I have to say that the multiple charges we’ve done on this trip have gone well (the trapped charging cable was a car error, not EA). However, we did have to switch slots a couple of times because of an individual charging tower not working.
However, I still find that it lags behind the Tesla Supercharger network on a couple of scores. First, Tesla Superchargers are now so common that most people can hit the road without any forward planning for charging stops. Second, Tesla Superchargers are usually located in areas with several eating venues close by.
EA will probably rival Tesla in the number of superchargers before long and, although it’s taking a while, they’ll probably address the frequent equipment failures.
However, I’ve been surprised at the number of EA chargers that are at the outlying areas of huge WalMart and Sam’s Club parking lots with no nearby venues for taking a bathroom break or getting a bite to eat. (While you might hike over to the WalMart entrance, non Sam’s Club members are out of luck.) It seems a waste of time to have to do that business before or after charging instead of while charging. And, once a charger is installed in such a location, that’s probably going to remain the case as long as it’s in use.
And, of course, the biggest bugaboo I have about all EV charging stations of any brand is how few of them have any weather protection, Grappling with a stuck cable or a balky login in a pounding rain or sweltering heat is a real bummer. Try trying to stretch a short, thick EA cable to reach your charge port with one hand while holding an umbrella in high wind in the other. It’ll make you pine for a gas pump.