😱GM Energy EV Charging Station: Better Than Tesla?
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- In this video I review a new GM Energy EV charging station located in Troy Illinois. This is part of the quickly expanding EV infrastructure across the United States that will help expand EV adoption.
#chargingstation #electriccarcharging #rivianr1t #teslasupercharger #evgo #flyingj #evcharging #evchargingstation
What amenities would you like to see at charging stations that would improve your charging experience? Let me know in the comments!
After charging our R1S at the Mercedes Benz Charging hub near Atlanta? I want a waiting lounge with comfy chairs, snacks and coffee bar. Clean restrooms.
its cheaper for me to go 100 miles with my 2014 lx fwd honda crv vs a tesla model 3 rwd tesla cost about 11 bucks about 9 bucks for my crv.
A canopy is appreciated. Trash cans and windshield washer. It should not raise the price.
i drive a 105 miles round trip to work 5 / 6 days a week. I fill up fri / sat on way home it takes $17/$20 per week at $3.00 a gal. Also all I need is a gas/convenience store. No run around having to plan every trip and construction detours that have no chargers. Plus your Riv you wont be able to by any factory parts in a year or so. You own a throw away golf cart with a EV. Its been fun see you on the rebound.
@@terryrastetter That's over 80 mpg. What car gets 80 mpg besides a plug in hybrid maybe 🤔
As an EV owner (Ioniq5), I prefer the charging stations with the amenities. However, for now, we take what we can get. Let's see what Ionna has on the horizon. Love this channel!
Tesla chargers are fastest for Teslas because they begin charging before they verify payment is available. After the charge is complete then the car checks your card. I had a card that was paused, and I charged the car just fine using it, afterwards the Tesla app just said there is an un-paid balance.
Totally agree that sitting at the chargers is not an issue, and really never has been. I think I would personally rather pay less than have a canopy etc.. I usually take a little stroll either before or after my pit stop and/or meal time. Like you say, I’m usually done with charging before I’m ready to get going again. Always enjoy your videos.
Thanks for sharing your EV charging experience! The only people that seem to be concered with charging stops are people that never charged an EV.
I'm happy to pay more considering most ev charging happens at home. I use level 3 charging 2 to 4 times a year at most on road trips. However, there need to be many more level 2 stations all over so people without home charging have less expensive options. There also needs to be more PR around how level 1 might be able to meet your needs. Have been doing primarily level 1 without issue for going on 3 years.
Thanks for sharing your experience at this GM Energy/EVGO station.
It’s nice to see that food and restrooms were available.
It’s too bad that most charging facilities don’t have trash cans or window washing gear. That HAS to change.
Covered charging makes for a more premium experience, but until there are more EVs on the road they’ll likely not be a priority.
Thanks again!
I agree with you about the signage. Because I was driving one time and I found a charging station just because I was stopping off to go use the bathroom or something else and I saw GM charging station there. But it wasn’t anything I was looking for. But it was nice to know it was there.
Yes, signage must improve not necessary for the EV owners, but to improve awareness for the non-EV owner.
Thanks for sharing!
I would like to see stations which contain some 50kW chargers with a 5-10c discount when there is a restaurant or deli nearby. Currently, the charging happens too fast to enjoy a meal outside of the vehicle. Sometimes, I do not precondition so that I can slow the charge rate and enjoy a longer stop without having to run out and disconnect the car.
That could provide more revenue for a business, and 50kw chargers would be ideal for longer dwell times for restaurants and shopping.
Thanks for sharing!
Good point on the signage! EV drivers should be able to see signage with Equipment, KWH range and pricing, e.g., EVGO 150-350 KWH $0.50/KWH. At some point even charger available: 3 of 4 chargers available
The R1T is a sweet ride. Love the vids you make in it. That location just opened recently. What I have found with windshield squeegees is sometime it takes the staff a few weeks before they add the garbage cans and windshield squeegee buckets to the charging stations. I bet if you go back around Christmas, they will have them. Also, I have been seeing on the new stations they have been opening the price is pretty low. Another one just opened today in Victor, IA on I-80. It too is $0.50. Thx for the video. I enjoyed watching.
Thanks for providing additional context! This is what I suspected because they do own the location. I will go back in a few months to check it again.
Thanks for sharing!
I enjoy the breaks for charging maybe I’m just tired of being in such a hurry
My family and I really look forward to the charging breaks. I also feel a lot less fatigued when I reach my destination.
I used to drive Camaros and Corvettes and was always in a hurry. My first trip with a Tesla was a big change but the second trip was better and now I couldn't go back. I still drive as fast (or faster) but I enjoy the frequent breaks and arrive much more relaxed. I really don't think the EV charging adds any time when you consider 5 minutes at the pump plus time to the bathroom and getting food or a drink.
Great video, thanks! Nice Rivian BTW!
@@johnreese3762 Thanks!
Obvs, it would be nice if there was a canopy. Also helpful: quiet, automatic tire compressor station.
Thanks for the review, I prefer amenities than price. I don't road trip more than 200 mi from home in my EUV, which I can make on a full charge.. The rest of the time I charge at home. At that site you could use the window squeegee at the gas station. The Kw and gas price is higher in CA.
Fair enough!
Lovely video,
I don’t consider charging at home the same with public charging.
It’s a given that home charging is far more cheaper.
My issue will be the price difference in the public charging space.
In my situation, I don’t have home charging, so, until recently, I was in search for the cheapest public charger.
Have settled for the Tesla for my Volvo XC 40, very cheap in comparison to others in the U.K.
Thanks for commenting! How much does it cost to charge in the UK?
Duke, keep your eyes open for new IONNA charging stations - There is one about to begin construction near me in Columbus OH.
IONNA is promising amenities such as covered charging, restrooms, sitting and , food / beverages. They are also going to use 400 KWH Alpitronic chargers.
I have watched a few videos covering IONNA. I can't wait to see them expand across the country.
Thanks for sharing!
I'm not asking for much you know.... just a trash can and maybe a picnic bench. You know one that is right next to the chargers. A small 5-10 cents per Kwh I think would be sufficient to support basic amenities if its attached to an already functioning gas station or other business.
Conventional road trips stops with bathroom and fast food for 3 or 4 people takes about 20 mins
What bothers me about this and others is that once again EV's are getting judged on how well they go on roadtrips when the overwhelming majority of people are only driving about 35 miles a day. We're judging a product based on the edge case. This is like saying a chainsaw is a bad tool because less than 1% of users cut their finger off. We need to stop treating charging stations like they are "electric gas stations". Why should I care about X stations charging 60 cents a KWH (I've see it as high as $1.12 KWH) when I charge at home for 5 cents? If you want the benefits of a new technology that technology needs to be treated differently not just more of the same.
I understand what you are saying, and it is true, however, it is also true that millions of Americans cannot charge at home and will have to rely on public charging stations.
Flying J set up seems to be better than Pilot's. I like the Flying J GM stations better than the Tesla Supercharger. I can also plug and charge my Tesla at Flying jjust like the supercharger without using the app or using a touch screen. Just plug in and the car starts charging.
I have not been able to get plug-and-charge to work at EVgo stations, but I do prefer Flying J to all other charging stations as well.
Thanks for sharing!
I saw one video about an indoor charging spot and you know…how about converting a Spirit Halloween near the freeway. Or drive-in Barnes and Noble.
Wow, the charging at .67 per kWh is almost 5 times higher than what I pay to charge at home.
Yes, that was an expensive charge on a road trip this summer, however, my last stop was free charging at an Electrify America charging station.
@@thedukeofmiddleville that would be like paying 2.50 gal for gas at home, then paying 12.50 gal for gas on a road trip!
@@mowcowbell True, unless you live in California.
do they sell extension cables for EVs, I bought a 5 meter cable for my EV or can use charging RV Batteries for Coach
Yes, there are extension cables, but only for level 2 charging. I hope to review one on my channel soon.
Why doesn’t the app tell one the cost/kwh? That would seem most helpful.
@@briancarlisi2224 Hello, The cost per kwh is actuality in the app. I also found the price on Pilot's website.
Thanks for commenting!
@@thedukeofmiddleville good to know. Thank you for doing these EV videos, educating this ICE diehard, lol
I saw those dispensers were made in Taiwan, so this likely is not a NEVI funded site.
I went to the PFJ site in London, Ohio when it opened (1st NEVI funded site in the entire US) and have noticed that the price per kWh has changed both up and down over the ensuing months. Not much consistency even in areas with similar electric rates
You are correct, I checked Illinois website, and this is not a NEVI funded site. Great catch and thanks for commenting!
The number one thing about owning an ev is that you are doing something to make the world better for the world's present day grandchildren . Instead of focusing on whatever hypothetical situations that may or may not occur , we should make the grandchildren the focus . There are no inconvenience , no sacrifice that's not worth enduring for the sake of the ones to inherit the world after us . They should not be left to clean up the destruction left by us . And for those whining about the financial impact , please imagine the cost for trying to fix the negative impacts just twenty years from now . We can't be as dumb as we are showing to be , that's all I got on this subject America , so peace to all , that's the way love goes and I'm out 🎭
charging at my House is 5 Thai Baht per KW - 30 % 0r 25 KW will cost me -- 125 Thai Baht or in USD =3.79 usd
I went to a super charger and I couldn’t get a spot. It was like 12. Went to another and still couldn’t get a spot.
I wasn’t traveling.
But once a week I supercharge my model.
I just left went home
Do you charge at home?
EVGO received the full $2 billion grant from IFA! Tesla received “zero” grant!😊
Public window wash? Dirtiest "water", any where.
I would never use a tesla station unless it was that or death.😮
Again, no overhead cover.
Some GM Energy stations are better than others, but that should have squeegees and trashcans at a minimum.
I agree. Maybe its because the site is new? But they should have them since they own the chargers.
@@thedukeofmiddleville Yeah, maybe. It's Pilot that would put them out and maintain them. I would have put a word in with the manager just to remind them.
70 cents a KWh tells you how serious GM is about selling BEVs.
Gm doesn’t set the price. The station does
@@bloodycreepy So GM get 0 when people charge ?
@@danharold3087 exactly. Pilot/flying j gets the profit. They also are responsible for up keep on the units. Gm gets their return on investment from when the station pays for the install of the site
The question of your title is a joke...right?
1. There are less than 100 GM/Flying J Stations installed to date. That's so few as to be invisible nationwide.
2. The pull through and window washing is nice but station reliability, price per kWh, and density of charging sites are the metrics most people care about. Tesla excels and everyone else is playing catch-up.
3. Rivian plugs and plays at SCs. No need for an app.
4. Tesla shouldn't get NEVI funding? Say what? Tesla installs more stations per month than any other charging firm. If EVs adoption is to grow, we need all the reliable stations we can get.
5. V3 SCs do not share power. You can charge up to 250 kW. More than the Rivian can accept.
6. There are apps and the vehicle's navigation to plan your route and pre-condition your battery. Why do you need a sign along the highway? Yesteryear thinking.
Personally, I'm looking for charging reliability and density of sites. Canopies and access to junk food is of no interest. And I don't care about the rate...it's truly chump change.
I made a joke in another comment about wanting the amenities that the Mercedes Benz Charging hub offers. But I could not agree with you more. I do try to use my Tesla SC subscription for charging my R1S, but if it fails to initialize in the Tesla app, I don’t lose sweat over it and just pay the higher plug and charge price.
Tesla V3 chargers do not support 800v which is why they shouldn't qualify for NEVI funding under the rules in 23 CFR Part 680. Many EVs charge at 800v and will top off at 100 KW max at Tesla superchargers. Also, every GM Energy station I have gone to has been 100% operational.
Thats a lots of sites as they started less than 2 years ago.
I have probably been to 50-75 different Tesla SC stations. I have found two chargers down total over those stations. Tesla does a damn good job of keeping them up and functional. Functional is number 1 on anyone's list. To paraphrase a NBA phrase, the best ability is availability.
The rate does matter. There are plenty of people who rely on having the charging network as their only source. Let's use this video as an example. He pointed out that gas was $3 a gallon. A car that gets 30mpg, their cost is 10 cents a mile. That Rivian gets ~2 miles per kWh. At the .49 he was seeing, that is .25 cents per mile. That is 2.5x the cost of that 30mpg car. Now, before people go off and say that is a car and the Rivian is a pickup, the F150 gets 23mpg. At $3 a gallon that is .13 per mile. When people look at their wallet, that is not going to help convert people. It is 1/2 the energy cost in a F150 vs a Rivian. The rate to get parity with $3 a gallon would be around .26 per kWh.
And, the amenities can be something that you are not thinking about. It could be that it is in a well lit populate area. Some people do not feel comfortable going to a place in an unfamiliar neighborhood in the dark.
@@davidbergerson My Rivian R1T is 835 hp, so a better comparison is the Ford F150 Raptor R (720 hp) which gets ~12 miles per gallon or .26 cents per mile based on your calculations.
Thanks for commenting!
Pay less!
Payless all day!!!
Thanks for sharing!
GM does nothing better.
Way to much BS just to charge, HYBRID the way to go. We have to many other things to worry about than having to waste time planning a trip just to drive your car. Gas stations at every corner and you can be done in 5 to 10 min.
How often do you have to go to the gas station to fill up your hybrid?
GM sucks
They are number two in EV sales so far this year. So, I guess they suck less than everyone except Tesla in EV sales.
@thedukeofmiddleville Yeah, number one is the whale and number two is the tic tac. GM is exactly what their name implies.