Addressing Charger Hogging by EV Owners
Electrify America is experimenting with limiting charging at 10 of its busiest stations in California to address charger hogging by EV owners who stay at fast chargers even when their batteries are nearly full, causing long wait times for others. The company will automatically stop charging at 85% capacity and impose idle time fees if drivers don't unplug. This behavior is attributed to a lack of awareness about charging speed slowdowns after 80% capacity and the scarcity of chargers. Free charging agreements with automakers may exacerbate the issue. Electrify America aims to encourage more considerate behavior among EV owners.
Key Points
- Electrify America experimenting with limiting charging at 10 busiest stations in California
- Automatically stopping charging at 85% capacity to address charger hogging
- Scarcity of chargers and lack of awareness contribute to the issue
- Free charging agreements with automakers could worsen charger hogging
Pros
- Limiting charging at busy stations can reduce wait times for other EV owners
- Encourages more considerate behavior among EV owners
- Potential for a more nuanced approach in the future based on real-time data
Cons
- May inconvenience EV owners who have legitimate reasons to charge to 100%
- Free charging agreements with automakers may lead to more charger hogging