EVgo plug and charge Autocharge+ email

[SeaGeo]

Even though they are expensive (and an EVGO plan does nothing to help you here), the Pilot / Flying J centers run by EVGO that are opening up around the country are pretty nice and would be a good alternative - with about the same price as a Tesla Supercharger. They are all 24/7 travel centers with restaurants, most with canopies over the chargers.

I am glad Rivian is finally able to Autocharge at EVGO. I had that feature on my Bolt and it was pretty nice to not have to mess with the app.

If you sign up for bluedot and initiate the charge with the bluedot app, it's $0.30/kwh, even at the PFJ spots.

You're welcome, my commission is 50% of your savings.

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[Riviaenz]

It’ll be expensive to try

Did not receive the email. The one time I went out of my way to try EVgo, all chargers were down. Haven't bothered to use them ever since.

The one time I went out of my way to purposely try them out I got ripped off to the tune of $60 for 48kWhr including 2 session fees since their charger interrupted 15kWh into the first session after it interrupted the person next to me in an EV6 (shared dispenser with 2 cables).

 

[Dark-Fx]

I had the same experience when I tried a few months ago when this was first announced. I guess I'll try again if I ever find myself needing to charge at and EVgo station, but now with my A2Z Tesla adapter, not sure if/when that'll happen.

EVGo's Tesla cables are all just captive Tesla CHADEMo to Tesla. Won't work with CCS.

 

[JoMo]

I got the email today to enroll in Autocharge and tried without success. I then contacted their customer service, advising me to log out and back in. It worked, but then I got an email within an hour that I had a Visa charge in Washington, DC, for $42 while I was sitting at my desk in Tucson, Arizona.

After contacting them again about this charge, they advised me to delete my vehicle on the site. Correction is pending.

Caution advised…

 

[Olsonsolar]

I called them today they said I still have to give them a credit card, it is not charged through the Rivian account. They are also super expensive. Will avoid at all cost.

 

[shrink]

So BlueDot actually give you a discount at the plug, not in form of shopping points at affiliated retailers? Does it work the same way at Tesla or other networks? These things were never made clear to me when I opened an account (which is now closed since I never used it). My email to them with the same questions was never responded to.

Yes, discount at the plug - but only if the charge is initiated within the BlueDot app -and only Chargepoint and EVgo charging stations currently appear. I'll post a full review in another thread.

With other networks, if you set your BlueDot debit card as the payment method, you'll get 20% back - but yes, in terms of "oxygen points," which can be redeemed in 250 point intervals - and only if you spend $50 on the card for other non-charging related purchases within the month during which you'd like to redeem.

Like I said, there are strings attached, but if you're willing to play the game - like airline points - it can work. It's definitely not for everybody.

 

[shrink]

So BlueDot actually give you a discount at the plug, not in form of shopping points at affiliated retailers? Does it work the same way at Tesla or other networks? These things were never made clear to me when I opened an account (which is now closed since I never used it). My email to them with the same questions was never responded to.

Here's a quick screenshot and this charge will actually be reimbursed and free because it was on the one "Free Charging Day" of the month.

Here are the actual EVgo rates:

So, that would have cost: $0.65 x 55.16 = $55.81 + $0.99 session fee = $56.80

I was charged only $16.54 but it will be fully reimbursed and free.

 

[ksurfier]

Interesting business model, those who don’t mind paying double the normal rate are subsidizing the few that have a workaround/membership? Sounds like rates will need to eventually come down or these stations (EVgo) will disappear…

 

[Riviaenz]

Interesting business model, those who don’t mind paying double the normal rate are subsidizing the few that have a workaround/membership? Sounds like rates will need to eventually come down or these stations (EVgo) will disappear…

Oh that blows, so when EVgo charged me >$1.20/kWhr ($60.25 for 48.865kWhr) I was paying for someone else‘s session too?! Insult to injury they hit me up for 2 session fees cause the dispenser hiccuped and I restarted a second session to keep charging. It flashed the results of the first session and I didn’t get clued into the fact I was getting ripped off until I ended the second session.

 

[Riviaenz]

I got the email today to enroll in Autocharge and tried without success. I then contacted their customer service, advising me to log out and back in. It worked, but then I got an email within an hour that I had a Visa charge in Washington, DC, for $42 while I was sitting at my desk in Tucson, Arizona.

After contacting them again about this charge, they advised me to delete my vehicle on the site. Correction is pending.

Caution advised…

You’re not the only one that’s posted about EVgo hitting Rivian owners for Autocharge sessions they didn’t initiate with their Rivian. Search the forum, there’s at least another 2 mentions of it in other EVgo related threads.

 

[NoGoingBack]

I got a similar email about a year ago and was able to enroll last year. Used it on a trip last November at a few of the flying J EVgo stations and it worked flawlessly. If their prices weren’t so hi they would be awesome. They were the most convenient stops I made other than the Rivian chargers I was able to use along the way. Being at a gas station most of them were covered and out of the rain and had window squeegees for getting the bugs off your window. Plus all the other amenities of a gas station truck stop. Wish more charging stops were like these.

 

[shrink]

You’re not the only one that’s posted about EVgo hitting Rivian owners for Autocharge sessions they didn’t initiate with their Rivian. Search the forum, there’s at least another 2 mentions of it in other EVgo related threads.

I actually read on Reddit of a similar issue on EVgo. Someone had initiated a charge in Florida, but the vehicle owner was in Texas or Arizona or something. I don't recall exactly but there is apparently some sort of security issue with EVgo's autocharge functionality.

 

[EdwardM2005]

Thank you, Shrink for sharing more about BlueDot.

I found out about this through Perks at Work. Along with my hard start into the EV charging world, BlueDot can save and earn cash back rewards. I use BlueDot all the time at Charge Point stations to receive reduced rates and earn rewards that get put back into BlueDot which I then use to fund my Electrify America account via a virtual credit card. The initial setup called for access to my bank account via Plaid - never heard of, so no trust there - but eventually, I was able to use a debit card to fund the account. Yes saving 20% even with strings attached is doable via BlueDot and because 95% of my charging is at DCFC, used level 2 maybe 5 time, this works for me.

Also happy to invite, share link to join BlueDot. Well scratch the above. Can not find that sharing invitation link.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Thank you, Shrink for sharing more about BlueDot.

I found out about this through Perks at Work. Along with my hard start into the EV charging world, BlueDot can save and earn cash back rewards. I use BlueDot all the time at Charge Point stations to receive reduced rates and earn rewards that get put back into BlueDot which I then use to fund my Electrify America account via a virtual credit card. The initial setup called for access to my bank account via Plaid - never heard of, so no trust there - but eventually, I was able to use a debit card to fund the account. Yes saving 20% even with strings attached is doable via BlueDot and because 95% of my charging is at DCFC, used level 2 maybe 5 time, this works for me.

Also happy to invite, share link to join BlueDot. Well scratch the above. Can not find that sharing invitation link.

Plaid is just another fin-tech. https://plaid.com/what-is-plaid/ They need access to a bank account because BlueDot's virtual and physical card is a actually a debt card that requires a funding source... like a prepaid credit card that you preload with funds. And if you are ever short on your balance, the difference is drawn from your preset funding source.

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