Idle fee hate

[sherold]

Another strategy that can be used in situations like this:

Reduce your charging amperage to finish when you need it to end.

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[OUTAGAS]

I, too, was bitten by this at a RAN charger when my app failed to notify me that charging was completed. I'll set to 100% next time.

 

[KBabione]

The strategy to change the maximum percentage is solid. I've used that at least once, including a trip to Philadelphia where I was at a supercharger. I only needed 80% or so to get home, but I would have been idling while finishing my roast pork sandwich, so I bumped it to 100%. The car was still only at 89% after charging for 75 minutes. While that car charged slow as hell, this should still give you plenty of time away from your truck if you need it.

Agreed - The ability to change the charge limit remotely has been huge for me at chargers where I might experience idle fees. I typically set the charge limit a little higher than I need and then monitor it while it charges. If it's getting close to my limit and I know I need more time (dining, shopping, sleeping) I'll just bump it up remotely. It does take a long time, especially on a L2 charger, to get to 100%.

The one place that doesn't seem to work is with the Electrify America chargers...The last two that I visited had a hard stop on their end of 80% - ignoring what I set in my R1S. Yet another reason not to use EA...

 

[blturner]

This is largely the reaction I was expecting. I would rather not game the system, but I did not know that I could set an amp limit on a DCFC. I may have miss read the 1 hour vs 10 min grace. It is hard to read this stuff across multiple chargers while you're driving. It did charge me for 61 minutes of idle.

As to the "You never know when someone will want to use it." I think that is a bad excuse for spending time and money unnecessarily. It was clearly built for future demand, and was going to sit empty all night long. I actually like the "Rules are rules" rational better. I am a compulsive rule follower.
I don't like the rule of getting out of the way of nobody, so I will avoid the situation. That means take the ICE. It's cheaper and more convenient anyway. I drive enough commuting miles for an EV to make sense without long road trips. Public charging has become pretty reliable. But it has become predatorily expensive, inconvenient and kinda hostile.

 

[pricedm]

...I did not know that I could set an amp limit on a DCFC."

Thankfully this is not possible. DC chargers are "fast" for a reason, to enable long-distance travel. Not an efficient use of resources to have people trickle charging at a DC charger. Hence no ability--thankfully-- to limit incoming power on a DC charger.

 

[WhidbeyIsland]

There is an easy fix.. just set your charge limit higher, into the 'slow' range.. then you have ample time to get to the vehicle. If I'm going to be leaving my vehicle to eat.. or some quick shopping, I set the charger limit to 85% or higher. Then if I am late getting back, when it hits 80%, it slows down and I don't have to rush to get back. I never have idle time charges. *but* you should always be monitoring your vehicle via the app to know the current charge status.

 

[VandalSibs]

Another strategy that can be used in situations like this:

Reduce your charging amperage to finish when you need it to end.

I don't think you can adjust the amperage when at a DC Fast Charger.

 

[iansriv]

Let me guess - he's probably also the guy who tries to join office zoom calls from the bar thinking his blurry background will save him?

He's a nice guy actually. It was a series of unfortunate events for the poor sod. The charging station is free for the first 3 hours and $50 every hour thereafter. He totally forgot about it and found out at the end of the day when he went to get in his car.

 

[KBabione]

He's a nice guy actually. It was a series of unfortunate events for the poor sod. The charging station is free for the first 3 hours and $50 every hour thereafter. He totally forgot about it and found out at the end of the day when he went to get in his car.

Hopefully he can charge there often for free for 2 hours and 45 minutes to average out his costs...

 

[Scottm]

Yeah at first I was sympathetic but then I saw you were plugged in for 2.5 hours! I don’t think I’ve ever DC fast charged for more than 35-40 minutes. This sucks but you misread conditions and now you know and you’ll never do it again. If you ever find yourself DC fast charging over an hour you should be questioning whether you really need to be plugged in that long.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Yeah at first I was sympathetic but then I saw you were plugged in for 2.5 hours! I don’t think I’ve ever DC fast charged for more than 35-40 minutes. This sucks but you misread conditions and now you know and you’ll never do it again. If you ever find yourself DC fast charging over an hour you should be questioning whether you really need to be plugged in that long.

And $30 is relatively cheap for an education

 

[Dark-Fx]

Yeah at first I was sympathetic but then I saw you were plugged in for 2.5 hours! I don’t think I’ve ever DC fast charged for more than 35-40 minutes. This sucks but you misread conditions and now you know and you’ll never do it again. If you ever find yourself DC fast charging over an hour you should be questioning whether you really need to be plugged in that long.

Yeah, I can't imagine needing to charge for that long on a RAN.

Chargepoint though?... Maybe.

 

[Dave Cundiff]

Tough crowd....

Tough lesson....

... and OP is a tough guy, trying sincerely to learn.

Thanks for sharing, @blturner! Best wishes!

 

[Donald Stanfield]

I like the idle fee. I've sat there waiting while Bolts sit at chargers unattended for an hour with 100% battery, while I wait for only one of the two shitty stations to be open so I could charge and get underway. I think idle fees should be higher so that no one leaves their car plugged in for 2.5 hours, as it is terrible when you're on a road trip waiting for a charger when someone is monopolizing it for no reason. That's right up there with the Bolts using the 350kW stations when the 150's are open.

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