ChargePoint Offering Free Cards to Volt Drivers

[drbruns]

Can someone give me a valid reason for these cards? Why can't the chargepoint stations just take a credit card like any gas station?

I can't give you a good reason, but they are giving it to you free so you can use it on on their free stations, so why complain?

[sarahjs]

I can only assume that they are getting demographic data from the card. Still it's a little annoying to not be able to use any regular credit card. Once I get my card (sounds like it takes a few weeks), I'll see if those stations I found are actually free.

[drbruns]

I can only assume that they are getting demographic data from the card. Still it's a little annoying to not be able to use any regular credit card. Once I get my card (sounds like it takes a few weeks), I'll see if those stations I found are actually free.

I have found that the pricing information on chargepoint.net is accurate. If a particular station is indicated to be a free one, it has been for me. If there is a charge identified on a station, then the free card will not work.

[Jamaicaman]

When I was considering buying a Volt and test driving it.. I requested to keep it overnight to experience the entire Charging cycle. I also told the dealership that I would need to drive the Volt using the range extending Engine. ( Only Fair right?!!). While I was test drive it I stopped at the local Community College to use one of the free Coulomb "ChargePoint" 240v chargers. To my surprise the unit was locked. I called the telephone number on the unit. I explained that I was not a Volt owner.. (YET!) and I just wanted to test their system and experience how it worked. The ChargePoint Representative was able to unlock the unit remotely for me. He then asked if I would like him to send me a free ChargePoint card. Obviously I agreed. All this took place back in March 2012. I received a ChargePoint card in the mail before I even had a VOLT! ChargePoint's marketing ploy worked...! I current own and am very happy with MY Coulomb ChargePoint Station!

[Treq]

I can't give you a good reason, but they are giving it to you free so you can use it on on their free stations, so why complain?

Well, there are at least two companies that require cards (blink and charge point). There may be more to come. Each require me to sign up, give personal info and maybe even a credit card #. Why not just use a simple credit card charging system like at gas stations. That way if I find a new charging station and haven't gone through all the sign up process for that particular company, I can still get a charge. Just too much hassle to sign up and wait for a card to come in the mail every time a new company comes out with a charge station. I already have a credit card. So do most, if not all, electric car drivers. Seems like a no brainier to me. Why put barriers between you and your customers. I know it has kept me from using stations on at least two separate occasions.

Also, if the station is free, why require a card at all. I went to a whole foods the other day, and it had a charge station. I pulled in, plugged in, and still couldn't charge, even though it was supposed to be free. I didn't stay. I went to a cheaper grocery store, without a station. Not much of an incentive to shop there.

[RScott]

It's very possible, and common.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_HVDC_projects

Yes, common -- with 24 in the US, the first built in 1932 and listed as "experimental ... dismantled after WW II", and the second listed as "built for an interconnection between 60 Hz-utility system and a 25 Hz System, dismantled". And the longest one appears to connect power between two contiguous states (Oregon/California), with 15 of the 24 that are limited to one city (e.g. start and end within the city). So these aren't being used to transport electricity over long distances.

I am not familiar with this 100 year old technology, but can tell that it is not widespread, and is not making electricity a commodity. Perhaps it is possible that I could spend less than $1,000 and make a connection from a landfill across the country to my house, but somehow I doubt it.

When I was referring to the possibility of transporting electricity, I didn't mean that it is impossible to transport (I wouldn't be writing this if that were the case), just that it is may well be impossible to transport electricity from the $.05/kWh areas here. Even if it is possible currently, it would likely be prohibitively expensive. Otherwise, please state details on how you could transport electricity from a location where it costs $.05/kWh to here, without raising the price of the electricity beyond what it currently is.

[analog_pal]

Going thru my mail and just noticed I received my card in the mail this week.

[clipboarder]

drbruns: you are probably right... plus you'd have to leave work mid-day to move the car. what a fantastic value-prop ;-)

[bizmodel]

I think it is the other way around, many stations that used to be free are now $2.00/ hour.

[drbruns]

Interesting. The Chargepoints in the Pentagon City Mall went from free to $2.49 on June 1. They are run by 350green. I complained along with many others and have never been back. I just checked the chargepoint website and these stations are now $2 per hour with the same 1 hour minimum. I still won't ever use them at this price, but it is interesting to see that they realized they needed to adjust the price. Hopefully supply and demand will work further and they will get down to $.75 per hour some some small minimum.