Charging stations
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S580
Charging stations
I had some free time this afternoon and thought I would charge my '22 EQS450+. Although I know the chargers in the area, I was told to put the station in the NAV so that it preconditions the battery when you arrive. Today I pressed the charging icon on the NAV map to list chargers, but first, NO Electrify America chargers showed up, and second, there was no longer the filter on the list to filter for L1, L2, and L3. Is this a change in the system?
My closest station is on West Flamingo Rd in Las Vegas. Since mid spring at least 2 of the chargers don't work, and the other 2 (L3) only charge in the low 30'sKwh. Other customers told me the next station north (I never been to) was even worst. The next station south is about 5 miles further away. I went there (Rainbow/Arroyo Crossing) had one guy (his first time charging) putting out 32Kwh. I went to the next stand and only got 42Kwh. Number 3 was broken, but #4 worked as it should. So 1 out of 4 worked at the proper speed?
About a month ago I was in Mesquite, NV and of the available charger, it only charged about 32Kwh.
The charging systems worked fine until about February this year, but have since been a nightmare. We were told we get included 1/2 hr charging sessions for 2 years, and that to expect to charge from 20-80% in about 31 minutes. If the chargers are reduced to less the 1/4 of the stated power (usually 150Kw), that is NOT possible.
Anyone else having this issue(s)? Is this just Nevada? What are your thoughts?
Thanks!
My closest station is on West Flamingo Rd in Las Vegas. Since mid spring at least 2 of the chargers don't work, and the other 2 (L3) only charge in the low 30'sKwh. Other customers told me the next station north (I never been to) was even worst. The next station south is about 5 miles further away. I went there (Rainbow/Arroyo Crossing) had one guy (his first time charging) putting out 32Kwh. I went to the next stand and only got 42Kwh. Number 3 was broken, but #4 worked as it should. So 1 out of 4 worked at the proper speed?
About a month ago I was in Mesquite, NV and of the available charger, it only charged about 32Kwh.
The charging systems worked fine until about February this year, but have since been a nightmare. We were told we get included 1/2 hr charging sessions for 2 years, and that to expect to charge from 20-80% in about 31 minutes. If the chargers are reduced to less the 1/4 of the stated power (usually 150Kw), that is NOT possible.
Anyone else having this issue(s)? Is this just Nevada? What are your thoughts?
Thanks!
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Electrify America chargers can be hit and miss. I recently went on a road trip from California through Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and back to California. Most EA chargers were OK, except for West Wendover, NV (in the middle of nowhere, on the Utah-Nevada state line), where there was only one EA charger working, and I had to wait 1/2 hour for it to free up.
I've found that 350 kW chargers are more likely than 150kW chargers to run at an unusually slow charging speed. Because of this (plus the fact that the EQS can't charge at much more than about 200 kW anyway), I usually choose 150kW chargers over 350 kW chargers, even if a 350 kW charger is available.
And FYI, Electrify America has dropped the 1/2 hour limit until October 31st. So, until then, you can charge as long as you like (at EA chargers) without having to pay anything.
And another FYI: For charging speed, it's kW (kilowatts), not kWh (kilowatt hours). (The latter is a measure of battery capacity - e.g., 108 kWh for the EQS.)
I've found that 350 kW chargers are more likely than 150kW chargers to run at an unusually slow charging speed. Because of this (plus the fact that the EQS can't charge at much more than about 200 kW anyway), I usually choose 150kW chargers over 350 kW chargers, even if a 350 kW charger is available.
And FYI, Electrify America has dropped the 1/2 hour limit until October 31st. So, until then, you can charge as long as you like (at EA chargers) without having to pay anything.
And another FYI: For charging speed, it's kW (kilowatts), not kWh (kilowatt hours). (The latter is a measure of battery capacity - e.g., 108 kWh for the EQS.)
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And FYI, last time I was in Las Vegas, I found that the EA chargers at 3500 S Las Vegas Blvd (just north of the Caesars Forum Shops) worked OK. (I found it convenient, because I was able to spend time wandering around the Forum Shops while my car charged.)
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S580
Electrify America chargers can be hit and miss.Most EA chargers were OK, except for West Wendover, NV (in the middle of nowhere, on the Utah-Nevada state line), where there was only one EA charger working, and I had to wait 1/2 hour for it to free up.
And FYI, Electrify America has dropped the 1/2 hour limit until October 31st. So, until then, you can charge as long as you like (at EA chargers) without having to pay anything.
And another FYI: For charging speed, it's kW (kilowatts), not kWh (kilowatt hours). (The latter is a measure of battery capacity - e.g., 108 kWh for the EQS.)
And FYI, Electrify America has dropped the 1/2 hour limit until October 31st. So, until then, you can charge as long as you like (at EA chargers) without having to pay anything.
And another FYI: For charging speed, it's kW (kilowatts), not kWh (kilowatt hours). (The latter is a measure of battery capacity - e.g., 108 kWh for the EQS.)
Yea, I was pretty sure I posted the unit measurement wrong, but you know what I meant. I don't drive as mush as I used to and typically charge about 2 times a month. The issues in Nevada have been unacceptable since close to the beginning of the year. I been meaning to complain here (rant) each time and finally I did.
It sounds like you are having the typical experience like I had for the first (about) 6 months which was just as expected (mostly good). Now there are more cars, slower chargers, and more chargers out of service. Maybe it's a Nevada thing?
My first stop today had 2 of 4 charger lanes open. The 2 open ones did not work. The 3rd charger customer was leaving and told me to follow to his lane. A lady parked nearby stopped me and said she was waiting over and hour and she was next. Neither me or the guy leaving considered someone waiting because of the 2 empty spots. While we are charging, I often see other drivers wasting 5-10 minutes trying to get the down chargers to work even if you warn them.
Anyone else not seeing the L1 L2 L3 filter no longer there when listing chargers in the vicinity?
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S580
Thanks, but if you live here, you try to avoid the strip. For the last several months at least some spots are down to one lane as they are paving the streets for the upcoming Formula One race.
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From: Atlanta, Georgia
EQS 450
I had some free time this afternoon and thought I would charge my '22 EQS450+. Although I know the chargers in the area, I was told to put the station in the NAV so that it preconditions the battery when you arrive. Today I pressed the charging icon on the NAV map to list chargers, but first, NO Electrify America chargers showed up, and second, there was no longer the filter on the list to filter for L1, L2, and L3. Is this a change in the system?
My closest station is on West Flamingo ……………
Thanks!
My closest station is on West Flamingo ……………
Thanks!
Last edited by DaleW; Aug 4, 2023 at 08:01 AM.
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FYI, this EA location - although listed in Google Maps as being at "3500 Las Vegas Blvd S" - is not actually on the strip. It's on a lane off of Frank Sinatra Drive, next to I-15. It's the service lane for the Caesars Forum Shops, but you don't get to it via the strip.
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S580
My filter option has also disappeared. When I search for stations, I see every level two which means scrolling through dozens of ChargePoint’s searching for the Electrify America. I use the ME called button and spoke to someone who was no help just kept giving me various ways it get to the same screen. she insisted there was a button there for me to select the 150 or greater stations. Does anyone else have this problem, How did you solve it? I just got a recall notice so I’ll probably be taking it to the dealer soon.
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S580
Well I got to the bottom of this. I called EQS support and the agent assured me that it's not just Nevada, but EA has problems all over.
She also posed the question, why don't I charge at home. When I said I was sold the car with 2 years of complimentary charging, she then said, if it were her, she would have made sure there were nearby chargers before she bought the car. There are. Since after the start of the year many are now out of service or charging 4-5 times slower then the 150Kw posted on the charger. That was insulting.
This is EA's problem, but Mercedes should ramp up the pressure to fix these and extend the 2 years of included charging.
She also posed the question, why don't I charge at home. When I said I was sold the car with 2 years of complimentary charging, she then said, if it were her, she would have made sure there were nearby chargers before she bought the car. There are. Since after the start of the year many are now out of service or charging 4-5 times slower then the 150Kw posted on the charger. That was insulting.
This is EA's problem, but Mercedes should ramp up the pressure to fix these and extend the 2 years of included charging.
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While i don't disagree with you, I can say that it is extremely convenient and inexpensive to charge at home, after the initial cost of installing the circuit and charger. It's probably better for the battery in the long run, all regional range anxiety is removed immediately, and the joy of the car is what is left. I can't imagine owning an EV without it. I just plug in when I get home, whenever I feel the need to, and unplup in the morning. The car shuts itself off when charged and sends you a message that it is ready. It's fantastic. YMMV.
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True, but our EQS's are not golf carts that are used close to it's charger, these cars can do very well on long road trips with the existing charging stations, but not if they are not working properly or at all.
I actually have solar panels that produce about 1/4 to 1/3rd more energy then I use. My point is there were working charging stations when we bought our cars and now they are in disrepair and not only cause long range anxiety, but in some cases make it impossible.
I actually have solar panels that produce about 1/4 to 1/3rd more energy then I use. My point is there were working charging stations when we bought our cars and now they are in disrepair and not only cause long range anxiety, but in some cases make it impossible.
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True, but our EQS's are not golf carts that are used close to it's charger, these cars can do very well on long road trips with the existing charging stations, but not if they are not working properly or at all.
I actually have solar panels that produce about 1/4 to 1/3rd more energy then I use. My point is there were working charging stations when we bought our cars and now they are in disrepair and not only cause long range anxiety, but in some cases make it impossible.
I actually have solar panels that produce about 1/4 to 1/3rd more energy then I use. My point is there were working charging stations when we bought our cars and now they are in disrepair and not only cause long range anxiety, but in some cases make it impossible.
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While i don't disagree with you, I can say that it is extremely convenient and inexpensive to charge at home, after the initial cost of installing the circuit and charger. It's probably better for the battery in the long run, all regional range anxiety is removed immediately, and the joy of the car is what is left. I can't imagine owning an EV without it. I just plug in when I get home, whenever I feel the need to, and unplup in the morning. The car shuts itself off when charged and sends you a message that it is ready. It's fantastic. YMMV.
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In Texas, at least, EA is working on it. There are 8 new chargers here in San Antonio, at one of the Walmarts, and four new ones in Waco, just off Interstate 35, also at the Walmart. Each works perfectly in my experience. This can all be solved so easily, if Tesla's illustrious owner would do as he promised when taxpayer dollars were made available for all his new chargers (40 of them in Temple), and share them with us. In my opinion, that is the solution.
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A great solution to be provided by the idiots mandating a failure of technology would be credits to your home electricity bills. Since the car is fully trackable by the government and business that supplied it, credits would be easy to fullfill with local utilities. BUT, they lied to you knowing you could not use their busted up sysytem. (Really, with digital reporting there is no excuse for a broken charger other than to create false promise to a traveler to see it) The charger system will likely not work for another 50-100 years and by then, the technology will be seen as the failure it is. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but this tech is part of the wrangling in of individual transportation options and is not a solution to any environmental or travel issues, now or in the future. Saying this as someone trained decades ago (so not by some tiktoker) in environmental economics and resource management.
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I like Elon's politics, or his refusal to play politics really. His 420 antics tick off the war-on-you-and-drugs right as much as releasing The Twitter Files proving election interference ticked off the left. But his so-called "genius" is really just plain ole vertical integration. Tesla can fix chargers faster because they make the chargers. EA uses three different kinds of chargers made by three different corporations.
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A great solution to be provided by the idiots mandating a failure of technology would be credits to your home electricity bills. Since the car is fully trackable by the government and business that supplied it, credits would be easy to fullfill with local utilities. BUT, they lied to you knowing you could not use their busted up sysytem. (Really, with digital reporting there is no excuse for a broken charger other than to create false promise to a traveler to see it) The charger system will likely not work for another 50-100 years and by then, the technology will be seen as the failure it is. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but this tech is part of the wrangling in of individual transportation options and is not a solution to any environmental or travel issues, now or in the future. Saying this as someone trained decades ago (so not by some tiktoker) in environmental economics and resource management.
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A great solution to be provided by the idiots mandating a failure of technology would be credits to your home electricity bills. Since the car is fully trackable by the government and business that supplied it, credits would be easy to fullfill with local utilities. BUT, they lied to you knowing you could not use their busted up sysytem. (Really, with digital reporting there is no excuse for a broken charger other than to create false promise to a traveler to see it) The charger system will likely not work for another 50-100 years and by then, the technology will be seen as the failure it is. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but this tech is part of the wrangling in of individual transportation options and is not a solution to any environmental or travel issues, now or in the future. Saying this as someone trained decades ago (so not by some tiktoker) in environmental economics and resource management.
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Tried to use the EA charger at the newly installed ( 2 months) Hudsonville MI location a week ago. 3 of 6 chargers were inoperable. The charger I used wouldn't charge over 100 which is too slow since my battery was less than 20%. This shouldn't happen in a new site. Never had this problem with my Tesla's.
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I agree. Transportation is a necessity for personal use and commerce. We are easing in a different technology. It consists of cars, batteries, energy, energy distribution, road maintenance, and other stuff. The costs have to be spread fairly, governments get involved, and corporations want to make money. So far it's been a pretty good start. Nice cars, many happy owners, using an existing road infrastructure, etc... Some people are priced out, but that's the nature of things.
Sometimes we get a few bumps in the system like my post about charging stations not working or working properly, but the electric vehicles are here and working. I don't know if they will completely replace the ICE or if a new tech will emerge?
I think of it like when we had records and CDs. At some point the were just CDs and no records, it just sneaked up on us. As it turns out, records are making a comeback. I don't know what the market will be in the future, but I like the direction electric cars are going for now.
Sometimes we get a few bumps in the system like my post about charging stations not working or working properly, but the electric vehicles are here and working. I don't know if they will completely replace the ICE or if a new tech will emerge?
I think of it like when we had records and CDs. At some point the were just CDs and no records, it just sneaked up on us. As it turns out, records are making a comeback. I don't know what the market will be in the future, but I like the direction electric cars are going for now.
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Tried to use the EA charger at the newly installed ( 2 months) Hudsonville MI location a week ago. 3 of 6 chargers were inoperable. The charger I used wouldn't charge over 100 which is too slow since my battery was less than 20%. This shouldn't happen in a new site. Never had this problem with my Tesla's.
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I saw this low output from the Elec America site in Eastland, Tx last week. The first two units I tried had low output. The third one put out around 143 kwh. Just now remembered being in Sweetwater, Texas a week or two ago. I connected to a unit that had just a 33-43 kwh output. I stayed connected to it till I had 40 percent charge on the car because with 40 percent I could at least get back to Eastland to charge up at the Elect America there. I was not willing to try another charger in Sweetwater till I had enough to get back to Eastland, Once I got to 40 percent I connected to one of the other chargers which put out around 117 kwh.
In other words Elect America can be a bit tricky, like the time I arrived in Sweetwater with a bit under 20 percent and none of the five chargers were working. Nearest charger was by distance more than 20 percent away. Calling the phone number on the units in Sweetwater got one of the chargers rebooted and all was well after that. NOTE; I loathe people who find their car won't charge and just throw the cable on the ground instead of putting it back where it belongs. Beyond rude.
In other words Elect America can be a bit tricky, like the time I arrived in Sweetwater with a bit under 20 percent and none of the five chargers were working. Nearest charger was by distance more than 20 percent away. Calling the phone number on the units in Sweetwater got one of the chargers rebooted and all was well after that. NOTE; I loathe people who find their car won't charge and just throw the cable on the ground instead of putting it back where it belongs. Beyond rude.
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Tried to use the EA charger at the newly installed ( 2 months) Hudsonville MI location a week ago. 3 of 6 chargers were inoperable. The charger I used wouldn't charge over 100 which is too slow since my battery was less than 20%. This shouldn't happen in a new site. Never had this problem with my Tesla's.
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I saw this low output from the Elec America site in Eastland, Tx last week. The first two units I tried had low output. The third one put out around 143 kwh. Just now remembered being in Sweetwater, Texas a week or two ago. I connected to a unit that had just a 33-43 kwh output. I stayed connected to it till I had 40 percent charge on the car because with 40 percent I could at least get back to Eastland to charge up at the Elect America there. I was not willing to try another charger in Sweetwater till I had enough to get back to Eastland, Once I got to 40 percent I connected to one of the other chargers which put out around 117 kwh.
In other words Elect America can be a bit tricky, like the time I arrived in Sweetwater with a bit under 20 percent and none of the five chargers were working. Nearest charger was by distance more than 20 percent away. Calling the phone number on the units in Sweetwater got one of the chargers rebooted and all was well after that. NOTE; I loathe people who find their car won't charge and just throw the cable on the ground instead of putting it back where it belongs. Beyond rude.
In other words Elect America can be a bit tricky, like the time I arrived in Sweetwater with a bit under 20 percent and none of the five chargers were working. Nearest charger was by distance more than 20 percent away. Calling the phone number on the units in Sweetwater got one of the chargers rebooted and all was well after that. NOTE; I loathe people who find their car won't charge and just throw the cable on the ground instead of putting it back where it belongs. Beyond rude.
