More from All the news about EV charging in the US
In the wake of more “absolutely hard core” layoffs at Tesla that were especially hard on the charging division, Elon Musk is saying the company still plans to grow its Supercharger network “at a slower pace.”
Compare that to the message he sent internally, as reported by The Information: “We will continue to build out some new Supercharger locations, where critical, and finish those currently under construction.”
The prototype Polestar 5 uses an “Extreme Fast Charging” 77kWh EV pack, created in conjunction with company StoreDot, that can add 200 miles of range in 10 minutes. A Tesla would take about 15 minutes at many convenient Supercharger locations.
Polestar noted charging rates rose from 310kW at 10 percent charge to a blistering 370kW at 80 percent, and no special cooling equipment is needed.
No need for a Kill-A-Watt — fleet management companies can deploy ChargePoint’s Home Flex residential charging stations to keep track, which can tap into cheaper residential electric rates, as well as save time and money on stops at chargers.
ChargePoint says its software can handle reimbursement at public charging stations, and integrate with other fleet management software thanks to an open API.
Bloomberg:
Almost 600 public fast-charging stations were switched on for US drivers in the first three months of the year, a 7.6% increase over the end of 2023, according to a Bloomberg Green analysis of federal data. There are now almost 8,200 quick-turn EV stations across the country, or one for every 15 gas stations. Tesla is responsible for slightly more than one quarter of them.
EV charging is still a bit more complicated than a fill-up, what with different charging speeds, competing standards, and rival networks, but alignment is underway.
In addition to discounts for eligible Uber Pro drivers, Revel will use anonymized Uber data to decide on future EV charging station locations to address “charging deserts,” according to a press release shared with The Verge by Uber spokesperson Conor Ferguson.
Revel CEO Frank Reig says this will help it grow its charging business in NYC and, eventually, other cities. Revel plans to add 48 public fast-charging stations near the rideshare waiting area of New York’s La Guardia Airport.
Ford EV owners are the first to get access, with the company opening up orders for complimentary NACS-to-CCS adapters starting today. And (as noticed by Electrek) next in line will be GM, Rivian, Polestar, and Volvo. The companies will also need to roll out software updates to allow Tesla’s chargers to automatically recognize their vehicles for billing purposes.
[Tesla]
If you have one of Rivian’s electric trucks and an iPhone, you can keep an eye on the status of your charging progress a little easier with the version 2.7.0 update.
As 9to5Mac points out, support for the Live Activities feature added in iOS 16 keeps the charging information pinned on your lock screen or in the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 and 15 Pro models.
Ford CEO Jim Farley showed off the charging adapter in a post on Threads and said the company will share “more info very soon.” The CCS to NACS charging adapter is expected to start shipping to Ford EV owners free of charge this spring.
Android Authority spotted three strings of related code when it pulled apart the Android APK, including this description:
Charging stations with plug and charge let you charge more conveniently, without using your phone or charging card. You can set up plug and charge in your vehicle’s settings and payment app.
Some cars already support Plug and Charge, and there was even talk of standardizing on it in North America.
In a post on X, Ford CEO Jim Farley said that Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning owners in the US and Canada could reserve their complimentary adapters. The adapters, which enable EVs equipped with CCS ports to charge at Tesla Superchargers, are being supplied by Tesla, a spokesperson said.
Ford was the first company to announce its intention to adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard for its future EVs — a commitment that was eventually repeated by basically the rest of the global auto industry.
Electrek points out this Fox 32 report from Monday showing Teslas that couldn’t charge in subzero temperatures, similar to issues some drivers reported last winter.
It’s unclear if drivers failed to warm the batteries by preconditioning (EVs in Norway, for example, seem to get by somehow) or if the chargers failed, and Tesla doesn’t respond to questions. Another report from WGN News points to long lines at functioning stations and includes a service center operator telling people to park their cars inside if possible.
The company has announced that it’s building its first US-based charger production factory in Texas “in response to the growing demand for EV charging stations across North America.” LG also plans on rolling out 11kW and 175kW EV chargers, along with 350kW fast chargers in the US this year.
This report says that despite the billions in funding approved in 2021, only Ohio and New York have used them for new EV charging stations so far as states navigate environmental impact and CCS vs. NACS.
It also cites a survey finding that 80 percent of people said a lack of chargers is one of their reasons for not buying an EV, suggesting the slow rollout (we said patience would be required) could temper demand. And where chargers exist, some have found that due to unreliability, they’re not guaranteed to provide more than a shopping convenience.
Skipping the gas station is one of the most freeing aspects of switching to an EV, but sometimes people miss it for the amenities — like using those squeegees to clean their windshields while refueling.
Well, say hi to this GM Ultium-branded gas-station-looking EV charging hub in Ohio, which looks like it’s part of the recently announced EVgo and Pilot partnership. It’s got the familiar canopy, accessories, and the pull-up-at-the-petrol-pump vibe.
