We simply took one other journey as much as Saratoga, New York, by way of I-88 this previous weekend. We stopped on the EVolve NY charger station (four chargers) in Oneonta, NY, which is about ⅔ of the way in which to the vacation spot. Technically, with the brand new Kia EV6 and its regular 305-mile vary (about 260 miles on interstate), we may have pushed straight by, as a result of our Hilton resort with Degree II charging was 231 miles away. The EV6 can deal with a dump of about 240 kW from Electrify America (EA) stations, so 20 minutes tops does it for charging. Plus, a snack, drink, stretch, and loo break are often welcome. I imply, it’s imagined to be a calming drive. BTW, Electrify America is behind the Evolve NY stations.
On the way in which up, the 350 kW was not out there, so we plugged right into a 150 kW charger. I all the time stand and look ahead to concerning the first 5 or so minutes. I simply can not assist it with the EA QOS (High quality Of Service) degree. It was holding within the 140+ kW vary, so I walked into the comfort retailer. We did our “stuff” in there — about 15 minutes or so — after which got here out. As I used to be approaching the charger, I noticed it had hit the 80% degree. As I acquired nearer, then I noticed it. The kW numbers began going from 150’ish to 44’ish and in all places in between at a change price of three per second. It appeared prefer it was having a spasm! Up and down, random numbers. I assumed, “What the hell?” This doesn’t look good. My first thought was it was just a few show display visible anomaly within the kW numbers. SO, I appeared on the show within the automotive and it was matching them. I then thought, “crap,” this isn’t good whether it is actually hitting the battery at that fast change price. It ought to be pretty easy and secure in order that the BMS can be sure that the battery is getting a uniform price. So, I hit the cease button to finish the charging.
On the way in which again, we stopped there once more. This time the 350 kW station was open. I plugged in and undoubtedly watched. The 350 kW, after a couple of minute or so, began doing the very same factor, and it by no means went over 160 kW inside that first minute, which is uncommon being at 50% SOC starting. I watched it and was about to finish it, then hastily it stabilized at 160’ish kW. I continued to observe and the remainder of the cost was “regular” to 91% or so.
Additional alongside in direction of house, we stopped on the Scranton EA station for a take a look at. I used to be curious to see if it might occur at a completely totally different EA location. Alhough one charger of the four was down, we acquired on a 350 kW and it went to 240 kW for a minute or two, then dropped again to 160 or so kW. No spastic assaults in any respect. To this date, I’ve by no means seen this conduct at any DC quick cost station. If anybody else has seen this “freakout” on station kW numbers earlier than, please reply within the feedback part. I wish to know your precise expertise. From an engineering perspective, I can not think about that is good for the automotive’s battery.
It’s truthful to say that the EA sagas proceed, irrespective of what number of street journeys the brand new CEO takes.
Replace 8/7/2023: Curiously sufficient, a third EV station location, Bloomsburg (pictured on the prime), additionally for a brief time frame did the “SPAZ’ie” factor, bouncing far and wide. It seems that EA has carried out a software program replace that has some points. At finest, it’s just a few sort of visible nonsense occurring with the kW show. At worst, it’s truly sending this extremely inconsistent power to the batteries. Above is a screenshot at 81%. The cost began at about 76% SOC. My degree II in my storage places out greater than 5 kW!
By William H Fitch III, We Are Photo voltaic Proprietor
WeAreSolar.com is a multi-decade firm in photo voltaic and renewable power consulting and distribution, in addition to some direct installations. He’s a present ASES member and has numerous different renewable power affiliations. He has been “into” photo voltaic and renewable power for the reason that 1970s within the photo voltaic thermal space — every little thing from photo voltaic cookers to super-insulated homes to sizzling air and liquid thermal techniques, flat plates, and evacuated tubes. William’s personal residence generates round 20 megawatt-hours a 12 months of PV electrical energy, and it additionally consists of geothermal and photo voltaic thermal techniques. He and his spouse drive all-electric vehicles and use all-electric yard instruments. No gasoline.
Professionally, William spent roughly 40 years in I.T. — from software program coding to techniques design to full community {hardware} installations in a number of industrial environments and main companies.
I do not like paywalls. You do not like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Right here at CleanTechnica, we applied a restricted paywall for some time, nevertheless it all the time felt mistaken — and it was all the time powerful to determine what we must always put behind there. In idea, your most unique and finest content material goes behind a paywall. However then fewer folks learn it! We simply don’t love paywalls, and so we have determined to ditch ours. Sadly, the media enterprise continues to be a troublesome, cut-throat enterprise with tiny margins. It is a endless Olympic problem to remain above water and even maybe — gasp — develop. So …
