Electrify America (EA) is the organization charged with installing fast chargers along all US Interstate Highways for non-Tesla battery electric vehicles (BEVs). In the Four Corners, we care about them because they will help connect us to the rest of the country. For example, in 2018 I could not drive my Chevy Bolt from Durango, CO to Flagstaff, AZ without making a two day trip of it to allow for overnight charging time. Since May 2019, when an EA charger was installed at Gallup, NM, I can now make the trip in a day with a fast charge in Gallup before continuing west on I-40. As more people begin to feel comfortable in their BEVs, more of us are pushing the limits of our range anxiety. The last thing we need to hear is one of the few fast-chargers available to us might not be working when we arrive at it.
EA’s roll-out has not been smooth. Trouble with credit card readers not working, brand-new chargers not working, and apparently the charge plugs getting locked on to Audi e-tron ports. The website insideevs.com contacted EA about the problems. Instead of providing a “public relations whitewash”, EA invited insideevs.com to their headquarters to talk about the problems, their roots and the work towards solutions. Read the whole story here: Electrify America Talks Charging Network Problems, Has Solutions
My very first stop with my very first EV (January 2020) was an Electrify America fast charger. After several attempts at charging my car I called the number on the charger and got support from within the US. Turned out there was card reader problem. The friendly lady on the phone waited while I moved to another charger and it worked flawlessly. Of four EA chargers on my road trip I had card reader problems with two. I was very happy with their support staff, though!
Hi Aaron,
It’s good to hear they were responsive and able to keep you moving on your trip. So far, I’ve only heard one story where a person had to patch together enough charge to get them to the next fast charger and it set them back a couple hours.
However, I haven’t heard alot of Electrify America stories yet, so thanks for sharing yours!