How does ChargePoint work, and any idea as to why this happened?

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TonyInGA

Member
Joined
May 28, 2021
Messages
17
Location
Milledgeville, GA
Hello All,

Even though I'm a new EV owner, I have been involved with different Forums since 2006. So, I did do a search before making this post.
(apologies if it was somewhere else)

Now, I did make a post in the ChargePoint thread, http://www.mychevybolt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6905&p=36529#p36528 , and did a Title search by what I have here.

But it appears the CP person last active date is a - , I'm assuming (oh-oh) that he/she hasn't been online here is a while. And, a Title search turned up zilch.

Now, back on 5/31, I went to my local CP charging station to fully charge my 2020 Chevy Bolt Premier (in spite this, the Odometer didn't change, but that's a story for another time), and my bill was $22.25 (that was $0.25 cents per minute, OUCH!; my C-HR would have been $17.09). Then, I got an Email from charge point saying my account has been funded $10.00.

Well, not understanding this, I contacted CP, and she mentioned something (sorry, my hearing problem made it difficult to catch everything), about having a -$12.25 balance (still don't understand wtf happened).

Then, the next day, I get another Email saying my CP has been funded $20.00, and I have -$7.25 to use on my next purchase.

My Credit Card has two charges on it. One for $10.00 on 6/3, and another for $20.00 on 6/4.

Can anyone explain this? Not only the way CP works. But, why in the hell did they make 2 separate charges, and overcharged me?

For sure, not a happy camper with CP at this time.

Thanks,
 
There are times when it's important to read the terms of service. This is one of those times.

This is from the ChargePoint Terms of Service page: https://na.chargepoint.com/terms_web/233

Minimum Account Balances, Fees and Charges:

Although ChargePoint takes a credit card number when you apply for a ChargePoint Card, your credit card will not be charged until the first time you use your ChargePoint Card at a ChargePoint Enabled Charging Station that requires payment. Except as otherwise set forth in the Program Terms, at that time, your account will be charged an initial prepaid balance in the amount of ten dollars ($10.00) and the session fees associated with your charging session will be deducted from that balance. In addition, you authorize ChargePoint to, from time to time, replenish your account, through a charge to your credit card, in an amount equal to the greater of (i) ten dollars ($10.00) or (ii) your average monthly fees, each time your account balance falls below the replenishment threshold (currently $5.00).
You agree that your replenishment amount and replenishment threshold are both subject to change based on your average monthly usage.

You agree to waive all interest or other benefits, if any, which may accrue on any prepaid balances in your ChargePoint Card. In the event that the balance in your ChargePoint Account cannot be replenished because payment on your credit card is declined, or in the event of any other failure by you to maintain the required balance or properly maintain your account, ChargePoint may close your account and, in the case of any negative account balance, institute collection proceedings in order to collect any unpaid balance and, at ChargePoint's sole option, all fees, costs or other expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees) incurred by ChargePoint in connection with its collection efforts.
Click to expand...

So it operated exactly as specified here. ChargePoint charged the initial $10. You racked up $22.50 in charging putting you at -$12.50. ChargePoint replenished your account with $20, leaving you with a $7.50 balance.

I know it seems nonsensical. But ChargePoint started with a RFID/App based system primarily with L2 stations with extremely low charge amounts and quite limited usage. Because of this much of their costs would be eaten up charging small exact amounts. So, they developed this system of charging larger amounts to the account then drawing from the account until it empties, replenishing as needed. A $1 credit card charge can cost the vendor up to 35 cents. But it's a lot less of a hit when it's 40 cents for a $10 charge and then 10 $1 charging sessions can be charged against the account without addition fees.

I just checked my account. I currently have a $7 balance. It's how ChargePoint works.

ga2500ev
 
ga2500ev said:
There are times when it's important to read the terms of service. This is one of those times.

This is from the ChargePoint Terms of Service page: https://na.chargepoint.com/terms_web/233

...

I know it seems nonsensical. But ChargePoint started with a RFID/App based system primarily with L2 stations with extremely low charge amounts and quite limited usage. Because of this much of their costs would be eaten up charging small exact amounts. So, they developed this system of charging larger amounts to the account then drawing from the account until it empties, replenishing as needed. A $1 credit card charge can cost the vendor up to 35 cents. But it's a lot less of a hit when it's 40 cents for a $10 charge and then 10 $1 charging sessions can be charged against the account without addition fees.

I just checked my account. I currently have a $7 balance. It's how ChargePoint works.

ga2500ev
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info.

Be that as it may, this should have been made clearer. Either by the dealership, or CP

And, still, quite a bit of a shock (bad enough at $0.25/min, let alone them charging my c/c an extra $7.50 just because of their bookkeeping methods.

Sure am glad I don't have to rely on them all the time, though.
 
TonyInGA said:
Hello All,

Even though I'm a new EV owner, I have been involved with different Forums since 2006. So, I did do a search before making this post.
(apologies if it was somewhere else)

Now, I did make a post in the ChargePoint thread, http://www.mychevybolt.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=6905&p=36529#p36528 , and did a Title search by what I have here.

But it appears the CP person last active date is a - , I'm assuming (oh-oh) that he/she hasn't been online here is a while. And, a Title search turned up zilch.

Now, back on 5/31, I went to my local CP charging station to fully charge my 2020 Chevy Bolt Premier (in spite this, the Odometer didn't change, but that's a story for another time), and my bill was $22.25 (that was $0.25 cents per minute, OUCH!; my C-HR would have been $17.09). Then, I got an Email from charge point saying my account has been funded $10.00.

Well, not understanding this, I contacted CP, and she mentioned something (sorry, my hearing problem made it difficult to catch everything), about having a -$12.25 balance (still don't understand wtf happened).

Then, the next day, I get another Email saying my CP has been funded $20.00, and I have -$7.25 to use on my next purchase.

My Credit Card has two charges on it. One for $10.00 on 6/3, and another for $20.00 on 6/4.

Can anyone explain this? Not only the way CP works. But, why in the hell did they make 2 separate charges, and overcharged me?

For sure, not a happy camper with CP at this time.

Thanks,
Click to expand...
Charge point makes it very confusing because in certain areas, namely mine they will charge $0.48 per kilowatt hour. In other areas they will charge 32 cents per kilowatt hour and raise the rate after 1 hour. So you have to watch your dashboard and the charging stations display to make sure that you do not go over an hour and make sure that that charge is what you think of should be because it isn't always what I think it should be

I know this doesn't make sense but that's the way charge point operates
 
Haven't been using Chargepoint much lately, but my understanding is that Chargepoint company sells, installs the hardware and operates the transactions. It is the local business/outfit where the stations are installed that establish the pricing.
 
Joe Cherra said:
I know this doesn't make sense but that's the way charge point operates
Click to expand...

The local operator sets the rates. Chargepoint provides hardware and handles billing.
One near me that used to be free now has a $2.00 connection fee. $1.00/ hr first 4 hours, then $10/ hr.

Another says it has a $0.25/minute parking fee, but that only applies 15 minutes after charging completes, which would be okay. Plugshare was confusing in the two places where the text appears. Chargepoint was clear.

(This 62.5 kW charger usually delivers 27 kW, which Chargepoint says is caused by a poor network connection, and suggests looking at the cellular reception bars on the screen. I took a picture of my poor charge rate, but I don't see any bars in that photo.
I suspect it is because one of the two "31kW" power modules is intermittent. )
 
Joe Cherra said:
Charge point makes it very confusing because in certain areas, namely mine they will charge $0.48 per kilowatt hour. In other areas they will charge 32 cents per kilowatt hour and raise the rate after 1 hour. So you have to watch your dashboard and the charging stations display to make sure that you do not go over an hour and make sure that that charge is what you think of should be because it isn't always what I think it should be

I know this doesn't make sense but that's the way charge point operates
Click to expand...
Why in the world would ANYONE WANT TO USE CHARGE POINT IS BEYOND MY COMPREHENSION!!!

It’s just legalized thievery!!!! No wonder Musk is the richest person in the world!!!!!

Charge your Bolt at HOME!!!!

I installed the 220v charging system that took maybe an hour and a half.

My power panel had provisions for an electric stove (two of em in fact) I used one slot and slapped a breaker addy from Home Depot and just ran plastic pipe to where the charger would be, and that was that!!!!! My cost to charge the battery with “less than 6 miles” of remaining power, to fully charge ‘hilltop charging’ costs me 3 BUCKS!!!!!! The charge cable connector is long enough to charge the car outside of the garage, if I need to. In the very beginning, I’d heard some stories about how an EV burned down somebody’s house, etc. etc. so I used a bit of caution and charged the car with it outside, in the driveway. After a month of problem free charging, and ever since then, my baby is out of the weather and in our Garage ……… yup!, Musk’s teslas can go from CA, To NY, without recharging the battery ……. Yeah…… I don’t have to be driving from California to New York and back…
That’s ridiculous !!! That’s why people use the airlines and relax for A FEW HOURS, while the pilots do the navigation !!!!! I guess some people just want to use a pea shooter to hunt elephants…… fine! Not my choice or style.
Yes isn’t it so sad that the saying “There’s an idiot born every five minutes” …….. I’ll not go elephant hunting anytime soon. But if I do, I’m sure not gonna take a pea shooter…… GUARANTEED!!!!!
 
Bobolinko said:
Charge your Bolt at HOME!!!!
Click to expand...

Well, we do charge at home. Occasionally we charge to 100% at home and then we drive about 180 miles and charge at a Chargepoint location. Another 200 miles, and charge at an EA location. Then we head home and make those same two stops.
 
My power cord will not reach California. So I have to choose which one is available after 150 miles. I don't think that Tesla can cover 2,000 miles on one charge
 
Charge point, Tesla, EVgo and the rest of the charging companies are absolutely screwing over their customers. They are playing on the perception of what a fill-up costs. You pay $70 to fill up your Chevy Blazer, you pay $70 to fill up your EV. The difference is that you’re getting 11 times as much energy when you buy the gasoline.

I completely understand that there are carrying costs of wear & tear plus vsndalism and the allowance to make a reasonable profit when operating an EV charging station. There is no reason to be selling electricity for five or six times what electricity costs a residential customer. Charging networks purchase their power at commercial rates and pay perhaps 10 cents per KWH. They should be able to make a sustainable profit at 20 to 25 cents per KWH .
 
SonOfZorn said:
Charge your bolt at home? This thread is about ChargePoint. Plus, some of us live in an apartment and are unable to charge where they live.
Click to expand...
There’s an idea. For a builder, installing charging at an apartment complex would be a good way differentiate your property form others. Of course, right now in the US, there is a rental property shortage and owners really don’t have to do much to make thier property more attractive to renters.

Really, the power upgrades could be fairly modest for the property owners. Even just access to a level-1 120 socket at assigned parking stalls would be sufficient. Probably most EV owner apartment dwellers don’t use more than 20 KWH per day, so 13 hours per day plugged into 120 is enough to sustain a usable charge. That is about $60 worth of electricity per month. An apartment owner could add $100 per month to the lease to cover electricity and maintenance of the outlets plus maybe even make a few dollars profit.
 
BillM said:
Charge point, Tesla, EVgo and the rest of the charging companies are absolutely screwing over their customers. They are playing on the perception of what a fill-up costs. You pay $70 to fill up your Chevy Blazer, you pay $70 to fill up your EV. The difference is that you’re getting 11 times as much energy when you buy the gasoline.

I completely understand that there are carrying costs of wear & tear plus vsndalism and the allowance to make a reasonable profit when operating an EV charging station. There is no reason to be selling electricity for five or six times what electricity costs a residential customer. Charging networks purchase their power at commercial rates and pay perhaps 10 cents per KWH. They should be able to make a sustainable profit at 20 to 25 cents per KWH .
Click to expand...
 
The last time I asked, it was to a solar installer. He said that a CCS charging station costs $135,000 considering the other than normal costs of transformers and heavy duty cables to the charging station and from it to the vehicle. Payback is marginal when that charger spends most of the day waiting to do its work for 2 1/2 hours at a time.
This, to me, explains why only 2 brands have multiple chargers at each location, Electrify America, for deceiving the world on the cleanliness of its diesel engines, and BP to compensate the families of all of the victims alive injured or dead because of the damage to the deep well in the Gulf of Mexico.

I'm just happy to be able to travel anywhere in the United States without the fear of running out of electricity in the middle of nowhere.
 
BillM said:
installing charging at an apartment complex would be a good way differentiate your property form others
Click to expand...

There are some free Chargepoint Level 1 charging stations at an apartment complex near me that opened last month. I don't see them on Chargepoint, but I have seen them in use. It appears that there is one two-handled station in each section of apartments.

This is in California, and the 2022 code for require residential complexes with more than 20 units require 5% of the spaces to have Level 2 chargers.
 
Joe Cherra said:
The last time I asked, it was to a solar installer. He said that a CCS charging station costs $135,000 considering the other than normal costs of transformers and heavy duty cables to the charging station and from it to the vehicle. Payback is marginal when that charger spends most of the day waiting to do its work for 2 1/2 hours at a time.
This, to me, explains why only 2 brands have multiple chargers at each location, Electrify America, for deceiving the world on the cleanliness of its diesel engines, and BP to compensate the families of all of the victims alive injured or dead because of the damage to the deep well in the Gulf of Mexico.

I'm just happy to be able to travel anywhere in the United States without the fear of running out of electricity in the middle of nowhere.
Click to expand...
I just checked, Autel sells a 2-bay 40 KW CCS DC charger for $19,000 quantity one. Yes, that is a lot less than the largest 800 Volt DC charge4, but respectable. You still plight need a transformer and would need power distribution wiring. But, I bet you could build a 10 stall facility for under $200K. A lot of the original Tesla stations were in that ballpark for power output. You’ve carrying costs of repairs and leasing space plus the power costs. I’m going to stick with my assertion that the charging companies cost consumers too much.
 

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