The Secret Way to Charge on the Electrify America Network - EV Charging Tips

Avoid Frustration With This Step-By-Step Guide

This week, we’re going to share the secret to charging quickly with the Electrify America (EA) network.

EA has the biggest network of charging stations by location in the country. We’ve done lots of road trips. Without EA, the trips would be impossible.

We learned this secret from one of the customer service agents, so we confess, it isn’t exactly classified information. Still, what we’re going to teach you contradicts the written instructions Electrify America provides. You read that right. A customer service rep told us how to avoid all kinds of hassle by ignoring the written instructions! And it works!

We’ve been charging on the network for years and have had consistent problems. This secret method has dramatically improved our success rate with charging.

Before we give you the charging step-by-step, you’ll want to download the app and install it on your phone.

Next, you’ll want to set up an account. If you’re going to charge twice or more on a road trip, we’d recommend signing up for the “Plus” account, which costs $4 per month and saves you that much on almost every full charge. The app makes it easy to cancel and restart if you don’t take frequent road trips and don’t need to charge with EA locally.

Get set up before you hit the road to avoid stress. Remember, charging on a road trip is typically stressful. When you pull in for a stop, the weather may be unpleasant–hot, cold, rainy or snowy. You may be tired and cranky. Worst of all, you may be anxious to use the restroom. That is not the best time to be figuring things out or dealing with problems.

Now, here’s the step-by-step for you to follow.

Use the app to find a charging location and tap it.

Touch the “Directions” button on the menu that pops up to engage your default navigation app.

Upon arrival at the charger, pull right up to a charger, choosing carefully and parking your car appropriately based on where your vehicle’s charging port is located.

Without getting out of the car (if possible) identify the two-digit number of the charger. Note: on the charger screen, you may see a message that says, “Plug in first.” Ignore that! That’s the secret!

Before you even get out of the car, open the app. Pull up on the tab that appears at the bottom of the screen that says, among other things, “plug in first to charge.” Don’t plug in first to charge! Using the app, tap the charger number where you’re parked. If it is out of order or otherwise unavailable, you’ll be notified in the app. If it is ready for use, another screen will pop up with a swipe button at the bottom for starting the charge–don’t swipe it (yet).

Now, it’s time to get out of the car and plug in. This is trickier than it sounds. The cable is liquid-cooled to allow for super-fast charging. It’s kinda heavy. When you insert the cable into the car’s charging port, lift it up and push it in. This is vitally important in cold weather!!! Devin sometimes uses his knee for this purpose so he has hands free to use the app on his phone.

OK, swipe the swipe button that says swipe to charge. A screen that says “initiating charge” should pop up on the app. Over the next 30 seconds, the charge will begin. The first sign that the process is working is that your car should lock on to the charger with an audible click. Now, it’s OK to let go of the charging cable. The car should then recognize that the charge is initiating. The charger itself will also start making a whining sound like it is spooling up for something big. Within about 30 seconds, your car should signal that it is receiving juice.

Now you can go find lunch and a restroom.

While charging, you can and should check the app for status updates. When you open the app, you’ll see a blue charging status balloon at the top of the page. You can swipe among three different data sets or tap the balloon to bring up a screen with complete data. Occasionally, the charging will stop unexpectedly–this is an Electrify America glitch–so check regularly. EA threatens to bill for the idle time you remain connected even if the charge quits before your battery is fully charged.

When you’ve got the charge you need, head back out to the car to disconnect. Push the button on the charging cable handle or press the stop charging button in the app. Within a few seconds, the car will release its lock on the cable so you can remove it (which may require you to push the button on the cable handle again). Then stow the cable on the charger.

If you check the app now, you’ll see a Session Summary report. We never look at that because EA sends an email with the same data.

Now you know the secret to more successful charging on the Electrify America network.

[paulmcgraw]

It's good to see ordinary folks like yourselves explaining this stuff in layman's language instead of some techno geek. Great videos!

[rayschrab]

I bought my Bolt almost 4 1/2 years ago. Great commuter car, but now I'm retired and am about to take my first road trip with it, WI to FL. I'm getting better tips from you than from the Youtubers who specialize only in EV's. For example, based on your recommendation and experience, I'm going to replace my 12 volt battery before I leave. Thanks!

[jow.]

You’re absolutely right! The key is NOT plugging in immediately. Once you get the correct charging unit on your app set up, then it’s time to plug in. Thanks for this video.

[COSolar]

Another tip at EA stations. If your EV can only take maximum of 150 kw or less, don’t plug into one of the 350 kw chargers. Unless, of course there no 150 kw chargers available.

[georgemari]

Great explainer! I've also gotten the same instructions from EA customer support on a road trip last fall. One difference I follow, and I think it makes it easier, is that you can swipe to start the charge in the app BEFORE you plug the charger into the car. This works every time for me, and you don't have go from the app, plug in, then go back to the app.

[marcgreenberg]

Great video. Thanks for the information. I am waiting for delivery of my 2023 BMW iX X drive 50. It will be my first electric vehicle and appreciate all the information I can get. Thanks again and keep making these videos.

[minibx]

My method is similar but instead of using the app on the phone, I select the station on the car screen using Apple CarPlay, once at the station, select station from the car infotainment screen on CarPlay, never touch the phone, initiate the charge session from the screen inside the car, then get out without the phone because it is still plugged in the car, plug your car in and that’s it, it works like plug and charge without having your phone in your hand therefore being able to use two hands, I have a 17 so Sometimes I need to hold the cable until the handshake is done but I noticed that with the newer cables that are longer and thinner, at least I think they are, no holding of the cable has been necessary, anyways I have 2 EVs and this works for both.
Select station from CarPlay- initiate charge-step out of the car- plug in and that’s it. No holding the phone and cable etc… good video, keep it up

[marcw.]

You are my heroes ! I love that you defined your acronym upfront ! Im guessing you are actually an engineer, many others seem to want to sound like they are and are unintelligable or at least confusing.

[CrownRider]

Thank you very much. Good video. We're Dutch and traveling with an EV through Norway now on vacation. The same issues here with charging, but we hope that in 10-20 years it will all go much smoother.

[dathyr]

Thanks for the steps to use these charging stations. Problem is there are not that many stations where I live in Illinois. Most are very sporadic around the Chicago area and way out of my way to find them.
There are other chargers closer which are Tesla, ChargePoint, and Volta and more of them. Electrify America seems to only be on the main express highways and are spread out quite a bit distance wise at this time. So we have to do planning very carefully to use these.

[peteandtessTube]

Another easy, enjoyable and informative video. I appreciate the husband and wife team approach because I’m buying the Bolt to replace my wife’s Honda Fit and it was most important to us that she likes the car and that she will feel comfortable driving it. When we looked at one at the dealership, already sold, she liked it. I expect to do 99% of our drinking around town within 10-20 miles but we will also visit our family in Charlotte which is about 100 miles away so I’m already scheming to see how I will recharge without plugging in at her home. Our hotel has charging stations - 2 with 2 charge cords- that’s good but what if they’re taken? So I will want to have other alternatives from which to choose. Thanks again for another Top 10!

[kelalamusic]

Interesting info, thanks. One big problem with charging on the road is RAIN! There are no EV charging stations that have covers like what’s provided at gas stations. With high voltage at EV connections, I for one will not take a chance. So, what do you do when rain is forecast for a long period of time with no hotels in the area. So there you are, limited miles on your EV in pouring rain with no signs of letup. Is it worthwhile taking a chance charging your car or not?

[AlanDayley]

This is a wonderful video. Clear, well-thought and thoroughly done. Thanks for contributing to the EV world!

[TomPauls]

All good stuff! The most stressful thing on charger access. Are the chargers working properly? Are there any modules open? There much greater demand on charging locations. So, one should use the apps to see if it has an open unit. Also, many cars (like mine) do not let you pull the cord out after it has locked. You must use your unlock fob button.

[Emmori]

Awesome video I just got an EV and have struggled with the EA systems. I will give these steps a try at my next charge.

[rockystein]

Guys Love the video! I am a new EV'r and trying to figure out the public charging process. This was helpful.

[PluginDuo]

Great Video! These are the kind of videos we love, break things down to completely to understand for the new or prospective owner! Love that you have the option to charge as a guest. But the monthly membership is well worth it! Great content

[Ddronron]

Excellent video. Thank you. When we had trouble using electrify America the first time, we called them, and were told to first swipe the green app and then quickly insert the plug. If you plug in the plug first, before swiping, do you know How much time you have before the system will time out?

[hgodtx]

4:19 that sound is the A/C cranking up for maximum cooling. I beleive on cold days you may not hear anything at least for a while.

[rayschrab]

Here's a tip which could save you a real headache. Last year I had a problem plugging the charger into the Bolt, it just wouldn't go in at all. I learned there is a solenoid driven latch that must snap open and then grasp the charger. It was locked closed, blocking me from plugging in. If you open the hood and disconnect the 12 volt battery, the solenoid will release and the latch will snap open. Reconnect the 12 volt battery and charge the car. I now carry a 10 mm box end wrench with me in the car in case this ever happens again.