Evgo 350 kW 4 station charger in Baker, Ca. (June 2017)

[RubberToe]

The last photo shows what may be the only remaining mystery about the site. There are two open conduit pipes (one visible) in the center of the island poking up through the concrete. Not sure what they will be used for if anything. Jeff has a nice blog post on his site providing further information.

RT

 

[Jeff N]

Jeff has a nice blog post on his site providing further information.

Article is here:
EVgo 350 kW station nears completion

Thanks to RubberToe for the use of his photo in my article.

 

[Jeff N]

The last photo shows what may be the only remaining mystery about the site. There are two open conduit pipes (one visible) in the center of the island poking up through the concrete. Not sure what they will be used for if anything. Jeff has a nice blog post on his site providing further information.

RT

EVgo has said that the Baker location is designed to be upgraded later to 8 charging pedestals so my best guess is that those apparent conduit terminations would carry power to the future additional pedestals. I assume they will cosmetically cover them with a planter box or some such before the site opens for business.

 

[yuhong]

I wonder if the plan is to only open the two 50kW stations that don't say "prototype" initially.

 

[elawton]

Stopped by today and took some photos. Looks really close to done, though noticed some hanging wires from the canopy. The chargers on the right have a weird "sorry out of service" sign printed on computer paper. Strange since it isn’t open. Also odd that no one was working on it on a Wed afternoon at 2p. Maybe they are waiting for permits or something.

I drive through again on Sat and I’ll take a look again for any changes.

 

[Covfefe]

anyone know if this thing is up yet?

 

[McRat]

As of 4/13 according an i3 on Plugshare it is still not open.
The wires are the solar panel connectors.

 

[RubberToe]

I'll be heading back from Vegas on June 3rd so more pictures then.

Once I retire in 2023 I'll have more time on my hands, so I'll get to photograph this site more often waiting for the Grand opening...

RT

 

[elawton]

Facebook says by June 15.

I head back there again the weekend of May 11. I’ll post an update

 

[RubberToe]

Drove by today, took pictures, very little change. They do have a credit card reader installed between the pedestals. I went inside to see if they knew anything, and they don't. They seem pretty exasperated.

The empty Bun Boy next door has been painted dark red for some reason.

RT

 

[Covfefe]

thanks for the update RT

 

[evnautilus]

Facebook says by June 15.

I head back there again the weekend of May 11. I’ll post an update

Where one Facebook do you see this?

Thanks.

 

[elawton]

Where one Facebook do you see this?

Thanks.

Buzz Therm is the name for the Worlds Largest Thermometer on Facebook.

 

[Covfefe]

Went by there yesterday, the gates are down but both the high power unit and the 50kw units are non operational

Everything looks done, but no charging yet

 

[yuhong]

Do anyone know what is happening with the prototype stickers?

 

[RubberToe]

Went by there yesterday, the gates are down but both the high power unit and the 50kw units are non operational

Everything looks done, but no charging yet

Same today. I took some pictures but the site is basically complete but gathering dust. Looks like a still birth.

Took some pictures, may post later.

RT

 

[RubberToe]

The keypad screen on the right is showing "system down". Middle screen with the "out of service" message is blank. The prototype ABB charger on the left got some serious attention from a bird that had a pretty big lunch previously. Didn't have time to ask the owners when the anticipated opening date is.

RT

 

[ecarfan]

The keypad screen on the right is showing "system down". Middle screen with the "out of service" message is blank.

This is a perfect example of why I am leery of planning on using an public EV charger outside of the Tesla network. Too many times I’ve pulled up to an L2 charger to discover it wasn’t working or there was an EV parked at it, it was the only charger, and I had no way of knowing how long that car would be there plugged in because the charge rate was so slow that it could be there many hours.

 

[scaesare]

This is a perfect example of why I am leery of planning on using an public EV charger outside of the Tesla network. Too many times I’ve pulled up to an L2 charger to discover it wasn’t working or there was an EV parked at it, it was the only charger, and I had no way of knowing how long that car would be there plugged in because the charge rate was so slow that it could be there many hours.

Indeed.

And furthermore it's why every time somebody brings up the Electrify America initiative that's being funded by the VW Dieselgate settlement, and claims that it's going to match or surpass the Supercharging network, I'm skeptical. EVGo is one of several partners chosen to help manage the network(s).

While there are hundreds of millions of dollars supposedly earmarked for charging infrastructure, there are many reasons why it could fail to thrive. Mismanagement, lack of will, a hodge-podge of payment systems, lack of reliability or maintenance, poor location and placement, etc...

 

[McRat]

Indeed.

And furthermore it's why every time somebody brings up the Electrify America initiative that's being funded by the VW Dieselgate settlement, and claims that it's going to match or surpass the Supercharging network, I'm skeptical. EVGo is one of several partners chosen to help manage the network(s).

While the hundreds of millions of dollars supposedly earmarked for charging infrastructure, there are many reasons why it could fail to thrive. Mismanagement, lack of will, a hodge-podge of payment systems, lack of reliability or maintenance, poor location and placement, etc...

Or out west, the BLM and EPA can stop it. The Feds own most of the West, and the BLM/EPA are not our friends when it comes to building things on public land that are desperately needed. Heck, they screw with us on private property.