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I'm gonna ask a stupid, and probably redundant question about Electrify America

7K views 53 replies 20 participants last post by  toddggg 
#1 ·
So I used an EA station for the first time today, and it went about as poorly as I expected. Not clear at all how to do it, ended up paying for the session with my digital wallet, and had to call in and get a refund for the charge. It's all very confusing, and I'm still not sure exactly what I'm supposed to do. Apparently you are supposed to 1) plug in, 2) open the app and select the charger number at the location you are at, 3) pick the payment method (the free 30 minute plan, which is where I screwed up). I don't recall being asked to select the payment type in the app, and the screen at the charger told me to hold my phone up to the credit card/NFC processor. Whatever...next time I'll go more slowly and make sure I select the free session.

But my main question is about the charger itself. There are two CCS plugs on one charger, but only one can be used. The reason I keep seeing for this is because different cars have different port locations on the vehicle, and the two charging plugs are there because then at least one will reach the port. But then I'm looking at the charger, and it's basically set up like a gas pump. There are two equal length cords about 2 feet apart on the same side of the charger station. So how does a 2 foot separation between the plugs actually make a difference depending on where your port is? I don't understand this. I know some are CCS/Chademo or whatever it is, but if it's 2 CCS plugs, it makes no sense for the reason to be that one might reach when another would not. It's 2 feet.
 
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Discussion starter · #45 ·
Out of curiosity how much was the cost for the charge?

Also how much of an increase in battery did you receive?

Thank You
$12 and it went from 48-80% in 25 minutes. Didn't get the full 30 because I have it set to charge to 80% and stop. I got refunded so no harm no foul, and the next time I went, I figured out how to use it properly
 
Discussion starter · #46 ·
I will try to help by adding a few obvious (stupid) questions:

Have you set up a free account, using the code provided by your bmw dealer?

Have you set that free account as the default payment method?

For my first charging session I also thought I was being charged and filed a complaint via the app. I later discovered that I had already been given the credit automatically.

I'd bet that EA is accustomed to first time customers complaining about being charged.

I don't know whether the unit can potentially charge two vehicles, but sometimes one cable can be out of order.

So another thread about EA plug issue
Yeah, it was user error. I was rushing for no reason, and ended up starting before I fully read what to do, and ended up paying with my credit card. I got refunded, and the next time I went, I got it to work properly.
 
Discussion starter · #47 ·
That is correct. One charger for One car - the 2 hoses are to easier reach to different charge port locations.

I have come across EA chargers where one side works while the other is broken so you may have to repark to reach.

The new EA chargers remove this confusion by including only a single longer charge cable.
Your first point is what I keep seeing, and I'm sorry, that just doesn't make sense. The cords are on opposite sides of a 2-foot wide tower with equal length cords. No matter where a charging port is, 2 feet is 2 feet. One will not be THAT much longer to reach a port on the left rear vs one on the right front. I must be missing something lol! Another point about one person plugged in and in use while another is waiting makes a bit more sense, if there are 2 cars straddling one charger station, but even then, if only one cord can be used at a time, all you are doing is saving 10 seconds by having the second cord plugged in and ready to go once the first one is done being used.

If they are now only using 1 long cord that could reach any side of any car, that makes more sense.
 
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