In 2019, the Maryland Public Service Commission approved a pilot program allowing five utility companies to own and operate public charging stations. By regulation, these utilities must maintain a 97% uptime for their charging stations. This means each charging port must be operational and supply electricity at least 97% of the time annually.
Methodology
In September and October 2024, I conducted a series of virtual “charger audits,” using the ChargeHub, Shell Recharge and ChargePoint apps to check the online status of every charging port in the utility networks. While on-site audits are ideal, weekly virtual audits provide a practical way to track the system’s performance remotely.
Data Charts
The following charts illustrate the data collected from these virtual charger audits.
This virtual charger audit of Maryland’s Tesla Superchargers is intended to complement my ongoing assessments of utility-owned public charging stations. The aim is to compile independent data points to evaluate charger reliability against the state’s 97% uptime target.
On October 4, 2024, I used the Tesla app to check the availability of all 531 Tesla Supercharger stalls across 59 active locations in Maryland. Each Supercharger location in Maryland has between four and 16 stalls.
Overall Port Availability on 10-04-2024: 99.1%
The audit found that 5 out of 531 Supercharger stalls (0.9%) were reported as out of order in the Tesla app, resulting in an overall availability of 99.1%.
Maryland Supercharger Status on 10-04-2024
This level of availability aligns with the consistently high reliability of Tesla Supercharger ports that I documented during the summer of 2023. During those months, we drove to hundreds of Supercharger locations across the United States. Often, we visited more than a dozen sites in a single day without encountering any problems and being able to charge on the first attempt.
Potomac Edison (PE) operates a network of 20 DC fast chargers and 77 Level 2 ports spread across 43 locations in its service area. As a regulated utility, PE is required to maintain 97% uptime for its charging stations.
October 3, 2024 Charger Audit Results
This virtual charger audit of PE’s EV Driven network found mostly favorable results. While all DC fast chargers were online and available, two Level 2 ports were essentially “offline” due to their absence from online directories.
Key Findings:
DC Fast Chargers: 100% availability.
Level 2 Ports: 97% availability (75/77 ports).
Myersville Town Hall: A previously listed dual-port Level 2 station has mysteriously disappeared from online directories.
Issues and Concerns:
Missing Level 2 Ports: The absence of two Level 2 ports from online directories makes it difficult for EV drivers to locate and use them.
Myersville Town Hall Station: The reason for the station’s removal from online directories remains unclear. Parking restrictions and potential conflicts may have played a role.
Recommendations:
Update Online Directories: Potomac Edison should ensure that all charging stations are accurately listed and updated in online directories.
Investigate Myersville Town Hall Station: PE should investigate the reasons for the station’s disappearance and work with local authorities to address any issues including onsite signage.
Improve Communication: PE should provide clear communication to EV drivers about charging station availability and any known issues.
Overall, while Potomac Edison has achieved a high availability rate for its DC fast chargers and Level 2 ports, the uncertainty surrounding the Myersville Town Hall station is an issue that could be addressed to improve the overall user experience.
Detailed Audit Results
On October 3, 2024, I conducted a virtual charger audit of PE’s “EV Driven” network, checking the status of all 97 charging ports using ChargeHub and ChargePoint apps. Notably, both DC fast chargers at the Rocky Gap Resort, previously reporting as “Out of Service” last week, are now online and available.
Myersville Town Hall Station
The dual-port Level 2 station installed at Myersville Town Hall in May 2022 has disappeared from both the ChargePoint app and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center.
A notable change at this location is the removal of the “no parking except while charging” sign, leaving a “parking for town business only” restriction in place. The town indicated that this decision followed several verbal altercations over parking access to the charging station. I don’t know whether these incidents are related to the station’s removal from the map, but it could be a factor.
Myersville, MD Town Hall – anti-ICEing signs removedRead More …
Charger Audit: Pepco EVsmart Network, October 02, 2024
In 2019, the Maryland Public Service Commission approved a pilot program allowing five of the state’s utility companies to own and operate public charging stations. Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) runs one of these networks under the “EVsmart” brand, with 19 DC fast chargers and 233 Level 2 ports spread across 86 locations in its service area. By regulation, Pepco, like other utilities, must maintain 97% uptime for its charging stations. This means that each charging port must operate as intended and supply electricity at least 97% of the time annually, measured in minutes.
On October 2, 2024, I conducted the third in a series of virtual “charger audits” of Pepco’s EVsmart network, checking the online status of all 252 charging ports using the ChargeHub and Shell Recharge apps. While on-site audits provide the most accurate data, conducting them weekly is not feasible. That’s why I’m documenting these online audits to track the status of every port in Maryland’s utility-run charging program remotely.
It’s important to mention that I’ve personally visited all of Pepco’s public charging locations, and I’m familiar with their setups. For some of the stations flagged as offline in this audit, I’ve visited them recently and can confirm that the app status accurately reflected their condition.
79% Availability on October 01, 2024
This audit showed that only 79% of Pepco’s charging ports were online and available or in use, falling well below the 97% uptime target. The chart above reflects a persistent gap, with availability declining from 81% to 79% over the last three weeks. According to uptime standards, any charger offline for more than 11 days a year doesn’t meet the 97% requirement, and many of these ports have already dipped below that threshold.
Olney Manor Rec. Park DCFC Offline
See the video below showing the offline charger at Olney Manor Rec Park Baseball Field (Station ID 43408), which I reported to Shell Recharge on September 28, 2024. The customer service representative said a ticket would be created, but as of today, five days later, the charger remains offline.
Uptime Claims Contradict Performance at Olney Manor Rec Park Baseball Field Charger
Charger Audit: SMECO EV Recharge Network, October 01, 2024
Five years ago, the Maryland Public Service Commission approved a pilot program allowing the state’s largest utilities to own and operate public charging stations. Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) runs the smallest of these utility-operated networks, branded “EV Recharge,” which includes four DC fast chargers and 68 Level 2 ports at 36 locations across their service area. By statute, SMECO, like other utilities, must maintain 97% uptime for each charging station, meaning every charging port must function as designed and dispense electricity at least 97% of the time annually, measured in minutes.
On October 1, 2024, I conducted the third in a series of virtual “charger audits” of SMECO’s EV Recharge network, reviewing the online status of all 72 charging ports using the ChargeHub and Shell Recharge apps. While in-person audits provide the most accurate data, conducting them weekly is impractical. That’s why I’m tracking the status of every port in Maryland’s utility-owned public charging program through these online audits.
It’s worth noting that I’ve personally visited all of SMECO’s public charging sites and am familiar with their locations. For the stations reported as offline in this audit, I visited those specific sites in July and can confirm the app statuses accurately reflected their condition at that time.
88% Availability on October 01, 2024
The latest charger audit of SMECO showed that only 88% of the charging ports were online or in use, falling short of the 97% uptime target. One offline Level 2 unit is located at White Plains Regional Park. When I visited that station in July, the screen was damaged, and the charger was unable to dispense a charge. According to SMECO’s most recent semi-annual report to the PSC, uptime at this location was 57.3%, with vandalism cited as the issue. While vandalism is a valid challenge, there should be limits on how long a station can remain non-operational, regardless of the cause. Extended downtime is unacceptable, especially in light of Maryland’s ambitious EV adoption goals.
See the video below, recorded on July 27, 2024, showing the damaged EVSE screen at White Plains Regional Park.
Charger Audit: BGE EVsmart Network, September 30, 2024
On September 30, 2024, I conducted a virtual “charger audit” of BGE’s EVsmart network, reviewing the status of all 648 charging ports. Unlike a physical audit—where each site is visited in person—this online audit uses the ChargeHub and Shell Recharge mobile apps to assess charger availability remotely.
While in-person audits would provide firsthand verification, they are impractical for networks of this scale. Virtual audits offer a feasible way to track reliability and measure performance against Maryland’s 97% uptime goal.
91% Availability on September 30, 2024
At the time of this audit, 91% of BGE’s charging ports were available or in use. This marks a consistent shortfall from the 97% uptime standard. A charger falls below 97% annual uptime if it is offline for more than 11 days per year, and many of these ports have already exceeded this threshold.
Charger reliability is crucial for Maryland’s electric vehicle adoption goals. Without dependable access, drivers may hesitate to switch to EVs, especially in areas with fewer charging options.
No Sites Completely Offline
In contrast to audits where entire charging sites were found completely offline, none of the 123 BGE EVsmart sites were entirely down during the September 30, 2024, audit. While 35 of these sites had at least one port out of service, every location still had at least one operational charger available. This distinction is significant for drivers, as it helps ensure access to charging, even at locations where some ports may be offline—a critical factor in areas with limited charging infrastructure.
The chart above documents the findings of a virtual “charger audit” conducted on September 29, 2024. This audit involved checking the status of each charging port in Delmarva’s EVsmart network using the ChargeHub app, with any ports reported as “offline” cross-verified against the Shell Recharge app. The goal is to compile a series of data points to independently assess charger reliability against Maryland’s 97% uptime target.
65% Availability on September 29, 2024
At the time of the audit, only 65 percent of the charging ports were available or in use. The chart shows a persistent gap between reported availability and the 97% uptime goal over the past three weeks. According to uptime standards, a charger falls short if it is offline for more than 11 days per year, and many of these ports have already exceeded this threshold.
The reliability of these public charging stations is critical to Maryland’s electric vehicle adoption goals. Without dependable access to chargers, drivers may hesitate to switch to electric vehicles, worried about the risk of being stranded—especially in areas with fewer charging stations.
12 Sites Completely Offline
Perhaps the most troubling finding is that 12 Delmarva charging sites were completely offline, with none of their chargers functioning. This is particularly inconvenient for drivers in rural or less densely populated areas like Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where charging options are already limited.
Thomas Farm Community Center 2nd DCFC estimated to be in service by 9/30/2024.
Pepco is adding a second fast charger to their existing electric vehicle charging site at Thomas Farm Community Center in Rockville, MD. Ordinarily, this would be welcome news for EV drivers, but the choice of an Efacec QC45 charger raises concerns. This model is widely considered outdated, slow, and prone to failure.
Originally opened in April 2020 as part of the Maryland Public Service Commission’s EV charging pilot program, the site is now getting a second charger. In August, the PSC ordered utilities to stop installing new public charging stations under the pilot but allowed sites already under development to be completed. This is one of five Pepco locations still under construction and exempt from the stop order.
Aging Efacec QC45 Model Fast Charger Raises Concerns
Pepco’s decision to install a charger model designed over a decade ago feels out of sync with the rapid evolution of EV charging technology. Newer models offer much faster charging speeds, providing greater convenience for drivers. So why is Pepco opting for outdated equipment when more advanced and reliable options are readily available?
The existing DC fast charger at the site, installed in April 2020, is also an Efacec QC45—a model that was already outdated at the time. In fact, similar QC50 units were deployed at Royal Farms locations across Maryland as far back as 2015. It’s puzzling why Pepco persists with older technology, especially as the industry advances toward higher-performance solutions at such a rapid pace.
Public Service Commission Concerns in 2022
Issues with the Efacec chargers were brought to light more than two years ago during a PSC review of the utilities’ semi-annual reports on the EV pilot program. At the time, BGE informed PSC Chair Jason Stanek that they had observed more problems with Efacec QC45 units than with other brands. In fact, BGE had canceled an order for these chargers about a year earlier, opting for a more reliable brand instead.
Chair: Is it fair to say that the Efacec chargers, I believe that these are Portuguese made, have a higher malfunction rate than other chargers?
This Tesla charger audit is intended to complement my ongoing assessments of utility-owned public charging stations in Maryland. The aim is to compile independent data points to evaluate charger reliability against the state’s 97% uptime target.
On September 27, 2024, I conducted a virtual audit of all 531 Tesla Supercharger stalls across 59 active locations in Maryland, with each location containing between four and 16 stalls.
Overall Port Availability on 09-27-2024: 99.2%
The audit found that four out of 531 Supercharger stalls (0.8%) were reported as out of order in the Tesla app, resulting in an overall availability of 99.2%.
Location
Stall
Status
Elkridge, MD
1D
Out of Order
Brandywine, MD
1A
Out of Order
Easton, MD – Ocean Gateway
1A
Out of Order
Bethesda, MD – Elm Street
3C
Out of Order
Maryland Supercharger Status on 09-27-2024
This level of availability aligns with the consistently high reliability of Tesla Supercharger ports that I documented during the summer of 2023. Over several months, I conducted on-the-ground assessments at hundreds of Supercharger locations across the United States, evaluating thousands of ports. Often, we visited more than a dozen sites in a single day without encountering any reported or observed outages.
On September 26, 2024, I conducted a virtual “charger audit” of Potomac Edison’s public “EV Driven” charging network. This involved checking the online status of each of the 20 DC fast chargers (DCFC) and 77 Level 2 ports using the ChargeHub app, with any ports marked “offline” cross-verified against data from the ChargePoint app. The goal is to compile a series of data points to independently assess charger reliability against Maryland’s 97% uptime target.
Overall Port Availability on 09-26-2024: 96%
During my previous audit on September 17, 2024, one of the two Potomac Edison fast chargers at Rocky Gap Resort in Flintstone, MD, was reported offline. As of this most recent check, both chargers are now listed as “Out of Service” on the ChargePoint app, with the last known usage of one charger on September 21. It appears this issue has been brewing longer than that—the app shows that one of these DC fast chargers hasn’t successfully charged a vehicle since July 20, indicating a prolonged outage for that unit.
A dual-port Level 2 charger owned by Potomac Edison at Myersville Town Hall is currently missing from the ChargePoint app. Although it was working when I last used it on August 25, I can’t confirm its status now. For this audit, chargers not appearing on the app are classified as “unknown” and considered down. Including these two ports as down, Potomac Edison’s Level 2 network had 75 out of 77 ports operational, resulting in 97% Level 2 and 96% overall availability during this audit.
Low Utilization at Some Locations
The data also show that 20 of the 97 ports in Potomac Edison’s network were last used over two weeks ago, meaning that more than 20% of the total charging ports have seen no recent activity. It’s worth noting that some of Potomac Edison’s 43 public charging sites are in remote areas of western Maryland, where EV adoption is still lagging.
