Horrible experience with Aerovironment EV charging network

[debbieandpatrick]

For whatever reason, AV has two choices--FOB or no FOB. No FOB, you take your chances with the phone system. Is it cost effective for AV to worry about the occasional user? Maybe not and that's up to them. Hope your next charging experience works out. Thanks to this thread, I'm also rethinking my good samaritan philosophy for no FOBs.

[Reddy]

.... I'm also rethinking my good samaritan philosophy for no FOBs.

I hope you don't mean starting a charging session for someone who doesn't have a FOB. When I looked at the AV website, that was specifically prohibited and could result in penalties and/or cancellation of your account.

[debbieandpatrick]

Thanks for the info Reddy, did it once to help a stranded new LEAF owner who was also having phone issues. Won't do it again and anyone without a FOB should not expect it either.

[Moof]

I am still confused why the standard approach is not to just swipe a credit card. Special cards and fobs are just a lousy solution compared to using a perfectly good existing payment method.

[DaveEV]

I am still confused why the standard approach is not to just swipe a credit card. Special cards and fobs are just a lousy solution compared to using a perfectly good existing payment method.

Transactions fees for small charge amounts would eat up a huge chunk of your revenue. There's a reason small shops often have a minimum CC txn fee.

[garylai]

I am still confused why the standard approach is not to just swipe a credit card. Special cards and fobs are just a lousy solution compared to using a perfectly good existing payment method.

Transactions fees for small charge amounts would eat up a huge chunk of your revenue. There's a reason small shops often have a minimum CC txn fee.

Somehow the small charge thing doesn't bother Chargepoint, which allows you to pay with a credit card even for a $2 charging session. And in this case, we're talking about a $7.50 being what Aerovironment charges. The fee is typically 40 to 75 cents, Aeronvironment could just increase the pay per use fee slightly to offset that, and it wouldn't impact the subscription customers at all.

[Moof]

I am still confused why the standard approach is not to just swipe a credit card. Special cards and fobs are just a lousy solution compared to using a perfectly good existing payment method.

Transactions fees for small charge amounts would eat up a huge chunk of your revenue. There's a reason small shops often have a minimum CC txn fee.

How about just doing a minimum $5 charge to charge? Hold the extra as a credit for future charges.

It just boils down to me being grumpy that the only option to fast charge if I wanted to go to the coast here in Oregon is the AV network, and their two payment options are a terrible fit for me and many others who mostly home charge.

[freemywrld]

Good news for occasional chargers - AV has now integrated with Plugshare to allow 'Pay With Plugshare' directly from the mobile app. Plugshare stores your CC info and you just select the station on the app and press the 'Pay With Plugshare' button to initiate the charge with no phone call needed.

[garylai]

Good news for occasional chargers - AV has now integrated with Plugshare to allow 'Pay With Plugshare' directly from the mobile app. Plugshare stores your CC info and you just select the station on the app and press the 'Pay With Plugshare' button to initiate the charge with no phone call needed.

Yes, this development appears to address the original issue of not having a pay-as-you-go option that didn't require you to call and get someone on the phone to activate the charger. If someone is able to try this (Pay with Plugshare using the Aerovironment chargers on the Washington State Electric Highway), please post about your experience.

[Poobah]

I've paid using the Plugshare app twice - both times in Astoria OR (with my Tesla, not with my LEAF).

The first time was a disaster. Even though the app authorized the charge, the charging station did nothing. I ended up having to call Aerovironment anyway, and half an hour plus a reboot of the charging station later, the electrons started flowing (whether this unique to the Tesla + CHaDEMO adapter isn't clear).

A few weeks later I tried again at the same station, and this time the experience was flawless.