Difference between ChargePoint vs EV-GO?

[David Britton]

Charge point was what my Guide recommended when I took delivery of my R1T. I attempted to add EV-GO and they didn’t recognize my VIN number. I was turned off by the registration fee. I am in California and do most charging at my home-so far-all charging at home but planning a trip.

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[timgradywy]

Electrify America and EVGo are the two main non-Tesla or non-Rivian fast charging networks. PlugShare and A Better Route Planner are the best ways to search /route plan. Rivian just bought ABRP and is integrating them into their app and trucks. ChargePoint and Tesla also have a ton of slow chargers at hotels and similar locations. The ChargePoint Flex is a good home charger. Chargepoint does not have a lot of fast chargers. Most of the charging networks have a free where you pay more per kWh.

 

[Riviot]

Chargepoint does not have a lot of fast chargers

Well that's just not true.

OP, use ABRP and see what it recommends. You'll learn a lot about chargers generally by playing with the app.

 

[timgradywy]

ChargePoint may think they have a fair number of fast chargers installed, but they literally only have one within a few hours of the Bay Area. Normally I require a minimum PlugScore, but even with it turned all of the way down, they only have one.

Here's Electrify America.

And EVgo

EVConnect has more:

There are more Tesla with CCS than ChargePoint

Even Rivian has more Adventure Network Chargers in this region.

Where ChargePoint shines are with slow level 2 destination chargers at hotels, libraries, schools, parks, etc.

Chargepoint also has a bunch in-between 30 and 65 kW, but I'm not sure why you would use them when 150 kw+ chargers are available. I would normally not consider any of these fast charging, though certainly they're better than Level 2.

 

[VSG]

Well that's just not true.

I don't know what your filters are, but ChargePoint has exactly zero stations in Washington State that are above 100kW. According to PlugShare. The ChargePoint app doesn't allow me to filter by charging speed.

Sure, the ChargePoint 62.5kW chargers are DC Level 3, so they can technically be considered as "fast" chargers. But they are not my preferred stops because that's still very slow compared to what you can get from a typical EA or EVGo charger.

ChargePoint has been rolling out 350kW stations in certain areas, but not around here yet.

 

[VSG]

I attempted to add EV-GO and they didn’t recognize my VIN number. I was turned off by the registration fee.

Make sure you have the latest version of the app. You might have to delete your R1T from the EVGo app then add it back in to take advantage of this new autocharge+ feature - it only came out a few weeks ago. It does work once you get it set up.

I don't know what you mean about registration fee. You don't have to pay anything. You have the option of getting a monthly membership at various levels, which can reduce your per-charge cost and gives you some other benefits, but that's not required.

I find EVGo is generally a lot more expensive than EA. I've only used EVGo twice for that reason - it worked without drama both times.

I set up the autocharge+ on my R1T last week and tested it just to make sure it would work when I need it in the future. Setting it up requires you to start a session at an EVGo charger, and testing it requires you to start a second session, but those can be as long or as short as you want them to be.

 

[Riviot]

Chargepoint also has a bunch in-between 30 and 65 kW, but I'm not sure why you would use them when 150 kw+ chargers are available.

I don't know what your filters are, but ChargePoint has exactly zero stations in Washington State that are above 100kW. According to PlugShare. The ChargePoint app doesn't allow me to filter by charging speed.

Sure, the ChargePoint 62.5kW chargers are DC Level 3, so they can technically be considered as "fast" chargers. But they are not my preferred stops because that's still very slow compared to what you can get from a typical EA or EVGo charger.

ChargePoint has been rolling out 350kW stations in certain areas, but not around here yet.

Don't discount the 62kW stations! Some are actually higher and get split if necessary, so instead of showing the maximum charge rate it shows the minimum charge rate.

I've found 50-80kW stations to be more reliable, less stressful, and overall less charging time compared to "hyper warp speed" chargers at EA; see Ellensburg, WA. I'd rather spend the same amount of time hanging at a brewery (Enchantment Brewing, Ellensburg) or a cheap restaurant with strong margaritas (Mi Jalisco, Ritzville) than line up 8 deep at a Taco Bell for an hour waiting on unreliable chargers.

YMMV

 

[WSea]

ChargePoint may think they have a fair number of fast chargers installed, but they literally only have one within a few hours of the Bay Area. Normally I require a minimum PlugScore, but even with it turned all of the way down, they only have one.

Here's Electrify America.

And EVgo

EVConnect has more:

There are more Tesla with CCS than ChargePoint

Even Rivian has more Adventure Network Chargers in this region.

Where ChargePoint shines are with slow level 2 destination chargers at hotels, libraries, schools, parks, etc.

Chargepoint also has a bunch in-between 30 and 65 kW, but I'm not sure why you would use them when 150 kw+ chargers are available. I would normally not consider any of these fast charging, though certainly they're better than Level 2.

The plug score is mostly meaningless and is never part of my decision selecting a charger. Recent reviews should be read to understand

 

[zefram47]

The plug score is mostly meaningless and is never part of my decision selecting a charger. Recent reviews should be read to understand

It's even worse. Bad/broken reports seem to fall off the score way faster than they should, so the scores are pretty meaningless all around. Doubly so when people report a good session even though they had to move multiple times because of faulty hardware.

 

[VSG]

Don't discount the 62kW stations! Some are actually higher and get split if necessary, so instead of showing the maximum charge rate it shows the minimum charge rate.

Sure, I use them, just wouldn't call them fast. Way better than Level 2 chargers, and if you have an hour to spend eating at a nearby restaurant these can give you a reasonable amount of power for a reasonable cost.

ChargePoint has a configuration where they pair two 62.5 kW charger to potentially give 125kW if you're the only one using them, but with a Rivian you'll only get a max of 80kW because the chargers are current-limited to 200A. That will give you the full 125kW on an 800V vehicle but on a Rivian or any other 400V vehicle you'll only get 80kW.

I've found 50-80kW stations to be more reliable, less stressful, and overall less charging time compared to "hyper warp speed" chargers at EA; see Ellensburg, WA. I'd rather spend the same amount of time hanging at a brewery (Enchantment Brewing, Ellensburg) or a cheap restaurant with strong margaritas (Mi Jalisco, Ritzville) than line up 8 deep at a Taco Bell for an hour waiting on unreliable chargers.

I hear you and agree on both places!

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