First public 350kw charger opens today!!!

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TheLondonBroiler

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 31, 2017
Messages
283
https://insideevs.com/electrify-americas-first-350-kw-ultra-fast-charger-to-be-launched-on-april-25/

https://www.plugshare.com/location/152111

To my knowledge, the Chicopee Marketplace/Electrify America 350kw charger, is the first PUBLIC charger in USA
to offer greater than 50kw charging. If you are able to charge here, please let us know what charge rate you achieve and whatever else might be relevant.
 
Or not...

A plugshare user said they were told May 1st over the phone (by electrify America). They took a bunch of cool pictures though!
 
I thought the 350kW was a proprietary Porsche system...

The CCS cars are rated for XkW.
The the SAE CCS standard is only good for 100kW max, I believe.

At 48kW indicated charge rate on the Spark EV, it's hitting the small-ish pack pretty hard, but thanks to a proper TMS, it can take it !!

EDIT: We are in changing times. It almost sounds like the charge network is ahead of the EV manufacturers!

https://electricrevs.com/2018/04/10/how-does-800v-charging-work/
 
TheLondonBroiler said:
To my knowledge, the Chicopee Marketplace/Electrify America 350kw charger, is the first PUBLIC charger in USA
to offer greater than 50kw charging.

Tesla SuperChargers have been 120 kW for several years. 90kW back in 2012. Of course, not public if you don't own a Tesla... :roll:
 
JeremyW said:
TheLondonBroiler said:
To my knowledge, the Chicopee Marketplace/Electrify America 350kw charger, is the first PUBLIC charger in USA
to offer greater than 50kw charging.

Tesla SuperChargers have been 120 kW for several years. 90kW back in 2012. Of course, not public if you don't own a Tesla... :roll:

Yes, not "public", they are "proprietary".
 
JeremyW said:
Tesla SuperChargers have been 120 kW for several years. 90kW back in 2012. Of course, not public if you don't own a Tesla... :roll:

You are absolutely correct, I did fail to distinguish CCS/non Tesla.

To expand things further, it turns out there's another similar layout station (if not the exact same), scheduled to open in Virginia on May 1st as well... it's only 235 miles from me, but there's a pretty significant elevation climb and a 151 fast charge gap (however there is minimal level 2 charging infrastructure on route).

https://www.plugshare.com/location/146815

I just want to see old Sparky pull 55kw!
 
TheLondonBroiler said:
....I just want to see old Sparky pull 55kw!
What is the max these little EV's are rated for?
I have only seen 48kW indicated in the car and on the DCFC unit display.
I always assumed the DCFC unit is rated to suck 50kW from the Grid and that leaves 48kW of DC power at the car.
Conversion losses?
 
EDIT: Old post but want to clarify that below the edit is incorrect. I've learned quite a bit more about these cars since 2018 ;)
These cars can in fact pull up to 150 amps at low SOC, and I have witnessed my spark EV do so. Works out to ~56 kW max.

------------------------------

Doubt these cars can pull more than 125 amps.
50 kW @ 400 V / 125 A
49 kW @ 392 V / 125 A
48 kW @ 384 V / 125 A
...
Whatever voltage the car will allow 125 amps is probably the limit. These are some of the first CCS cars (BMW i3 being the other one), I don't think they would be built above the spec at the time, but maybe it's possible. The Bolt allows ~150 amps, but only for a very short amount of time.
 
Edited

From 9-36 of the 2015 owner's manual.

"The vehicle is designed to take full
advantage of a 55kW DC charger to
obtain optimal charging times. When
the vehicle is connected to a
charger larger than 55kW, the
vehicle will not charge any quicker."

You are likely right Jeremy, but I don't believe anyone knows for sure, which is why I find it an exciting prospect.
 
TheLondonBroiler said:
From 9-36 of the 2015 owner's manual.

"The vehicle is designed to take full
advantage of a 55kW DC charger .....
This is good news, for some.

My metro area has 15 ea. 50kW DCFC units installed by the Elec utility company.
I'm sure nothing new is coming for a while.
 
Ceremony was today, it's now open!

Bolt EV owner claims 56kw max on a 150kw charger (info on plugshare suggests speeds are reduced to 50kw for the time being).

Oddly, a Kia Soul EV owner alleges achieving 68kw max.... and the charger is labeled 50kw (I believe this restriction is due to a fear of the tesla Chademo adapter and potential problems).

A great day for EVs!

(Edited to correct a swipe error)
 
I am a bit peeved that the Charging station in Baker, CA ("worlds tallest thermometer) still isn't on-line. It is now almost a year overdue (it was supposed to open in June '17). It would have been the first non-Tesla 100+ kW charging lot in the U.S. It is an EVgo spot that will charge at "up to 150 kW" and appear to be the ABB DCFCs installed in Fremont, CA (0-350A @ 200-600V). This station will allow easy EV travel between SoCal and Las Vegas. Since L.A. has loads of DCFCs, a trip to Vegas will be possible from San Diego or even Tijuana.
 
Also, the CEC (Calif Elec Comm) chargers that were approved and budgeted WELL OVER a year ago still haven't opened. Well, there is one in Redding (NorCal). They will create 50 kW (at a minimum), 2-plug (in most places) charging along the major freeways in the state, making EV road travel possible to almost anywhere in the state. (and it IS the third largest state in the nation, 800 miles N to S).

EVgo, on the other hand has gone on a Tesla-esque run this year of installing DCFCs in the state, for example making the drive from Sacramento to Reno, NV or to South lake Tahoe doable in a Spark EV (DCFCs every 30 miles or so).
 
My Spark peaked at 53kw via torque app (kept ignition off due to complications....) and 55kw was displayed on the Electrify America 350kw charger in Fincastle, VA. If you thought 50kw charger cables were stiff, wait until you get a hold of the liquid cooled 150kw and 350kw cables. It only took me 11 hours to get there..... now I'm driving home :)

YuyU08A.png
 
SparkE said:
Also, the CEC (Calif Elec Comm) chargers that were approved and budgeted WELL OVER a year ago still haven't opened. Well, there is one in Redding (NorCal). They will create 50 kW (at a minimum), 2-plug (in most places) charging along the major freeways in the state, making EV road travel possible to almost anywhere in the state. (and it IS the third largest state in the nation, 800 miles N to S).

EVgo, on the other hand has gone on a Tesla-esque run this year of installing DCFCs in the state, for example making the drive from Sacramento to Reno, NV or to South lake Tahoe doable in a Spark EV (DCFCs every 30 miles or so).
In the last month and a half, I have driven a rented ICE to Salt Lake, Utah on the first trip and Boise, Idaho on the second trip. Both trips were over Hwy 80. I think a Spark EV drive from Sacramento to Reno will work but I am not sure about the return trip. The road from Reno to Truckee is long and steep and you will need to get to Truckee before you can re-charge. Once you are past Donner Summit, it is a downhill E-Ticket ride into the Sacramento area.

There is also a reliability question regarding the two EVgo DCFC stations in the Reno area.
 
MrDRMorgan said:
SparkE said:
Also, the CEC (Calif Elec Comm) chargers that were approved and budgeted WELL OVER a year ago still haven't opened. Well, there is one in Redding (NorCal). They will create 50 kW (at a minimum), 2-plug (in most places) charging along the major freeways in the state, making EV road travel possible to almost anywhere in the state. (and it IS the third largest state in the nation, 800 miles N to S).

EVgo, on the other hand has gone on a Tesla-esque run this year of installing DCFCs in the state, for example making the drive from Sacramento to Reno, NV or to South lake Tahoe doable in a Spark EV (DCFCs every 30 miles or so).
In the last month and a half, I have driven a rented ICE to Salt Lake, Utah on the first trip and Boise, Idaho on the second trip. Both trips were over Hwy 80. I think a Spark EV drive from Sacramento to Reno will work but I am not sure about the return trip. The road from Reno to Truckee is long and steep and you will need to get to Truckee before you can re-charge. Once you are past Donner Summit, it is a downhill E-Ticket ride into the Sacramento area.

There is also a reliability question regarding the two EVgo DCFC stations in the Reno area.

Actually, a *bunch* of DCFC stations have been installed on I-80 between Auburn and Truckee in the last year. There didn't used to be any, but EVgo has installed 4 or 5 recently. Look on plugshare. You have to join EVgo, but their new pricing is actually reasonable. So Sac -> Reno is a no brainer now - especially since Truckee -> Reno has about 10 miles of downslope (so don't fill up in Truckee, just to 70-80%).
 
SparkE said:
MrDRMorgan said:
SparkE said:
Also, the CEC (Calif Elec Comm) chargers that were approved and budgeted WELL OVER a year ago still haven't opened. Well, there is one in Redding (NorCal). They will create 50 kW (at a minimum), 2-plug (in most places) charging along the major freeways in the state, making EV road travel possible to almost anywhere in the state. (and it IS the third largest state in the nation, 800 miles N to S).

EVgo, on the other hand has gone on a Tesla-esque run this year of installing DCFCs in the state, for example making the drive from Sacramento to Reno, NV or to South lake Tahoe doable in a Spark EV (DCFCs every 30 miles or so).
In the last month and a half, I have driven a rented ICE to Salt Lake, Utah on the first trip and Boise, Idaho on the second trip. Both trips were over Hwy 80. I think a Spark EV drive from Sacramento to Reno will work but I am not sure about the return trip. The road from Reno to Truckee is long and steep and you will need to get to Truckee before you can re-charge. Once you are past Donner Summit, it is a downhill E-Ticket ride into the Sacramento area.

There is also a reliability question regarding the two EVgo DCFC stations in the Reno area.

Actually, a *bunch* of DCFC stations have been installed on I-80 between Auburn and Truckee in the last year. There didn't used to be any, but EVgo has installed 4 or 5 recently. Look on plugshare. You have to join EVgo, but their new pricing is actually reasonable. So Sac -> Reno is a no brainer now - especially since Truckee -> Reno has about 10 miles of downslope (so don't fill up in Truckee, just to 70-80%).
I really only have two major concerns. (1) Will either of the two EVgo DCFC stations in Reno be working? and (2) Can I make it up the hill from Reno to Truckee and do so at a reasonable speed? Google Maps shows it is 35 miles from the EVgo DCFC station on Plumb Lane in Reno, NV to the EVgo DCFC station on Deerfield Drive in Truckee, CA and almost all of that climb is uphill with some 5 and 6% grades. The ride down into Sacramento, after crossing the Donner Summit, would be a great ride. There are plenty of DCFC stations along the route down but, if my experience coming down from South Lake Tahoe is any indication, I doubt I would need to stop to charge until Roseville. It sure sounds like this trip would be fun!

I am also considering a drive down Hwy 99 to take a shot at getting over the Grapevine. PlugShare shows an EVgo DCFC station South of Bakersfield and a bunch of new L2 EVSE stations recently installed at The Outlets at Tejon (Wheeler Ridge).
 
Are you planning on making the round trip in a single day? If not, there is a (free!) chargepoint L2 station (6 plugs) at a casino in south reno. A full charge (from 10%) would take about 5 hours. I seem to recall that there are a LOT of free charging locations in town (L2), so you just pick one close to where you want to spend time. First, charge to (say) 50 or 60% at EVgo, then plug in whereever you can as you do the tourist thing at free L2 to top off and stay topped off.

There should be no problem getting to truckee from reno, unless your definition of 'reasonable speed' is 75 mph. Elevation gain will not halve your mileage. Just get behind a truck (you *do not* have to be close, a 4-second distance is fine) and the disturbance of the air will lower the air resistance for you. Yeah, sure, for the 10-15-mile climb you'll be going more slowly, but if you have any doubt about whether you will make it, just slip behind a truck. And I, personally, would stop in truckee and fill the battery to 50% or 60% before going down the other side - just to be sure. There *are* multiple DCFCs on the way down the other side.
 
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