In this video, I'm running my 2022 Hyundai Ioniq5 Limited AWD through another 500 Mile Challenge test. However, as you may have read in the title, I'm doing the test without using a single Electrify America charging site.
In Oregon, aside from two charging sites at the very northern border of Oregon, Electrify America provides the only charging for CCS vehicles that is greater than 120kW. The Rivian Adventure Network may eventually be another option if/when they decide to open their network to everyone, but at the time of recording this video, their network was still private. There are also no CCS/Magic Dock equipped Tesla Superchargers in the state of Oregon (there are only two sites anywhere on the West Coast and they're both in California).
I made this video to show the time penalty that is paid in a faster charging EV if faster charging is not available. It is also a response to some other RU-vidrs who have commented that people complaining about the CCS charging infrastructure are being "over-dramatic" because they don't see the problem in their own area. These same folks are lucky to live and drive in areas where CCS charging is plentiful and reliable, and there are other high power charging options aside from Electrify America. As I show in this video, excluding Electrify America while travelling on I-5 in Oregon basically limits you to 50kW max charging. The charging experience, regardless of what EV you drive (including a Tesla), is not consistent across the USA, let alone across the world.
I used the EVCS charging network during this test, but that was not intentional. It is simply what was available. It wouldn't have mattered anyway since all of the DC charging options along I-5 (excluding Electrify America) are 50kW or less aside from a single CPE250 62.5kW near Medford (that was broken at the time of recording). I did not intentionally limit the charging speeds either. Again, this is simply what is available if Electrify America is excluded.
Charging infrastructure, it's many short comings and the variation in experience depending on geography are complex subjects that I cannot hope to tackle in this video. As it is, the video ends up getting somewhat long and rambly. There are also many topics that I don't cover in this video, including things like level 2 charging (especially for those who cannot charge at home or work), travelling through rural areas, the importance of having multiple chargers at a given location, and what may change when NEVI funding gets distributed. We can talk about those things in the comments below. If there is enough interest in a topic, I can make a video about it in the future.
0:00 Hello and Welcome
0:30 Describing the Test
1:32 First Stop - EVCS Cottage Grove, OR
5:18 Second Stop - EVCS Canyonville, OR
7:52 Third Stop - EVCS Canyonville, OR
9:21 Final Results
9:57 Why Did I Make This Video?
11:21 What's the Problem?
12:32 Visualizing the Problem
14:02 We Rely on EA Because We HAVE TO
15:15 The Time Penalty of Slower Charging
15:46 The Charging Experience is not Consistent
16:50 Electrify America is the Best Option in Many Places
18:24 We Need to Talk About the Good AND the Bad (i.e. Reality)
19:07 Final Thoughts, Thank You and Goodbye!
5 июл 2024
