Looks like they are changing the hardware and installing new chargers. But turns out they are even worse than the previous ones: https://youtu.be/fq0RAjJ1PKQ

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That's interesting with how it specifically isn't working in the cold (your video). I wonder if they simply went without a dedicated heater, or tried to rely on internal resistance for heat. Or if they just cheaped out on the heater and it can't handle wind/cold together or something. That is assuming heating/cold is the issue here, but if so it's a pretty simple thing to overlook.

Subsidies by number of installed chargers instead of uptime?

And the new ones don't work in the cold. Glad I can charge at home. oof.

This isn't a subsidized project - this is a court mandated requirement because Volkswagen intentionally poisoned millions of people and our planet with illegally polluting diesel vehicles for YEARS.

It's not surprising that a charging network that is essentially a punishment for the company making it sucks.

Do they also not work in the heat?

That’s odd, I live in Arizona and have charged in the summer without having to do that.

That’s different. Currently the EA chargers are not charging at all in the deep freeze. I’ve heard of people doing the damp towel thing in the summer when it’s not fast enough. That trick isn’t needed but nice to have available.

Not a fanboy, but thIs is why I bought a Tesla. It was always hit or miss finding an available and working charger for my previous non-Tesla EV.

I think that's mostly a thing with the Tesla chargers. The CCS chargers are a lot bulkier and water cooled already, but the Tesla handle is a lot thinner and it can improve performance with the damp rag.

I find it to be an inconsistent experience. I have two EA stations near me. One station has 3 chargers, the other has 6. Without fail, there will always be at least one charger that just doesn’t work for the day.

On top of that, the charging rates are also super inconsistent. A few weeks ago I charged in 50 degree weather and pulled a max of 40kw. Today while traveling, I pull a max of 100kw in 40 degree weather (same 150kw chargers just different locations). My car also doesn’t have preconditioning.

The only saving grace is that it’s free for most people that bought EVs the past year.

This is why I like having a gas powered car. I can see myself getting an EV in 10 years when the infrastructure is better or so but in the meantime I never have to worry about powering my car.

Or you could just plug it in at home lol. And don’t use electrify America. I’ve owned an EV for over a year and have had zero issues with ChargePoint so I mostly stick with them now, but charge at home like 85% of the time.

I live in an apartment so I’ll stick with a gas powered car lol

One of the biggest advantages easily. I've seen my fair share of shitty 3rd party chargers and my co-worker also got so sick of dealing with broken chargers, after his lease was up, he went straight to Tesla too after I told him I drove over 600 miles without any issues. Charging at home is the ideal situation, but when you're on a long road trip, the last thing you want to deal with is pulling up to a charger and realizing it's fucking broken.

I found it interesting that they stress that Tesla's advantage is that they only have to work with Tesla's cars. I'm sorry, but that's a fucking cop out. EA's chargers are so fucking unreliable. The fact that it's unusual to stop somewhere and not have at least one charger offline, speaks volumes. They aren't not working with certain cars, they are just plain fucking broken.

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Sorry. As someone with a car that uses CCS to charge instead of tesla's chargers, I'm just over the excuses.

I hate semmaconnect chargers... they fucking suck

This is because EA was forced to build the network, they didn’t do it willingly. Hence the bare minimum to get it done is being done.