Speedy Q - Port Huron

 Introduction

Site review from my trip through the thumb of Michigan.

Business/Location Name	Speedy Q – Port Huron
Address	2020 Water St. Port Huron, MI 48060
Network	ChargePoint
Station Details	2 Stations (62.5kW/125kW linked)
Cost	$0.20 per kWh

The Speedy Q – Port Huron ChargePoint station was the 1st stop on my trip to explore the charging sites in the thumb of Michigan.  (This station opened in October 2022).  

Accessibility

This Port Huron Speedy Q site is located off I-94 at exit 274 - just 0.2 miles from the highway, but 0.9 miles following the exit path.  Follow the exit parallel to the highway and then turn right onto Water St.  The dispensers are on the west side of the building, behind as you are approaching from Water St.  The EVSE placement does not allow for pull-through parking.

Amenities

Dining options include: Bob Evans

Shopping options include: Tom and Jerry’s Party Store, KB Garden Supply, Arctic Glacier, 

Car-related services (windshield cleaning, air):  Speedy Q 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

This site is on the eastern end of I-94 and I-69.  The last DC Fast charger available before heading into Canada over the Blue Water Bridge.   The next chargers are about 70 miles to east, just past the merger of the 402 with the 401.  To the west it is 120 miles to Lansing, and 200 miles to the border with Indiana along I-69.  Along I-94, it is 60 miles to Detroit, 100 miles to Ann Arbor 140 miles to Jackson, 200 miles to Kalamazoo and 270 miles to New Buffalo.  To the northwest, 100 miles to Saginaw, and 210 miles to Grayling.

Approximate 150 and 200 mile ranges from this location:

Basic 50 mile radius:

Speed

ChargePoint is offering a middle of the pack solution targeted for the early adoption phase.  These units can output 125kW or 200A.  When not paired, or when both are in use the power/current limit is 62.5kW or 150A.  With the new screen layout, you can see not only what power, but the voltage and current outputs as well.  While this does not match the most powerful units on the market, it will support reasonably fast charging for one vehicle. 

Summary

A road trip stop that can also be used to support the neighborhood.  It was so cheap to charge, I would easily pay double.  Even on a warm day after a long drive, it still took a little bit of time charging before the battery in Elektra hit optimum rates.  Towards the end of the trip, likely I was seeing slower speeds because the battery was above the temperature range.  In the end, would I stop here again?  Absolutely, this seems like a great road trip stop.  Yes, there isn’t much to do around here, but the easy access, high speeds and cheap rates make this a definite stop, especially if I was traveling into Canada.  I also feel like a C is a low score, but that just is how the rating scale works, and shows the need for more at sites like this.

What I paid for this stop:

Total Cost: $1.84

Total kWh: 9.22 kWh

Time: 9 minutes

Average Charge Speed: 61.5 kW

Cost per kWh: $0.20

Total Score (Max 44)	Score	Accessibility	Amenities	Usability
27	C	6	5	16

City Hall - Ann Arbor

 Introduction

Mini Ann Arbor area charging site review trip.

Business/Location Name	City Hall – Ann Arbor
Address	300 E Huron St.  Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Network	ChargePoint
Station Details	4 Stations (62.5kW/125kW linked)
Cost	$0.40 per kWh

The Ann Arbor City Hall ChargePoint station was the 4th stop on my quick trip to review charging sites around Ann Arbor.  (This station opened in October 2021).  Fully functional linked site able to provide 200A maximum to each pair of stations.

Accessibility

In the heart of downtown Ann Arbor, there is no easy access to highways from this stop.  This is more of a destination stop to charge up assuming that Ann Arbor was your destination  The actual charging units are accessible from Ann St, per the PlugShare comment best to use 321 Ann St when navigating to these units.  The EVSE placement does not allow for pull-through parking.

 

Amenities

Dining options include: Within the downtown area there are many walkable options

Shopping options include: Within the downtown area there are many walkable options

Car-related services (windshield cleaning, air): No nearby options.

Concentration

The site doubles up the standard two station layout for ChargePoint for a total of 4 stalls.  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

In the midst of Ann Arbor, this is a destination charging location, not a road trip stop.   Note there is a parking fee at this site.  You can park and charge without parking fee for the first 30 minutes, there after you will be charged $3 per hour parking fee.  This spot is in the middle of the downtown area and plenty of options are available while you charge.

Speed

ChargePoint is offering a middle of the pack solution targeted for the early adoption phase.  These units can output 125kW or 200A.  When not paired, 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.  

Summary

Seems like a long time since I have been to a ChargePoint site and gotten the full 200A.  I spent time here changing up at the end of this road trip.  I did switch charging units midway though as I noticed in the app that one unit was showing as offline and I wanted to confirm if that one was working, which it did.  Overall, I can recommend this site if Ann Arbor is your destination and you will spend time to charge here before moving onto your next travel stop.

What I paid for this stop:

Total Cost: $9.37

Total kWh: 23.40 kWh

Time: 27 minutes

Average Charge Speed: 52 kW

Cost per kWh: $0.40

Total Score (Max 44)	Score	Accessibility	Amenities	Usability
20	C	2	6	12

Meijer - Ann Arbor

 Introduction

Mini Ann Arbor area charging site review trip.

Business/Location Name	Meijer – Ann Arbor
Address	3145 Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.  Ann Arbor, MI
Network	ChargePoint
Station Details	2 Stations (62.5kW)
Cost	$0.30 per kWh

The Meijer – Ann Arbor ChargePoint station was the 3rd stop on my quick trip to review charging sites around Ann Arbor.  (This station opened in November 2019).  Unfortunately, I couldn’t charge here.  Only one of the 2 units was working and the other was occupied by the VW ID.4.

Accessibility

This Ann Arbor Meijer site is located off I-94 at exit 175.  Southwest on Ann Arbor-Saline Rd.  Located about 0.5 miles off the highway this is a quick on off stop.  Access may be easiest from Lohr Rd.  The actual charging units are easy to find in the left front of the parking lot.  The EVSE placement does not allow for pull-through parking.

Amenities

Dining options include: Texas Roadhouse, McDonald’s, Buddy’s, Panchero’s, Five Guys, and more

Shopping options include: Meijer, Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kohl’s, and more

Car-related services (windshield cleaning, air):  Meijer gas station nearby.

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

This site is well positioned to support the I-94 corridor.   44 miles from downtown Detroit, 100 miles from Port Huron,  100 miles to Kalamazoo and 175 miles to New Buffalo on the westside of Michigan.  Local traffic around the Ann Arbor area will benefit more than true road trip drivers.  There are lots of options in this area. 

Speed

ChargePoint offers a very entry level fast charging solution at this location.  Power/current limit is 62.5kW or 150A at each unit.  Surprising how in just 3 years, what was probably considered fast is now at the low end of the options list.  

Summary

Quite some time since I have had a failed charging stop.  My last failed stop would have been an EVgo single site.  While this wasn’t a complete failure; I would have been able to charge if I waited for the ID.4 to finish.  It's not good to see equipment broken for so long.  Especially given the high use and reliability of the Tesla charging site in the same parking lot that has been open since 2015 without issues.

What I paid for this stop:

Total Cost: $0.00

Total kWh: 0.00 kWh

Time: - minutes

Average Charge Speed: -

Cost per kWh: -

Total Score (Max 44)	Score	Accessibility	Amenities	Usability
25	C	3	9	13

Range USA - Ypsilanti

 Introduction

Mini Ann Arbor area charging site review trip.

Business/Location Name	Range USA - Ypsilanti
Address	660 James L Hart Parkway, Ypsilanti, MI
Network	ZEF Energy
Station Details	1 Station (40kW 400V, 125A)
Cost	$2 to connect and $0.35 per kWh

The Range USA - Ypsilanti ZEF Energy station was the 1st stop on my initial charging trip of 2023. (This station opened in May 2023).  

Accessibility

This Range USA, ZEF Energy site is located off I-94 at exit 183 and is 0.7 miles from the highway.  Head south on Huron St. and then turn west onto James L Hart Pkwy.  Passing a McDonald’s, a couple of hotels and a Kia dealership.  Enter at the parking lot of the Range USA business.  The actual charging unit is located on the left side of the building.  The EVSE placement does not allow for pull-through parking.  In this case one of the two parking spots for the EVSE was blocked by a pick-up truck.

Amenities

Dining options include: McDonald’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Tim Hortons, Leo’s Coney Island, K&D Bistro, Jet’s Pizza

Shopping options include: None

Car-related services (windshield cleaning, air): None

Concentration

This is currently a single station site.  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.  Note that the CCS cable here was unusually thick and heavy, but the cable management here should allow for easy connection to most charging port locations.  I do think this site is capable of charging 2 cars at the same time, one on the CCS connector and one on the CHAdeMO connector.

Location

This site is well positioned to support the I-94 corridor.   35 miles from downtown Detroit, 90 miles from Port Huron,  109 miles to Kalamazoo.  Seems to be positioned more for local traffic around the Ann Arbor area than for a true road trip stop.  There are also many other nearby charging sites that would be cheaper.

Speed

ZEF Energy has installed here the first Kempower unit that I have been able to test.  These units are very popular in the Nordic countries, and seem to offer very high reliability. This particular install with only a single power cabinet was limited to 400V and 125A, but the dispenser is capable of 1000V and 300A. Not super powerful, but matching to a standard CPE250 unlinked install

Great screen that shows the power, voltage, current, and a note that the output is at the charger max.

Dispenser certification label.

Power cabinet certification label.  

Summary

I really want to like this site.  It is exciting to see new DCFC hardware go into the ground.  I hope that this equipment proves as reliable as it is reported to be.  The screens are great anf full of very useful data.  However, the site score doesn’t lie.  This site ranks a solid D and at a score of 15 is the lowest scoring currently open site in all of my reviews.  It is not fast enough, there are not enough chargers and there is not much to do in the area.  Combine that with the fact that there are other more cost effective locations to charge nearby, and sadly I can’t  recommend this site for a stop other than the novelty.

What I paid for this stop:

Total Cost: $7.49

Total kWh: 15.68 kWh

Time: 22 minutes

Average Charge Speed: 42.76 kW (calculated)

Cost per kWh: $0.48 (calculated)

Total Score (Max 44)	Score	Accessibility	Amenities	Usability
15	D	2	3	10