First charge

I recently bumped into an elderly couple driving their first EV at a charging station. This was a DC fast charger at a highway rest stop. If you got it all down, you can park, plug in and be charging in less than a minute. But its a very different experience than stopping at a gas station. As is often the case, to operate the charging station required the user to download an app, create an account, add a payment method and finally figure out how to start a charging session. This is a lot to take in, all at once, and I do feel that we should do better.

A sign hangs at the charging station advertising the process:

1. Download the app for the charging provider (I have these on my phone: Ivy 2.0, Flo, Chargepoint, Electrify Canada, Shell recharge and Petro-Canada).
2. Open each one, and add an account, ensure you know how to log in quickly.
3. Add a payment method (usually a credit card).
4. Plug your car in.
5. Identify the charging station you are at (there is often a number or a sticker).
6. Locate that charging station in the app.
7. Press start charge.
8. Once you get the desired level of charge (or its time to go), stop the charge using the stop button on the station or in the app.
9. Unplug the car.

Once you get the hang of it, its pretty quick, I usually plug in, fumble with the app and start the charge within a minute of arriving at the charging station. But its a very different process compared to a gas station. Plus if you have a problem, there is usually an attendant there that can help you out. Charging stations are different, usually fully automated, unstaffed and only a fairly unhelpful 1800 number on a sticker that might or might not get you to anyone.

Granted, you probably should tend to steps 1-3 from your home, which will save time when you get to the charger.

Some of these networks do offer RF-ID cards which can help, as it cuts out steps 1-6. Perhaps we could simply use our credit cards to the same effect. Petro-Canada does this here in Ontario which makes the charging a lot less painful. This strikes me as a simple thing charging providers could do, yes it would cost some money (1-2% per transaction apparently). This strikes me as a fairly modest fee, particularly at a DC fast charger where you might spend 15-20$, particularly given the headaches it solves. Plus it moves the process closer to what you do might be used to at a gas pump.

Second low hanging fruit is staff training. Highway rest stops, gas stations and others are starting to get into the charging station game. Many On-route rest stops along Ontario’s 400 series highways already offer DC fast charging. These places are often staffed, why not train some of the folks there on how to use the charging station, I am sure some of them already know how to use them, a few youtube videos could go a long way (Flo apparently already has source). Yes this might cost a few dollars, but a friendly face is sometimes what you need. I know, I was one.