Electrify America, one of the leading providers of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in the US, has announced a 15% price increase for most of its chargers. The news comes as the company is looking to make more money from customers who use its network of chargers frequently. The move is controversial, as many EV owners rely on Electrify America’s network of fast-charging stations to keep their cars running during long trips or every day commuting. This article discusses the implications of this price hike and how it may affect EV owners in the future.
What is Electrify America?
Electricity is one of the most important utilities in our lives, so it’s no surprise that when electric vehicles (EVs) first started to become popular, there was a lot of excitement around the possibility of using this new technology to power our homes and businesses.
However, EVs still make up a tiny fraction of the overall vehicle market, and as a result, charging infrastructure is still in its early stages of development. This has led to a situation where there are a limited number of public charging stations, and those that do exist often have high prices or long wait times.
This is where Electrify America comes in. Electrify America is a company that was created by Volkswagen as part of its settlement with the US government over the diesel emissions scandal. As part of the settlement, Volkswagen agreed to invest $2 billion over 10 years into EV infrastructure in the United States.
Electrify America has been working to build a nationwide network of public charging stations, with a focus on making them fast, reliable, and affordable. However, the company recently announced that it will be raising prices at some of its busiest stations by as much as 50%.
The price hike is being billed as a move to “optimize” the network for heavy usage, but it’s likely to cause frustration among EV drivers who have come to rely on Electrify America’s chargers.
The price hike for frequent EV chargers
Starting in January 2020, Electrify America will be charging its customers more for using its frequent EV chargers. The price hike, which will be around 20%, will affect customers who use the chargers more than once a month.
This is not the first time that Electrify America has increased prices for its services. In July 2019, the company raised prices for its one-time use chargers by 50%. This latest price hike comes as a surprise to many, as it comes just six months after the last increase.
The reason for the price hike is not clear, but it is likely due to the increasing demand for electric vehicles and the need to upgrade and expand the charging infrastructure. This is something that Electrify America has been doing over the past year, and the price hike may be necessary to cover these costs.
Whatever the reason, this price hike will undoubtedly make charging your electric vehicle more expensive. If you are a frequent user of Electrify America’s chargers, you may want to consider alternatives, such as home charging or other public chargers.
How this will affect EV owners
If you’re an electric vehicle (EV) owner in the United States, there’s a good chance you’ve used one of Electrify America’s public chargers. The company, which is owned by Volkswagen Group, operates a network of over 2,000 EV charging stations across the country.
Now, Electrify America is increasing prices for its frequent users. Starting November 1st, the company will charge 30% more for customers who use its chargers more than once per month.
This price hike will only affect a small minority of EV owners, as most people only charge their cars once or twice a month. However, for those who do use Electrify America’s chargers on a regular basis, the price increase could add up over time.
The good news is that there are plenty of other EV charging networks out there to choose from. So if you find yourself paying more at Electrify America, simply switch to another provider.
Alternatives to Electrify America
If you’re an electric vehicle (EV) owner in the United States, there’s a good chance you’ve used Electrify America’s charging network. The company, which is majority-owned by Volkswagen Group, has installed over 2,000 fast-charging stations across the country.
But if you’re not happy with Electrify America’s recent price hikes, you’re not out of options. There are plenty of other public EV charging networks to choose from.
Here are some of the best alternatives to Electrify America:
1. ChargePoint
ChargePoint is one of the oldest and largest EV charging networks in the world. The company operates over 50,000 charging stations in North America, Europe, and Australia.
2. Tesla Supercharger Network
If you own a Tesla vehicle, you can use the company’s proprietary Supercharger network. Tesla has installed over 12,000 Superchargers around the world, including nearly 1,600 in the United States.
3. Blink Charging Network
Blink Charging is one of the largest public EV charging networks in the United States. The company operates over 10,000 charging stations across the country.