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Francis Energy and EV6.

4927 Views 53 Replies 13 Participants Last post by jtespi, 3 mo ago

Bob N.

Discussion Starter · May 3, 2022

If this has already been noted in a previous forum discussion, I wish to apologize in advance. I just wanted to let those around the Texas, Oklahoma area and other parts of the US that use the Francis Energy EV chargers that I was notified that the 50 KW chargers are not compatible as of yet with our vehicles.I am not sure it is handshaking or just plain craziness. I have been told that if you do use their chargers, you must use the 200KW versions and not the 50KW. I would probably use those anyway but if you do use Plugshare and you see one of those chargers, make sure it's the 200KW version.

Here is a cut/paste of the message from Francis Energy.

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Kia EV6

22 days ago
Updated

*Currently the EV 6 is not compatible with our 50 kW charging stations. When using Plugshare please filter for charging stations that are 75 kW and above.

Courtesy of Kia

Drive: RWD & AWD
Battery: 77.4 kWh
Horsepower: 255 - 320 hp
EPA Range: 274 - 310 miles
AC Charging: 10.9 kW
DC Charging: 239 kW (800v)
Connectors: J1772 / CCS

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Mach-20

· #2 · May 7, 2022

This was posted on Facebook that the 200kW don't work either. "that is what the friendly people on the tech support line told me. However, moving over to the fast chargers did not improve the situation. They were unable to make them work either. Interestingly enough, when I moved to the slow charger, a Tesla 3 moved into the fast charger space I previously occupied and he was was able to charge successfully. When tech support gave up on the slow charger they moved me back to the fast charger and were still unable to make it work on my car.

Anybody else in Oklahoma have any luck with the Francis energy chargers?

Biscuit112

· #3 · May 14, 2022

wings said:
This was posted on Facebook that the 200kW don't work either. "that is what the friendly people on the tech support line told me. However, moving over to the fast chargers did not improve the situation. They were unable to make them work either. Interestingly enough, when I moved to the slow charger, a Tesla 3 moved into the fast charger space I previously occupied and he was was able to charge successfully. When tech support gave up on the slow charger they moved me back to the fast charger and were still unable to make it work on my car.

Anybody else in Oklahoma have any luck with the Francis energy chargers?

I use them all the time. I have been trying to help them with their teething problems. I used the 50kw ONE TIME long time ago but forget about it now. I have had the 200kw charge me for free because it didn't acknowledge the car after a loooong initialization. It wouldn't release the car either due to lack of coms. I don't have any issues with the 200s but i wouldnt press my luck on the 50kw. I live a block away from Francis HQ btw.

Reactions: 1

Mach-20

· #4 · May 14, 2022

Biscuit112 said:
I use them all the time. I have been trying to help them with their teething problems. I used the 50kw ONE TIME long time ago but forget about it now. I have had the 200kw charge me for free because it didn't acknowledge the car after a loooong initialization. It wouldn't release the car either due to lack of coms. I don't have any issues with the 200s but i wouldnt press my luck on the 50kw. I live a block away from Francis HQ btw.

Thanks. I saw where someone left an EV6 review on plugshare for the 200's in Muskogee and they said it worked fine. For now will avoid the 50's.

Biscuit112

· #5 · May 16, 2022 (Edited)

I used the 200kw in Henryetta yesterday. I think I saw 175kw. The 50kw in Talihina didn’t work. I’m going to have to make some calls.

Mach-20

· #6 · 11 mo ago (Edited)

~~Any update on the issue with the 50kW chargers?~~

Just heard from them, 50kW chargers are still not compatible with the EV 6 or Ionic 5

Big Butter Jesus

· #7 · 11 mo ago (Edited)

I was able to use the 200kW charger on the I-44 turnpike in Walters(Just north of Wichita Falls) and the 60kW charger in Carrizozo NM back in April. Both were flaky, the one on I-44 charged exceedingly slow.

I tried a couple others in OKC and had both fail.

ezpotato

· #8 · 11 mo ago

I thought I used a Francis charger on my initial road trip through Oklahoma back in Feb. I'll have to go back and watch my video. I believe they worked.... intermittently

jtespi

· #9 · 10 mo ago

2

Does anyone know if this issue is specific to all BTC Power L3S 50 kW units? That's the brand and model of Francis' 50 kW units that output up to 500 V at 125 A. Several other network operators like EVgo use L3S units as well. If those units work, then maybe it's a software issue on Francis' side.
Here's a look at the electrical output label on those chargers (click on thumbnail for full size image)

Font Rectangle Signage Number Cylinder

Also, has anyone been able to pull over 200 kW on the "200 kW" units? Those are model EVDSP-350 and should output up to 1000 V at 350 A, which is more than the EV6 requests. I've looked throughout Oklahoma on PlugShare but wasn't able to find a single check-in where an EV6/Ioniq 5 pulled more than 200 kW.

Font Material property Signage Rectangle Sign

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Mach-20

· #10 · 10 mo ago

Francis is responsive to questions on their website, I would check with them https://francisevcharging.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4434967105435-Kia-EV6
Their chargers must be throttled I have never got over 40kW even on the 200kW chargers. I only charge enough using them to get to I-44 where I use an EA station in Vinita.

jtespi

· #11 · 10 mo ago

Mach-20 said:
Francis is responsive to questions on their website, I would check with them https://francisevcharging.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/4434967105435-Kia-EV6

Yeah I just checked and there's no further updates on that page from Francis more recent than about a month ago. I was just wondering if the same brand & model of charger (BTC Power L3S) from other networks was having the same issue. If the issue is unique to Francis, then maybe the chargers need a software update to recognize the EV6. Either the chargers have to whitelist every car or the E-GMP platform's initial communication request for 700+ volts is confusing the charger. I've seen on PlusShare that many Tesla drivers with the CCS adapter are having issues on Francis, so it could be that the chargers whitelist.

Mach-20 said:
Their chargers must be throttled I have never got over 40kW even on the 200kW chargers. I only charge enough using them to get to I-44 where I use an EA station in Vinita.

That's interesting. Have you called into customer service to report those chargers? I wonder if it could be a communication issue with the car. Or it could be that the temperature sensor in the liquid cooled cable failed, EA stations will down rate to ~40 kW if that happens.

jtespi

· #12 · 10 mo ago

Dive Bar Casanova said:
First stretch stop was the Boron Rest Area and to check out the Cal Trans EV charger just to see if it worked and if was really free.

Couldn’t get it to work.

@Dive Bar Casanova I'm quoting your post on this thread because I believe your issue charging at that rest stop was due to the equipment. You were plugged in to a BTC Power L3R-50 (50 kW) charger and the L3S (their slimline version) has a known issue that it can't charge E-GMP cars on Francis Energy. It's unknown whether the issue is hardware or firmware and Francis has no further updates.

I'd really appreciate it if you could test other BTC Power 50 kW units near you (L3S and L3R) to see if any others experience the same issue. Look through on PlugShare to find those units, they have a distinctive design.

Reactions: 1

Dive Bar Casanova

· #13 · 10 mo ago

jtespi said:
@Dive Bar Casanova I'm quoting your post on this thread because I believe your issue charging at that rest stop was due to the equipment. You were plugged in to a BTC Power L3R-50 (50 kW) charger and the L3S (their slimline version) has a known issue that it can't charge E-GMP cars on Francis Energy. It's unknown whether the issue is hardware or firmware and Francis has no further updates.

I'd really appreciate it if you could test other BTC Power 50 kW units near you (L3S and L3R) to see if any others experience the same issue. Look through on PlugShare to find those units, they have a distinctive design.

Just to do it, just for curiosities sake:
I've received a tip if the charger balks to then start the car when attempting a charge. I'll be rolling through there again soon and will try this. Either leave the car on then hook up per instructions, or hook up and then start the car.
Also I've learned the car may be charging though some indicators say it's not.

BTW: I've tried and tried to use Charge Point with extreme patience, time and on the phone with them. Still no success at several locations around the Southwest. Charge Point says it's the car.
Car loves EVGO and Electrify America.

DMiller

· #14 · 10 mo ago

Dive Bar Casanova said:
BTW: I've tried and tried to use Charge Point with extreme patience, time and on the phone with them. Still no success at several locations around the Southwest. Charge Point says it's the car.
Car loves EVGO and Electrify America.

My first ever attempt at a commercial charger was at a Chargepoint, it was flawless. Since then I've tried EVGo (one worked, one didn't), and Electrify America (350kW, worked fine). Mostly I charge at home with a Level 2 charger. I am planning a trip with one stop at Francis Energy, the rest look like they will be Electrify America.

jtespi

· #15 · 10 mo ago

Dive Bar Casanova said:
Charge Point says it's the car.

Which ChargePoint stations were you using? Their most common DCFC is the ChargePoint Express CPE-250. That charger can output 200-1000 VDC at up to 200 amps. There shouldn't be an issue charging your car.

DMiller said:
I am planning a trip with one stop at Francis Energy, the rest look like they will be Electrify America.

Be sure to check on PlugShare for all the stations you plan to visit. You should also check the past failed EVgo location to see if it was using BTC Power L3S units -- like I said, the design is easily distinguishable in a photo.

Brent Cole

· #16 · 10 mo ago

Mach-20 said:
This was posted on Facebook that the 200kW don't work either. "that is what the friendly people on the tech support line told me. However, moving over to the fast chargers did not improve the situation. They were unable to make them work either. Interestingly enough, when I moved to the slow charger, a Tesla 3 moved into the fast charger space I previously occupied and he was was able to charge successfully. When tech support gave up on the slow charger they moved me back to the fast charger and were still unable to make it work on my car.

Anybody else in Oklahoma have any luck with the Francis energy chargers?

I have used the 200kW chargers several times. the problem is that some of the chargers aren't labeled on the charger itself.

DMiller

· #17 · 10 mo ago

jtespi said:
Which ChargePoint stations were you using? Their most common DCFC is the ChargePoint Express CPE-250. That charger can output 200-1000 VDC at up to 200 amps. There shouldn't be an issue charging your car.

It was just a 6.6kW AC charger at an IKEA store. Nothing big.

jtespi said:
Be sure to check on PlugShare for all the stations you plan to visit. You should also check the past failed EVgo location to see if it was using BTC Power L3S units -- like I said, the design is easily distinguishable in a photo.

The failed EVgo location was 'Bailey', a 50kW charger. Others are saying it doesn't work, so I don't think it was just my car. I called their support team while I was there, they tried rebooting the charger but that didn't fix it. On the EVgo website it is described as "ABB Terra 53 50kW|CHAdeMO CCS"

jtespi

· #18 · 10 mo ago

Brent Cole said:
I have used the 200kW chargers several times. the problem is that some of the chargers aren't labeled on the charger itself

It's actually really easy to distinguish the 200 kW and higher output chargers from all the others. They have a different design and are taller and slimmer since the "charger" is actually just a dispenser. The actual charging equipment is in big power cabinets for most chargers over 150 kW instead of being all in one unit. If you pay attention to the different models of DCFCs out there, you'll memorize them in no time.

DMiller said:
It was just a 6.6kW AC charger at an IKEA store. Nothing big.

Hmm that's odd. I'd say the issue was with that AC charger rather than your car.

DMiller said:
The failed EVgo location was 'Bailey', a 50kW charger. On the EVgo website it is described as "ABB Terra 53 50kW|CHAdeMO CCS"

That's interesting but yeah that's another model of charger that EVgo uses. It must have been an issue with that individual charger in that case. Let me know if you can test a BTC Power L3S charger and the results...

Brent Cole

· #19 · 10 mo ago

DMiller said:
My first ever attempt at a commercial charger was at a Chargepoint, it was flawless. Since then I've tried EVGo (one worked, one didn't), and Electrify America (350kW, worked fine). Mostly I charge at home with a Level 2 charger. I am planning a trip with one stop at Francis Energy, the rest look like they will be Electrify America.

if you use Electrify America - put them in your phone speed dial. I've called them many times:

dont leave your car while charging - you get charging errors and it dies frequently
even when the charger resets - the APP will still show "in use" -- slow updating - as you can see while watching the charging rate
you may restart several times - and all the sudden it is fantastic and fast!
about 50% of them are down at any station - keep that in mind
often if you call them and they reboot the charger it will work fine
i've met their repair people - part shortages are what they blame the down chargers on
when they work - they are fantastic!

Dive Bar Casanova

· #20 · 10 mo ago (Edited)

ChargePoint Simi Valley Ca Target twice no charge. Customer service on the phone says it’s the car.

Drove directly to the EVGO at the nearby Hobby Lobby - plug n play no problem charging.

Tried the ChargePoint at Eddie’s World outside Barstow Ca - again no charge and customer service again said it’s the car.

Drove minutes away to the Electrify America Chargers at WalMart - got a charge from one of the working chargers.

We’ve tried other ChargePoint locations with no success. We now avoid ChargePoint.

Electrify America WalMart Barstow Ca:

Car Wheel Tire Automotive parking light Land vehicle

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