[cwerdna]

I can confirm it was free in my city in the Bay Area. I tried it on the way home past 11 pm.

It was showing a full screen message about system upgrades but also said complimentary session. I encountered a brand new Lucid Air DC FCing w/o permanent plates. I talked briefly to the driver before he left. He seemed like an EV n00b. He also had free charging anyway due to Lucid so he hadn't realized what the complimentary session message meant and that I just plugged in and it started right up.

I wonder how long it'll be free for.

 

[cwerdna]

I'm still seeing reports on Plugshare's activity feed of folks in various parts of California reporting EA being free.

 

[jefro]

Free today but out of 6 stands only 2 working. I had to wait till an Kia charged to 100%

 

[VoltoBolt]

So there will be people getting free electricity for their EV while others get the electricity shut off at their home. That'll be a story on Fox.

No one got shut off due to "rolling blackouts" this last week of extreme heat in California.

The voluntary Flex-Alert from 4pm - 9pm or 10pm, did its job with enough cutbacks to avoid rolling blackouts.

The reported power outages were equipment issues due to the extreme heat.

Flex Alert Ends Without Rolling Blackouts

 

[MisterJJ]

No one got shut off due to "rolling blackouts" this last week of extreme heat in California.

Actually, they did.
Six CA cities have rolling blackouts
Just, not on purpose.

 

[cwerdna]

^^^
I knew about Palo Alto, Healdsburg and I think Alameda as it made local news, but didn't know about the additional 3 cities. I'm guessing that + Morgan Hill Residents Demand Answers After Four Nights of Power Outages + other outages kept us from rolling blackouts.

I can confirm that EA was free again tonight at a different site. The station I was using had both locking tangs broken. It's happened there and another EA BTC Power site numerous times. I did call it into EA. I was able to charge despite that but it's riskier. I made sure to stop it from the DC FC first and avoid the cable (to avoid knocking it loose).

I didn't need the juice but I guess I can save my work a bit of $ since normally, almost all my EV juice is for free from work.

 

[enslay]

I tried EA yesterday around 6pm in PA and while it showed a price, I have still yet to see a charge pop up on my credit card. By contrast, I tried EVgo this morning and the charge popped up on my credit card immediately (authorization and then final charge after stopping the charge).

EDIT: P.S. Did you know the Bolt has its own "Stop" button for DCFC? It's not easy to find, but you can force-stop DCFC from inside the Bolt using the Infotainment screen.

 

[jefro]

I was poking around energy screen and saw stop two days ago.

 

[gbeddow]

Knowing where to find this is more important than you might think: I've had to use the infotainment screen stop button on at least occasion when the DCFC charger malfunctioned, the handle wouldn't release from the car, and the stop button on the station didn't work.

 

[FlyingMachineEV]

Knowing where to find this is more important than you might think: I've had to use the infotainment screen stop button on at least occasion when the DCFC charger malfunctioned, the handle wouldn't release from the car, and the stop button on the station didn't work.

What are the steps on the infotainment system to find it. I guess first select energy, (I guess I’ll look more when I’m in the car)

 

[gbeddow]

What are the steps on the infotainment system to find it. I guess first select energy, (I guess I’ll look more when I’m in the car)

Don't recall the exact steps now and would have to verify the next time I'm charging at a DCFC, but yes: It was definitely somewhere in the energy screen.

 

[FlyingMachineEV]

Don't recall the exact steps now and would have to verify the next time I'm charging at a DCFC, but yes: It was definitely somewhere in the energy screen.

I’m currently not charging but I went through all the different tabs on the screen under energy and I couldn’t find anything. Perhaps it only pops up while you’re charging. I’ll check again next time. Thanks for pointing that out

 

[BobBolt]

I’m currently not charging but I went through all the different tabs on the screen under energy and I couldn’t find anything. Perhaps it only pops up while you’re charging. I’ll check again next time. Thanks for pointing that out

Yes, energy screen on the charging tab. I think it only appears during charging but, that is all I ever use...I guess I saw the buttons on the charger but was thinking that was more of an emergency disconnect? Anyway I am normally sitting in the car and just stop it when I get to the % that Energy Assist tells me I am supposed to be at.

 

[cwerdna]

Yes. I've used the stop button on the infotainment system. I've only seen it when charging.

 

[enslay]

Yes, energy screen on the charging tab. I think it only appears during charging but, that is all I ever use...I guess I saw the buttons on the charger but was thinking that was more of an emergency disconnect? Anyway I am normally sitting in the car and just stop it when I get to the % that Energy Assist tells me I am supposed to be at.

Maybe. I saw some physical red buttons on some stations, but EVgo has a UI button to stop charging. You go into EVgo's menu on the station and you can press "Stop" to stop charging. You can also do it from their app. I learned that the Bolt can do this just yesterday.

 

[gbeddow]

Maybe. I saw some physical red buttons on some stations, but EVgo has a UI button to stop charging. You go into EVgo's menu on the station and you can press "Stop" to stop charging. You can also do it from their app. I learned that the Bolt can do this just yesterday.

In my case - ChargePoint - it malfunctioned part way through charging, the stop button on the station didn't work, and the handle wouldn't let go. I didn't try the phone app; it seemed quicker to just hit the stop button in the car, unlocking the handle.

 

[jefro]

Think under target.

 

[cwerdna]

Yes. I've used the stop button on the infotainment system. I've only seen it when charging.

I no longer have a Bolt but I still had some videos I'd taken. This screenshot from it shows it.

 

[cwerdna]

I was at a 3rd EA site tonight and juice was free. So, it's been 3 days in a row.

All 3 DC FCs were working. Leaf was using CHAdeMO. ID.4 was using a CCS handle w/broken locking tang. I called it in. Other handle was fine on that station.

I used another DC FC and directed the next ID.4 to use the handle w/the non-broken tang. The 2nd ID.4 driver said he noticed it was free yesterday.

I saw his car at around 131 kW, peaking at 134 kW and when I left he was still at above 120 kW.

 

[FlyingMachineEV]

I was at a 3rd EA site tonight and juice was free. So, it's been 3 days in a row.

All 3 DC FCs were working. Leaf was using CHAdeMO. ID.4 was a CCS handle w/broken locking tang. I called it in. Other handle was fine on that station.

I used another DC FC and directed the next ID.4 to use the handle w/the non-broken tang. The 2nd ID.4 driver said he noticed it was free yesterday.

I saw his car at around 131 kW, peaking at 134 kW and when I left he was still at above 120 kW.

I’m a little jealous of those speeds. Thanks for the update. I’m going to check it out once again today as well