EV Fast Charging Returns to the Masspike... with Limits (Quick Charge # 12)
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- Опубліковано 24 лют 2024
- After more than a year in limbo, public DC fast charging has returned to the Masspike/I-90... sort of.
In the latest edition of Quick Charge, we take a short trip out from Boston to Natick service plaza on I-90 (eastbound) to test out the new AUTEL Maxicharger. It's a 120 kW-capable unit that can share that power to charge two EVs at once, but some site limitations that hampered the previous install have yet to be resolved.
We cover all of that in this quick test charge session, which was free at the time of recording but now costs $0.35/kWh with a $2 minimum for the session.
Check out a very early Plug & Play EV video covering the end of free charging with the old EVgo hardware here: • Free EV Charging: End ...
And read more about last year's woes of EV charging on the Masspike here: news413.com/2023/06/21/massdo...
#EVcharging #Masspike
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Steve, there is a plan to upgrade these to 120kW and add retractable cable management. The power IS available so should be done in March or so…
Fantastic news, thanks for the update. I'll be sure to visit again once the power is cranked up 👍
We should have minimum of 8 non Tesla chargers at every rest area
I will let you know when it’s completed. We are the local AUTEL rep.
Excellent, thanks. Hardware looks great so it's good to know the site will be upgraded to make the most of it.
Thanks, Steve! Ah, the old BTC Power L3R.... I feel like they might have about a 5 year operation life at best.
Installed 2016, broken by 2020/21... timelines check out! 🔧
@@plugandplayEV 😂Yes, they've been torn out of most sites out West by now. They had a bunch in Vegas that were on their last leg when I visited 5 to 6 years ago (they've all been pulled). About the only ones left in service are CalTrans at the rest areas. They worked for about 6 months, started getting buggy, and now are working okay. Based on the timeline, they've got another 3 years max. 😆
There is only so much balance power sharing and battery storage type systems can do but can’t really do much at all when there isn’t enough site power.
A battery-backed solution would definitely make a difference here, at least outside of peak hours. They would get triple digit charging for a couple of sessions, then the default even when batteries are depleted wouldn't be much different to what this install delivers. Hopefully this is just a first step of many, rather than all they plan to add this year.
Nice I love that company
They seem to make very solid products. We use the home AC Maxicharger and it's been very good so far.
Steve, thanks for update on mass pike.
Hope it's useful, thanks Robert.
For sites like this, I just can't see how you would install standalone chargers anymore. I know that the upfront price for Freewire Boost is much higher, but even getting just one or two split-power 150+ kW units in prior to upgrading site power seems like a much better solution. The battery backup feature for the host business should also be a serious consideration.
I agree, but Mass DOT hasn't shown any real urgency or savvy in using these locations well. The most likely improvement for this year will be the Tesla stations opening up to other models.
Looking at reports, it seems like management of the plazas could change hands in 2025/26. I guess they could be waiting for a more comprehensive overhaul, as New York did with brand new Thruway facilities, but that puts any kind of meaningful Interstate charging very far down the line.
these kinds of units would probably be ideal at movie theaters/shopping malls not on interstate pull offs
Really hoping the power upgrade and perhaps additional units are at least added this year. Far from perfect but a step in the right direction, with those upgrades.
IF grid power is an issue, they should have included a battery buffer. More examples of MA trying, but failing miserably.
It looks like the power will be upgraded in due course, so the limitations will only be temporary. Once up to full whack, it will be similar power to a battery-integrated unit.
sorry Steve I’m just disappointed after seeing EVgo station more times not working then working I expected something better
Yeah, I hear you. I see a lot of progress at newer locations from EVgo and there are other reasons to feel positive about future EV charging (Tesla opening, Rivian, NEVI, Ionna etc.) Unfortunately, the Masspike won't be at the front of that wave but at last it should get pulled along in its undertow.
Thanks for your content Steve ! Is Plug-and-charge available for Hyundai/KIA EV's at Electrify America?
You're welcome, thanks for the comment! No, Hyundai/Kia haven't added the P&C functionality to their EVs in North America yet. They can do Autocharge+ with EVgo and (I think) EV Connect, but not Plug&Charge on any CPO yet.
What a farce. 7kWh in 10 minutes on an Ioniq 5? In this day and age, we should have a MINIMUM of 150kW charging. Put in chargers with battery packs if you can’t get the grid connection. Wasting the money to install these low power chargers is ridiculous.
From your comment to Mass DOT's ears, I hope... 🤞
Thanks for the video, Steve. And nice intro. Maybe it's not new but I don't remember seeing it before.
Cheers, Tom. It's the original Quick Charge intro but the series is sporadic, so probably easy to miss. Thanks for the feedback!
60kw that would be great if it were 2014.
Indeed! But no CHAdeMO here, so it wouldn't have been much use in 2014 either 🤷
Steve, I saw a Genesis G80 charge at a Supercharger Magic Dock at 122kw. Branden Flasch, who made the video, said it was due a different inverter. But I was wondering if you had tried a Magic Dock recently after Tesla opened them up to the full 500 AMP's for none Teslas to see if that made any difference whatsoever for you Ioniq?
I haven't visited a Magic Dock location since November but I plan to in the next week or so. Will definitely make a video and probably add a short to cover the potential impact of higher amperage, thanks Paul.
@@plugandplayEV Thanks Steve. Looking forward to it.
The charging connection is slow to match up.
Yep, quite a few checks. It's a good info screen to tell what's happening though.
While I have no doubt that Autel makes quality charging hardware, this particular hardware is an odd selection given the power limitations. Seems like they should have gone with an integrated battery storage solution instead.
Is MA good about ticketing vehicles that block chargers? It looks like the stall is painted for EV charging and there's a sign on the opposite side of the sidewalk designating the space for EV charging.
All I can see is a stopgap, where they feel something is better than nothing. And battery-integrated solutions would definitely be a more interesting pick for this location, although they could be stretched during busy periods (not lower than 20-30kW, though).
Massachusetts is actually fairly good on keeping EV spaces clear now. Whether that's punitively or just people being respectful, I'm not certain. These are people from all over in a hurry, though, and usually only staying for 5-10 minutes... main parking on the other side is the first thing a driver sees, so if they're hanging out to eat, that's where they'll park. The quick in/out rationale is enough for convenience store/restroom users to justify blocking the charger during peak periods and it won't be actively policed. They're gone quickly, but it adds inconvenience to an already sub-par charging scenario.
We want to switch to evs in next 10 to 15 years no way , not at this pace it’s madness look at the number of cars on the road
Eh, better than nothing. Glad they at least moved at all to make an improvement.
Yep, and it sounds like additional power will be coming soon (see pinned comment). I'll be back to retest once that happens.
Just not good enough you can’t plan long trip with these ,come on, NY state is doing better job
Stopgap, I think would be the word I'd use. If the alternative is nothing, at least this could help some EV drivers complete the journey.
In terms of NY, I do agree completely but would also point out that the older locations (Angola, Dewitt) on the Thruway still have this older 50-100kW power level. And pre-renovation, NY also leaned into solo units at 50kW to give an option. We will see how it shakes out for the Masspike as well, but I wouldn't expect major progress before summer 2025.
I owned Nissan Leaf for 3 years just local driving then I traded 5 years ago to Bolt 259 miles range could take longer trips but had to do research where the chargers are and last year I also bought model y and boy what a difference in long trips you can’t even compare to anything somebody has to step in disappointed with electrifying America , couple years ago I thought they would compare to Tesla network I just don’t see it
'promo sm' 👏
Whenever I see these massive cabinets all I think of is tesla can make posts for 1/4 the cost and this charge way more cars. Ccs (or non tesla nacs) needs a streamlined payment solution or else there will never be enough chargers.
The reason why this particular Autel unit is large is because it is an “all-in-one” meaning the power modules are integrated with the dispenser. Superchargers are a split system so the dispenser is small however if you look around the corner you will see large cabinets where the power modules are located. Autel also makes a split system.
It's not 1/4 the price. Tesla hides the true hardware and installation costs because Superchargers are subsidized by the margin built into the cars.
Who is paying for these chargers, what a waste of money if goverment funded...