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Charged for the first time at an EVgo

3836 Views 33 Replies 15 Participants Last post by VoltoBolt, Apr 14, 2022

EV Trek 37604

Discussion Starter · Mar 12, 2022

All the Electrify America stations were full so I noticed on the plug share app a EVgo about 1/2 mile away, went over there, and hooked up and started charging, I noticed on my app the cost was going up rapidly, I tried to find what they were charging a minute but never could find it. After 8 minutes and over $3.00 being charged I stopped the session. That is when I found out they were charging $0.35 a minute. Over twice what I have ever paid at a Electrify America or Chargepoint.
Needless to say I will not be using them any more unless I have no other choice.
I then drove to the next Electrify America Station to charge just enough to get back home, but there when I stopped charging and disconnected, the station never indicated I was disconnected. I contacted EA and they reset the station, and they did not charge me anything for the 14kW I had charged.

21 - 34 of 34 Posts

BillG49

· #21 · Mar 15, 2022

BillG49 said:
Yes, EVgo is pretty expensive, especially since they charge by the minute and all the DCFC stations around me are 50kW max. In Texas, EVgo charges $0.30/min, which calculates out to $0.40 - $0.60 per kWh. I will only use them if they are convenient, even though I got a $500 credit 😎 from Chevy with the MSRP swap to a EUV.

I used my EVgo account credit for the first time today. I have to say, it was a lot easier to start and use than Electrify America (EA). I did start the session by using the app. I think EA should have copied EVgo and they wouldn't have near the problems or complaints. Of course, the downside is that they are a lot more expensive (and slower).

I paid $0.27/min. and received 17 kWh (from 12% SOC to 38% SOC) in 30 minutes. That's about $0.46 per kWh.
At EA I would have paid $0.16/min and received approx 25 kWh in 30 minutes, or about $0.19 per kWh

Of course, thanks to Chevrolet, my actual cost at the EVgo station was $0.00 - $8 used, $492 remaining.

EV Trek 37604

Discussion Starter · #22 · Mar 15, 2022 (Edited)

BillG49 said:
I used my EVgo account credit for the first time today. I have to say, it was a lot easier to start and use than Electrify America (EA). I did start the session by using the app. I think EA should have copied EVgo and they wouldn't have near the problems or complaints. Of course, the downside is that they are a lot more expensive (and slower).

I paid $0.27/min. and received 17 kWh (from 12% SOC to 38% SOC) in 30 minutes. That's about $0.46 per kWh.

At EA I would have paid $0.16/min and received approx 25 kWh in 30 minutes, or about $0.19 per kWh

Of course, thanks to Chevrolet, my actual cost at the EVgo station was $0.00 - $8 used, $492 remaining.

Well EVgo charged me $2.80 for 4.75kWh, that worked out to almost $ 0.59 per kWh… more if you include tax which put it at $3.06, that is why I ended the session after only 8 minutes.
Corrected my math error..

BillG49

· #23 · Mar 15, 2022

EV Trek 37604 said:
Well EVgo charged me $2.80 for 4.75kWh, that worked out to almost $1.70 per kWh… more if you include tax which put it at $3.06, that is why I ended the session after only 8 minutes.

$2.80 / 4.75 = $0.59 per kWh

EV Trek 37604

Discussion Starter · #24 · Mar 15, 2022

BillG49 said:
$2.80 / 4.75 = $0.59 per kWh

Oops I got my numbers bassackwards, thanks.

usedBolt

· #25 · Mar 15, 2022

BobBolt said:
Option 3 is installation of the receptacle...new Bolts come with dual EVSE so no need to install anything and no need to buy one.

Yes, it's the receptacle that costs real money (~$3K in my case due to the length of the run and the need to modify the main service box, and upgrade the electric service to 200A). But the dual EVSE for new Bolts is, yes, for new (2022+) Bolts, and isn't the 240V side limited to 8 or 16A? If you get a 40A circuit, you can get a 32A (7.2kw) EVSE for $300-400 (not brand name) that'll charge the car quicker. Though I'm tempted to set mine down to 16A so it can run at mid-day summertime within the output envelope of the solar panels...though it would take longer to do the overnight charge.

gbeddow

· #26 · Mar 15, 2022

usedBolt said:
Yes, it's the receptacle that costs real money (~$3K in my case due to the length of the run and the need to modify the main service box, and upgrade the electric service to 200A). But the dual EVSE for new Bolts is, yes, for new (2022+) Bolts, and isn't the 240V side limited to 8 or 16A? If you get a 40A circuit, you can get a 32A (7.2kw) EVSE for $300-400 (not brand name) that'll charge the car quicker. Though I'm tempted to set mine down to 16A so it can run at mid-day summertime within the output envelope of the solar panels...though it would take longer to do the overnight charge.

The 240v adapter on the dual EVSE that comes with the 2022 Bolt EUV is 32a / 7.2kW. One way to stay within the lower power output of your solar panels is to use the 120v adapter on it instead.

usedBolt

· #27 · Mar 15, 2022

EV Trek 37604 said:
Well EVgo charged me $2.80 for 4.75kWh, that worked out to almost $ 0.59 per kWh… more if you include tax which put it at $3.06, that is why I ended the session after only 8 minutes.
Corrected my math error..

My impression is that buying power at EVGo (including the session fee and the power) is on the same order of magnitude as buying gas for my Prius at $5/gallon in terms of range restoration. Of course, gas locally is currently pushing $7/gallon...

The only EA I've tried is their free solar station, but they're 1) very slow (1-2 kw if both plugs are in use); 2) purely solar powered, so no ability to charge from about 2 hours before sunset to about 3 hours after sunrise; 3) usually blocked by Teslas charging all day or ICE; and 4) usually in the far reaches of the parking lot (granted, they need good solar access not blocked by a building).

usedBolt

· #28 · Mar 15, 2022

gbeddow said:
The 240v adapter on the dual EVSE that comes with the 2022 Bolt EUV is 32a / 7.2kW. One way to stay within the lower power output of your solar panels is to use the 120v adapter on it instead.

Did the 120V thing for a long time before installing the Level 2. It's just too slow now. But as power rates keep going up, and rising gas prices make the EV attractive for more trips, it might start happening again to get a mid-day boost.

Reactions: 1

jefro

· #29 · Mar 16, 2022

I don't blame charge station operators for the rates that they have. In most cases the cost of the system was out of sight. The cost of the power could be high, not like they get TOU prices I'd think. Then I tend to see the chargers not being used much.

Sean Nelson

· #30 · Mar 18, 2022

atc98092 said:
EVGo still charges by time here in WA, even though it's legal for them to charge by the kWh. As you noted, with the slower charging speed of the Bolt it's extremely expensive.

Here in British Columbia everyone charges by the minute (or hour), but most of them have different rates for <50kW, 50-100kW, and >100kW - so it's not too unreasonable. Charging costs for my long distance trips work out to be similar to what I used to pay to drive my Prius C. But of course I do the vast majority of my charging at home where it's a small fraction of a gas vehicle and even a super efficient hybrid.

jefro

· #31 · Mar 18, 2022

My power company is the only place that charges reasonable rates. They post the time of use charging at their charge stations located on their office properties. I think most is like 12 cents/kwh.

Bolt Action

· #32 · Apr 13, 2022 (Edited)

VoltoBolt said:
EVGo used to have a plan that would reduce the per minute cost, if you joined and paid a monthly fee that was applicable to your charging use.

AND the monthly fee was eliminated if you are a AAA member, like I am.

I do not use them enough to do the comparison, but I have noticed in my usage, EA stations would cost me more to go up to 80% than using EVGo with my plan.

Here's the EVgo rate plans page, which vary by state or region (and in some states such as California, variable rates based on the time of day). How does one find the AAA discount? Getting the $6.99 monthly sub waived would allow for the cheapest commercial rates.

EV Charging Costs: Pricing and Plan for EV Charging

How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle (EV)? Check our affordable pay-as-you-go and low cost membership pricing. Sign up today.

www.evgo.com

ARob

· #33 · Apr 13, 2022

Bolt Action said:
How does one find the AAA discount? Getting the $6.99 monthly sub waived would allow for the cheapest commercial rates.

EVgo Promotion

aaanorcalpromo.evgo.com

I assure you, despite the link and description saying it is Norcal promo, this worked on my CO AAA account, and users in East Coast regions have successfully used it.

The AAA link puts your EVGO account in the lower rates category, you would normally pay $7/mo for this. But with AAA no monthly fee applies and you get the lower rates.

Reactions: 1

VoltoBolt

· #34 · Apr 14, 2022

Now that I have returned to driving Uber full time, I am seeing many new Electrify America installations at many locations convenient to me with my random driving. And I paid the monthly fee ($4 or 5) and it dropped the price to about $.31 a KWh.

Reactions: 1

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