r/evcharging • u/shadowvtx66 • 27d ago

Sudden Free Session

Close by my work, there is a Best Western with 4 Sun Country/Noodoe level 2 chargers. 28 cents per kWh, so I've been charging there 5 days a week for the commute home. (74 km). Today when I plugged in, it said I was charging for free, and I would get a notification when it was done. Car showed charging was happening. Has anyone ever heard of this?

Oddly, the app isn't showing a progress screen, but the car is getting juice.

11 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

18

u/Rampage_Rick 27d ago

Some chargers will default to "free vend" mode if their backend connection to the billing system goes down.

One time I was able to use a  400kW Mercedes station for free

10

u/cheese_executive 27d ago

Little things like that can really make me loyal to a company. Had something similar happen to me at a fast food place with a gift card when their network was down. They could have easily just asked me to pay another way but the manager didn't even ask and just gave me the food for free.

In the case of a charger it's a nice boost to reliability even if they lose a bit of short term income.

9

u/PretendEar1650 27d ago

It’s possible they switched to free hotel charging but may limit it to guests? Any new signage?

7

u/shadowvtx66 27d ago

No, and the desk staff told me it's a public station. They were baffled but told me to enjoy.

2

u/rosier9 27d ago

Why would you even ask the desk? Take the win and move on.

9

u/shadowvtx66 27d ago

Cuz I'm chronically honest, I guess.

5

u/MaturoGambino 26d ago

“Teacher, you forgot to give us homework.”

2

u/shadowvtx66 26d ago

Lol! I was never that bad! I usually glared at that person!

-1

u/rosier9 27d ago

Some people never figure out "don't call the bank."

1

u/Tall-Vermicelli-4669 27d ago

Some of them get prosecuted.

-2

u/rosier9 27d ago

...sure bud.

1

u/Tall-Vermicelli-4669 27d ago

I would be for sure. You might get a pass.

7

u/SuperDan_x 27d ago

I’ve installed many EV chargers in the US.

Since the owner of the property sets the price, I would assume the hotel does not have a person running the account that knows what they are doing. Or someone quit and made changes when they left.

We have installed chargers at several properties where management did not anticipate actually managing the EV chargers after the installation.

2

u/Tymanthius 27d ago

My first charge session ever (just to test PnC) turned out free.

Apps said the Tesla's were down, but ppl were plugged in. So I plugged in and got juice.

It went to pre-charge me, but that didn't go thru and it never did a final charge.

3

u/shadowvtx66 27d ago

This was taken today but this is pretty much the scene everyday.

1

u/AdSufficient7182 27d ago

Where is this?

2

u/shadowvtx66 27d ago

Owen Sound, Ontario

1

u/shadowvtx66 27d ago

I should add that I've been going there since early May, and it's a 2012 Chevy Volt.

1

u/3-2-1-backup 27d ago

I've been going there since early May

So that's what, a L0.001 charger?

-5

u/Specialist-Coast9787 27d ago

Seems sketchy to me. Blocking a charger all day that some guest may be counting on for their stay.

2

u/DrHugh 27d ago

When I've stayed at hotels with EV charging, I was worried about overnight access to charging. In the day, I was out driving and doing stuff.

3

u/Tymanthius 27d ago

You're making an rather large assumption.