Charging Hwy Robbery $2.20/kwh @ 60kwh rate.

[RLXXI]

Don't know if these people are stupid or what.

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[Vulnox]

Trying to get their investment back I suspect as quickly as possible. Installing DCFC is expensive, tough to do for independent dealerships that don't expect a ton of charging traffic.

Not sure I can defend that pricing, but to a point I can understand it. Could also be like a contractor giving you an insane quote for a job they don't really want to do, but in this case maybe they don't want the general public hogging their only DCFC so they put a "go away" price on it.

 

[hturnerfamily]

...the highest cost I've seen is Mercedes-branded CHARGEPOINT units at the Mercedes dealer in south Dothan, AL... $1.00 per kwh...

interesting, too, as the City of Dothan UTILITIES, also a CHARGEPOINT provider, in several places around the area, are all less than 20cents p/kwh...

 

[RickLightning]

Looks like brand new location. Not in PlugShare. Likely discouraging use for now.

There are 250,000 charging ports in the US. PlugShare is where to post about them. You can even add a location and post the outrageous fees.

 

[flyct]

It’s obvious that this car dealer is discouraging public usage of their Fast Charger investment.

Is it possible that they got some grant money to install their Fast Charger open to the public rather than keeping it for only personal use where no grant money?

 

[Shmoe]

Don't know if these people are stupid or what.

I never even consider chargers at dealers for this and plenty of other reasons.

 

[RickLightning]

I never even consider chargers at dealers for this and plenty of other reasons.

Yeah, I've been surprised at the number of people that charge at dealerships. If you take out the "it's my dealer, and they told me to charge their for free" people, it drops dramatically.

I think it's vital that dealerships add fast chargers (fast meaning 120kW or higher) in many areas. bereft of chargers. But, in some areas they are simply not needed.

I have charged at a handful of dealership chargers, every one slower than a non-free alternative. I chose the dealerships those times largely because they were free, and I wasn't on a trip where time mattered.

On one stop, there was an EA that would have been faster, but the dealership was free (they couldn't figure out how to turn on the credit card feature for the longest time), but slower. We weren't in a big hurry then. On the return trip, we drove by and paid at the EA.

At another, it was my night charge because the hotel had none. Slow, but I brought my tablet to read an E-Book while my wife was in the hotel room after we had dinner. Free is always good, especially when the battery is 131kWh and at 10%...

Many of them have very heavy cords, and above market prices. In general, with a 400v vehicle, Tesla is the cheapest and fastest alternative. With an 800v vehicle, what I read is that Mercedes, EA, and Ionna are top picks, because Tesla is very slow for them (86kW?).

My dealership put the chargers in many, many months ago, and still aren't turned on. My prior dealership, part of the dealership council or something like that, talked a lot but hasn't installed anything.

 

[Zprime29]

...the highest cost I've seen is Mercedes-branded CHARGEPOINT units at the Mercedes dealer in south Dothan, AL... $1.00 per kwh...

interesting, too, as the City of Dothan UTILITIES, also a CHARGEPOINT provider, in several places around the area, are all less than 20cents p/kwh...

Keep in mind, ChargePoint is not like other CPO's (EA, EVgo, etc...). They only sell the equipment and SW to run it. Everything else is up to the site owner.

I never even consider chargers at dealers for this and plenty of other reasons.

Like @RickLightning just mentioned, only time I've considered a dealer site was when I visited family in El Paso. I arrived at low SoC and we wanted to go to lunch the next day at La Mesilla (great Mexican food!) just south of Las Cruces. I had enough to get there but not get home. So I left an hour earlier than the rest so I could stop at a dealership in Las Cruces that had a free 50kW charger. I had a good chat with my FIL who was new to the EV scene and then met the rest of the family and had a great lunch.

In general, 50kW chargers would be fine for places like movie theaters or grocery stores where people are already lingering for extended periods of time. Not super useful when you have to out of your way/are in a hurry.

 

[Timeless Epoch]

I never even consider chargers at dealers for this and plenty of other reasons.

Anecdotal alternative opinion, but the best DCFC experience I've had was at a dealership. Its out in the middle of nowhere Ohio (Mike Porter Ford in Jackson). 240KW at $.50 when I was there, which was on par for my whole trip back in March. What made it stand out was, the staff was above and beyond friendly, they welcomed you into their cafe/lounge, the sales staff didn't attack you, everything was super clean. Their bathrooms were actual individual rooms, not stalls in a larger room and also completely spotless. 10 out of 10, would charge and drain again.

 

[Charge_Rob]

I never even consider chargers at dealers for this and plenty of other reasons.

I've charged at dozens of dealers (mostly Ford, and mostly Ford Charge network, some Blink which I prefer less) across the country, and haven't yet had a bad experience. On many trips, I'll go out of my way to charge there.

 

[Vulnox]

Anecdotal alternative opinion, but the best DCFC experience I've had was at a dealership. Its out in the middle of nowhere Ohio (Mike Porter Ford in Jackson). 240KW at $.50 when I was there, which was on par for my whole trip back in March. What made it stand out was, the staff was above and beyond friendly, they welcomed you into their cafe/lounge, the sales staff didn't attack you, everything was super clean. Their bathrooms were actual individual rooms, not stalls in a larger room and also completely spotless. 10 out of 10, would charge and drain again.

This was the push I made a couple years ago when Ford launched their EV program to "coerce" dealerships to install DCFC at every Ford dealership to support EVs. Dealers could look at it as a problematic expense, but a smart dealer would turn it into an opportunity. Make a lounge area, sell me overprices snacks and drinks, have some phone charger spots available.

Could make some money on the DCFC itself, some money on food/drinks, and it doesn't need much more space than they allocate for people waiting on service.

It may not make as much sense now in the age of SuperCharger access and companies like Ionna making really nice charging locations. But I still think some dealerships further from major cities could do well with it.

The only time I used a dealer for charging was a GMC dealership in Ohio on my way back from Indiana. I think I would have made it to EA stations further along the drive, but the GMC dealership was near some food locations and it was past dinner time. I got some food then parked at their single ChargePoint 60 station. It worked fine and I wasn't in a hurry since I was eating anyway. I appreciate the dealers that have them.

 

[abcut973]

I do not need DCFC on a daily basis but when I do I make sure to avoid dealerships. Not all of them are free and obviously they charge you additional fees just to access the charger. So i'm not surprised with OP's post. That particular location is a bit further to me but I sure know some prestigious local dealerships doing the same.

 

[Adventureboy]

Don't know if these people are stupid or what.

Given it is a GMC dealer, they probably have a deal for GM folks and don't really want others to use the charger. It is probably by design.

 

[Shmoe]

Given it is a GMC dealer, they probably have a deal for GM folks and don't really want others to use the charger. It is probably by design.

Precisely this, and they had no choice but to list it as part of the network and likely charge the inventory for "free" on it.

Again, another reason to avoid and use actual public chargers. I wish it wasn't like this.

 

[RickLightning]

I've charged at dozens of dealers (mostly Ford, and mostly Ford Charge network, some Blink which I prefer less) across the country, and haven't yet had a bad experience. On many trips, I'll go out of my way to charge there.

And the fact that you work for Ford doesn't influence your charging decision?

Also, many people have a trip where they're heading from point A to point B. That's very different from a trip where the trip is the adventure, i.e. towing a trailer, let's drive XXX miles a day or so, and see stuff. On the former, I want to be at point B on day 2 at 5PM. On the latter, whatever.

Since we use hotels and don't camp, I pick where I want to end each day, usually before dinner, with a brewery that just happens to be nearby.

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