Electrify America’s New CEO Takes A Dare, Drives Throughout The Nation Solely On EA Chargers

Should you comply with sure YouTubers or hearken to among the Tesla stans on Twitter, your impression of Electrify America may very well be fairly poor. Based on some, it’s an totally unreliable charging community, plagued with points that strand drivers, maybe even making them begin life over in some rural city between the coasts till the issue will get fastened (and it by no means does). I wouldn’t shock me to listen to from a few of these people who the CEO wears customized child seal leather-based boots.

Whereas the problems that Electrify America has are exaggerated, that doesn’t imply there’s no fact in any respect behind the criticism. Stalls are typically down, but it surely’s fairly uncommon to discover a entire station the place you may’t get a cost. It doesn’t cost idle charges, and will undoubtedly do this for its busiest stations. Individuals even have frequent issues getting a cost began, and must plug it again in 2 or 3 instances to get a superb connection. Typically the cost is simply slower than it ought to be.

When Rob Barrosa acquired chosen to be the following CEO of the corporate, he requested folks on-line what his first acts ought to be as CEO. A number of folks informed him that he ought to go see for himself what the charging community is like, with one commenter saying he ought to take a highway journey from Los Angeles to the headquarters in Virginia and again, and solely use Electrify America’s chargers.

In contrast to many CEOs who would simply ignore folks on-line, Barrosa determined to take the man up on the dare, and really make the drive from Los Angeles to Virginia.

Whereas the video doesn’t make all people completely happy, it’s fairly near what I’ve skilled and what different CCS automobile drivers I do know have skilled. Personally, I’ve been throughout Texas a few instances utilizing Electrify America chargers, and I’ve additionally been into Arizona. I’ve by no means been stranded, however I’ve seen lifeless charging stalls, the occasional drawback getting a session began (it at all times began on the second attempt, and works higher in case you pull up on the deal with till it locks). Different drivers I’ve talked to have had an identical expertise, with minor issues however nearly by no means something critical (with some catastrophic however very uncommon exceptions).

What’s extra notable is that Electrify America didn’t do something to attempt to cover that the stations have issues. The corporate admitted, on digicam, that its stations expertise outages, slower than rated speeds, and issues getting a cost began. Electrify America even defined why there are typically free classes (one thing damaged), and located a damaged station displaying a Home windows display. However, it was additionally truthful with itself and confirmed that crossing the nation shouldn’t be an issue and that drivers can depend upon Electrify America to get there, even when there are some inconveniences.

What He Noticed Alongside The Manner

Robert launched into a cross-country highway journey from March 31 to April 6, driving a Hyundai IONIQ 5 from Los Angeles, CA, to Electrify America’s headquarters in Reston, Virginia. The overall distance traveled was near 2,800 miles, with Robert making stops at 28 Electrify America charging stations unfold throughout 13 states.

“This was an necessary journey for me for a number of causes,” mentioned Barrosa in an organization press launch. “I wished first-hand expertise charging in lots of places and to speak to clients to get actual time insights . By way of rain and sunshine, daytime and nighttime, my charging experiences throughout the nation had been typically seamless. With buyer expertise remaining a prime precedence, we will likely be targeted on steady enhancements.”

Electrify America inaugurated its first charging station in Chicopee, MA, with 350 kW chargers in Could 2018. This journey marked the 5-year anniversary, making for one thing particular for the corporate to indicate off, even when it wasn’t fully flattering.

Over these 5 years, the corporate has unfold its presence throughout 46 states and the District of Columbia, whereas investing in EV schooling, workforce improvement packages, and accessible charging choices. The corporate continues to put in charging stations at a mean of three per week, totaling over 800 stations and three,500+ chargers.

“We’re at a pivotal second 5 years in,” mentioned Barrosa. “As adoption of electrical autos grows, Electrify America must proceed to prepared the ground for charging infrastructure to scale in parallel. We’ve got come a really great distance in educating customers and constructing vary confindence by our coast-to-coast community of DC quick chargers. I’m wanting ahead to main Electrify America into the long run. ”

What I’m Hoping This Leads To

In all probability crucial factor on this video was that the brand new CEO put himself in clients’ footwear. He noticed the community for what it’s, and never what different individuals who reward or bash it inform him it’s. It’s additionally necessary that he acquired on the market and noticed different folks coping with the community, and a few of their struggles.

Maybe extra importantly, it seems that he hung out speaking to folks on the stations, and discovered not solely what his personal expertise was like, however what the experiences of others have been. Getting that broad data is the one method for the man on the prime to know what’s occurring, with none form of company yes-men, PR guys, or anyone else placing spin on it.

On the identical time, it’s additionally necessary for him and viewers to see that the expertise isn’t an entire dumpster hearth, both. YouTube commenters and most of the people on social media are like the remainder of us, and don’t take highway journeys each week (even when I’d prefer to). When the nattering nabobs of charging negativism are enjoying up the issues to get YouTube views or to pump Tesla inventory, they’re additionally not giving us the reality.

By discovering the reality within the center, between the irrational folks sugar-coating or hyping up issues, Electrify America can now function primarily based on the precise floor fact. This places it able, beginning on the very prime, the place it understands the issues it’s coping with and the way it impacts actual EV drivers.

Armed with this fact, it’s doable now for Electrify America to exit and make the reality higher for us.

Featured picture supplied by Electrify America.