Getting Started with Electrify America
What is DC fast charging?
Direct Current (DC) chargers quickly deliver power to your vehicle’s battery to cut down on charging times and get you back on the road. Often used for road trips and on-the-go charging, our DC fast chargers offer the fastest charging speeds available today with Hyper-Fast charging up to 350 kW.
Electrify America is the largest open DC fast charging network in the United States.
The basics
How does it work?
The Electrify America charging experience was created with you in mind. When you arrive at one of our charging stations, you’ll select a charger. After you plug the charger’s connector into your vehicle’s charging port and your payment method is verified, the charger will deliver power from the power cabinet.
Your vehicle may take a few minutes to start charging and details about your charging session will appear on the charger’s screen.
Tip: Though there are two connectors on select Electrify America chargers, only one connector can be used at a time.
Which connector should I use?
Our DC fast chargers include two connector types: Combined Charging System (CCS) and CHAdeMO. Both connectors can be found at most Electrify America charging stations and identified by the teal, green, and blue labels on the chargers.
Our CCS connectors can charge at speeds up to 350 kW, while CHAdeMO connectors can charge up to 50 kW. Your vehicle’s connector type and maximum charging speed are determined by your vehicle’s manufacturer.
Tip: Check with your vehicle’s manufacturer or owner’s manual to learn your electric vehicle’s charging capabilities.
What happens when I plug in?
First, your electric vehicle (EV) requests power (kW) from the charger. Then, the charger delivers power directly to your vehicle’s battery. The amount of power requested may be affected by temperature, battery health, and battery level.
Tip: After plugging in, it may take a few minutes for your charge to start. Details about your charging session will appear on the charger’s screen.
What happens when I charge?
At the beginning of a charging session, most electric vehicles send an initial State of Charge (SOC) to the charger. SOC indicates how “full” your vehicle’s battery is and—if sent to our chargers—can be found on the charger’s screen or in the Electrify America app. If available, the SOC will be updated as your vehicle charges, though some EVs are not capable of sending our chargers this information.
Toward the end of your session, you may notice charging speeds (kW) slow down. Many vehicles “bulk charge” and slow their charging speed when they reach about 80%*. Because of this, we recommend unplugging your vehicle after bulk charging has occurred. To receive updates about your SOC and other charging information, download the Electrify America app.
*Exact battery percentage may vary. Check with your vehicle’s manufacturer to learn when bulk charge occurs for your vehicle.
