the nine number barcode on the back of the card, I was able to identify the first 8 numbers but couldn't make out the last number.

@afr1952

Жыл бұрын

You do realize you also exposed your VIN on this video, right? You're a scammer's dream come true, Max! You might want to take this down.

@outofspecguide

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for notice!

Charging locations should be as simple as a gas pump. You should be able to pull up, pull out a debit or credit card and charge. The need for accounts and the circus around chargers is complete nonsense. Pull up, pay, charge... If co-located at a gas station setting you should have the option to pay inside as well. Things don't have to be more complicated, take more time, or add frustration. This membership, account requirement nonsense needs to go away... As much as we rail on gas stations that level of convenience is the goal. If a gas station were to require all of this I would find another place to get fuel. Hopefully one or more of these charger networks gets the memo. EVgo is supposed to be rolling out at Pilot/Flying J locations, but it appears they are delayed into 2024. If you get a chance to check the convenience at a 7Eleven and 7Charge.

@Superman-xr1oh

Жыл бұрын

Kyle did a video last month about Circle K installing their own proprietary DC fast chargers. It looks promising. But I think all this nonsense with public fast chargers is only going to get worse.

@marykraft3903

Жыл бұрын

How is it that EVgo will do plug and charge but Electrify America can’t for my VW ID4? 🧐

@Longsnowsm

Жыл бұрын

@@Superman-xr1oh At this point the more problems demonstrating CCS unreliability or worse incompetence is only pushing more people to Tesla's. Their charging network is several years ahead and the gap appears to be widening at this point. It is really shocking how big of a difference there is. It is sad really. There is an awful lot of infrastructure and IRA money being thrown at this and I don't see a lot happening to reflect it. Tesla was the only one last quarter that showed they are actually putting in chargers at a pretty fast pace. The others were practically nonexistent. Just unbelievable really. If we don't see a huge turn around from these CCS network operators pretty soon there will be very little that can be done to keep it out of the media making it into an even bigger circus than it already is. Thanks to Kyle and Out of Spec for putting some focus and heat on this or I don't think anything would be getting done at all.

@LiteGamer52

Жыл бұрын

If you wanted charging to be as simple as pulling a credit/debit card, then the reader must also be reliable.

@Longsnowsm

Жыл бұрын

@@LiteGamer52 Exactly. These charging network operators have to get their act together. Having card readers and having them actually work is pretty high on that list. If they finally decide to offer services we really want like a gas station you should have the option to pull in to a charger, press a button for "pay inside", go in do some shopping etc and pay for your charging session there also. This does not have to be so complicated. They are making things too complicated for absolutely no reason.

I'm not sure if a person with those sunglasses should give any advise to others...