ELECTRIFY AMERICA MAY STOP YOU FROM FULL CHARGING! NEW 85% LIMIT TRIAL

EV Channels Review

Electrify America is piloting a new 85% charging limit at select California stations to combat congestion and improve customer throughput. While the intention to reduce queues is understandable, the hosts express concerns about the lack of flexibility, especially for drivers on long trips or those in vehicles with lower range who may genuinely need to charge beyond 85%. They contrast this with Tesla's approach, which historically allowed overrides for trip planning. The discussion highlights the underlying issues of insufficient charger availability and reliability, suggesting that infrastructure improvements and better backend management should be prioritized. The podcast also touches upon the impact of unlimited free charging plans on user behavior, leading some to charge to 100% unnecessarily. The hosts propose alternative solutions like tiered pricing or subscription-based overrides, while acknowledging the complexity of implementation. Overall, the pilot is seen as a reactive measure to a systemic problem, with a hope that Electrify America learns from it to improve future strategies.