Electrify America wants to make EV chargers as easy to use as gas pumps

The redesign of the charging stations is meant to be more consumer friendly. A new "balanced charging" system that delivers the maximum charge possible to each vehicle is one of the changes. The company said the updates were made in order to create a gas station-like experience for EV drivers.

Consumers don't know the charging speeds of their own EV so the current labeling may not make sense. To that end, Electrify America will keep the CHAdeMo for low-level, but use new labels above that: Ultra-Fast and Hyper-Fast, which are similar to mid-grade and premium gas options. There are one, two or three lightning bolts for charging levels, the type of plug, and the label up top.

In order to make the transition to EV charging easier, we want to translate kilowatt ratings into simple names like Hyper-Fast and Ultra-Fast with corresponding colors.

To make sure your EV gets the maximum kilowatts possible, the company is introducingBalanced Charging for each pair of chargers at a single power cabinet. If a vehicle that can handle a 150 kilowatt charge pulls into a station, the charge will be delivered to the max. It will deliver 200 kilowatts to the second vehicle until the first asks for less than 150 kilowatt. The "Balanced" label will be marked on each charge.

Paying will be easier as a result. Many users didn't know which payment method to use at the station. New labels have been created to show where members should tap their phones. Guests can better understand where to insert their card with the credit card readers clearly labeled. The company made it easier to access support by making the phone number more prominent and adding aQR code.

By the year 2026, Electrify America will have over a thousand fast charging stations and over a thousand individual charging stations in North America. The latest electric vehicles can handle up to a 270 kW charge, which is why many of those charging stations are compatible with them. The charging station of the future was recently unveiled. The company plans to replace the speed, contact and payment labels on all charging stations.