Electrify America will test a system that cuts off charging when EVs reach 85% capacity and charges owners for every additional minute they stay
Despite the growing charging infrastructure, public access points and recharging on the go remain two of the biggest challenges for EV owners. Just as range anxiety was once a major concern, “charging anxiety” may become an even bigger issue. A recent study revealed that one in five chargers in the U.S. are non-operational.
However, even when chargers function perfectly, EV owners face another concern: charge hogs. These are drivers who occupy charging stations longer than needed, preventing others from accessing them. To address this, Electrify America will start penalizing customers who overstay their welcome. What counts as overstaying? Charging your battery beyond 85 percent.
While filling up a gas tank is second nature for ICE drivers, “brimming” an EV battery isn’t as straightforward. Fast chargers can quickly recharge a depleted EV battery to 80 percent capacity, but getting that final 20 percent often takes significantly longer.
Robert Barrosa, president of Electrify America, suggests that fast chargers aren’t intended for this type of top-off. As a result, the company is implementing a strict 85 percent charge limit at 10 of its busiest charging stations in California. Charging will automatically stop at 85 percent, and if drivers don’t unplug their EVs within a 10-minute grace period, they’ll be charged an additional 40 cents per minute as an “idle time” fee.
In an interview with CNN, Robert Barrosa acknowledged that the charging behavior Electrify America is trying to address stems from the fact that EVs are still relatively new to many drivers. He believes that most people may not realize there’s a significant slowdown in charging speed once a car’s battery exceeds 80 percent capacity. “Once you’re at a charger, it’s like, ‘Oh, yeah. I’m filling all the way,’” Barrosa explained.
Similar strategies are already used at some of Tesla’s busiest Supercharger stations, where charging stops at 80 percent, although drivers can override the limit via on-screen prompts.
Electrify America’s challenges are likely compounded by the many free charging agreements in place with manufacturers. Owners of new EVs from brands like Mercedes and Hyundai are keen to make the most of the complimentary charging.
But what about those who need the extra power for long trips or own cars with limited range even when fully charged? And then there’s the issue that, despite recent progress, not every location has an ideal number of charging stations. In those areas, Electrify America says they’re working on expanding their network. Barrosa also mentioned that Electrify America is unlikely to impose a charging cap at stations near major highways.
What do you think? Should EV owners be restricted from fully charging their batteries, or is there a better way to handle “charge hogs”? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
