Charging stations across the country

[ggsmith]

I am currently on my third trans continental (almost--Nashville to Palm Springs then Nashville to Vancouver Island, BC Canada and now on the was to Palm Springs again) trip and have some comments about the charging stations.
I have only rarely had the chargers with a rate of 200 kw and usually poke along at 70-90 kw. Is it just the Rivian way? Is it something I am neglecting to do to get faster charging, despite using fast chargers? I have not been able to determine why some 150kw chargers are able to charge faster than some 350 kw chargers
Could we not get the charging stations to supply water and glass squeegies? I noted them at some PetroCanada stations and at a Flying J. All others I use my spray bottle of bug and tar remover, a cloth and a little water to clean bugs off the windshield while waiting to get charged.
I really think that all the chargers should be charging by energy used rather than some charging by the time connected. It is impossible to compare prices for what we are purchasing (electricity) when different methods are used and being charged by the time used could be very expensive when the charger is slow.
I cannot say enough negative about the Francis chargers I attempted to use in Oklahoma and NM. Stay away if you can find anything else.
Is there some logical reason for there not being any chargers at the rest stops along the interstates? Seems to me I heard somewhere that there is a reason but it just seems one of the most logical places for them to be.
Sorry f anyone has previously posted these same concerns but I haven't read all posts and may have missed your post.

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[COdogman]

There could be many different explanations for the lower than advertised charging rates. It could be an issue with a charger, the outside temperature or battery temperature, your state of charge when you started the session, or whether you were able to precondition before plugging in. Each charging station brand could give you a different charging curve.

 

[strykerwsu]

I am currently on my third trans continental (almost--Nashville to Palm Springs then Nashville to Vancouver Island, BC Canada and now on the was to Palm Springs again) trip and have some comments about the charging stations.
I have only rarely had the chargers with a rate of 200 kw and usually poke along at 70-90 kw. Is it just the Rivian way? Is it something I am neglecting to do to get faster charging, despite using fast chargers? I have not been able to determine why some 150kw chargers are able to charge faster than some 350 kw chargers
Could we not get the charging stations to supply water and glass squeegies? I noted them at some PetroCanada stations and at a Flying J. All others I use my spray bottle of bug and tar remover, a cloth and a little water to clean bugs off the windshield while waiting to get charged.
I really think that all the chargers should be charging by energy used rather than some charging by the time connected. It is impossible to compare prices for what we are purchasing (electricity) when different methods are used and being charged by the time used could be very expensive when the charger is slow.
I cannot say enough negative about the Francis chargers I attempted to use in Oklahoma and NM. Stay away if you can find anything else.
Is there some logical reason for there not being any chargers at the rest stops along the interstates? Seems to me I heard somewhere that there is a reason but it just seems one of the most logical places for them to be.
Sorry f anyone has previously posted these same concerns but I haven't read all posts and may have missed your post.

Not sure why you are having issues on non Francis units. The ones in Oklahoma almost stranded me as the older units they have don't play nice with Rivian. All other brands charge per the known Rivian curve for my 2 vehicles. Usually 200 for a while and then slowly decrease. My average when below 30% is to add about 50kwh in 15 minutes. If possible that is how I try to charge on trips.

 

[SANZC02]

I am currently on my third trans continental (almost--Nashville to Palm Springs then Nashville to Vancouver Island, BC Canada and now on the was to Palm Springs again) trip and have some comments about the charging stations.
I have only rarely had the chargers with a rate of 200 kw and usually poke along at 70-90 kw. Is it just the Rivian way? Is it something I am neglecting to do to get faster charging, despite using fast chargers? I have not been able to determine why some 150kw chargers are able to charge faster than some 350 kw chargers
Could we not get the charging stations to supply water and glass squeegies? I noted them at some PetroCanada stations and at a Flying J. All others I use my spray bottle of bug and tar remover, a cloth and a little water to clean bugs off the windshield while waiting to get charged.
I really think that all the chargers should be charging by energy used rather than some charging by the time connected. It is impossible to compare prices for what we are purchasing (electricity) when different methods are used and being charged by the time used could be very expensive when the charger is slow.
I cannot say enough negative about the Francis chargers I attempted to use in Oklahoma and NM. Stay away if you can find anything else.
Is there some logical reason for there not being any chargers at the rest stops along the interstates? Seems to me I heard somewhere that there is a reason but it just seems one of the most logical places for them to be.
Sorry f anyone has previously posted these same concerns but I haven't read all posts and may have missed your post.

What state of charge are you stopping at? I just went I10 from Florida panhandle through Palm Springs using Rivian, EA, and Tesla chargers. Had no issues with any of them going over 200 kWh as long as I was under 35% when I stopped.

I was using ABRP for the route and was entering the next charger in the Rivian navigation, it may have been preconditioning the battery before the stops although the only time I saw that preconditioning message was going to the Rivian stations.

Edit: I looked at my notes, I did have one issue in Deming, NM where the 350 kWh EA station was de-rated and maxed out at 165 kWh, that was the only EA station of the 23 I used that was de-rated.

 

[VSG]

I have only rarely had the chargers with a rate of 200 kw and usually poke along at 70-90 kw. Is it just the Rivian way?

All batteries have a charging curve - they charge faster when more empty than they do when closer to full. You can look up "Rivian charging curve" so see what rate to expect for what % level of battery charge. But in general, Rivians will charge at ~200kW between about 0% and about 40%, then will taper down. I find myself leaving when the rate gets down to ~50kW, which it does at about 80%. This is why it makes sense to limit your charge %, and to try to get to a low % before you charge up again - that minimizes the charge time by charging when your car can accept the highest charge rate.

Of course, the charger could be slowing things down. The charger isn't going to give the vehicle more than it wants to take, but it can give the vehicle less than it wants if the charger isn't working right.

Could we not get the charging stations to supply water and glass squeegies?

Pro tip - EA has a lot of chargers at Walmarts. Next time you're on a road trip, walk into the store while you're waiting and pick up a squeegee. About $8 if I recall correctly. I did this less than 2 hours into my first road trip with my Rivian. Worth every penny.

I really think that all the chargers should be charging by energy used rather than some charging by the time connected. It is impossible to compare prices for what we are purchasing (electricity) when different methods are used and being charged by the time used could be very expensive when the charger is slow.

Strongly disagree. Some locations are required to charge by the minute, and those turn out to be about 10 times cheaper than the charge per kWh. I LOVE those charge by the minute stations, but they are only in certain locations (states), and in my experience those locations don't usually have a lot of chargers - probably because the charging companies lose money hand-over-fist when charging by the minute.

Is there some logical reason for there not being any chargers at the rest stops along the interstates?

23 U.S.C. § 111:

The State will not permit automotive service stations or other commercial establishments for serving motor vehicle users to be constructed or located on the rights-of-way of the Interstate System.

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rest_area

 

[SANZC02]

All batteries have a charging curve - they charge faster when more empty than they do when closer to full. You can look up "Rivian charging curve" so see what rate to expect for what % level of battery charge. But in general, Rivians will charge at ~200kW between about 0% and about 40%, then will taper down. I find myself leaving when the rate gets down to ~50kW, which it does at about 80%. This is why it makes sense to limit your charge %, and to try to get to a low % before you charge up again - that minimizes the charge time by charging when your car can accept the highest charge rate.

Of course, the charger could be slowing things down. The charger isn't going to give the vehicle more than it wants to take, but it can give the vehicle less than it wants if the charger isn't working right.


Pro tip - EA has a lot of chargers at Walmarts. Next time you're on a road trip, walk into the store while you're waiting and pick up a squeegee. About $8 if I recall correctly. I did this less than 2 hours into my first road trip with my Rivian. Worth every penny.


Strongly disagree. Some locations are required to charge by the minute, and those turn out to be about 10 times cheaper than the charge per kWh. I LOVE those charge by the minute stations, but they are only in certain locations (states), and in my experience those locations don't usually have a lot of chargers - probably because the charging companies lose money hand-over-fist when charging by the minute.


23 U.S.C. § 111:

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rest_area

I agree, charge by minute was great on my last trip, I had 3 EA stations charging by the minute, they were all under $13 and price per kWh for those charges worked out to 14 and 15 cents. The EA stations around the country with the membership pricing were 42-48 cents a kWh.

 

[ggsmith]

I am well aware of the charging rate curve and I have been starting the charge session almost always at less than 20% and sometimes less than 5%. Maybe I will inquire at at service when I get back from this trip and go in for the recommended next service.
I guess I have just gone to the wrong charge by minute locations as the ones I used turned out to be expensive so I made sure I left at no more than 80% charge.
I have a squeegee but still think it would be nice if the stations provided one with some water. They always seem to be available at gas pumps.

 

[VSG]

I have a squeegee but still think it would be nice if the stations provided one with some water. They always seem to be available at gas pumps.

Gas pumps open to the general public are always at staffed locations, where the employees can fill the water, clean the bathrooms, etc. Even then, there are even lots of GAS stations around here that don't provide water/squeegee anymore. Like my local Costco for example.

EV chargers are rarely at a location that is staffed by a charging company employee - they might be in a Walmart parking lot, for example, but Walmart doesn't own them and isn't responsible for maintaining them.

Because of that, I've learned to be self-sufficient. Lots of room in my R1T to keep a spray bottle of glass cleaner and a squeegee, available for whenever I need it.

I have only been to 1 EV charging location that had a squeegee/water. And it was out of water. That was the EA station in Green River, Utah, and I think it was the adjacent business who provided that out of the goodness of their own hearts - it wasn't EA.

I think the way EV charging stations work is going to be in flux for many years as more and more people own EVs and as more businesses become charging providers. Walmart, for example, is rolling out its own network (not EA) for Walmart locations, and with those Walmart chargers perhaps we will see conveniences like a way to wash our windshields or overhead protection from the rain/sun/snow. I think a lot of companies are going to try a lot of different things to cater to EV users, and it's going to take years to shake out. Don't forget it took a very long time for gasoline stations to figure out how to best serve their customers, and the services that were "normal" 50 years ago are no longer normal or even available these days (for example, someone who will wash your window *for* you. Check your oil and tire pressure. Pump your gas without you getting out of the car, etc.). And there are some services that didn't exist 50 years ago that are common now - mini marts for example.

As EVs continue to make up more of the total vehicle market, the charging/fueling market will continue to follow the money and adapt. We are not the earliest adapters, but it is still relatively early on in the transition. And specifically, this is not a Rivian problem per se, but a broader EV vehicle problem.

Oh, and @ggsmith, let me compliment you on taking those trips. So many people suffer from "range anxiety" or "EA derangement syndrome" or something similar that they won't even do that. I've done 4 longish trips in my R1T, ranging from ~1000 to ~4000 miles, so I understand exactly what you're saying. (And of all the chargers I've encountered, the Francis Energy ones in Oklahoma/SE Colorado were by far the sketchiest, although I *did* manage to get a charge at them.) I think we're at a sweet spot right now where these sort of trips are *possible*, and where we're seeing improvement WEEKLY, so it's only getting better. In a couple of years taking a long distance trip in an EV is going to be boring.

 

[emoore]

I am well aware of the charging rate curve and I have been starting the charge session almost always at less than 20% and sometimes less than 5%. Maybe I will inquire at at service when I get back from this trip and go in for the recommended next service.
I guess I have just gone to the wrong charge by minute locations as the ones I used turned out to be expensive so I made sure I left at no more than 80% charge.
I have a squeegee but still think it would be nice if the stations provided one with some water. They always seem to be available at gas pumps.

I used to agree with the lack of available squeegee and water but after using my own with a sparky bottle I’ve realized how disgusting those gas station squeegees are. I’m going to stick to my own from now on.

 

[betak]

I used to agree with the lack of available squeegee and water but after using my own with a sparky bottle I’ve realized how disgusting those gas station squeegees are. I’m going to stick to my own from now on.

Glass cleaner and microfiber cloths are essentials for a roadtrip, especially if driving through northern TX. Those were some huge splatters! I was cleaning the windshield at every charging stop.

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