WINTER EV CHARGING IN SUB-ZERO CONDITIONS: ELECTRIFY AMERICA, EVGO, AND CHARGEPOINT TESTED

EV Channels Review

This video provides a comprehensive real-world test of public EV charging infrastructure in sub-zero Fahrenheit conditions, focusing on Electrify America, EVgo, and ChargePoint in Massachusetts. The reviewer highlights that while all tested charging stations (SK Signet, BTC Power, CPE250) generally worked, cold temperatures significantly impact charging speeds, particularly when the vehicle's battery is not preconditioned. The Ioniq 5's battery conditioning system is shown to draw considerable power (up to 8 kW), but it struggles to maintain optimal battery temperatures in extreme cold, leading to slower charging rates. Electrify America's SK Signet stations (both 3rd and 4th gen) and ChargePoint's CPE250 units proved reliable, with the latter being consistently dependable. EVgo experienced issues with its AutoCharge feature not working, though direct charging via the app was successful. The reviewer concludes that while the hardware is robust in cold, managing battery temperature is the key challenge for maximizing charging speeds in winter, and continuous battery conditioning is crucial.