Electrify America is enraging EV owners

[gregshap]

Today at the EA in Rocklin CA people were FURIOUS. out of about 10 stations 2 or 3 were working. A woman pulled up on a beautiful Mercedes, tried a few and screamed "I hate my car.". I tried to explain it wasn't her car it was EA. Another lucid was there, owner on the phone trying to sell his car back to lucid because so impossible to charge, and yes Bob, like me 3 years of free juice means "I will not pay for it! This is just unacceptable." VW owns E A and it feels like they are single handedly trying to keep ICS cars in sales. Most of the expensive EVs come with some EA fast charging (no other chargers match the speed, promised anyway). EV owners are enraged, flipping off EA chargers. LUCID YOU HAVE A PR PROBLEM WITH YOU PARTNERSHIP WITH ELECTRIFY AMERIKA! at least I have solar but not so ok for people paying PGE through the nose. Wake up lucid (and Mercedes et al). Electrify America is 90% unreliable and there is not an alternate fuel service on every corner. In California charging is very difficult to almost impossible. Not good at all for the industry.. Crippling infact

I don't know what everyone is talking about, Here is a link to a video of the new CEO of Electrocute America driving coast to coast without any problems at their Charging Stations......:

We must be doing something wrong !

 

[Tesla2.0]

I don't know what everyone is talking about, Here is a link to a video of the new CEO of Electrocute America driving coast to coast without any problems at their Charging Stations......:

We must be doing something wrong !

2700 miles, 30 DCFC stations on Ioniq5, he made it!

He beats my 1800 miles 11 stations from LA to Houston smooth record on R1S.

EA rocks! Or this CEO and me are the luckiest guys in road tripping!

Now if we can get Peter Rawlinson do the same video with lesser number of stations from Newark, CA on a Lucid Air. That would boost Lucid popularity.

 

[hmp10]

Well, that settles it. Nothing to see here folks. Other than an occasional minor glitch, road tripping with Electrify America is a cake walk.

Somehow, while watching this video an old Bertolt Brecht anecdote sprang to mind. After a big protest in East Germany, the government announced it had lost confidence in the people and that the people needed to redouble their efforts to regain the government's confidence. His queried whether it wouldn't be simpler simply to dissolve the people and elect a new one.

So, yeah. Electrify America's problem is that it needs more grateful customers.

 

[EVCar]

Well, that settles it. Nothing to see here folks. Other than an occasional minor glitch, road tripping with Electrify America is a cake walk.

Somehow, while watching this video an old Bertolt Brecht anecdote sprang to mind. After a big protest in East Germany, the government announced it had lost confidence in the people and that the people needed to redouble their efforts to regain the government's confidence. His queried whether it wouldn't be simpler simply to dissolve the people and elect a new one.

So, yeah. Electrify America's problem is that it needs more grateful customers.

Thanks for the interesting history lesson.
Completely agree.
Complainers should realize that solutions abound.
Car out of juice? Call a tow truck.
Slow charge? Next time, plan better and bring lunch.
And for those who don't have a charger at home and have to rely solely on EA, move to a different residence.
Since no dime goes directly from our wallet to EA, it's actually generous of EA to allow us to try out the chargers.

 

[GMan]

I strongly disagree. I do not find your generalization or conclusion to be accurate. I have read hundreds and hundreds of posts here, and 99% talk about the DAILY joy of driving their Lucid every single day, to the store, out to dinner or just for an hour on a winding two lane road. Only a small handful talk about epic road trips.

Every driving statistic, from USDOTs, state dots and insurance companies show 95% of all trips are 40 miles or less. And 99% are 100 or less. I see no evidence in the statistics or none in this forum that "most folks bought this cruiser" for long road trips.

Maybe when I am older and retired, with unlimited time on my hands, I might think about long road trips. But as much as I love my Lucid, I ain’t sitting in no car for 8-10 hours in a day. But I applaud those that want to drive their Lucid cross country to see their grandkids. I wish them fun and godspeed.To each their own.

I bought my Lucid to drive: Every day I can. But the wife and I are flying on the next 500 mile trip we have. Just my opinion, of course.

Range Anxiety is an undeniable EV purchasing factor for a large segment of buyers, and is absolutely a factor in buying decisions. Range is a key differentiator for Lucid and it's something Lucid promotes as a differentiator, so you may have your opinion but Lucid and others, including myself do factor range into buying decisions. It's not the only decision but in my case it was in the top 3.

In my case, I didn't buy a Tesla because one of my other key buying factors was luxury. I'm not going to get into a Tesla versus Lucid comparison but let's just say Tesla ruled itself out for me as it did not meet a minimum threshold in that criteria. So, despite having the Supercharger network, Tesla was a non-starter.

The ability to have a fast charging experience on-par with the experience of owning and driving this amazing vehicle would match, and reinforce, the (superior) Lucid brand from an overall customer experience. The folks over at Mercedes understand this, which is why they are seeking to pivot on fast charging networks, to align with their luxury brand.

 

[Tim-in-CA]

I don't know what everyone is talking about, Here is a link to a video of the new CEO of Electrocute America driving coast to coast without any problems at their Charging Stations......:

We must be doing something wrong !

Helps to have a lead pit crew making sure your trip goes smoothly.

 

[gregshap]

Helps to have a lead pit crew making sure your trip goes smoothly.

Hopefully, everyone detected my sarcasm in my post..

 

[RichMalden]

I just drove about 600 miles yesterday from Boston to near Pittsburgh.

The 3 EA locations that I use regularly at home are constantly limited by station and I'm lucky hitting 70-80 kWh. Almost to the point I wondered if my car had a problem.

I stopped at 3 EAs along the way, Newburgh, NY, Bloomsburg, PA, and Clarion, PA.

At Bloomsburg I waited 3 minutes for a station, the other 2 I pulled right in. I was getting 175-210 at each one to start. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven pulling in 17 miles/minute at times.

If that was what EV road trips could always be the whole country would be converts.

One stop we had planned to sit down to eat and we ended up getting takeout because the charging was going to be done so fast.

 

[Bunnylebowski]

I don't know what everyone is talking about, Here is a link to a video of the new CEO of Electrocute America driving coast to coast without any problems at their Charging Stations......:

We must be doing something wrong !

A better move as a leader would be to actually know what the problem locations were and go to the sites himself to try and facilitate solving the problem if others couldn’t. This is a nice PR video showing you can cross country on EA, but that’s not what people are complaining about. They’re complaining about 350kw chargers being nerfed to 50kw or slower for MONTHS and certain sites having very poor station uptime. You don’t need to drive cross country to discover that is a serious problem and that EA has been struggling to fix most of these issues. Just driving around a normal range EV (Polestar 2) in LA and then to Palm Springs I was unable to charge on 4 EA sites unless I waited on a line for the only functioning station of 4 total. These were sites that were broken for months. After giving up on EA and going to EVGo my life got much easier. While I hope EA gets better I don’t see any cause for optimism or confidence in their ability to improve, if a single software update takes months, the update breaks the stations and it takes them months to service these stations. While they may send service out to fix the stations, the fixes usually either don’t work or don’t last. My local EA has been like that for over a year and I’ve seen service there several times. The only good charger out of 4 is a single 150kw unit.

 

[Tesla2.0]

Hopefully, everyone detected my sarcasm in my post..

I did and I tried to show positive side like he did. To be fair, new CEO did list out 2-3 problems needs to be addressed in video. It’s a great PR move at same time it shows EA is not ignoring as people think they do. On my 11 EA stations trip, one station at Arizona/Mexico border had EA technician driven R1T to come maintain them, I was shocked that station had 12 dispensers. I guess YMMV. But for I-10 corridor, they have been solid for me and I strongly believe California to Florida shouldn’t be a problem. It’s the EA not close to freeway you have to be concerned about.

 

[Tesla2.0]

Hope EA bring the stick back, especially to busier stations.

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

Range Anxiety is an undeniable EV purchasing factor for a large segment of buyers, and is absolutely a factor in buying decisions. Range is a key differentiator for Lucid and it's something Lucid promotes as a differentiator, so you may have your opinion but Lucid and others, including myself do factor range into buying decisions. It's not the only decision but in my case it was in the top 3.

In my case, I didn't buy a Tesla because one of my other key buying factors was luxury. I'm not going to get into a Tesla versus Lucid comparison but let's just say Tesla ruled itself out for me as it did not meet a minimum threshold in that criteria. So, despite having the Supercharger network, Tesla was a non-starter.

The ability to have a fast charging experience on-par with the experience of owning and driving this amazing vehicle would match, and reinforce, the (superior) Lucid brand from an overall customer experience. The folks over at Mercedes understand this, which is why they are seeking to pivot on fast charging networks, to align with their luxury brand.

Hold tight @GMan . I agree with you!! I think you may have jumped to a conclusion I did not make. We are not really in disagreement. I apologize if I was not clear. I understand and do not deny range anxiety. In fact, the Lucid range was a key part of my decision to buy. I love the range. It's a huge selling point. We have a home in the mtns, and the RT range is perfect. And I agree that easy convenient fast charging would add immensely to the Lucid. I look forward to it. I "believe" it will come. But the lack of it now does not lessen my Lucid.

My comments were directed at those that blamed Lucid for shitty EA experiences and/or relegated the Lucid to a long distance cross country highway crusier - and because of EA issues on trips, the Lucid was a lesser car.

Back to range anxiety. It's fascinating subject. My friends in California on their third or fourth BEV all warned me about. And correctly said it will disapate with my time with the car. But I tend to agree with the plethora of scholarly articles on it that the intense worry can be overblown. It's humane nature. FOMO. I remember people standing in lines for hours topping up their cars with a gallon of gas during the first oil crisis when their tanks were already 80% full. And I have friends now with BEVs that religiousl charge every night even when their SOC is 75%. I think hope and believe that the more and better charging will alieve this. As well as quality home charging.

I know you may disagree, but I wonder if the anger over fast charging has a bitbgotten overblown. Does everyone really need it or just think they do. I have friends with EVs that have never used a fast charger in years, and travel around Colorado and love their BEV. I have friends that travel LD and use fast charging daily. Is it all a matter of perception? Musk was brilliant early on knowing that lack of public fast charging was a hinderance to Tesla sales. He fixed that and sold lots of cars. My point in talking about trip length in the US was just trying to add perspective.

 

[gregshap]

I did and I tried to show positive side like he did. To be fair, new CEO did list out 2-3 problems needs to be addressed in video. It’s a great PR move at same time it shows EA is not ignoring as people think they do. On my 11 EA stations trip, one station at Arizona/Mexico border had EA technician driven R1T to come maintain them, I was shocked that station had 12 dispensers. I guess YMMV. But for I-10 corridor, they have been solid for me and I strongly believe California to Florida shouldn’t be a problem. It’s the EA not close to freeway you have to be concerned about.

I travel from Austin to New Mexico and back quit often. Along the I-10 route I can charge but never near the speed needed/posted. Usually around 70 - 110 kw, This adds 2 hours to my trip vs ICE.
I also question the placement locations. Junction Texas, A motel away from anything, No restroom, food or any shade while waiting. Ozona, At a hotel but at least they allow you to use the restroom.
Fort Stockton, At a Walmart but the chargers don't put out like they should or are inop. Van Horn, no where close to eat, at a motel, usually only 1 or 2 working. El Paso, always a wait to charge and charging slowly when available. Las Cruces, No Chargers. Yes, I bought the car for cross country trips only. Several on the forum have stated that people buy these for daily driver.

 

[gregshap]

I travel from Austin to New Mexico and back quit often. Along the I-10 route I can charge but never near the speed needed/posted. Usually around 70 - 110 kw, This adds 2 hours to my trip vs ICE.
I also question the placement locations. Junction Texas, A motel away from anything, No restroom, food or any shade while waiting. Ozona, At a hotel but at least they allow you to use the restroom.
Fort Stockton, At a Walmart but the chargers don't put out like they should or are inop. Van Horn, no where close to eat, at a motel, usually only 1 or 2 working. El Paso, always a wait to charge and charging slowly when available. Las Cruces, No Chargers. Yes, I bought the car for cross country trips only. Several on the forum have stated that people buy these for daily driver.

I just had a brilliant thought, Those motels in the middle of no-where should rent rooms by the hour while you charge and refresh !

 

[Spin Doctor]

Many of them already do … I’ve heard …

 

[Tesla2.0]

I travel from Austin to New Mexico and back quit often. Along the I-10 route I can charge but never near the speed needed/posted. Usually around 70 - 110 kw, This adds 2 hours to my trip vs ICE.
I also question the placement locations. Junction Texas, A motel away from anything, No restroom, food or any shade while waiting. Ozona, At a hotel but at least they allow you to use the restroom.
Fort Stockton, At a Walmart but the chargers don't put out like they should or are inop. Van Horn, no where close to eat, at a motel, usually only 1 or 2 working. El Paso, always a wait to charge and charging slowly when available. Las Cruces, No Chargers. Yes, I bought the car for cross country trips only. Several on the forum have stated that people buy these for daily driver.

Yes, I’ve been all those stations you mentioned during that trip and can relate. My average was about around 80~120kW, I could patiently wait around 30 minutes each stop. I hardly let car go beyond 80 or below 20 SOC for practicality. Ozona has nice Hampton Inn, but Junction is sketchy. I only had longer wait in Van Horn at Days Inn. In the middle of dessert, 1 stall down, 2 stalls were used by Chevy Bolt on 45kW speed. I get to listen to Bolt owner’s story going from Vancouver to Chicago to Miami and on the way to Los Angeles and how much he loves his Bolt.

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

Many of them already do … I’ve heard …

With a "massage". Is the happy ending a " full charge".

In have to admit, I am very very spoiled by my EA charging as I have mostly been to one place. Edwards Co, just off I70 before Vail. It has four pedestals that work. Right next to a new Wendy's, a small grocery store, clean bathrooms, and a one acre manacured grass lawn, to walk the dog and new robust outdoor furniture with umbrellas. Also right next to a big Supercharger port. And everyone has a Frosty and talks EVs. I have met so many nice people from around the country. Who cares if pull 90 kw.

To see how the other 95% to do it, I went to an EA in a Walmart. Even the dog was bored.

 

[Worldwide Beagle]

A better move as a leader would be to actually know what the problem locations ...

3:44 am. @Bunnylebowski? . My wife is starting to hide my ipad.

 

[joec]

With a "massage". Is the happy ending a " full charge".

In have to admit, I am very very spoiled by my EA charging as I have mostly been to one place. Edwards Co, just off I70 before Vail. It has four pedestals that work. Right next to a new Wendy's, a small grocery store, clean bathrooms, and a one acre manacured grass lawn, to walk the dog and new robust outdoor furniture with umbrellas. Also right next to a big Supercharger port. And everyone has a Frosty and talks EVs. I have met so many nice people from around the country. Who cares if pull 90 kw.

To see how the other 95% to do it, I went to an EA in a Walmart. Even the dog was bored.

Been there. Good charger station. Reinforces my idea that there is so much money to be made in so many things beyond the actual charge.

Buc-ees, WaWa, Loves, Cracker Barrel, etc. Sooner or later, they will get into the charging game and make a fortune.

 

[borski]

We are LUCID early adopters....not EV early adopters.

I was at an EA station in Newburgh, NY this past weekend. Along with a MB, BMW, Hyundai, Chevy and two others I cannot remember. ALL of them had the same issues I have. It's not a Lucid issue....it's a charging infrastructure and company issue.

Hate to break it to you, but we’re definitely all EV early adopters. It is by no means the majority powertrain in vehicles yet, which definitionally makes us all early adopters.

Earlier yet for the Lucid, of course.