Oh, btw, I tried multiple chargers, all with the same result. Two chargers were out of order, but others seemed to be working and other people, including others with VWs, charged while I was there.

 

How many bars of cell coverage did you have at that site? The only EA I had trouble was only 1-2 bars where the phone would work but the data plan connection was bad enough it would not start.

Pics or screenshots of the errors and describing what you hit might allow someone to help more.

 

When you say phone tap didn’t work, what were you tapping? Apple Pay on the credit card reader, or the EA ID card from Apple Wallet on the EA card reader? EA chargers have two separate NFC readers, one for their ID cards, and one for credit cards.

 

When you say phone tap didn’t work, what were you tapping? Apple Pay on the credit card reader, or the EA ID card from Apple Wallet on the EA card reader? EA chargers have two separate NFC readers, one for their ID cards, and one for credit cards.

I followed the instruction on the screen to tap the phone. There is a place on the charger enclosure that has a WiFi symbol, and says "tap here," and has a phone symbol.

How many bars of cell coverage did you have at that site? The only EA I had trouble was only 1-2 bars where the phone would work but the data plan connection was bad enough it would not start.

Pics or screenshots of the errors and describing what you hit might allow someone to help more.

How many bars of cell coverage did you have at that site? The only EA I had trouble was only 1-2 bars where the phone would work but the data plan connection was bad enough it would not start.

Pics or screenshots of the errors and describing what you hit might allow someone to help more.

I don't know how many bars of cell coverage I had. But it is in the middle of the city, just 3 blocks from an Interstate highway. My phone is served by Google Fi, which used T-Mobile towers or the nearest accessible Wi-Fi signal, whichever is stronger.

That's where I tapped. When I went back yesterday, I did that when Plug and Charge didn't work, and it worked to start the charge process. I have used it in the past, too, before I got Plug and Charge. One taps when the "member" screen instructs one to do so. There really isn't anything to confuse one about the tapping. I suppose it works whether the phone is Apple or Android (mine's Android) since the instructions don't mention any differentiation.

 

I followed the instruction on the screen to tap the phone. There is a place on the charger enclosure that has a WiFi symbol, and says "tap here," and has a phone symbol.


That's where I tapped. When I went back yesterday, I did that when Plug and Charge didn't work, and it worked to start the charge process. I have used it in the past, too, before I got Plug and Charge. One taps when the "member" screen instructs one to do so. There really isn't anything to confuse one about the tapping. I suppose it works whether the phone is Apple or Android (mine's Android) since the instructions don't mention any differentiation.

Sounds right. I have the EA lD card in my Apple wallet so I can just tap it against the reader. It works even if there’s no cell service at the charger.

 

Sorry to hear about your experience. This sort of thing justifiably leads to range anxiety.

For any sort of trip, whether around town or on the road, I plan things so I never get below 20%. Usually I stay above 30%. And I never charge past 80%. This method leads to more charging sessions, but they are shorter. Mainly, though, with 25% or so of charge it is almost always possible to get to another station further on if all else fails.

Those "predicted ranges" of 320 and 428 miles are almost completely fictional. They're based on your recent driving history, so if you go to the nearby grocery store at 30 MPH it will give you a very high estimate compared to what you will get on the highway going 70 MPH in the wind and with the trunk full of suitcases.

Plan trips based on the assumption that the range of the car is 150 miles.

 

As I said, there are EA stations along my route, none more than 110 miles apart. And I pointed out that I do not expect to get the range predicted by my last charge, especially due to mountain driving and highway speeds. I am going to go, but will be prepared to abort if charging fails at any station. I will charge at each EA station as I go. And I can, given the route, resort to another charge vendor if necessary.

 

I just last week drove from Enumclaw, in the foothills south of Seattle to Spokane and back, didn’t have ny problems, aside from EA chargers being iffy, actually downloaded the circle k app and charged there twice, used EA several times, was pretty painless, that’s the second time I have made that trek in 3 yrs.
My 21 proS seems to be getting better and better.

 

I’m currently on a 2000 mile road trip. On Thursday AM plug and charge would not work at multiple EA stations (Loomis CA, reno, lovelock, battle mountain NV but it finally started working again in Wendover NV and SLC. Tapping with Apple wallet worked. I think it was an EA system bug.

I found that the EA app would freeze on “initiating charge” and then plug and charge and the app swipe to start would not work at the next EA station 2 hours later. However if after completing a charge I would go into the EA app and look and it would reset itself from the charging in progress to show completion and then it would work at the next EA station.

So at the end of each EA session open the EA app briefly before driving away.

 

That's what I did at first. You go out to one around 100 miles away. Hopefully it works. If not, you turn around and go home. If it works, you have a new starting point and can go to the next one on your route.

It's like backpacking in desert country. I backpacked all over Big Bend National Park. You take enough water to get to the first water source and back. If there's water, you can go to the next source. If not, you go back.

I just last week drove from Enumclaw, in the foothills south of Seattle to Spokane and back, didn’t have ny problems, aside from EA chargers being iffy, actually downloaded the circle k app and charged there twice, used EA several times, was pretty painless, that’s the second time I have made that trek in 3 yrs.
My 21 proS seems to be getting better and better.

I plan to charge at Ritzville, 60 miles, Ellensburg, another 113 miles if I remember correctly. Next is Yakima, another 36 miles. Recharging there because next stop is in the park, through mountains 100 miles, so want to have a full charge starting this leg. Charge at the hotel. Some driving in the park and actually a circle around outside the park to get to a northern trail head. That's 115 miles. If I need a charge leaving there, I will detour into Yakima to charge up to get back to the hotel, if that seems reasonable. I'll have to play this one by ear (or seat of the pants). I just don't know yet what 115 miles of mountain driving means for range. If the leg from Yakima to Longmire where the hotel is depletes charge too much to feel comfortable to get to the the north side trail and back, well, I'll cancel that part of the trip. The hotel has chargers for guests. I don't have any intention of being stuck on the road in the mountains. AAA says my leg from Yakima to Longmire is 100 miles, but 2.5 hours. Due to mountains and narrow roads, so slow. May deplete charge substantially.

 

It's like backpacking in desert country. I backpacked all over Big Bend National Park. You take enough water to get to the first water source and back. If there's water, you can go to the next source. If not, you go back.

I plan to charge at Ritzville, 60 miles, Ellensburg, another 113 miles if I remember correctly. Next is Yakima, another 36 miles. Recharging there because next stop is in the park, through mountains 100 miles, so want to have a full charge starting this leg. Charge at the hotel. Some driving in the park and actually a circle around outside the park to get to a northern trail head. That's 115 miles. If I need a charge leaving there, I will detour into Yakima to charge up to get back to the hotel, if that seems reasonable. I'll have to play this one by ear (or seat of the pants). I just don't know yet what 115 miles of mountain driving means for range. If the leg from Yakima to Longmire where the hotel is depletes charge too much to feel comfortable to get to the the north side trail and back, well, I'll cancel that part of the trip. The hotel has chargers for guests. I don't have any intention of being stuck on the road in the mountains. AAA says my leg from Yakima to Longmire is 100 miles, but 2.5 hours. Due to mountains and narrow roads, so slow. May deplete charge substantially.

Check the hotel charger carefully. First off, lots of them are Tesla Destination Chargers which means you need an adapter. Also they tend to get abused. I have run into hotel chargers where the latch is completely broken off, which means you can pull out the connector while current is flowing. And the cables tend to get run over. And they are often ICEd.

 

I don't have much to add other than that EA in Yakima is horrible and I just avoid it when I go that way. Ellensburg has a lot of good options, my personal fav is the circle k or pilot flying J but the EA is good too (I just hate Taco Bell lol).

 

What is horrible about the EA in Yakima? It is important that I am able to charge in Yakima. If the EA station there doesn't work, I'll charge at an alternative, but of course, that means I'll have to pay.

 

BTW, there is a 50kW charger at the 76 station in Packwood

Dave

 

BTW, there is a 50kW charger at the 76 station in Packwood

Dave

Thanks

 

Just start the charger in the EA app. Don't try to use the phone tap as you have to have settings setup correctly in the phone. Make sure your credit card in the app is up to date(Aka did not expire).

 

Thats how I charged several times last week on the way to Spokane and back, worked flawlessly, with the exception of those in front of Taco Bell, one of those is always messed up. App and swipe, every time.

 

Can you switch to the Stone Creek Lodge? Only one review in PlugShare so far, but the site description suggests a greater level of integration with, and support from, the hotel. And it appears to be free.

Plus, are you sure they’re still taking out the trash in the park?

—Eric

 

Today while trying to initiate a charge in remote Elko NV plug and charge didn’t work and the EA app said “no internet access“ so the only way to start the charge was Apple Watch tap, or calling EA.

 

For what it’s worth I could not use Plug and Charge after my software update. I had to go into the EA app and enable it.

 

Plug and charge worked at other stations that day and the day before. I think Elko NV just has poor internet access from the EA dispensers and app.

 

I’m actually really enjoying no longer having free charging… means I’m not “shackled” to EA and their tiny sites with only a few chargers. Combined with Tesla access in my car (which is our primary trip car), I’m free to shop around by price, availability, and amenities. Haven’t been to a Walmart parking lot in over a year!

 

Agreed. I really branched out on my last big trip.

I also find that, even without free charging, I’m driving more than I did with our gassers — a combination of having a (mostly) free conscience and just loving the way this car travels.

—Eric