BP - Ann Arbor

 Introduction

A review from my road trip covering the US-23 corridor in Michigan

Business/Location Name	BP – Ann Arbor
Address	4975 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, MI
Network	ChargePoint
Station Details	2 Stations (62.5kW/125kW linked)
Cost	$0.30 per kWh

 The BP – Ann Arbor ChargePoint station was the 5^th stop on my trip covering the US-23 corridor (North to South).  This station is on the east side of Ann Arbor.  (These have only been in place since about November 2021.)

 

Accessibility

The BP gas station at this address is 1.2 miles east of US-23 exit 37.  Take Washtenaw Ave east for 1 mile to the intersection with Golfside Rd.  The BP gas station is on the northwest corner of the intersection and the ChargePoint units are tucked away on the north side of the building.  Since the parking is nose in, there is no pull through parking for anyone pulling a trailer.

 

 Amenities

Dining options include: Emerald City, Domino’s, Burger King, Tuptim Thai Cuisine, Los Amigos Fiesta, Arby’s and more

Shopping options include: Golfside Market, At Home, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market

Car-related services (windshield cleaning, air):  BP gas station at this location

 

Concentration

This is the standard double station layout for ChargePoint.  This station is the pull/back into configuration, which makes charging with Elektra’s front port location easy.  Those with fender locations may need to stretch the cables to make the connections.

 

Location

On the US-23 corridor this site is the closest to Ann Arbor.  This location competes with the Electrify America location in Ypsilanti (2 miles away) and the EVgo location on the south side (5 miles away).  This is just one exit north of the interchange of US-23 and I-94, so this site can also support that major east/west route.  However, the 1 mile stretch of road to get from the highway to EVSE is a very busy road with many traffic lights, so this is not a very convenient stop.  Adding units in the Arborland Center shopping mall at this exit would have been a better location in my opinion.

 

Speed

ChargePoint is offering a middle of the pack solution targeted for the early adoption phase.  These units can output 125kW or 200A.  When unpaired, or when both are in use, the current limit is 62.5kW or 150A.  While this does not match the most powerful units on the market, it will support reasonably fast charging for one vehicle.  Since these are the most popular units being installed under the current state charging site incentives, I hope they will be robust and continue to support growing EV needs in the future.  (The calculated average speed does not reflect max level, but the charging curve shows I was at max charging speed throughout the whole session.)

 

Summary

For me, this was a strangely placed EVSE.  I turned into the gas station off of Washtenaw and had to drive all the way around the building to find the chargers.  The location had a weird vibe that made me uncomfortable.  Still, I am glad to see another station charging by kWh, and at a reasonable rate.  I would choose this site over the nearby EA and Evgo locations for both speed and cost.  The site hosts really need to consider the ambiance of placing the chargers right next to the dumpsters.

 

What I paid for this stop:

Total Cost: $2.46

Total kWh: 8.19 kWh

Time: 7 minutes

Average Charge Speed: 70.2kW (calculated)

Cost per kWh: $0.30 per kWh

Total Score (Max 44)	Score	Accessibility	Amenities	Usability
21	C	2	6	13

Citgo - Whitmore Lake

 Introduction

A review from my road trip covering the US-23 corridor in Michigan

 

Business/Location Name	Citgo – Whitmore Lake
Address	50 N. Territorial Rd. Whitmore Lake, MI
Network	ChargePoint
Station Details	2 Stations (62.5kW)
Cost	$0.40 kWh

 The Citgo – Whitmore Lake ChargePoint station was the 4^th stop on my trip covering the US-23 corridor (North to South).  I visited this site the previous fall when it first opened, but I did not charge during that stop.  Following along with how these sites are mostly new, this site has been open since July 2021.

Accessibility

The Whitmore Lake Citgo station is 0.1 miles west of US-23 at exit 49.  The EVSEs are visible from the end of the exit ramp on the southbound side.  There is very little else at this exit and traffic should be very light making for a quick and easy on and off charging session.  This is pull-up-to parking, so trailer access likely won’t work.

 

Amenities

Dining options include: A Subway in the Sunoco gas station across the highway.

Shopping options include: PS Food Mart Convenience Store

Car-related services (windshield cleaning, air):  Citgo gas station at this location.

 

Concentration

This is the standard double station layout for ChargePoint.  This station is the pull/back into configuration, which makes charging with Elektra’s front port location easy, but those with fender locations may need to stretch the cables to make the connections.

 

Location

On the US-23 corridor between Ann Arbor and Brighton, this site is positioned as a road trip rest stop.  Unfortunately, there is not much to do in the area, so this will be another charging-only stop on this route.  Given that it is not at the southern or northern ends, this is not a jumping off point for other travels.  It does not connect with any other major east/west routes.  All of these factors combined make this a less than optimal site.

 

Speed

ChargePoint is offering a middle of the pack solution targeted for the early adoption phase.  At the time of my trip these units were not properly paired, and thus limited to 62.5kW or 150A.  The mismatch in performance from one site to another that looks exactly the same will only lead to more confusion as less informed customers enter the market.  (I should have been getting 77kW like at the previous stop in Brighton, but since these units are not linked I was limited to 56-59kW)

 

 

Summary

I was happy to see another ChargePoint site using the per kWh cost structure.  This site has to be the easiest off and on the highway access that I have reviewed to date.  With that said, the location of this site and the lack of anything else around makes this an average site.  I would use it if the route plan I was driving called for it, but I’ll never adjust a route plan to make a stop here.

 

 

 

What I paid for this stop:

Total Cost: $1.97

Total kWh: 4.93 kWh

Time: 5 minutes

Average Charge Speed: 59.2kW (calculated)

Cost per kWh: $0.40

Total Score (Max 44)	Score	Accessibility	Amenities	Usability
23	C	6	5	12

Shell - Brighton

 

Introduction

A review from my road trip covering the US-23 corridor in Michigan

 

Business/Location Name	Shell - Brighton
Address	8281 Grand River Ave, Brighton, MI 48114
Network	ChargePoint
Station Details	2 Stations (62.5kW/125kW linked)
Cost	$0.45 per minute

The Shell – Brighton ChargePoint station was the 3^rd stop on my trip covering the US-23 corridor (North to South).  While not directly off US-23, this site is one exit west of US-23 on I-96 and can definitely support this corridor. From what I can determine, this site opened in about May 2021.

Accessibility

The Shell gas station is 0.2 miles north of I-96 exit 145 and only 2.6 miles east of US-23.  From the exit, head north on Grand River Ave, and the Shell is directly at the intersection with Hilton Rd.  You can’t see the EVSE’s from the intersection due to a line of pine trees blocking the view.  Wide spacing and side parking could allow for trailer towing parking, with the right maneuvering.

 

 

Amenities

Dining options include: Dunkin’, Arby’s, Cracker Barrel, and several others on the other side of the highway

Shopping options include: Shell Convenience Store, Duey’s, and many more on the other side of the highway.

Car-related services (windshield cleaning, air):  Shell gas station at this location

 

Concentration

This is the standard double station layout for ChargePoint.  This station is the rare pull-beside location.  Note the side of car of the charging port for how to pull up for easiest connection.  The side-placed EVSE doesn’t always make for the best parking spacing for front port vehicles, however, spacing is quite generous at this location.  The parking arrangement could allow a vehicle to pull up and charge while pulling a trailer.

 

Location

While it’s technically not on the US-23 corridor, this site supports both north/south US-23 travel as well as east/west I-96 travel.  The location is 50 miles from downtown Detroit, 20 miles from Ann Arbor, 50 miles from Lansing, 75 miles from Saginaw, 115 miles from Grand Rapids, and 174 miles from Grayling.

 

Speed

ChargePoint is offering a middle of the pack solution targeted for the early adoption phase.  These units can output 125kW or 200A.  When unpaired, or when both are in use, the current limit is 62.5kW or 150A.  While this does not match the most powerful units on the market, it will support reasonably fast charging for one vehicle.  Since these are the most popular units being installed under the current Michigan charging site incentives, I hope they will be robust and continue to support growing EV needs in the future.  (I enjoyed a nice quick session at peak charging speeds)

 

Summary

Even enjoying peak charging speeds for the full session, this was still the most expensive stop of this trip.  Per-minute rates are not that fair and at $0.45 is just way too expensive.  There are lots of options for food or shopping on the other side of the highway, but not within easy walking distance from the EVSEs, so make sure to stop there before or after your charging session.  There is a Blink charger on the other side, but the cost structure and speed limitations don’t make that any better of a solution.  I am glad to have stopped here so I check this site off my list since I don’t see myself using this site unless I have no other option.

What I paid for this stop:

Total Cost: $3.80

Total kWh: 10.31 kWh

Time: 8 minutes

Average Charge Speed: 77.3kW (calculated)

Cost per kWh: $0.37 (calculated)

Total Score (Max 44)	Score	Accessibility	Amenities	Usability
28	B	6	6	16