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[Question] Do charging stations generally accept credit/debit cards? (dubvee.org)

submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Sorry if this is a dumb question. I currently drive a hybrid and am looking to upgrade in the next 1- 2 years to either PHEV or full EV. In either scenario, I envision most of my charging will be done at home. However, if I go full EV, I will eventually need to charge in public.

I've read it varies from charging network to charging network, so I figure I'd ask EV owners what their experiences are like. I really don't like the idea of relying on an app or monthly subscription or anything like that.

So, is a debit card more or less guaranteed to be accepted, and if so, are the rates significantly higher than some kind of membership option?

Edit: In the US if it matters.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I've only rented an ev, but only about half the time they have successfully taken a cc. Either they were broken, or it was just missing.

A lot of them have apps, which is very annoying as a renter, but if you own the car it should be less of an issue.

Afaik you don't actually need to purchase a subscription to use them.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Thanks! Good to know, even if disappointing. Broken I can understand (people are the worst, after all), but missing seems like like the operator chose not to add them.

Yeah, the apps are a non-starter for me. My dislike for them aside, I'm stuck with T-Mobile as my carrier. If a butterfly flaps its wings between my phone and the tower, I lose all service. lol. Not exactly something I want to rely on if I need to charge up.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 10 months ago (1 children)

You don’t need your phone to be operational for the app to work. It’s just like any of the smartphone app platforms… you have a card on file associated with the account. The car is recognized when you plug in to charge, then automatically charges the account when it is used for the amount of charge you take. You can set it up on your phone, in the car, or on a computer, but only need the car to charge.

Tesla is rolling out a subscription for $13.99 a month for up to 5 charging sessions per day, though. I’ve been traveling a lot and have been charging 3-4 times a day for 50-60$ total. It’ll be nice to save even more money with the sub, but that wouldn’t be worth it if you don’t travel a lot.

I’ve had mine for 4 years and, up until this year when I started traveling, I never used a public charger. Charging at home was always cheap and easy and I never drove more than 250 miles in a day. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how easy route planning automatically plans the most efficient route with stops to charge along the way. I had a bit of range anxiety when I started out, but that was mostly from my ignorance of how it would all work out. Lately I’ve been driving through the mountains in winter and haven’t had any problems.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Okay, that's different and less awful than what I've heard about the app billing. If I can set up the account/payment method on thier website with my laptop and not have to have my phone involved or functional at all to charge, I could be on board with that. Thanks for that bit of info. Some of the stuff I've read may be a bit dated.

Definitely don't think I'd benefit from a subscription like that unless my life situation changes, but interesting to know it's out there if it does.

Thanks!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago

Yeah. I just found out about the subscription. It would have saved me money on my big cross country trips, but it costs about 10-20$ for a good 2/3s charge when I do need to hit a supercharge. On a thousand mile trip, I probably hit 6 of them, or so, so it makes sense… but I wouldn’t subscribe normally.

If you have a way to install a level 2 charger at your home, it’s a no-brainer. If you rent and have to find a place to charge, it’s a bit more hassle. All I know is I have had mine for 4 years and I’ll never go back.

I have a motorcycle that isn’t ev and feel like it’s such an inconvenience to have to go somewhere to fill it up, rather than having it ready to go when I am.