Circle K charging station experience by Out of Spec Kyle (with Rivian R1T)

[Administrator]

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[Dark-Fx]

Chargers right by the exit/entrance to the parking area are really bad placement for anyone towing.

 

[TexasBob]

Oh my goodness is that a needlessly complex, pointlessly expensive screen and payment system that will be prone to failures, coupled with a mediocre charging speed.

When will these charging manufacturers grasp the point that Tesla's simpler approach is the way to go? On-charger payment systems are about a absurd as toll booths.

 

[Riviot]

Chargers right by the exit/entrance to the parking area are really bad placement for anyone towing.

Towing + Flaming Hot Cheetos * Slurpee =

 

[Dark-Fx]

When will these charging manufacturers grasp the point that Tesla's simpler approach is the way to go? On-charger payment systems are about a absurd as toll booths.

IRA requires it. I think they make a lot of sense personally, just as long as the hardware was designed to be used outside in harsh conditions, and there's no reason it can't be.

"Tesla is better" but they control the entire experience when you're driving a Tesla. Not the case when you aren't.

 

[ads75]

Oh my goodness is that a needlessly complex, pointlessly expensive screen and payment system that will be prone to failures, coupled with a mediocre charging speed.

When will these charging manufacturers grasp the point that Tesla's simpler approach is the way to go? On-charger payment systems are about a absurd as toll booths.

Not everyone wants an app for every charger brand, and a credit card on file for everyone of those. On Charger payment sounds pretty close to what gas pumps use.

 

[OverZealous]

Not everyone wants an app for every charger brand, and a credit card on file for everyone of those. On Charger payment sounds pretty close to what gas pumps use.

Exactly. Everyone acts like we don't have a half million gas pumps with on-pump payment crossing the country already. Forcing an app (with BS like auto-withdrawing $10 "for reasons") is a significantly worse experience if you don't already have an app and account set up.

And we want more providers, not less. EV charging should become highly competitive, to help keep costs down and uptime high.

 

[SDH]

Agree with the above about needing more EV chargers but WITHOUT the need for more apps. Just make them like a gas station... fill up, pay at the pump with a card. Done.

 

[jeeden]

Agree with all above, even my wife who is pretty tech savvy said "I need how many apps to use all the different DC chargers? yea, forget that"

We pay for EVERYTHING with credit cards to leverage points, but on the rare occasion I go into a gas station I am always shocked at how many people are waiting in line to say "$40 on pump 2!"

There are a lot of people in the country who:
- Don't have smart phones or refuse to pay for data on smart phones
- Like/pay/deal in cash
- Don't like, trust, or want to be bothered with apps

The argument might be that those people would never be early adopters of EVs, but they EVENTUALLY will be driving EVs and the chargers will have to support them as well.

 

[Cycleman]

Glad to see it coming to "regular" road trip stops. This will help in the long run with other places like Pilot, etc coming online as well.

 

[zefram47]

Needing an app for every network sucks...especially when you pull up to the random network in podunk nowhere and don't already have the app needed. Even worse, try renting an EV in another country. The charging network apps are often restricted to that country's app store so folks can't download them...and hence no charging for you. Gas pump style payment terminals make more sense unless you have plug and charge. There are also still folks that don't have smart phones.

 

[Count Orlok]

tool

 

[EBEG]

Needing an app for every network sucks...especially when you pull up to the random network in podunk nowhere and don't already have the app needed. Even worse, try renting an EV in another country. The charging network apps are often restricted to that country's app store so folks can't download them...and hence no charging for you. Gas pump style payment terminals make more sense unless you have plug and charge. There are also still folks that don't have smart phones.

It seems like one should be able to have a payment set up on their vehicle. Once the vehicle is plugged in, the inside screen on the vehicle should show the costs, speed, etc. related to the particular charger. The driver could then agree and have the cost charged to the payment associated with vehicle. It seems the charging stations could be seriously simplified and the experience would be consistent for all chargers since you would always interact with your own vehicle.

 

[emoore]

more chargers, more better.

 

[zefram47]

It seems like one should be able to have a payment set up on their vehicle. Once the vehicle is plugged in, the inside screen on the vehicle should show the costs, speed, etc. related to the particular charger. The driver could then agree and have the cost charged to the payment associated with vehicle. It seems the charging stations could be seriously simplified and the experience would be consistent for all chargers since you would always interact with your own vehicle.

None of the current standards support anything of that sort. Tesla only gets away with richer info in-car because they control the whole stack and do comms over a wireless protocol rather than through the physical connection.

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