EVgo DC FC pricing changes coming Feb 12, 2019

[cwerdna]

Hope it's ok to create a new thread about this.

Some folks got notification about this. Not me.
New prices at https://www.evgo.com/pricing2019/.

[GetOffYourGas]

I'm confused by this new pricing scheme. EVGo raised their rates just as EA is about to complete their first round of a massive QC network. Sure, EA is more expensive, but they are also 3X the charging rate. EVGo's pricing had been somewhat in line with EA's, but now they are less competitive.

In short, I thought competition was supposed to lead to better pricing, not worse!

[SparkEVPilot]

Hope it's ok to create a new thread about this.

Some folks got notification about this. Not me.
New prices at https://www.evgo.com/pricing2019/.

I did get the notice. My monthly plan cost dropped from $9.99 to $7.99 and my charging cost per minute went up from $0.15 to $0.26. Plus, there is now a limit on charging time:

60-Minute Session Length 8pm-6am
45-Minute Session Length 6am-8pm

This is for "California - All Other Regions". Charging cost will now be region specific. Here is a link to EVgo's new schedule:

https://www.evgo.com/pricing2019/?utm_s ... -295008021

[SparkE]

Oh my! EVgo's prices going UP to pretty closely match the competition, basically. Unless one travels a lot (guaranteed to use $8 of FCging every month), it looks like the utility of the "subscription" rate just tanked - if you're sure you will use DCFC for $8/mo (28 mins), every month, then why not save FOUR WHOLE CENTS by subscribing; otherwise, let it go.

I am shocked, SHOCKED I tell you!

(Of course, if you need the power, it is a heck of a lot better to have to pay a lot than it is to be stranded.)

For comparison ...

Cost estimates are assuming the "max" average Bolt rate from (about) 5-10% to around 55% of SoC: guesstimating 53 kWh , for 30 mins. Charging for 45 minutes or longer would cost more per kWh, since the charging rate would drop pretty soon after 30 mins.

ChargePoint's cost for the new DCFCs along I-5 (125A, multi-unit stations) in Calif is : $0.25/kWh + $0.10/min
(30 mins, 26.5 kWh, would be $9.62 = $0.36/kWh or $0.32/min )

Recargo's pricing at Salinas (?200A? @ Prunedale shopping center) is : $0.24/min
(30 mins, 26.5 kWh, would be $7.20 = $0.27/kWh or $0.24/min )

EA pricing (in CA) is (?300A?) : $1 connection + $0.35/min
(30 mins, 26.5 kWh, would be $11.50 = $0.43/kWh or $0.38/min TOTAL {total price/30} )

EVgo's pricing (for most of CA) is : $0.30/min OR $0.26/min (subscription price) so for 30 mins, 26.5 kWh, it would be:
100A DCFC (max ~37 kW rate) : 18.5 kWh , $9 ($0.49 kWh) / $7.8 ($0.42/kWh)
125A DCFC (max ~46 kW rate) : 23 kWh , $9 ($0.39 kWh) / $7.8 ($0.34/kWh)

[BoltEV]

(Of course, if you need the power, it is a heck of a lot better to have to pay a lot than it is to be stranded.)

This is the tail that is waving the dog here!

Until the States and/or the federal government decides to regulate these suppliers like the ologipolistic utilities they are, we are at their pricing mercy.

[JoeS]

Dunno what all the fuss is about, because my own afternoon TOU (PG&E E-6) summer cost would be around 46¢/kWh (if I were to pay for it, but don't because of my solar PV). Didn't Tesla's pricing also go up recently?

Because of the tremendous variation in charging rates I believe at this point in time comparisons should be in terms of cost for x number of kWh. Price per minute is an artificial metric primarily the result of it being illegal in some states for a non-utility to charge by the kWh.

I am very aggravated by EA's connection fee, and I don't understand why we should pay a buck just for the privilege of plugging the car in.

EVgo's $8/month fee includes roughly 1/2-hour of charging. In my own case, I find myself usually only adding a small amount (10-15min?) in order to get home, perhaps a couple of times a month.

I actually don't mind paying a bit extra to any of these charging station outfits as long as they continue expanding the charging infrastructure and do a good job maintaining their equipment. IMO, what's still needed is a significant expansion along the nation's highways, support for multi-unit housing dwellers, and workplace charging.

That said, I do dread cost/mile parity with ICE, as that will seriously hamper our BEV adoption rate.

[BarfOMatic]

I am very aggravated by EA's connection fee, and I don't understand why we should pay a buck just for the privilege of plugging the car in.

OK, I'll explain it to you: Credit card fee. Credit Card companies charge businesses for "the privilege" of accepting client payment using their network. The exact number varies widely, but is usually {fee} + {percentage of sale}. EA is passing the fee (and the concept) on to the consumer. It doesn't matter if you charge for 10 minutes or 100 minutes, the CC company charges a fee, and EA thus charges a fee to you (PLUS something that sort of mimics your actual usage).

IMO, what's still needed is a significant expansion along the nation's highways, support for multi-unit housing dwellers, and workplace charging.

I mostly agree with you here. "support for multi-unit housing dwellers" should be paid by the dwellers (or owners) themselves, and could be handled (albeit someone slowly) by requiring all new construction to have 240V outlets in every individual garage, and/or reserved spots with 240V sockets available in private parking (common area) garages. That, mixed with two- or four- stall 30-60 kW fast charging in/around urban mall areas/grocery stores/shopping districts (places where people go for 30-60 minutes) would cover appt dwellers.

For me, the big thing that has always been missing is the charging infrastructure along major travel routes, and that is where efforts need to be made: multi-plug (multi-stall) fast charging stations every 50-ish miles (at a minimum) so that BEVs can be used for intermediate-distance (200-400 mile) and long-distance travel.

[BoltEV]

I am very aggravated by EA's connection fee, and I don't understand why we should pay a buck just for the privilege of plugging the car in.

OK, I'll explain it to you: Credit card fee. Credit Card companies charge businesses for "the privilege" of accepting client payment using their network. The exact number varies widely, but is usually {fee} + {percentage of sale}. EA is passing the fee (and the concept) on to the consumer. It doesn't matter if you charge for 10 minutes or 100 minutes, the CC company charges a fee, and EA thus charges a fee to you (PLUS something that sort of mimics your actual usage).

OK, I'll explain it to you: When consumers have the option to pay in cash, but choose, for whatever reason, to use a credit card, then the use of a credit card rationally would give the merchant a reason to have a defined extra fee, that is sometimes passed on to the consumer by the merchant (although for many years this type of pass-thru fee was illegal).

EA has adopted no mechanism to accept cash. Hence the credit card fee is only one of the many overhead costs that must be taken into consideration when adopting the incremental price to obtain electricity.

It is then no different from any other overhead cost. Should EA charge a "hook-up" fee based upon its site rental costs? Of course not, dude!

[BarfOMatic]

Quote edited by mod

[JoeS]

BarfOMatic, no need for such acrimony.

If I need a five-minute DCFC to get home, then the $1 connection fee can represent an unreasonable portion of my bill. Even though I understand the rationale, I believe it should be buried by the EVSE operator with all the other costs of running a charging station, ending with a simple ¢/kWh number.

Thankfully, EVgo doesn't play the fee game that EA is wont to do, and I appreciate that.

With the continued expansion in the number of of charging stations, I've found myself using PlugShare's filter to select the station providers of my liking. This will become more of a factor as time goes on and, at least around here in the SF Bay Area, gone are the days of being desperate for ANY charging station. Competition is great!