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[Question] Do charging stations generally accept credit/debit cards? (dubvee.org)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by ptz@dubvee.org to c/evs@lemmy.world

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Sorry if this is a dumb question. I currently drive a hybrid and am looking to upgrade in the next 1- 2 years to either PHEV or full EV. In either scenario, I envision most of my charging will be done at home. However, if I go full EV, I will eventually need to charge in public.

I've read it varies from charging network to charging network, so I figure I'd ask EV owners what their experiences are like. I really don't like the idea of relying on an app or monthly subscription or anything like that.

So, is a debit card more or less guaranteed to be accepted, and if so, are the rates significantly higher than some kind of membership option?

Edit: In the US if it matters.

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[–] Nollij@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Fwiw, consider your exact needs and uses. I have yet to use a public level 2, and only a couple of DC fast chargers. It might be easy enough to locate a DCFC that accepts cards when the need arises, but you will lose the convenience and price of a level 2. But even in that case, the cost savings of a BEV overall probably more than cover it

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah, my use case has changed considerably in the last 5 years, and trying to think ahead another 5 is giving me a headache.

I used to drive 120 miles per day, minimum. Then I bought a house closer to work and would only drive 120 miles per month. A year after that, I was offered the option to work full time remote, so now I may drive 120 miles every 3 months. But I don't have any guarantee I won't be forced back into the office on a whim or have to relocate, so trying to imagine my situation 5 years from now is a bit challenging.

That's why, after seeing some answers here and my aversion to relying on apps, I'm leaning toward a PHEV for my next upgrade and giving the charging networks more time to standardize and build out over the next half decade.

[–] Nollij@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

With such low mileage, can I ask why you're looking to buy a new vehicle at all? That's low enough that it's actually significantly cheaper to just take Lyft everywhere. I understand wanting to have a car, but at that point it seems like an enormous waste of money to buy new.

[–] ptz@dubvee.org 1 points 1 year ago

Not trying to start a /c/fuckcars thread here, lol, but...

The low mileage I drive now is my current situation, but I can't guarantee it's going to stay that way. I also prefer to not have to wait on taxis, Uber, Lyft, car rentals, etc and "just go" at my convenience. I live in the suburbs, so everything is still out of walking range and would be a trek even on a bike. Plus, sometimes it's nice to just get in and go for a drive (I live in a crappy red state, but we have beautiful scenery haha).

I'm looking to go full EV, eventually, so I can put solar panels on my garage to keep it topped off and cover my usual low-mileage day-to-day driving (supplemented with utility power when needed).

Now I'm leaning toward a PHEV in the short run since my state taxes hybrids and EVs like crazy, and a PHEV would cover my day-to-day driving in EV mode while being in the same "tax" bracket as my current hybrid. A full EV would have a larger yearly fee.