Alan Lau - Writer | Ryan Lugo - Illustartions | Oct. 21, 2022
Tips, Tricks, and Etiquette for Faster, Easier Public EV Charging
There’s a learning curve when plugging in to public charging stations. Here’s what every new EV driver needs to know.
When all you’ve ever known is pumping gas, using a public 240-volt Level 2 charging station or a DC fast charger for the first time can be a confusing and frustrating experience. For the new EV owners out there feeling lost or anxiously looking at their vehicle’s dwindling range, know that things get easier—much, much easier—after gaining some familiarity with America’s fledgling charging infrastructure. But until you do, we’ve gathered a series of tips, tricks, and etiquette you can use to help you become a pro at plugging in as you make the transition to an all-electric-powered automotive lifestyle.
You have a lot of options for finding public charging stations. You can use Google Maps, our handy MotorTrend charging station map, your car’s navigation system, or an app from one of the charging networks, such as ChargePoint, Electrify America, or EVgo. Plugshare, a MotorTrend staff favorite, is a great tool for anyone starting out who wants all the information in one place. This app and website provide a comprehensive listing of charging stations along with key details about nearby amenities and user reviews that often reveal how reliable a charging station has been recently. Another great utility, A Better Route Planner, makes planning longer trips with multiple charging stops simple.
Know Where To Go
For the smoothest experience, you’ll want to download a charging network’s mobile phone app and sign up for an account before you show up at a charging station needing to plug in your EV. Many charging stations, particularly the lower-power 240-volt stations, don’t have credit card readers. Using your phone or an RFID membership card may be the only way to start and pay for a charge, and leaving these steps until you’re holding the cord in your hand is a sure way to make your first public charging experience an exercise in frustration.
Sign Up Before You Show Up
The charging port location isn’t standard among EVs. Some models have it on the rear quarter panel, some use the front fender, and a few position it front and center on the nose of the car. Because many EV charging stalls are in designated parking spots and the cables typically have a limited reach, there’s usually only one way to position your car to use a DC fast charger.
Sometimes there isn’t any way to properly park and use a particular charging unit. In those cases, you may have to use an adjacent spot, with the front of the charging station facing away from your vehicle. In other circumstances, you may need to pull in at an angle or perpendicular to the parking spot, taking up two or more spaces. When you have to resort to these tactics, make sure you’re not blocking another available charger. Most EV owners understand these annoyances, and many will move spots if it helps more people plug in sooner. Be one of those people when you can, and don’t be afraid to ask others for help when you need it.
Plan Ahead Before Pulling up to a Charging Station
If you’re using an app to activate a charging station, have it ready before plugging in. Fast-charging stations in the Electrify America network tell you to plug in first, but if you do so and the app takes a while to connect, the charger may time out before activating. You’ll then have to unplug and wait for the app to stop trying to activate an unresponsive charger. You can avoid this situation by starting charging through the app first before plugging in.
Have the App Ready Before Plugging In
EVs charge quickest when the battery is nearly empty, and the power delivered automatically slows down as the battery approaches fully charged. You can take advantage of that and save time by arriving at a DC fast-charging station at around 10 percent. Charging the final 20 percent to full can often take longer than charging from 10 to 80 percent. If you’re trying to minimize your charging time on the road, you’ll want to unplug as soon as you have enough range to reach your destination or when you reach an 80 percent charge, whichever comes first.
Start Low and Stop Early for DC Fast Charging
Not all DC fast chargers are equal. The power output of a charging station can range from 20 to 350 kilowatts, with more power providing faster charging. Not all EVs can accept the maximum power, though. A Chevy Bolt EV, for example, has a maximum charging rate of 55 kilowatts. Plugging it into a 350-kW unit won’t damage the car, but it provides no benefit and prevents EVs that can take advantage of that power from using it. At Electrify America stations, you’ll often find several 150-kW units and only one or two 350-kW units. When there’s a choice, it’s a nice gesture to use the station that’s most appropriate for your vehicle.
Know Your EV’s Charging Rate and Use an Appropriate DC Fast Charger
For the quickest DC fast charging, lithium-ion batteries need to be at operating temperature, typically over 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Although fast charging naturally increases the pack’s temperature, you’ll have a head start if you arrive at the charging site with a pack that’s already warm, especially in very cold weather. Some EVs are able to “precondition” the battery so that the pack is up to temperature when you arrive. Often, the preconditioning automatically kicks on when you set a fast-charging site as your destination in the navigation system. In some EVs, you can manually activate it in the settings.
Precondition the Battery for Faster Charging
Charging stalls in remote areas or underground garages might not have the cell signal to initiate charging from your phone. Your best alternative is to use a credit card or connect to public Wi-Fi internet at these locations. If that doesn’t work, you can note the stall’s number or name, walk to an area with internet or cell signal, and activate the charging station remotely. Some charging networks will also mail you a membership card that can start a session without using a phone. We recommend requesting these cards for any network you regularly use and keeping them stashed in the glove box. They’re also convenient in the event a friend or family member unfamiliar with EV charging borrows your car.
Be Prepared for Bad Cellular Service
Unlike a typical gas station, many public charging sites are unattended and exposed to the elements. We’ve seen a few plug handles pocked with bird poop and even one cable covered in, uh, actual [poop emoji.] A pack of wipes or a roll of paper towels can be a good insurance policy until charging stations receive the same amenities and attention gas stations do.
Keep a Pack of Wipes in Your EV
If charging frequently starts and stops on a 240-volt Level 2 station, it can be a sign that your EV is drawing more power than the circuit can sustain. In this case, you can look in your car’s settings to lower your EV’s power draw. Look for words like “AC,” “current,” “amps,” or “A.” This function is also useful when you are charging from a 240-volt outlet at a campsite and want to use other appliances.
Frequent Power Interruptions? Lower the Charging Power
We are surprised we have to say this, but we’ve seen some truly ugly behavior out there: Don’t park at a charging station unless you need to charge. Some EV drivers are so bold that they’ll park at chargers without even plugging in. By doing so, they are blocking charging access for other EV drivers who may need it.
If you’re genuinely in need of charging, do your part to make the station available as soon as possible. Set up your apps so you receive a notification on your phone when charging is complete so you can move your vehicle as soon as it is. Some networks charge an idling fee (after an initial grace period) that is even more expensive than what you pay while charging.
Don’t Treat a Charging Station Like a Priority Parking Spot
Tamara Warren - Writer
Ryan Lugo - illustrations | Oct. 13, 2022
The New Automotive Sounds of Science
Automakers are pushing to make better use of and offer ever more advanced sound technology.
Ever since the dawn of the automobile, an engine’s sweet siren song was the sound that mattered most after the key was turned and the ignition fired. For decades, the roar of a V-8 would turn pedestrians’ heads and signal thrill time for vehicle occupants. But in recent years, many have bemoaned the loss of mechanical noise on racetracks and roadways as electric and hybrid powertrains slowly chip away at the prominence of the internal combustion engine. Increasingly, it’s the push of a button, the flash of a welcome screen, and a software-generated symphonic greeting that signal the beginning of a modern car’s aural journey.
For automakers and suppliers alike, the increasing absence of traditional powertrain sounds have created new opportunities to rethink sonic engagement inside the car and out. Sound technology is an exploding area of software development in the automotive arena, and for good reason. Because when it comes to the next generation of vehicles, which will largely be propelled by hushed electric-only powertrains and directed using automated driving technologies, sound and voice design will become ever more intentional and integral to the core driving experience.
Developing a set of sounds isn’t simply left up to the engineers. It’s a creative skillset that requires tone, timing, and musicality. Multiple departments at a single car company work with traditional and new tech-focused suppliers in this field on a range of disciplines from software engineers to in-house sound designers. Rawand Baziany is a sound designer at Mercedes-Benz, who works closely with the sound engineering team. He also has a strong background in music, having founded a rockabilly music production studio in Germany. Like Volvo’s Hageman, Baziany also utilizes the field of psychoacoustics to help create sounds for different aspects of vehicle operation.
“From the creative side you start with a very big vision, like when I come from my background in music production there are no limits for creating a sound,” Baziany said. “It can be very exciting just in one moment, but when you design sounds for everyday use it has to be on point, and it has to be integrated in the interior.” Sound use is not just about what sounds pleasant to the occupants, but how the brain interprets the command to engage with the vehicle. “There's a lot of psychology behind acoustics. We have a field called psychoacoustics, and this deals with the topic of how this sound is interacting with humans or how the moods are influenced and how you perceive the sounds,” he added.
Another critical part of sound design relies on sounds that are filtered out of the car from the outside world to keep the cabin quiet—a race that automakers and suppliers have focused on for decades in noise and vibration labs, which was once a mechanical engineering challenge. In an era when less engine noise allows more natural sounds to seep into the car, it’s a more obvious area of focus that will rely heavily on software. Sound designers and engineers use software to cancel out unwanted noises or target sound to specific parts of the vehicles.
“Noise in vehicles causes fatigue. You think of noise in a vehicle being engine and exhaust, and second road noise,” said Peter Kozak, vice president of Bose’s automotive systems. “In EVs we’re focusing on ambient noise, which enables us to reduce road noise. Quiet in automotive is luxury. Quiet in automotive means quality.”
Targeting sounds to different parts of the vehicle to achieve a desired effect is another area where sound is being used. Nick Collins, executive director for vehicle programs at Jaguar Land Rover, walked us through the sound software on the top-of-the-line Range Rover at the vehicle’s U.S. introduction. Jaguar Land Rover has been ramping up its sound management development in partnership with Meridian, the supplier of its high-end speaker systems
“We’ve got a microphone in each wheel arch and that’s picking up road noise,” Collins said. “Then we basically create the mirror image of that and play that out of speakers in the headrest. It’s a bit like noise canceling headphones in the headrest of the car, using the road noise picked up from the wheel arches and canceling it out. That’s why the car is super quiet.”
Developing Desirable Sounds, Excluding Unwanted Ones
You have a lot of options for finding public charging stations. You can use Google Maps, our handy MotorTrend charging station map, your car’s navigation system, or an app from one of the charging networks, such as ChargePoint, Electrify America, or EVgo. Plugshare, a MotorTrend staff favorite, is a great tool for anyone starting out who wants all the information in one place. This app and website provide a comprehensive listing of charging stations along with key details about nearby amenities and user reviews that often reveal how reliable a charging station has been recently. Another great utility, A Better Route Planner, makes planning longer trips with multiple charging stops simple.
Know Where To Go
For the smoothest experience, you’ll want to download a charging network’s mobile phone app and sign up for an account before you show up at a charging station needing to plug in your EV. Many charging stations, particularly the lower-power 240-volt stations, don’t have credit card readers. Using your phone or an RFID membership card may be the only way to start and pay for a charge, and leaving these steps until you’re holding the cord in your hand is a sure way to make your first public charging experience an exercise in frustration.
Sign Up Before You Show Up
The charging port location isn’t standard among EVs. Some models have it on the rear quarter panel, some use the front fender, and a few position it front and center on the nose of the car. Because many EV charging stalls are in designated parking spots and the cables typically have a limited reach, there’s usually only one way to position your car to use a DC fast charger.
Sometimes there isn’t any way to properly park and use a particular charging unit. In those cases, you may have to use an adjacent spot, with the front of the charging station facing away from your vehicle. In other circumstances, you may need to pull in at an angle or perpendicular to the parking spot, taking up two or more spaces. When you have to resort to these tactics, make sure you’re not blocking another available charger. Most EV owners understand these annoyances, and many will move spots if it helps more people plug in sooner. Be one of those people when you can, and don’t be afraid to ask others for help when you need it.
Plan Ahead Before Pulling up to a Charging Station
If you’re using an app to activate a charging station, have it ready before plugging in. Fast-charging stations in the Electrify America network tell you to plug in first, but if you do so and the app takes a while to connect, the charger may time out before activating. You’ll then have to unplug and wait for the app to stop trying to activate an unresponsive charger. You can avoid this situation by starting charging through the app first before plugging in.
Have the App Ready Before Plugging In
EVs charge quickest when the battery is nearly empty, and the power delivered automatically slows down as the battery approaches fully charged. You can take advantage of that and save time by arriving at a DC fast-charging station at around 10 percent. Charging the final 20 percent to full can often take longer than charging from 10 to 80 percent. If you’re trying to minimize your charging time on the road, you’ll want to unplug as soon as you have enough range to reach your destination or when you reach an 80 percent charge, whichever comes first.
Start Low and Stop Early for DC Fast Charging
Not all DC fast chargers are equal. The power output of a charging station can range from 20 to 350 kilowatts, with more power providing faster charging. Not all EVs can accept the maximum power, though. A Chevy Bolt EV, for example, has a maximum charging rate of 55 kilowatts. Plugging it into a 350-kW unit won’t damage the car, but it provides no benefit and prevents EVs that can take advantage of that power from using it. At Electrify America stations, you’ll often find several 150-kW units and only one or two 350-kW units. When there’s a choice, it’s a nice gesture to use the station that’s most appropriate for your vehicle.
Know Your EV’s Charging Rate and Use an Appropriate DC Fast Charger
For the quickest DC fast charging, lithium-ion batteries need to be at operating temperature, typically over 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Although fast charging naturally increases the pack’s temperature, you’ll have a head start if you arrive at the charging site with a pack that’s already warm, especially in very cold weather. Some EVs are able to “precondition” the battery so that the pack is up to temperature when you arrive. Often, the preconditioning automatically kicks on when you set a fast-charging site as your destination in the navigation system. In some EVs, you can manually activate it in the settings.
Precondition the Battery for Faster Charging
Charging stalls in remote areas or underground garages might not have the cell signal to initiate charging from your phone. Your best alternative is to use a credit card or connect to public Wi-Fi internet at these locations. If that doesn’t work, you can note the stall’s number or name, walk to an area with internet or cell signal, and activate the charging station remotely. Some charging networks will also mail you a membership card that can start a session without using a phone. We recommend requesting these cards for any network you regularly use and keeping them stashed in the glove box. They’re also convenient in the event a friend or family member unfamiliar with EV charging borrows your car.
Be Prepared for Bad Cellular Service
Unlike a typical gas station, many public charging sites are unattended and exposed to the elements. We’ve seen a few plug handles pocked with bird poop and even one cable covered in, uh, actual [poop emoji.] A pack of wipes or a roll of paper towels can be a good insurance policy until charging stations receive the same amenities and attention gas stations do.
Keep a Pack of Wipes in Your EV
If charging frequently starts and stops on a 240-volt Level 2 station, it can be a sign that your EV is drawing more power than the circuit can sustain. In this case, you can look in your car’s settings to lower your EV’s power draw. Look for words like “AC,” “current,” “amps,” or “A.” This function is also useful when you are charging from a 240-volt outlet at a campsite and want to use other appliances.
Frequent Power Interruptions? Lower the Charging Power