Electrify America's New Program Limits Charging to 85 Percent

by Chris Teague

Published: July 9th, 2024

electrify america s new program limits charging to 85 percent

If you own an EV and live in an area with tons of other EV drivers, charging can be a real pain. Finding an open charger has become a frustrating part of life for many people in those places, but Electrify America thinks it has a solution. The company is piloting a congestion reduction plan that would limit drivers’ ability to charge.

The program caps charging at 85 percent, which should prevent drivers from camping at chargers while they wait for the sometimes extended periods it takes to reach a full charge. Many new EVs can quickly reach the 80 percent mark, but charging speeds fall off significantly after that benchmark.

Electrify America’s plan stops the charge and gives drivers a ten-minute grace period before they see idle fees. The company is only running the pilot at locations it feels are not ones people would use on road trips when reaching a 100 percent charge is often necessary to travel between charging stations.

This change will likely be a bummer for some people, as range anxiety is still a real thing. At the same time, the only way EVs will become a viable option is if drivers can readily find and use charging stations. Charger reliability is another issue altogether, and it’s a challenge Electrify America hasn’t yet overcome. The company’s chargers are often inoperable or inexplicably offline, leaving drivers with fewer options at its locations.

[Images: Kia, Around the World Media via Shutterstock]

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Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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4 of 222 comments

Joe65688619 on Jul 11, 2024
It honestly seems like a good potential solution. Kudos if they can make it "smart" and allow 100% charging when there is availability at the nearby charging station(s). Another idea (I haven't seen much of): install more high-voltage chargers at highway rest areas. Perfect place to top off while getting food, using the bathroom, picnicing to take a break, stretch your legs or let a four-legged companion do the same.

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- Lou_BC on Jul 11, 2024
  I'm seeing that happen. Rest areas, points of interest, tourist attractions. Not everyone is in a mad race to cover 500 miles point A to B as fast as possible.
  
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- EBFlex on Jul 12, 2024
  They should just allow 100% charging now.
  
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Kelley on Jul 21, 2024
It's about time! I was so discouraged to see those poor Chevy Bolts stuck at the charging station receiving level 2 speeds after 80%, it was ridiculous. It would be nice if EA would had more level 2 chargers, also, at the same locations for people to top off above 80% on the fast chargers.

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