Public Charging an EV Can Really Suck - Here’s Why!

[@bikergeekgd]

Non-Tesla EV terminals should be built to resemble gas pumps with a credit card slot and no app required. But everyone in the EV charging world wants user data.

[@philhyde983]

EA stations have a card swipe. I think that should be standard.

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

@@philhyde983 No, Every charger should just work without any terminals. I paid my car and my dealer or manufacturer has my credit card info. CCS knows my VIN, there must be a central FINON that handles all purchases for my car. No matter what. I don‘t need no bloody terminal. I hav a car and a fixed ID. And please don‘t tell me EA or EVGo can not do this. GM advertises it for their cars. Only - of course - you must PAY EXTRA FOR IT. Robbers! Torys! Bandits!

[@philhyde983]

@@wolfgangpreier9160 LOLOLOL

[@SunnyWu]

Some kind of rewards account where you input your phone number and then you use your CC would work, just like at the supermarket. It doesn't add too much complication. However I can see potential for abuse from "subscription based discounts" like from Electrify America with family and friends sharing 1 subscription. But yeah there needs to be a law saying there has to be a CC terminal and reward programs are optional.

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

@@SunnyWu You want to tell me that you would like to condemn Tesla to install a useless terminal at every Supercharger stall? And of course you want us to pay for it? I don't think so.

[@Bobrogers99]

I don't understand why they want to complicate payment when almost every gas station in the country lets you just insert your card and pump your gas.

[@johnbertram]

This was painful to watch. When can we see the director's cut with the profanities? You deserve a medal for keeping your temper!

[@zoefaith120]

Wow, I got frustrated just watching too...

[@greengrass89]

O. M. G. Are you kidding me? At this point I can’t figure out if Roman is actually stupid or he’s actually against EVs. Because he insists on being intentionally dense when it comes to EV fast charging and seems to be more interested in spreading FUD.

[@120DEA]

@@greengrass89 what was "intentionally dense" or stupid about Roman when a STUPID app was obviously not working?? Are you kidding, dude?? Did you even watch the video?? These STUPID chargers need a simple credit card reader just as everything else (fuel pumps, vending machines, car washes, etc.) and the whole pain in the ass would have been avoided.

[@120DEA]

haha I'm wanting to see the director's cut, too!

[@spartanchirho]

Well said 👏

[@justinp85]

Same exact thing I experienced at Electrify America and the e-tron I had for a year. Got rid of it and went back to a gas car. It’s worse when you are traveling with friends and it’s 90+ degrees outside. I rarely see a charging station with shade. I don’t want to play the odds on whether the one charger is going to work during a road trip. The infrastructure is soo far behind and the current players have no clue what they are doing.

[@johns4651]

charge at home. 99% of trips do not need public charging. Or do you drive 300+ miles every day?

[@justinp85]

@@johns4651 80% of stats are made up.

[@michaelsurette647]

Recently bought an ev and you are bang on. It is a nerve racking experience every time I pull up to any charger. Half the time they are out of service.The multitude of charging apps I have signed up for are no help and calling customer service is a huge inconvenience. Tesla is the only company that has this sorted out at this point in time.

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

That was one of the main reasons i bought Teslas.

[@evroadtrips689]

@@wolfgangpreier9160 Same reason I bought a Tesla that and I don't like going to Walmart......

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

@@evroadtrips689 I can understand it. There is a reason why walmart never came to our country. They tried once in Germany for a short time and gave up about a year later. We could charge for free at our local Lidl. I am always very amused about those "poor" EV owners. Its interesting to see who charges there because every new EV is there at least once. I guess most are learning how public charging works without having to pay for it.

[@tjwatson0403]

Plug Share really helps with knowing if the chargers are working. It's a life saver for EV owners

[@QuietStormX]

Do you ever report the out of service EV charging sports so they can be fixed?

[@mdlinny]

We have had an EV since the Leaf came out. We only level II charge at home. Our EV is our second car and we never even think of exceeding the range of our EV. I wouldn’t buy an EV as our primary vehicle until the US implements viable fast charging. Roman, your patience is a thing to behold! Another great and informative video.

[@yourgooglemeister6745]

The whole idea of having two vehicles when you really don't need to, shows how stupid the idea of EV's really are and sheep like you don't get it!

[@thangknowa3288]

I don't see why the Government should be involved in it. You made the decision, the taxpayers should not be in that game at all.

[@grazz7865]

Even with a huge network of chargers 1) when you get there, is the charger working? 2) is there already a car plugged into it that plans to sit there 8 hours before you get your turn? I have this horrible feeling the days of waiting a few minutes for a fuel pump to open up are long over. We could be waiting HOURS on a charge line before you get your turn just to sit there another X amount of hours.

[@BioniqBob]

​@@grazz7865 We have now heard from the peanut gallery. Next

[@grazz7865]

@@BioniqBob everyone has a right to their opinion-even you

[@mattdavies3023]

Great video. 100% with you on the frustration of using a charger. When I buy gas it doesn’t matter who owns the station I just put my credit card in and fill up. These ridiculous apps and hurdles from EV charging companies are killing its adoption 🤷‍♂️

[@danielzhang1916]

apps are always more work than they're worth, never liked them because they weren't user friendly

[@neutrino78x]

well, most people will charge from home, but yeah, they do need to work on some of these charging stations.

[@Qrail]

I hear you on the EVGO. The charger in Tulare Ca was down for the count at the Love’s Truck stop. Lucky for me, I drive a PHEV. So I added some GASOLINE, and continued in route. Roman wants to say how great Teslas are. He forgets about the common man who can’t afford a $60,000 model 3. Hey, Roman, I just made a 790 mile trip, using 201 electric miles in my hybrid Ford Energi.

[@StalePhish]

Thank goodness for Tesla actually having a good intuitive system. Don't need an app or touching any buttons on the screen, just plug in and go! It really is a shame that every charger brand and car manufacturer tried to reinvent the wheel instead of following Tesla's pattern they mastered way back in 2012

[@notjustanydad]

Tesla has tested and owned up charging in Europe to all EV's. I hope they add that feature in the US but I don't think that will happen until more stations are built. Tell Our President to stop bickering with Musk and work with him.

[@tcs07d]

Also got remember Tesla owns all your information from design that why it works for them can't say that when you have Car built by Cadillac, Software created by Bosch, and Charger built by ABB with Software designed by Microsoft it can't be that intuitive just yet.

[@sprockkets]

Cadillac Lyric supports plug and charge for EVGO. Just sayin...

[@bikergeekgd]

@@sprockketsnot according to the TFL video. Did you watch the video attached to this comment section? One would think that if Cadillac was loaning vehicles to the press that they would have tested EVGO charging first.

[@sprockkets]

@@bikergeekgd It's not my fault he's uninformed. Read it on any EV tech news site, announced it the other day. Even the Bolt EUV and EV have it. All you need to do is activate it in the GM app to associate your car with EVGO. You can't do that probably for a press car, but that's again, not the point - it exists and the guy didn't mention it.

[@markcloutier873]

I had a similar experience in Canada with flo and Ivy Charge. I did eventually get the flo station to work but it was almost as painful as your video. Also one DC charger only delivered 25kW while the second one delivered about 50kW. Both claimed to deliver much more and charged by the minute. The sign up procedures were extremely painful and very annoying. I totally agree, a credit card should be all that is required.

[@screddot7074]

If this had happened to someone in South Carolina, about half of the users would be dead by now from the heat.

[@roberthopkins2494]

I'd be very seriously considering shooting the damn thing.

[@timothykeith1367]

Last week I saw three Model 3s backed into chargers at a HEB grocery store in Texas. The passengers looked miserable in the heat . I would have walked the isles of the store instead of waiting in the sun.

[@TheV8nissan]

Does the car not operate HVAC while charging?

[@jtc1947]

@@TheV8nissan I have a GOOD PEN-PAL that works for real estate in TX. Last year (?) A married couple met him out in the boonies to check out some land. They were in an EV (maybe TESLA??) and drove from Austin-TX. The husband apologized and stated that THEY could not stay long because the A/C ( SUMMER in TEXAS) was DRAINING the BATTERY at an alarming rate! I have no idea What their "starting charge" was but they were going to need to find a CHARGING STATION QUICK / SOON. Be CAREFUL to weigh the pros and CONS before You buy any kind of EV.

[@ontheboat8444]

@@TheV8nissan Yes it does.

[@evatrics5902]

Like you I have road tripped across America. I have never not been able to charge. I have like you had to move to another charger and had sign up for an account at the charger but I have never not been able to charge. Most of the time I use Electrify America because I got a couple of years of free charging with my car. I actually prefer EVgo which works great with the RFID card that you get with the account.

[@johnaedo9627]

We had the *exact* same issue not more than two weeks ago with EVGo. Even contacted customer services and they tried very hard, but ultimately failed. Had to backtrack 14 miles to find a working charger.

[@chriscarlson5128]

GKCO

[@fredob43]

More full you buying one. They might be a good idea for short hops but useless for long distance.

[@gmoney9068]

Good for you. Enjoy that EV. No more gas stations, right?

[@StubbyStan28]

I hope some folks from EVGo are watching this video. In fact, all of the charging network manufacturers should be watching this video & determine why they felt the need to make their experience so complicated.

[@VetInvestorInsights]

Ran into the same issues with EVGO helping a stranded driver recently. Very honest and balanced video.

[@mybro727]

Balanced video? Where was the “balance” in the video? Why purchase an ELECTRIC VEHICLE if all you plan to do is directly compare it to an ICE experience and complain about what’s different? There are pros & cons to _everything._ A “balanced” video would highlight this. What about the pros of an EV compared to the cons of a ICE vehicle for a more balanced video? No?? Oh ok, his temper tantrum was _so_ balanced including the thumbnail. He must be doing a great job according to you. 😂

[@billw8476]

@@mybro727 it's really hard to defend an EV vehicle,it really can't stand on it's own merits. different is not better.

[@mybro727]

@@billw8476 Not really, especially when you’ve taken your time and designed world class products. Unlike the Ford Lightning’s copy/paste watered down ICE F-150 design, the the GMC Hummer EV, Cadillac Lyriq, Chevrolet Blazer EV, and Cadillac Celestiq all speak for themselves. Tesla, Ford, and Rivian can’t even compete with the design language alone.

[@christophermawdsley7604]

@@mybro727 What are the pros to turning up to a charger, being unable to use a card, being unable to sign up for app, being unable to add a card to the app? We've all been there and had experiences like this trying to charge.

[@johnnicpon5783]

@@mybro727 At the end of the day it is all about convenience. This type of experience, along with how long it takes to charge, is why BEV's will remain a niche product. People want the convenience of quick in and out. And that means a quick refueling experience. Makes hydrogen the obvious alternative to gasoline and diesel.

[@scanadaze]

This is how you do it. I am 52. Well sick of the technology. I myself had to learn to deal with all of the loop holes. Meaning to learn them. I spent years trying to achieve only one thing. To make everyone's life easier. On EV charging. You know where you will travel. Look up every charging station available. Every single one. Then while your at home and have the time. Sign up for every app. Then when your out. That charging station app is already on your cellphone. Then pay and charge. Do not be out and then do it. You buy an EV. Spend the time of looking at all different charging stations. Get their apps. Then go pickup your new EV. Then also know which ones will work. What plug adapter you will need. Keep it simple.

[@BikingBadwithTC]

Charging port opens like a rusted old drawer. Unacceptable for a $60k+ luxury vehicle.

[@GrumpyXer]

Why does it need a motor to open the door? Just another failure point waiting to happen.

[@JackRussell021]

My recollection is that once you have the app installed and a payment method configured, you can just hold the phone up to the NFC pad on the charger to start charging. Which isn't obvious either, but I recall having done this. You will receive an NFC card in the mail that you can use instead. When I signed up, I was doing all of this stuff while I was sitting at home, so it was far less frustrating. But a new car owner might not think to do this - you would sort of need to scope out what brands of chargers are prevalent in the area where you are, and focus on signing up for those first. If you were to buy a Tesla, you would still need to create a Tesla account and configure a payment method. Maybe some of that is sort of built into the buying process, but there are steps that one would need to take before you can charge.

[@peterkn2]

I feel your pain! When I first got my EV 3.5 years ago, I quickly learned how bad those apps were and how many different apps I needed. It's a pain and I wished there was a standard way to pay to charge. I think allowing CC without the app should be mandatory, just like at gas stations. One of the consequences of all these different chargers is that seeing an EV charger in a parking lot means nothing to me now since I do not know if it's free or which app I'll need to use it. I already have a few accounts so I'm reluctant to download and signup for more.

[@ReadTheShrill]

"I think allowing CC without the app should be mandatory, just like at gas stations" But.... it's not mandatory. It doesn't have to be - that's how gas stations make their money, by making things as convenient as possible.

[@xsleep1]

But you know the drill. They want all that information about you so they can sell it. It's part of their business plan. In fact, it may be the main part of their business plan.

[@peterkn2]

@Jose Alberto Rosa-Suliveres I do see a lot of merits with Plug in Hybrids but it still has downsides. Having two types of motors and fuels means much more complexity so much more things to fail. Also, I really doubt gas prices are going to ever be reasonably low since we have no real authority to lower gas prices.

[@nathanlambshead4778]

@Jose Alberto Rosa-Suliveres EVs also need to work for all the people who live in sub-zero northern territories. Those who plow snow. Haul wood, etc. All of these comments are from city cesspool and urban nightmare residents, with no idea of how the real world works.

[@BS-vd4hd]

@@nathanlambshead4778 Wow plowing snow and hauling wood means you live in the real word... who would've guessed.

[@Ricksworldtv]

Took a 3600mi road trip from central Missouri to Las Vegas last year in my Tesla and didn't have any charging issues. Cost $135 if I had to pay for all charging (spent 3 nights in hotels that had free level 2 charging of guests). The longest charging stop was 20min, after taking a pee at each stop, cleaning the windshield and logging the charging session for my records it was off to the races. Seligman Az to Kingman Az on RT-66 is a must see as is Williams Az for the RT66 experience. Tesla is currently the best way to go for the all around Ev experience. It look like the rest of the industry will take time to catch up.

[@bcar1ify]

Exactly

[@IKnewMickey]

Clearly these EV charging stations are collecting massive data. Even with old fashion gas stations the gas companies know where you are what you've purchased and how you've purchased it. This situation could easily be a simple credit card purchase. Enough already ppl!!

[@justinfowler2857]

They're trying to double dip. Sell EV charging and then sell your data to data brokers.

[@joemcdonough7509]

@@justinfowler2857 Most likely the case. I heard that it costs nearly 500k in upfront costs to install DC chargers. Then add on top the huge electricity charges from the grid companies. EVgo is finding other avenues to make up the costs and generate profits.

[@justinfowler2857]

@@joemcdonough7509 I expect that, but they could at least make a system/app that actually works.

[@joemcdonough7509]

@@justinfowler2857 I agree, but you know how capitalism works. Profit first, then worry about working products later. This is especially true when you have no competition in the area as this video shows.

[@SkippyPB.]

How about paying cash. That what they really don’t know who you are.

[@jimfergusondev]

Holy moly! No wonder non-Tesla EVs are piling up at dealerships. Dealing with multiple app-based charging systems is a complete mess, unlike the convenience of Tesla charging. Thank you so much for documenting this frustrating process. The success of non-Tesla charging networks will heavily rely on simplicity and a plug-and-charge experience similar to Tesla's.

[@busboy262]

Anyone can review an EV, but TFL is doing the real work. TFL highlights the logistics involved in the ownership experience. You can avoid some of the frustration by charging at home. Sure. But many or maybe most that can use an EV as a daily driver live in a metro area and RENT their home. And even if a home owner can avoid this frustration most of the time, it will be a source of frustration at least occasionally. It's these types of videos that are most valuable to me as a viewer. Thanks!

[@pto44]

I agree. There is a learning curve and growing pains that every EV owner will have to deal with but setting up a valid payment method should not be this difficult.

[@BWyatt76]

Everyone can't charge at home. It's either impossible, or too expensive to install chargers at condo/apartments.

[@jamesjones8482]

I have recently learned that in the UK, thieves are removing(cutting-off) the charging station cables, to sell the copper in them. They only make a few dollars from each cable, but the replacement of the cables cost thousands. I haven't heard if this is starting to happen in the U.S., but is now standard practice across the pond. Catalytic converter theft is common in the U.S., so cable theft in the future is another thing to worry about.

[@spontanioussponge]

This is why I think fast charging has a long way to come and is basically only for exceptional long range use cases right now. A phone shouldn't get involved anywhere unless you're using mobile payments. Let me pay for this like I pay for everything else.

[@kyle-ri5mz]

but thats not how the tech industry works.. they need you to download an app... so they can take your data and sell it.

[@AdamSmith-gs2dv]

Yea why can't these stations just put a damn card reader on the thing?!

[@sam8307]

Do yourself a favor and buy a Tesla. They figured all of this out YEARS AGO!!!!!!! World wide network that's doesn't require any input. Just pull up and plug in.

[@spontanioussponge]

@@sam8307 Wow, the only solution that's even worse!

[@TrapGod_JackofAllTrades]

Can we just put induction coils on the bottom of the car, and have it charge inductively? Maybe even put a nfc chip on the bottom with at-wheel-authentication (you press a button on screen or put in a password inside the car using the infotainment) so that it bills you automatically.

[@ncryptd]

It's videos like this that convinced me to buy a Tesla, instead of any other non-Tesla EV.

[@mybro727]

This is a joke. Cadillac Lyriq owners will do most of their charging at home. The Model Y is a overpriced over engineered block of metal compared to a base model Lyriq for the same money.

[@ncryptd]

@@mybro727 Correct. I do most of my charging at home also. However, I've taken MANY long-haul road trips... because I know I can with no issue charging.

[@mybro727]

@@ncryptd You must road trip *a lot.* I travel a lot for work but with 300+ miles of range and advanced EV focused infotainment system like what’s found in this new Cadillac Lyriq, I just can’t justify myself paying Tesla’s premium for a less premium product and experience solely because of the charging infrastructure while talking a road trip. Tesla has so much more work to do before they can get my money.

[@KGTv123]

@@mybro727 wouldn’t all those features be pointless if you can’t go anywhere? The main point of a vehicle is to get somewhere. Who wants to go somewhere thinking look how cool my car is, but who cares if I can’t charge it when I’m out?

[@mybro727]

@@KGTv123 Lol. You’re absolutely right. Thank goodness the Cadillac Lyriq _can_ be charged when you’re out and thanks to over 300 miles of range it will effortlessly go anywhere a more expensive Tesla Model Y can go. It’s also effectively chargeable on-the-go at 190 kW with DC fast charging which allows 76 miles of range in just 10 mins as well as offering nearly class leading charging speeds *at home* at 19.2 kW for level 2 home charging where, again, majority of the charging will take place. The Tesla fanboys literally sound like the Right Twix - Left Twix commercials, the absolute dumbest reasons (no real reason(s) at all) to choose a Tesla over it’s competitors unless that’s just simply the “design” you prefer.

[@richardmair8761]

Here in Canada we have a really good network called Flo. It does use an app but the app works. We also have Petro Canada which is putting in fast charges along our main highways at the gas stations. To start these charges just tap your credit card or as I did use Apple Pay. Same paying method as using their gas pump.

[@JustinKelly]

I'm in the camp of "I would do 90%+ of my charging at home so this wouldn't apply the majority of the time". It is very sad and frustrating to see though.

[@QarthCEO]

That still leaves 1 out of 10 times you'd have to put up with this.

[@RyoHazuki224]

Yeah but try to plan a road trip across the US. When you stop at little towns with questionable charging stations, what do you do? Thats gonna be a problem for the next few years at least. The problem will get easier with time for sure, but right now its a huge pain point for current EV buyers.

[@ReachOutToWilliam]

That "other" 10% must be a b*tch. I have 100% success fueling my hybrid.

[@TheV8nissan]

This is why I maintain that my ev would need 300+ miles. I refuse to take part in public charging and we regularly commute 200 miles in all weather and speed conditions.

[@QarthCEO]

@@TheV8nissan Word

[@allelectric1330]

I'm done with electric cars, I went back to gasoline because of all hassle associated with electric cars and trucks ! No more for me , I've learned my lesson and my " ELECTRIC CAR ANXIETY SYNDROME IS GONE " ... Happy days are here again !!

[@jackden5292]

thank you for this! I drove a ford fusion Energi for awhile and this was the big issue to me with charging. you should just be able to swipe your card like at gas station. charging shouldn't require you to download an app and a bunch of hoops. I jumped back to just an ICE(Prius) due to the BS. people say its a lack of chargers I disagree. I see plenty of chargers, its just using them is such a pain in the A**

[@davidtordonato2578]

What if you don’t have a smartphone? I realize most people do but it shouldn’t be a prerequisite for charging and driving. Nor should having a credit card for that matter.

[@view23015]

In June of 2021 I had the pleasure of being able to have a MachE for a little over 24th a to test drive and see how I liked the vehicle . It was the standard battery and I drove it a little over 200 km and purposely stopped to charge it - this video shows perfectly how that experience went . It took nearly 20 min to download an app , sign-up , credit card, etc …. And I foolishly put $10 on the app ( couldn’t just charge and go .. ) and still have a little under $8 left as I only charged it up with a 50 km/h charger . It shouldn’t be this much work - apps and online services aren’t new . Evening identifying the charger was hard to do for a first timer - nothing intuitive

[@rockstertx]

Do they have QR Codes on them... Id think that would be the fastest way for it to know where you are so the charging experience can be seamless...

[@vincenty747]

To be fair you'll only have to download the apps and sign up just once. Yes it's a pain to download all of the different charging apps, but it's just a one time thing. When I bought my Mach E I downloaded the EA/Chargepoint/EVGo apps and signed up. Now if I ever need to use public charging, I'm ready to go.

[@thanhngo5859]

You can ask for a refund of the credit balance by calling customer service. Most EV charging apps require a minimum amount in the account.

[@petelattimer6808]

more to the point why do you need to have a stupid bloody app. as has been said in the video, why cant you just pay by card, just as you would for regular fuel in a regular car at a regular fuel station?

[@anydaynow01]

@@petelattimer6808 Or actually use Google or Apple Pay (and not just put the stickers on the charger) with primary and backup RFID readers and boom they are done. The only time I take out my wallet these days is when I'm at an older store or gas station, within a few years physical credit cards will be like cash, convenient to use in an emergency but rarely used regularly.

[@jonrobb6512]

In 2022... when you have to download a specific app to make a payment for services is a travesty and damn shame.

[@scotturich]

The is my frustration with cafe standards being upped; forcing manufacturers to make electric cars but in the US we are so far behind on the infrastructure for charging it’s not even funny.

[@men2dewy]

When I ordered my Tesla I gave them my info including my credit card number to make the down payment. The app used for my Tesla Powerball automatically got the car portion added on. When I drove the car a few hundred miles home I stopped at my first Tesla charger ever. All I had to do was shove the plug into the car's port an walk away from it; everything automatic.

[@sharonb.9128]

Great video. I primarily blame Facebook and Google for creating the Business Model from Hell for consumers. EVERYBODY wants to monetize your data. Every app wants access to your most personal data regardless of the service. My email is bombarded with marketing, I get texts from companies I never interacted with. Not to mention all the tracking these companies are engaged in to get even more information and data. I jumped from the fire into the frying pan when I disconnected cable, every tiny little shit station has a subscription. “Are you still watching?” from tv subscriptions are beyond brazen. Apple Pay helped a lot but the barbarians are beating at the door to remove their encrypted protections. Data mining is BIG BUSINESS and our laws are not keeping up.

[@duramaxadventures5832]

the scariest part is all that data being chared isnt secured. sure there is a token vs name.... but that token leads back to your name. companies dont secure info unless it is a naked CC # or a SSN. everything else they are free to store in plain text and sell to shady companies (why you are getting texts) who dont even bother to secure their servers!

[@scottfranco1962]

True that. And I work for Google.

[@DNHarris]

I guess I'll plan on signing up for every possible charging brand and carrying all 30 cards on me at all times.

[@sharonb.9128]

@@DNHarris man, I hope not! I’m still hoping America can create a system closer to Germany and Norway’s excellent infrastructure described by TeslaBorne and Out of Spec Reviews.

[@truck6859]

Thank you for spelling it out.

[@airdad5383]

How is an older person who doesn't use latest technology get their car charged. They need a simple credit card slot just like the gas pump. What's wrong with that, why do you need an app. That is BS.

[@rbs427]

I have a Tesla. I have no trouble with any Tesla superchargers. I have tried to use several third party chargers and got two out of 6 to work. Not good. And need so many apps. Why not just be like a gas station. Accept credit cards and be done with it.

[@Iehoopshow]

I have 2020 Nissan Leaf and trickle charge at home. Although we don’t road trip in it, we take drives up to about 100 miles one-way, thus requiring us to DC charge; and my goodness. EVGo and EA are terrible. I feel there is a less than 50% chance they actually work when we charge. I hope the infrastructure improves because the model 3 is looking more appealing by the day.

[@SunnyWu]

It should be mandatory that these stations have a credit card terminal, and on the Tesla ones too once Elon Musk retrofits them with CCS plugs. Any rewards program, subscription discounts, or incentives should be made optional and at most should only require you to input a phone number like at the supermarket.

[@RemoteSpeed007]

If they retrofit the Tesla chargers, all you would need is setup an account once, from then on plug and charge, works like that for Tesla owners.

[@bruceperry8107]

@@RemoteSpeed007 the point is you shouldn't have to set up an account for a charger brand you may never use again. When I go to a new town I don't have to set up a new gas station account with whatever brand is popular there, and I shouldn't have to for EV charging either.

[@RemoteSpeed007]

@@bruceperry8107 These are not gas stations, they were specifically designed to operate on Tesla electric cars, 10 years ago - now they trying to open them up to other EV's. Retrofitting with a credit card system would be very expensive, who will pay for that? Other EV chargers in future could be from the get go fitted with credit card readers, but current ones, might be a challenge. As a Tesla owner, I'm not exactly thrilled with the idea of opening up to other EV's, I purchased a Tesla for it's great charging network. If they open it up, might have to wait long to charge on trips.

[@LJLion]

In Europe, all you need is a credit card on file and Tesla app to charge a non Tesla. No credit card reader.

[@SunnyWu]

@@RemoteSpeed007 Depends on where you live. In certain parts of the country some Tesla owners have been buying their own CCS adapters to charge at non-Tesla stations because wait times at current Tesla stations were too long. It would be a slow process but its not like the electricity would be provided for free, Tesla can recover that cost over time. Most businesses and grocery stores are now retrofitted with terminals that accept NFC and chip cards. It took years, but it happened.

[@markbartlett6287]

Five years ago, I borrowed a used Ford Fusion Energi for an overnight test drive and wanted to see what it would be like to charge it at an EVgo station at Walmart. I had the nearly identical experience and never did get it to work. Sad to see that they haven't gotten any better by now.

[@tarfeef101]

So much to say here: 1) I didn't watch the whole lightning video, but I agree there was some fumbling I'd not have done myself in what I did see 2) I don't think this was the problem, but generally when using google/apple pay you have to hold the phone there longer. I suspect it still would've failed, but knowledge is power 3) The way companies approached charging here is totally crap. Either they should have tech-ed it up and created a standard whereby vehicles handshake with chargers, exchange information stored in the vehicle for payment, and auto-submit it for you, actually making the experience better than gas stations, or just make gas pumps but for electricity. Instead, they decided "we have a new opportunity to farm data, let's all make shitty proprietary apps, require users have data signal, set up accounts which have the potential to be compromised, etc. And it course we'll all have different ones because screw consumers". It is absolutely infuriating. What is sad is that I even have a proprietary app for a gas station, shell. Why? Because while I CAN still fill up normally, it takes longer to scan rewards, discount, then my card with PIN. The app lets me save all that, and since they're always the cheapest in my town, it's worthwhile for me to do it. But I don't have to, and that's the point. If my phone is dead, if there's no data signal (happens a lot when you drive around rural Canada), etc. I can still get gas and keep going without hassle. I love tech and I love the idea of EVs, we have clean energy here, instant torque is awesome, and electric motors are more efficient at turning energy into forward drive. But I'm getting a new car and it ain't an EV for 2 reasons; - offroad ability - more relevant here, charging. I don't want an aneurysm every time I go out far enough to require fast charging, which with my lifestyle is dozens of times a year.

[@casey2009]

They should have all these EV charging accounts set up. They know they can driving reviewing cars in a lot of states, very unprofessional.

[@ronaldking1054]

@@casey2009 No, they shouldn't. There should be no need for the account in the first place. The best the account does is allow for reservations.

[@georgewashingtonvii926]

Did you say that you did not have a credit card with you? Would that have made the charging process easier? I find a lot of places do not take Apple Pay.

[@RB-pi3jl]

Bought a Tesla for its charging network and potential Full Self Driving. These charging nightmares happen way too often. And how stupid of Cadillac to debut their EV in a location with no (and even if sucessful, painfully slow) charging.

[@kevinhickman50]

I don't think Cadillac was trying to demo evgo charging. Roman should stick to evaluating the lyric and not have his own agenda. He's too whiny for this sort of thing.

[@ShimaS-0079]

@@kevinhickman50 I think this video is fine

[@phillyphil1513]

@@kevinhickman50 re: "I don't think Cadillac was trying to demo evgo charging." exactly, GM chose Park City and brought those fancy Hydrogen Fuel Cell mobile charging rigs ($$$) along with them for a REASON. re: "Roman should stick to evaluating the lyric and not have his own agenda." Kev's got a point, and those with good attention spans and good listening skills knows Roman did basically "confess" (on video) that both he and his cameraman were GOING ROUGE at 0:28

[@xsleep1]

I wonder if GM didn't want to be somewhere where it could be charged at 190 kW but then a random tester proved it couldn't.

[@patriot0971]

GM thinking ahead ...lol.

[@ivanflores9577]

I feel the pain you experienced about a month ago when i bought my first EV. However, unless like you i did call customer service that is what they are there for. If you wanted to make a video showing the full experience you should have called and they could have walked you through. That is what I had to do. Once i had their assistance i had ton issues. Now, should it be this difficult? NO, but.. once shouldn’t be opposed to calling to get help when needed. Those are the same errors i was getting and yes it’s frustrating but a 5 min call solved it all.. so don’t give up on it. Now i just charge at home.

[@worldwide_wes]

0:56 that charge door opening is everything you need to know about the quality of this car

[@TheAdventureAuto]

I was expecting the opposite so I laughed when it got stuck and banged open. At least the panels are nicely aligned 🙄

[@worldwide_wes]

@@TheAdventureAuto😂

[@zenbyo]

Yeah that looked pretty bad.

[@jaybeemhardscrote7466]

Haha good ole GM!

[@joemcdonough7509]

LOL I noticed the same thing. Wow, tell me that's a pre-production problem.

[@wyawn]

The reason they are so set on getting user data, is because they make such a small amount of money per minute (or per hour, whatever you prefer). If you look at the total cost of charging for the hour that you are actually charging, and take out the cost of electricity, plus the cost of manufacturing, installing, and maintaining the charging station, there is very little money left for profit. So they are mining your person data.

[@shawnandjudithjoybrown6582]

You are right. This is why we got a Tesla. Too many 500-mile trips to chance this experience. It’s a shame because there are some other compelling EV options out there. Regardless, we’re very happy with our Model Y.

[@hughwright1317]

It’s one thing that Tesla (I’d say) got indisputably right

[@dennissmith7214]

How many times a year are you traveling 500 miles🤔…………because probably only about 1% of Americans are doing that more than twice a year?!

[@shawnandjudithjoybrown6582]

We do a 1,000-mile round trip once a month. The supercharger network sealed the deal. If it wasn’t for that, we would have gone for another ICE vehicle. Otherwise for daily driving, we never come close to maxing the range, even on a 60-70% charge.

[@anydaynow01]

As much as people complain about how much a Tesla costs, for what they get physically with the car, I tell them they're not paying for a luxury car, they're paying for the best proprietary tech and the best charging network. It's pretty much as close as we're going to get to an Apple car (well until Apple decides they want to pay Magna to make them a car or they start doing Tesla's software / hardware). Buying anything but a Tesla and you're in Windows / Android territory, which I'm fine with since I prefer right to repair / upgrade with anything I buy.

[@no-damn-alias]

Well as Chinese competition starts to smoke Apple with their charging speed same will happen to Tesla and at least in Europe Tesla uses CCS and is step by step opening up their net work. EnBw a German CPO has acces to the most charging stations in Europe for a fixed price except for Ionity and charging at one of their stations is slightly cheaper. Also they offer plug&charge with cars that support that communication. So you plug in your car and that's it. It'll start charging and the charging station recognises your car and will send you the bill or to whomever the bank account is written to. So all in all an EnBw card and plug&charge option is perfect for a company car.

[@oleterje7209]

Couldnt you tap a normal credit/debit card where you tried to tap with apple pay?

[@TheAdventureAuto]

If Tesla hadn't created their own network, this would have been all Tesla owners as well. But everybody out there gives Tesla a hard time for doing so. Tesla has always been about paving their own way and thank god they did.

[@jaybeemhardscrote7466]

I think Tesla is full of shit when they say they want more people to adopt EVs but they don't, they want more people to adopt TESLAS and they do that with their proprietary charging network.

[@Mabeylater293]

@@jaybeemhardscrote7466 Tesla promoting Tesla what a shocker that must be to that one brain cell of yours.

[@RemoteSpeed007]

@@jaybeemhardscrote7466 BS, Tesla is offering charging to all ev's in Europe already.

[@TheAdventureAuto]

@@jaybeemhardscrote7466 So it's Tesla's fault for making charging stations that work and expanding the network as fast as they possibly can? All while spending their own money to do so. You think they wouldn't want to take care of their own customers first? Imagine if CCS third party stations actually worked, you think Tesla would have a problem with that? No.

[@sprockkets]

It's not a proper argument to make - there were no DC fast charging stations because there are no evs to charge, so why bother. They had no choice but to make their own setup. But no one wants a charging setup where each OEM makes their own system, any more than you would want to go to a GM gas station to fill.

[@Kevinchong18]

these charging station really needs to adopt plug and go system, which you plug in your car, it's automatically recognize who's car it's belongs to and charge the credit card on file.

[@Cody_Austin]

We already knew it was going to be an issue, no surprise. What was a surprise to me after watching your lightning delivery & road-trip back to Colorado was just how many of the chargers that weren’t cooperating. I’ve seen enough videos to know it can be a crap shoot when it comes to getting a functional fast charger when you show up to a station. In 15 years the charging tech, battery life and infrastructure will be much more worth it. Until then, I’m gonna stay away 😷

[@RemoteSpeed007]

With a Tesla you have no issue, plug and charge.

[@Captndarty]

@@RemoteSpeed007 With a Tesla you have poor quality control and customer service with zero options for anything other than a “car” more people than not want actual buttons knobs and gages directly in front of you where they belong.

[@RemoteSpeed007]

@@Captndarty Which Tesla do you own?

[@Captndarty]

@@RemoteSpeed007 thankfully none. Been in them all done plenty of research. Many neighbors and friends have them and discuss all the quirks and issues. Much rather have a lucid or a number of other actual automaker designed EV’s. Just for your own personal edification.

[@sprockkets]

Lyriq supports plug and charge with evgo. Just sayin.

[@longrider50]

Between situations like this & non-working or slow chargers, this is why EV's will take a while to catch on. You need to be able to pull up, take out a credit card/phone pay, charge to 80% in 10 mins, then go. You should also be able to perform this operation anywhere.

[@zhugeliange5816]

Tesla figured all that out. Genius. I've never had any issues supercharging for 2 years owning a tesla. I have a evgo account too. It's not as easy as tesla. Also found evgo chargers offline a few time. In my tesla, I can tell how many chargers are open before getting there. So awesome tesla.

[@bcar1ify]

Yep

[@eaglescout205]

Before I took ownership of my EV, I ensured I had all the charging apps installed and RFID cards ordered. When I drove from Dublin to Reno I had no charging issues because I was prepared.

[@frankcoffey]

That was even painful to watch. Wow, so glad I bought a Tesla. Before any of these companies get government money they should have to meet an ease of use standard. Imagine if buying gas required an app and all that sign up?

[@robert2steven]

You are soooo right. Sadly, almost every charger I tried, the credit card feature fails to work (as do most of the chargers). You MUST use the app with your personal info and credit card charged ahead of services to get electricity. And worse is the stupidity of the cars that you have to manually change charging to immediate when at a station, and back again to timed charging to charge at home so you don't accidently use the crazy prices of time of use plans. Also, the true MPGe in California is about 25MPG - 50MPG due to high electricity costs. The EPA bases MPGe on $0.15 kHw vs up to $0.70 from Edison. Be aware.

[@bettymaverick1098]

I was getting severe anxiety watching you try to get the app to work. This is how things work today in the hi-tech world today. Sorry you had to go through that experience.

[@Geckogold]

Ugh, I feel your pain. I have a Tesla Model Y, and for the most part superchargers usually works. I have ran into non-working ones, but Tesla will usually get them fixed fairly quickly. That said, I also have the CHAdeMO adapter, and have tried out at least 4 different DC fast charging companies. 3 of them worked, but 1 didn’t. I didn’t need the charge much like in this video. But it was in the middle of nowhere too, and had I not of charged up at a supercharger before going there, I could’ve potentially been stranded. I really hate that all of these different companies require their own specialized app, and honestly I probably won’t even use then again. It would’ve been nice if they had a credit card reader so you could just swipe/insert that to start the transaction. This is why I’m always skeptical when all of these so-called “Tesla killer” EV’s show up. Yes, those EV’s might do a few things better than a Tesla. But when you consider the entire package, Teslas give you a lot of bang for your buck, such as Autopilot, over the air updates, built-in entertainment options such as Netflix and KZbin, the seamless integration with the app and the superchargers never requiring you to pull a credit card out to charge. There’s also camp mode for those who want to sleep in their Tesla on a trip or if their power is out, and Dog mode to keep your dog cooled on hot days, and warm on cold days. That’s on top of the high safety ratings all Teslas get, and the performance for the price. And the supercharger network, which makes traveling long distances fairly trivial and mundane. Hope this problem can get fixed.

[@Luca_Natoli]

Not going to lie. This turns me off EV cars completely. Why cant they not just accept your debit / credit card. None of this app crap is needed. They just want your personal information. Pay with google pay or Apple pay and that is it. Enough with the apps.

[@TheAdventureAuto]

Yea this is why people say Tesla is so far ahead. You just plug in and walk away, you don't need to mess with a card at all.

[@justinfowler2857]

They want to sell your personal data as well as ev charging.

[@Luca_Natoli]

@@justinfowler2857 yep, why get paid once when they can get paid twice. They will probably sell your data, bet it is in the T&C on their app, in tiny writing. Forcing anyone to use an app is usually a dead giveaway they are data mining your phone.

[@Luca_Natoli]

@@TheAdventureAuto yeah would love to drive / own a Tesla, problem is, they are back ordered here for a while, not to mention cost more than the competition. Hopefully one day they drop the price of them

[@TheAdventureAuto]

@@Luca_Natoli Yea when I ordered mine in 2021 it was $11k less and I received it in exactly one month. Inflation and supply chain woes caused Tesla prices to go up to help slow demand.

[@gladegoodrich2297]

What happens when you pull up to a charging station and theres 5 cars ahead of you? The people buying these cars also think no animals were harmed getting that steak!

[@tojesky]

It is definitely easier to set up an app at home or office when you are not "under pressure" to get a charge. But even at that, you are right about the state of public charging stations.

[@Cakebattered]

I bought my EV and the first thing I did was signed up for every charging station in my area. Took me half an hour. Credit card readers are common points of failure and sabotage (skimmers)

[@auntclechris]

We bought an EV a month ago and I live in Germany and have had no issues so far. In the city, there are about 10 charging stations per square kilometer and a lot of chargers just take contactless debit cards or you just need to scan a QR-code and enter credit card info. Now in a rural area like mine, you only got charging stations in larger settlements. So the next ones to where I live are about eight kilometers away. They are mostly 50 or 100 kW DC-chargers. Though some villages only have 22 kW AC-chargers. On another note, you are billed by the kWh and not by the minute.

[@upnorth7497]

If Tesla can make a seamless charging system for their own cars, why can't that happen for other ones? Or, why can't it be as easy as getting gas... Tap/swipe/insert a card and start charging. I don't want an app to charge my car, I just want to pay for my charging and get on with it.

[@naughtysauce4323]

Well getting billions into debt is not a wise business plan for any company

[@upnorth7497]

@@naughtysauce4323 I feel that the best solution would be for the existing CCS charging companies to start integrating credit card payment into their chargers. No phone needed.

[@phillyphil1513]

@@upnorth7497 re: "integrating credit card payment into their chargers." they had those from the very beginning but they DON'T WORK for one reason or another. hell I've even had BRAND NEW MACHINES NOT WORK. a new 2 unit DCFC location was recently announced here in Philadelphia (a major East Coast City) on the 6 o'clock news so for "shits and grins" i went there to try it out, but guess what not a damn thing worked. I don't mean the units were dead and without power, no, the units were indeed brand new, shiny, with screens that were lit up and active, but still could not get the damn things to connect (yes i tried both).

[@KalleSWBeck]

Tesla works because it has to work with one interface

[@Jan-VH]

when your phone is broken or you do not have mobile internet you are stuck.

[@Medmann48]

My sister owns a new Tesla & we just bought out first EV in a Nissan Leaf. My sister mentioned the amazing amount of needless hate that people have for EV owners. I have seen several instances of ICE cars parked in EV spaces blocking public chargers & I saw a photo recently of a guy using his ICE car to block ALL 3 EV parking spaces in a parking garage. I charge at home using the 120V 60HZ outlet in my garage to charge my car in the driveway. One benefit is that having your electric car in your garage over the winter gives you the motivation to clean all of the junk out of your garage.

[@racekar80]

When I got my EV I applied for every charging system’s card, a week later I had them all, have never had a problem since. Forget the phone apps, just get the cards and keep them in the car. It’s not hard, your making it hard!

[@ani_b]

Mercedes has done a fantastic job with Mercedes Me charge, integrated with Chargepoint and Electrify America (with more integrations coming). I just plug in and my EQS starts charging. No hassle at all.

[@stp147]

One of the best pieces of advice for a new EV owner is to setup accounts with EA, EVGo, ChargePoint, and any others you may use before you need them. With the number of EVs that TFL has owned, you would think Roman would have already gotten used to this. The nerdier you are (read: some high school physics knowledge) the better your experience will be in today's world, because we are still in the early adopter phase. For instance, understanding the architecture of your vehicle (400V or 800V, 400V for the Lyriq) along with your max advertised charge rate in kW (190 kW for the Lyriq) will tell you that it can max out at 475A (190,000W/400V). That 50kW EVGo station cannot handle 800V, so the max amperage it can do (which is listed on the cabinet, if you look) is 125A. To understand how a 350kW DCFC gets to 350kW you should understand the DC amperage it can output if you have a 400V car like the Lyriq. If you have an 800V car like the EV6, then this amperage limit is less of an issue because it draws about 300A to get to its max charge rate of 233kW.

[@jackrandom4893]

This really makes me want to buy an EV now ...

[@philrubio3328]

😂😂😂

[@andykphoto]

The constellation of apps has been the one thing that has been frustrating about EV ownership. I can’t wait until plug and charge (ISO15118) is the standard, not the exception. I definitely also was really frustrated with the EVgo process when I kind of needed a reasonably quick charge. It was a slow, clunky process, but it was fine the next time I was at an EVgo. The answer isn’t more proprietary networks though.

[@anydaynow01]

I totally agree, but they will need something like the Euro decision to force everyone to use a specific charger plug to bring ISO15118 into effect sooner. In the USA it's like the wild west and it will take a while before most of the charging companies and automakers get on the bandwagon of one standard without regulator intervention. I'm absolutely surprised CCS became the standard in the USA so quickly for everyone except Tesla and folks don't have to drive around with half a dozen adapters to charge publicly.

[@brushlessmotoring]

Thank you for sharing your completely valid frustrations, I'm all in on EVs, and I find this so painful and frustrating to watch - it's important, and ALL these companies need to do better. I believe Tesla will open up their system in the next year or two, and while, for non Tesla's this will still need an App, account, email, credit card etc. at least it is reliable. Keep up the honest reporting.

[@jimbob1096]

People are having issues with broken chargers all over the country. Metal thieves will figure out there's alot of easy to take copper in the cords and youll see a bunch of useless charger s missing thier cords.

[@144Donn]

I feel your pain! So much for "smart" phone and all the damn apps! we need smart people who can design things properly!

[@dahur]

Why don't they just use credit card readers like at the gas stations..? This is way too complicated, IMO.

[@steveam29]

Bottom line is home charging is key and downloading and setting up the major charging apps ahead of time is also advisable.

[@TD-ce5ru]

Finally, I looked all over on KZbin for someone to show pulling up to a public charger, paying, and showing the cost. This one showed that you have to use apps and was pretty hard to load, not to mention if you had internet problems. Lots of bugs to work out.

[@MrNicholg]

This was an awesome user experience test. Cadillac may have misjudged their buyer demographic.

[@LarsDennert]

Good point. Some older person non tech savvy is going to be sunk sunk sunk!

[@ken12269]

I think I sense a theme in these videos. If you don’t like EVs, just say that and move on. This is just pandering to the many folks who hate EVs. It’s a lot like the folks who test a standard range Ford Lightning as a towing vehicle. Hint, it’s not going to go well (if you need to tow, get the damn long range). We have had a long range Tesla for several years, we go on 500+ mile road trips and charge at home every night. It’s never a hassle or a problem. While I agree the rest of the charging network has a long ways to go to catch up with Teslas virtually seamless supercharging experience, don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

[@macbrun7]

Thank you for honestly showing where we stand in the transition to electric vehicles. I have nothing against electrics, and hope to buy an electric Mini when the convertible comes out. However, we need realistic information and not the propaganda so many people want to push about how wonderful it currently is. We'll get there, but things are still very early in the journey.

[@mikerules666]

There definitely needs to be some government regulations put in place for minimum/maximum charge amount and for the payment methods. Some of my friends have had lots of problems with chargers not working at all. Hopefully it will all be fixed soon.

[@kirklins8411]

As frustrating as it is, I can understand them not putting a cc reader at the charging station. They would likely get compromised with hackers puting other readers to steal your card info since these charging stations are not monitored. It is also easier for them to use the data of your phone to process the charge instead of them paying for data connectivity at the pump itself. Regardless an easier process is required for sure. Maybe one app that is mandated in your country that you install when you buy your ev. Then all charging stations have to use that app. Interact of charging stations.

[@dthreatt]

the charger needs data connectivity regardless. thats how it knows to start.

[@kirklins8411]

@@dthreatt oh right! lol

[@shan442us]

I am sure, back in the day, initial surge of ICE fueling stations was just as frustrating and many horse a buggy owners felt it was easier and more dependable to keep their horse. In the early days, the ICE required a hand crank, often a mechanic and was limited with road conditions.

[@mikehernandez452]

I have used EV GO chargers and I don’t like em, I avoid EV GO as much as possible unless it’s an emergency, I find it weird that they have to send you a physical card, when you can get one added to your digital wallet, just more waste added to the planet with a physical card!!… on top of that the app takes long to update. I go with Electrify America all the way for EV charging!!

[@melvinjohnson7033]

Gotta wonder the tonnage of dirty coal that has to be burned to power a "clean" EV over its lifetime.

[@bikergeekgd]

It's ridiculous for any new EV not to support 200+ kWh DC fast charging. Tesla (and Porsche) continues to lead the way with their latest cars and V3 supercharging.

[@6.5x55]

Kia/Hyundai as well.

[@JamesAlburyTheSkyAboveUs]

I feel for him. I will have to say though, even in owning a Tesla, if you have an older car like I do (Model S 60), with a small battery pack (ie. low range) and you're traveling through/to an area with no Tesla Superchargers (for example, Putnam County, FL, Bradford County, FL), you need to make sure you have a full charge so you don't get stranded, or have to charge for 2 hours at a J1772 to get to a DC-DC charger. Also, early EV adopters will need do their research ahead of time. Just like we Teslans did in the early days of our network, there are apps like ABetterRoutePlanner that show you all the EV charging stations on your trip. Also, this is only a challenge if you're 1. traveling long distances and 2. if you don't have access to an electrical outlet near your car at night (apartment complex/street parking). Many EV owners can plug their car into any outlet (120V/240V) and charge overnight, replacing the electricity they used as they drove around town the previous day.

[@proppo4924]

Thanks for publicizing those frustrations, I've been going through them for years, even got muted on a well known EV site for daring to express them myself. Fanboys won't listen. I tried many times and never did get a Blink charger to work. Not once. The websites are full of misinformation regarding charger status, which just makes it all dangerous to rely on. But it is getting better. Another thing is the cost, it was easily cheaper to fuel my F250 than public-charge my Leaf in California.

[@proppo4924]

This is a primary reason I haven't pulled the trigger on my Lightning reservation, I know I have some long distances to do.

[@billw8476]

i love it when REALITY finally sinks in. i bet a lot of people will be setting their ev's on fire this winter, to stay warm.

[@ronaldking1054]

@@billw8476 The only reality is that state governments have not taken the time to regulate the pumps as they do with anything else with weights and measures, with which every gasoline pump must conform.

[@jimbob1096]

@@billw8476 your right the more people that buy them Your gonna see a backlash and buyers remorse when they realize they aren't ready for prime time. These won't be the future. Some other tech will. They're not going to put in 300 Million chargers for every vehicle. Not going to happen. The grid cant handle it. The cost of electricity is going to skyrocket you not going to save a damn thing.

[@jtc1947]

Another thing to consider? Guy in Great Britain was out and about and pulled up to a charging station. Things were BUILT in such a manner that HE could NOT get the cable plug to the charge port on his EV. Had to try to find ANOTHER station where HE could pull up and ACTUALLY be able to charge HIS EV! Not sure if there was any way that the guy could move his car around to be able to work things out?

[@carlosrivera7274]

For now hybrid is the best way to go I think!good video is always 👍🏽

[@mccrackenmedia3435]

I am totally with you man. I rented an ev car at Tampa airport. I gave it a go instead of a gas car. I also tried to charge with evgo. I used my credit card it took 35 minutes to charge from 85 percent to full. Thats a huge waste of time and when the session ended i got a message, thank you for using ev go, no idea how much it cost?? Apparently this generation doesn't care how much things cost. Ended up calling customer service they said they had to guess the price on how many kw i used. To make things worse i had some guy asking me to move my car like someone at the gym forcing their way onto a machine. This new world is not ready. I am disappointed because i wanted to buy one, but im going to wait.

[@JamesKirk1988]

Yup! We may need some regulatory action that states every EV charger have the option for a Credit/Debit card, like a gas pump. They could still have other methods, and even offer deals for members or whatever. But yeah, this is a problem...

[@jasonshortphd]

The EU already has this. Must accept card at a minimum.

[@davepetro5676]

190 kW 190,000 watts divided by 240 volts 791.666 amps That sucker could trip your 200 main breaker at max charging on your house 150 KW 150,000 watts divided be 240 volts 625 amps That 50 KW. 50,000 watts divided by 240 volts 208.3333 amps The fastest chargers With the longest sign up app

[@mtnwatchdog]

Thank you for reporting on both the good AND the bad with the EV industry, so refreshing these days. Just have to say it though, "I'll never buy an EV..."

[@SeamusLavery]

I agree it’s a pain, but you do only have to set it up once for each network.

[@WordsMatter1982]

"You only have to set up an app once for each network. There are lots of networks, so be prepared to spend 10 minutes setting up each network" This doesn't sound the least bit silly to you?

[@newscoulomb3705]

5:58 Some states are now requiring credit card payments on each charger, but not all of the older chargers have been retrofitted yet. That being said, most now offer CC payments on the machines, but the problem is that you're typically paying significantly more for the convenience.

[@anthonymrskipt9252]

Boy, lots of interesting comments. I feel you, Roman, as a man of a similar age who is not afraid of technology and would like to see all of these apps be more intuitive and stable, I suspect real issue here is cell service in Park City (where I lived, so I’m familiar with the issue), which is not an uncommon issue. Setting up all of these apps at home, with Wi-Fi, works much better. But why should I need an app at all? If these are supposed to be the gas stations of the future, why can’t I just swipe my card and not have to give up all of my personal info just to fill up my car. That’s actually what’s ridiculous to me. If I choose to sign up for the app, that’s my business, if I don’t, I shouldn’t be locked out of a third-party charging system. Most of the time, my Tesla (replaced with a PHEV) was charged at home and otherwise at Tesla Superchargers that I had to have the app to use, but then I needed the app to do anything with my Tesla, so it was no more onerous that it was required to use the superchargers. I suspect that I’ll wait at least another couple of years before I go BEV again, just so all this crap with the charging networks can get a little better sorted. The truck won’t be an EV until I can tow 500 miles without having to spend 2+ hours recharging along the way to get there. Still, I do think EVs are great and can’t wait for more the crap to be worked out.

[@mikelieber1]

Great video and you are 100% correct this video shows why Tesla has the majority of the sales in the US despite the QC issues.. One day it will get better but until then Tesla wins every time.

[@WeAreGodsInFormation]

why cant we just have a credit card slot? that is frustrating. I love EV's but the system needs work 😵‍💫

[@philhyde983]

I've never used EV Go (yet) but EA and ChargePoint were a piece of cake for me. That's not to say people don't experience problems. Overall your sentiment is valid. They have to be on top of their game, like now.

[@anydaynow01]

Yeah I have to admit that ChargePoint was super easy to setup and now I just use the CP scanner tag that came with my Volt to charge up (luckily the office went with CP). Hopefully it will be just as easy for any future PHEV or BEV I decide to buy.

[@kenpumford754]

EA have worked seamlessly with my Mustang Mach E, always identifying the vehicle and starting charging as soon as I plug in, with the caveat that about half of their chargers at any given station are broken or otherwise don’t work for unknown reasons.

[@kingdommusic5456]

exactamundoally way too many variables to drive an electric car, stick with fuel type car , or a hybrid, unless you want to be stranded in the cold weather as many are finding out ~ its just that simple

[@ntworkg0d]

Thanks for doing these videos. I've been considering making a switch to EV but this is exactly why I couldn't do it right now. I want an EV truck, and beyond just not being able to get one, I feel like we're still 10 years away from having the necessary infrastructure to make EVs more practical. I watched your first trip in the Lightning and there's a lot to like there, but the inconvenience of planning a trip around where and when to charge a vehicle doesn't feel like it's worth the hassle!

[@anydaynow01]

A BEV is pretty practical right now for most people who can afford one and have the patience to get in, at a minimum, a year long line for one. I'm with you on the EV truck thing, for a mall crawler an EV truck is fine, but use it as a truck and all of them are a joke, especially when towing for any decent distance. If someone were to make a PHEV 1500 work truck with 80km of all electric range and a simple off the shelf V-6 range extender for about $50k, I would be all over it. The only problem is the last time someone made a good PHEV with a decent electric range (the Volt) rumor has it they lost money on every one sold because they never advertised it properly.