ZEF Charging Network: Reliability Data and Tips For Better Results

[Budman]

This post will be of most interest to EV drivers in the Upper Midwest.

ZEF Energy is Minnesota based charging network that has installed DC faster chargers (mostly 50 kW units) in small towns and rural areas of Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas. While that are to be applauded for this effort, ZEF chargers have a reputation for poor reliability.

Two of my many hobbies are reading plugshare reports and making spreadsheets just for fun (feel free to insert joke here). Casual observations of plugshare reports seemed to show better scores for ZEF chargers recently. But, I have more than casual observations to report on here. One year ago I took a quasi-random sampling of Plugshare averages for 40 ZEF charging locations and calculated the average plugshare score. I repeated that exercise this weekend on another 40 quasi-random ZEF plugshare scores. This sampling does indeed show improved plugshare scores and reports.

In the fall of 2023 the average plugshare score for ZEF chargers was 7.81 out of 10
In the fall of 2024 the average plugshare score for ZEF chargers was 8.85 out of 10.

So solid improvement compared to 1 year ago. I found many fewer reports of completely non-functioning chargers in 2024 vs 2023. So ZEF should get credit for addressing their reliability issues.

However, issues remain. Their software/app interface/payment system remains very buggy. From reading the plugshare comments most of the failed charging sessions were due to software/payment issues and not due to mechanical reliability of the charging units.

Clearly the burden is on them to improve this aspect of their network, however there are steps users can take to improve the likelihood of successful charging at ZEF units. Users have posted tips in their plugshare reports on how they have overcome issues. I've compiled some of this user tips below for your reference. Perhaps these tips would also be helpful on other networks?

TIPS FOR USING ZEF CHARGERS:

From my own experience I've had good luck by always using the app and using the "SCAN QR CODE" function in the app. Click this button and it opens the camera on your phone, scan the QR cod of the charger you are trying to use and that for make sure you and trying to initialize the machine you are at. I've seen the app default to chargers at other locations and you are mistakenly trying to initiate a charging session at some other charger! Also, have enough money loaded in the app before you start, if you don't have at least $5.00 you will likely have issues.

Also, some units have a big read Emergency Stop Button. Some people push this to stop charging but it is really a EMO that shuts down the whole unit unit the button is twisted to reset the emergency off. If unit is down, try twisting the button!

Other plugshare users tips shown below. Lots of funky hacks, we shouldn't need to do these but such as it is right now. Hopefully these tips will improve your chances!

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[emoore]

While I applaud ZEF for putting chargers in rural areas they are almost always broken. I count at least 5 in northern Minnesota that are out of order. They make EA look like the best charger company in the world. Some have been broken for over 2 years! We need real charging companies to start populating chargers in rural areas. ZEF chargers cannot be trusted.

 

[Dave Cundiff]

When we needed some charge to get to Austin MN, the ZEF charger at Stewartville MN wouldn't start. Even the ZEF Helpdesk evening shift (around 8:45 pm on a Wednesday) couldn't start it remotely. It was a very slow crawl to the hotel in Austin; we arrived at the hotel with 4% charge.

PlugScores integrate system performance at all different times. My experience, contrasted with the "call ZEF helpline and have them remotely start the charger" advice above, suggests that ZEF is most likely to fail people after hours, when they most need reliable chargers.

That's especially scary, at least to me, because Minnesota in winter is a very bad place to be stranded.

Thanks, @Budman, for calling out ZEF's record of relatively poor performance!

 

[Doug]

I live in MN and use ZEF as a last resort. I have had a few good experiences charging at a ZEF charger and a few bad. For being only 50KW they charge a $5 hookup charge so they are not cheap for how slow they are. It is better than nothing when they are working. I agree with a previous poster who said EA is great compared to them.

 

[RedRaiderRivian]

I live in MN and use ZEF as a last resort. I have had a few good experiences charging at a ZEF charger and a few bad. For being only 50KW they charge a $5 hookup charge so they are not cheap for how slow they are. It is better than nothing when they are working. I agree with a previous poster who said EA is great compared to them.

There is a similar company Francis Energy that operates primarily in Oklahoma but are expanding into New Mexico and Arkansas. They are so unreliable that I have chosen to drive 30 minutes out of the way to make it to a Chargepoint charger. Tesla opening their network to NACS adapter capable vehicles will likely lead to these companies either going out of business or being acquired by a larger operator.

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