Tag: reliability

Double Whammy: Broken Chargers and ICEd Spots in Baltimore

Lanny
ICED EV charging station in Baltimore

Frustration at the Curbside in Baltimore City

Which is worse, a broken charger or arriving and finding it “ICEd“—blocked by a gas vehicle? I recently encountered a bit of both at a curbside charging spot on Washington Boulevard near Carroll Park in Baltimore City.

When I arrived there on a weekday afternoon, I discovered that out of the four available spots, two were blocked by ICE vehicles. To make matters worse, the two remaining spots had non-operational chargers. Of course, the spots by the functioning EVSE were the ones that were ICEd. Murphy’s law, I suppose.

It felt like a double whammy—broken stations compounded by inconsiderate parking. Such experiences can be a frustrating reality for EV drivers.

The EV Driver’s Dilemma: Out of Order or ICEd

This experience highlights a significant challenge for EV drivers: the accessibility and reliability of charging stations. When charging stations are out of order or blocked by ICE vehicles, the result is the same—you cannot charge your vehicle. While there might be debates over which scenario is worse, the frustration and inconvenience for EV drivers are undeniable. It’s a stark reminder of the gaps in the current infrastructure and the everyday obstacles faced by those who have made the switch to electric.

Public Spending and the Promise of Range Anxiety Relief

The situation is particularly disheartening considering the millions in public spending being approved by legislators and public utility commissions to fund the buildout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. One of the primary justifications for this massive investment is to alleviate “range anxiety,” the fear that a vehicle has insufficient range to reach its destination, which remains a significant barrier to EV adoption according to surveys.

The Need for Improved Infrastructure and Enforcement

To truly alleviate perceived range anxiety and make EVs a viable option for everyone, it’s not just about installing more charging stations. Ensuring these stations are functional and accessible is equally critical. This means regular maintenance to keep chargers operational and stringent enforcement to prevent ICE vehicles from occupying EV charging spots.

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Maryland Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Workgroup to Hold First Meeting

Lanny
Hearing for Maryland HB1028 EVSE Workgroup
Testifying for Maryland House Bill 1028 establishing the EVSE Workgroup.

New EVSE Workgroup Established by Maryland Legislature to Study Reliability Issues

The Maryland legislature recently passed, and Governor Wes Moore signed into law, SB951/HB1028, establishing the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) Workgroup. This Workgroup has been tasked with developing a framework for reliability and reporting standards for EV charging stations. Additionally, the Workgroup will study and make recommendations regarding which government entities should ensure accountability for EV charging stations and propose regulations to address various issues outlined in the legislation. They must produce a report by November 1st.

First Meeting Announcement

The EVSE Workgroup will hold its inaugural meeting on July 9, 2024, from 1:30 – 3:00 PM. This virtual meeting will be hosted via WebEx. You can join the meeting using the following link: WebEx Meeting Link.

You can also dial in by phone at (202) 860-2110, using the access code 23476522148.

Members of the public will have an opportunity to provide verbal comments at the end of the meeting. A recording of the meeting will be available afterward on the Commission’s YouTube channel.

Agenda Highlights

The agenda for the first meeting includes the following key goals:

Statutory Goals:

  • Develop a regulatory framework for the items specified in SB951/HB1028.
  • Determine the responsible entities for implementing the regulatory framework.
  • Develop rules for determining EV charging station uptime and enforcement mechanisms.

Group Goals:

  • Identify what aspects the Workgroup should develop versus what should be handled by implementing agencies.
  • Decide which issues need to be codified in legislation, which should be determined through rulemaking, and which do not require formal rules.

Guiding Principles for Recommendations:

  • Ensure that EV charging stations used by the public operate as advertised.
  • Avoid unduly hampering the deployment of additional EVSE.

Meeting Notice and Agenda Links

You can access the meeting notice and agenda for the July 9, 2024, EVSE Workgroup meeting through the following links:

Meeting Details and Materials

First EVSE Workgroup Meeting Details:

  • Date: July 9, 2024
  • Time: 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM
  • Format: Virtual via WebEx (link) or phone at (202) 860-2110 (Access code: 23476522148)
  • Public Comment: Opportunity provided at the meeting’s end.
  • Recording: Available after the meeting on the PSC YouTube Channel (link)

Meeting Materials:

  • Links to the meeting notice and agenda are available on the PSC website at MailLog Number 310679.

Affordable EV Charging at Library in Glenwood, Maryland

Lanny
Glenwood Library EV Charging

Shell Recharge EV Charging at Glenwood Library – Cooksville, MD

If you’re driving through Glenwood, Cooksville, or Inwood, Maryland, and need to top up your electric vehicle, the Shell Recharge EV charging station at Glenwood Library could be a good option. This BGE EVsmart station offers two 50 kW Tritium DC fast chargers and three dual-port Level 2 EVSEs, providing flexibility for either a quick charge or a longer stay. The pricing is straightforward: fast charging costs $0.32/kWh plus a 6% Maryland state sales tax, while Level 2 charging is priced at $0.17/kWh plus tax.

It’s worth noting that the 50 kW speed of the DC fast chargers is relatively slow compared to other providers that offer 150 kW or greater. Additionally, the reliability of the two DC fast chargers at this site has been problematic, with BGE most recently reporting uptimes of 92.4% and 12.7%, both of which fall short of the 97% uptime benchmark.

Location and Amenities

Located in the parking lot of the Glenwood Branch of the Howard County Library on Route 97, this station is about two miles south of I-70. This charging site is also adjacent to the Gary J. Arthur Community Center and the Howard County Western Regional Park. Facility hours are limited, however there are a few nearby amenities:

Charging Site Statistics

  • Address: 2350 Roxbury Mills Rd, Cooksville, MD 21723 map
  • Opening Date: June 26, 2020

Charging Equipment:

  • DC Fast: 50 kW (Qty: 2)
  • Level 2: 7 kW dual-port (Qty: 3)

Reliability and Performance

Uptime figures, meant to reflect the station’s reliability, are self-reported by BGE via their network provider, Shell Recharge.

From July to December 2023, the station’s reported uptime statistics were:

  • DCFC (EVSE ID 153026): 12.7%
  • DCFC (EVSE ID 153018): 92.4%
  • Level 2 Chargers (EVSE ID 52202A, 52307A & 52305A): 99.7%
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New Jersey Enacts EV Charging Uptime Legislation

Lanny
EV Charging Reliability

New Jersey Bill S3102

Approved by the Governor: 1/16/2024.

New Jersey bill S3102 Establishes uptime requirement for electric vehicle charging station incentive programs.

This statute directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a requirement, as a condition of providing any incentive for the installation of electric vehicle service equipment pursuant to P.L.2019, c.362 (C.48:25-1 et seq.) or any other State law, that the station is operational at least 97 percent of the time, as measured on an annual basis. The law also directs the BPU to develop and implement a process to establish, monitor compliance with, and enforce this requirement. As used in the law, “electric vehicle service equipment” means the equipment, including the cables, cords, conductors, connectors, couplers, enclosures, attachment plugs, power outlets, switches and controls, network interfaces, and point of sale equipment and associated apparatus designed and used for the purpose of transferring energy from the electric supply system to a plug-in electric vehicle.

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Testimony – Maryland EV Charging Reliability Bill HB 1028

Lanny
HB1028 MDGA 2024

Economic Matters Committee – March 6, 2024

The following is a transcript of my testimony to the Maryland Economic Matters Committee in support of HB 1028, “Business Regulation – Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment – Regulations for Retail Use.” This legislation would require the Comptroller to adopt regulations for the retail use of electric vehicle supply equipment in the State that include requiring an uptime of 97% and establishing civil penalties for non-compliance with the regulations.

To build trust in electric vehicles, reliable charging and transparent pricing are essential.

Good afternoon. My name is Lanny Hartmann.

As an electric vehicle driver, I’ve experienced firsthand both the promise and the challenges of relying on public charging.

Over the past decade, I’ve visited hundreds of charging stations across the country. While many function smoothly, especially those on the Tesla network, a significant number of public charging stations struggle with reliability and uptime.

Millions are being invested in Maryland’s charging infrastructure. Reliability, affordability, and user experience are critical for success.

According to the Department of the Environment, Maryland currently has around 4,000 charging ports, and about 20% of them are in need of maintenance.

In my own testing of about 70 fast chargers in central Maryland, I found that nearly a third of them had issues. These problems included damaged connectors, malfunctioning screens, or the charger would stop abruptly or deliver reduced power.

There’s a need for transparency in charging costs and meter accuracy. I once charged at a station in Hagerstown and was later billed $553 on my credit card. While I eventually got a refund for the mistaken billing, it underscores the importance of accurate metering and fair pricing.

To build trust in electric vehicles, reliable charging and transparent pricing are essential. Fortunately, Maryland is leading the way in setting reliability standards for utility-owned charging stations with HB 834 which the General Assembly passed last year.

Now, with this bill, we have the opportunity to expand upon that success and ensure reliability and accountability for all public charging stations in the state.

Thank you.

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Call for Enhanced Oversight and Accountability of Electrify America’s Charging Infrastructure

Lanny
Electrify America Unavailable

Comments to California Air Resources Board (CARB)

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will hold a public meeting to consider a staff assessment of Electrify America’s Cycle 4 Zero Emission Vehicle Investment Plan on January 25, 2024. The Board will then decide whether to approve or disapprove the plan.

I submitted the following comments to the California Air Resources Board:

To: cotb@arb.ca.gov
January 23, 2024

Re: 24-1-2: Electrify America’s Proposed Cycle 4 Zero Emission Vehicle Investment Plan

Dear California Air Resources Board,

I am writing as a concerned advocate for electric vehicle drivers. Last summer I travelled through the state of California in an electric vehicle. I encountered many of my fellow EV drivers who were having issues with non-functional Electrify America charging stations. Harris Ranch had a line of frustrated EV drivers waiting to use it because most of the six dispensers were down.

The reliability issues surrounding Electrify America’s charging infrastructure have raised significant concerns within the EV community. While the initial intent of the company to address the fallout from the 2015 Dieselgate scandal was commendable, it appears that their efforts have fallen short, leading to a new crisis in the form of unreliable charging stations.

The recent Sacramento Bee article by Ari Plachta highlighting the reliability challenges faced by Electrify America underscores the urgency of addressing these issues. As an active participant in promoting EV adoption, I find it disheartening that a company established with the explicit purpose of rectifying past wrongs is now contributing to hindrances in the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.

The reliability issues reported, including broken screens, faulty payment systems, and slow charging, are significantly impacting the EV user experience. This not only undermines the trust of current EV drivers but also dissuades potential buyers from making the switch.

Electrify America ranking last in consumer satisfaction, as reported by J.D. Power, is indicative of the severity of the problem. The satisfaction score of 538 out of 1,000 is alarming, especially when compared to Tesla’s score of 739.

Unreliable charging infrastructure poses a major hurdle to achieving widespread EV adoption. Reports suggest that approximately 18% of individuals who switch to electric vehicles end up returning to gas-powered cars due to charging inconveniences. Given the magnitude of the issue, I urge the California Air Resources Board to consider the following actions:

1. Enhanced Oversight: Strengthen oversight mechanisms for Electrify America, ensuring that the company adheres to higher standards of performance and reliability. Confidence in California’s public charging network is crucial for the success of EV adoption.

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Testimony – Maryland Electric Vehicle Charging Reliability Act

Lanny
Maryland Electric Vehicle Charging Reliability Act Testimony

Economic Matters Committee – March 2, 2023

The following is a transcript of my testimony to the Maryland Economic Matters Committee in support of the Maryland Electric Vehicle Charging Reliability Act (HB 834). The legislation subsequently passed and went into effect on October 1, 2023. This is one of the first laws of its kind in the United States.

We deserve transparency and accountability for EV charging infrastructure that’s being built with public funds.

My name is Lanny Hartmann. I’m an EV driver and a BGE ratepayer.

For years we’ve been told that public charging has 98% uptime, 99% uptime, even 100% uptime.

Last year a study was released by the University of California that looked at the reliability of the fast chargers in the San Francisco Bay Area. The study found that only [72.5%] were functional.

I had my own concerns about charger reliability so I conducted my own test of fast chargers in Maryland. In August I visited all the fast chargers owned and operated by BGE.

What I found was that 71% of them were fully functional. In other words, one out of three were broken.

For every station that didn’t work, I reported the issue to customer service.

I compiled my findings and presented them to the Public Service Commission at a hearing in September. You have that report in my written testimony.

Two months later I visited all 69 stations again. This time I found that only 65% were operational. The reliability had actually gotten worse. 

There is a wide gap between what we’re being told about charging reliability and what EV drivers are actually experiencing.

The PSC and lawmakers need quality data to inform decision making.

We deserve transparency and accountability for EV charging infrastructure that’s being built with public funds.

That’s what this bill would do.

Thank you and I ask for a favorable report.

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Charger Reliability Transparency

Lanny
reliability report

The following letter of comment on proposed EV Charger Reliability Standards was filed with the Maryland Public Service Commission on December 12, 2022 (ML 300467)

Re: Case No. 9478 – Public Conference 44 Electric Vehicle Work Group Supplemental Reliability Summary Report

As a BGE ratepayer and EV driver, I respectfully request that the Commission require the EV Pilot Utilities to provide a detailed explanation each time that one of their public charging stations experiences a no-charge event, consumer complaint, or system alert.

The Electric Vehicle Work Group has twice delayed establishing reliability reporting standards for the EV Pilot Utilities. We should not have to wait for federal guidelines for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program to be released. We can begin collecting thorough data on each malfunctioning charger immediately without waiting for those guidelines.

Background

The reliability of public EV charging stations is crucial for providing a positive experience for EV drivers. As ratepayers, we deserve accountability for the money used to build the utilities’ public charging stations. When the Commission was considering the EV charging pilot programs, BGE assured us that they would maintain public charging stations to a high degree of reliability.

We have a regulatory obligation to maintain the charging networks much like any other distribution asset that we have. This is going to avoid situations where you have prolonged EV charger outages due to a breakdown or subsequent vandalism or any sort of things that could befall one of these chargers, and it is our goal of course as always to provide excellent customer experience for those EV chargers.

Sept. 6, 2018 Hearing Video at 2:34:38

Network Vendor Statistics

Based on the Shell Recharge Solutions Sky network dashboard, BGE reported 95% uptime (99% if “unknown” is counted) in the most recent semi-annual report. The PHI Utilities reported an aggregate uptime of 99.7% and SMECO reported an “overall uptime of over 98%.”

Potomac Edison uses the ChargePoint network and provides quarterly uptime for each charging station. They also give details on the steps taken to repair each outage. For example:

On February 21, 2022, PE notified drivers that the charging station located on the right, at the Friendsville Veterans Memorial Park, was out of service. PE and ChargePoint actively worked on resolving the issues across three site visits with technicians on February 15, 2022, March 4, 2022, and March 11, 2022 (descriptions above). The site was partially operational on February 15, 2022, (meaning 1 of 2 DCFC was operational) and fully operational on March 11, 2022, (meaning 2 of 2 DCFC was operational). PE posted outage notifications on PlugShare and the ChargePoint applications notifying customers of the extended outage at the Friendsville Veterans Memorial Park.

Potomac Edison Semi-Annual Report – August 1, 2022, ML 241711, page 14
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Sabotage

Lanny
Sabotage

Oh my god, it’s a mirage.
I’m tellin’ y’all, it’s sabotage.
– Beastie Boys

Politicians never miss an opportunity to remind us of what they’re doing “for the people.”

One such missive came this week from the Office of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. A press release marked the one year anniversary of the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

The BIL includes $7.5 billion of funding for a National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) plan. Companies are lining up to get a piece of the EV charging infrastructure pie.

The Congressional press release happened to quote my recent remarks to the Washington Post to illustrate “how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering results For The People in all fifty states.”

Bipartisan Infrastructure BIL

“Drivers of electric vehicles that use a different plug [than Tesla] need a network of chargers that are convenient and reliable. That’s what is exciting about the national electric vehicle infrastructure plan.”

Lanny Hartmann

The key word here is, “reliable.” Drivers of electric vehicles (The People) need chargers that are solidly reliable.

Do the politicians, government officials, and company executives who cut the ribbons to inaugurate new charging stations understand that The People often suffer once the cameras go away?

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I Tested Every BGE Fast Charger in Maryland – Here’s What I Found

Lanny
BGE Fast Charger
Map of BGE fast charger sites tested

Rationale

It’s been over three years since the Maryland Public Service Commission approved an EV charging pilot that allows the utilities to use ratepayer funds to own and operate public charging stations. When they petitioned for approval of the pilot, my utility, BGE, had assured regulators that their public EV charging stations would be highly reliable and that they would respond quickly to resolve outages and issues. How are they doing in that regard? I wanted quantitative data to find out.

95% to 99% uptime is the range described in the utilities’ semi-annual EV charging reports. That seems quite optimistic compared to what other EV drivers and I have experienced. The only way to actually find out the ground truth is to go out and visit the chargers. I chose to evaluate all the utility-owned fast chargers in the BGE service territory.

Professor David Rempel of the University of California, Berkeley recently published a study on the reliability of the public (non-Tesla) electric vehicle fast chargers in the San Francisco Bay Area. The results showed that more than a quarter of the chargers in the Bay Area were not functioning or had a design failure. The non-functioning stations suffered from non-responsive displays, payment system failures, initiation failures, network failures, or damaged connectors.

The Berkeley study utilized a group of volunteer EV drivers who visited the chargers and tested each one by plugging into their EV and attempting to charge for two minutes. The methods used in the Berkeley study inspired the procedure that I used to test the fast chargers in Maryland.

Procedure

Between August 28 and September 6, 2022, I tested all 69 public fast chargers that are owned and operated by BGE. I created a map of the charger locations and divided the locations into manageable groups that I could visit and evaluate over a number of days.

I drove to each site and worked through a checklist of tasks to test each fast charger. First I took a series of photos of the chargers. Then I recorded the Station ID, model and serial number of each unit. I visually inspected the equipment including the display, cables and connectors for damage. I documented the online status of the charger in the Shell Recharge mobile app. Then I attempted to initiate a charge via the app. If the unit began charging, I let it run for two minutes. Meanwhile I took note of the charging speed and made sure that the charger was operating as expected. After two minutes, I’d stop the charge and then attempt to initiate a charge using the RFID card reader.

If a charging session failed, I reported it to Shell Recharge customer service. This should have alerted BGE of the specific chargers that were having issues. In many instances, when I reported the issue, Shell Recharge responded that a service ticket had previously been created.

Results

A charger was classified as fully functional if it authorized via the Shell Recharge app (or started free), initiated a charge, and maintained the expected charging speed for two minutes.

71% (49) of the BGE fast chargers were fully functional as defined above.

14.5% (10) of the chargers were completely inoperable.

2.9% (2) consistently displayed error codes and would not charge.

4.4% (3) were offline and did not respond via the app. However, these did initiate via a tap of a Shell Recharge RFID card. Most drivers however do not carry a Shell Recharge card.

7.2% (5) initiated a charge but delivered very low power, around 15 kW. That is a fraction of the 50 kW rated power for those stations.

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