[Hot Soup]

Planning my first big road trip with the ID.4, which is actually kind of a softball. We're heading to a camp ground in western Mass about 3 hours away.

Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what could be a good family lunch spot at the EA fast charger. Posted below is a screenshot of the situation. This seems incredibly daft. What are my reasonable options here? I guess I drop off the family at the restaurant, go to the charger spot, hoof it back to the resto, then trek back in the middle of the meal to unplug and avoid the idle penalty?

I get these are early adopter problems but it's still painful.

Just posting to rant

 

[Tinman]

In several locations that I visit, it appears that it's the proximity to the main utility feeds or high voltage drops to the property that seemingly determines the location of the chargers.

 

[Nai3t]

That's not a terribly long walk, but I hear ya. Maybe for situations like these you need to get yourself a One Wheel and carry it in the frunk. Oh, wait...

Your drop-off plan sounds workable.

Where the blue WalMart pin drop is on the image would be a perfect EA location: central to all of those businesses shown, but inconvenient enough for any one particular store that they're still out of the way and not taking up prime parking real estate.

 

[Huey52]

I too lean towards that location is more about high voltage connection logistics than not wanting to offer prime vehicle parking.
Historically I've parked in the "north 40" just to avoid care-less human dings and scratches, but as the ID.4 is mostly marketed as a family vehicle I can sympathize that the walk is inconvenient.
In my 'local' brand new EA area the charging is actually closer to the central convenience store than the diesel pumps, and only a little further away than the gasoline pumps. But EA also closest to the main highway, so I again think for most efficient/safer shorter run high voltage feeds.

 

[Hot Soup]

I too lean towards that location is more about high voltage connection logistics than not wanting to offer prime vehicle parking.
Historically I've parked in the "north 40" just to avoid care-less human dings and scratches, but as the ID.4 is mostly marketed as a family vehicle I can sympathize that the walk is inconvenient.
In my 'local' brand new EA area the charging is actually closer to the central convenience store than the diesel pumps, and only a little further away than the gasoline pumps. But EA also closest to the main highway, so I again think for most efficient/safer shorter run high voltage feeds.

The idle penalty is the worst part. I'm basically ditching my family for 10 to 15mins to get the car. I wish the system was smart enough to consider if there are any other available spots before it hits me with it.

 

[Froggy]

The problem is that if they are more convenient to the restaurants , one that is where handicapped spaces are, and two they will be perpetually ICEd.

 

[J6898]

Planning my first big road trip with the ID.4, which is actually kind of a softball. We're heading to a camp ground in western Mass about 3 hours away.

Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what could be a good family lunch spot at the EA fast charger. Posted below is a screenshot of the situation. This seems incredibly daft. What are my reasonable options here? I guess I drop off the family at the restaurant, go to the charger spot, hoof it back to the resto, then trek back in the middle of the meal to unplug and avoid the idle penalty?

I get these are early adopter problems but it's still painful.

Just posting to rant

View attachment 4116

If it's an EA station and you're using your free 3 years there is no idle fee (atleast with me I've never been charged once for idle)

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using Tapatalk

 

[DanM]

If it's an EA station and you're using your free 3 years there is no idle fee (atleast with me I've never been charged once for idle)

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using Tapatalk

I really hope they start charging idle fees, because this is not behavior that should be encouraged at all.

 

[J6898]

I really hope they start charging idle fees, because this is not behavior that should be encouraged at all.

I agree I assume it won't be until the 3 years is up and to clarify it's not like I sit on the charger for 3 hours like 20/25 min once or twice

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[Tinman]

If it's an EA station and you're using your free 3 years there is no idle fee (atleast with me I've never been charged once for idle)

I've never been charged for idle fees under my free three year plan, either. It's because I haven't left the car plugged into the charger after charging stopped. Idle fees are definitely on you for the first three years. That's the reason that the $10.00 fee was originally charged to your credit card. Whether that's another glitch in the system, I don't know.

 

[J6898]

I've never been charged for idle fees under my free three year plan, either. It's because I haven't left the car plugged into the charger after charging stopped. Idle fees are definitely on you for the first three years. That's the reason that the $10.00 fee was originally charged to your credit card. Whether that's another glitch in the system, I don't know.

Yea maybe it's a glitch but I don't believe so because I specifically remember when activating the promo it clearly stated the idle fee was $0.00 under the plan.

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[Tinman]

Yea maybe it's a glitch but I don't believe so because I specifically remember when activating the promo it clearly stated the idle fee was $0.00 under the plan.

Available on MY21 ID.4 vehicles. 3 years of unlimited charging begins upon vehicle purchase. Non-transferable. Not available for commercial use, such as ridesharing. Requires Electrify America account, app, enrollment in ID.4 Charging Plan, and acceptance of Terms of Use. After user-initiated charge session stop or vehicle reaches full charge or charging otherwise stops, and 10-min grace period, Idle Fees will apply and user is responsible.

5 Drivers who do not unplug and move their vehicle ten minutes after their charging session is complete will be charged a $0.40 per-minute idle fee. This fee encourages drivers to move their car promptly so that others can use the charger. You can be notified when your charging session is complete by text message 2 or see it on the charger screen.

Volkswagen | Electrify America

 

[J6898]

Volkswagen | Electrify America

You got me then I don't know then but I've definitely been plugged in after fully charging and over 10 min with no penalty

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[Hot Soup]

If it's an EA station and you're using your free 3 years there is no idle fee (atleast with me I've never been charged once for idle)

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using Tapatalk

Oh is that true? We used an EA charger closer to home and it definitely warned of an idle fee before and at the end of charging.

 

[Skirmish]

I’ve seen an ID4 left idle for over 160 min with no fee.

 

[mlsstl]

Better for all that EA has an idle fee that gets waived than to not have it declared and impose it. However, there will come the day when it starts getting levied.

 

[Froggy]

With as few as 4 EVSEs per site, EA can’t really afford to to have the spaces colonized. That said while free charging it doesn’t warn me until after I stop charging regardless of how many minutes that is.

 

[Y2k1258]

They list the fee in the app under the plan info

 

[mjmenhart]

I'm not sure what you are set to charge to, but a potential work around would be to set it to charge to 100%. Obviously the debate about charging to 100% is spirited, but assuming you don't do it most of the time, that could give you and extra 20 - 30 minutes before idle fees would start. And you can stop it before 100% if you finish in time.

 

[Hot Soup]

I'm not sure what you are set to charge to, but a potential work around would be to set it to charge to 100%. Obviously the debate about charging to 100% is spirited, but assuming you don't do it most of the time, that could give you and extra 20 - 30 minutes before idle fees would start. And you can stop it before 100% if you finish in time.

That's a great idea. We had planned to do 100% the night before anyway. I will just keep the setting in place.