Electrify America (re)instates station-specific & idle fees

Volkswagen subsidiary Electrify America announced changes to charges at its DC charging stations in the USA. New membership rates and fees for idling are being re/introduced alongside a shift from uniform to station-specific pricing.

Station-specific pricing essentially takes into account electricity prices which can vary largely from state to state, depending on the time of day and weather conditions. Still, this is a turn from uniform pricing, which Electrify America had initially introduced in 2018, and adjusted in March this year.

In an email to customers sent this week, EA said that starting 17 August at “most nationwide charging stations,” EV owners will now see station-specific pricing, which will be displayed on the chargers when they arrive. The mobile app will also display prices, but Electrify suggests always checking the charger since prices vary. It is unclear whether prices will be increasing or decreasing; it will likely be both depending on when and where you charge.

When the prices were adjusted in March, rates increased by as much as 30% more for per-minute billing, while per-kWh increased slightly less from 43 to 48 cents.

Electrify members will also see an increase in their Pass+ subscription. The monthly fee is now $7 (up from $4), with the 25% discount on charging fees staying the same.

The email also mentions reintroducing idle fees, which will start accumulating after a 10-minute grace period, charging 40 US cents per minute that the vehicle is blocking the charging station.

Electrify America gave no reason for the changes.

In other news, the Volkswagen network agreed to join the surging ‘North American Charging Standard’ released by Tesla. EA announced in late June it would integrate NACS plugs at all new and existing stations from 2025 – alongside CCS connectors. This was to “also support automakers adding NACS charging ports,” said Volkswagen, as several carmakers announced in recent weeks that they would offer their EVs with the Tesla charging technology in the future. This may even include Volkswagen in the US eventually.

twitter.com (image of EA email) via driveteslacanada.ca