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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 
Out of curiosity how much was the cost for the charge?

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

Thank You
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.
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
 
It should be possible to tap the charger like doing an Apple Pay payment. But, my experience is it's very unreliable. Swiping on the app worked every time as you outline.
I use an apple phone and my account is preregistered with a credit card and the bmw complementary account. I set the bmw account as my preferred.

there is no tapping or swiping my card or phone. I just open the app, scroll down to the unit I am plugged into and click start

as noted above, it is a good idea to stop just outside the charging area and check which units are available before parking at one.
 
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