🔧 EV chargers are popping up everywhere as electric car sales soar and the EV charging infrastructure is put in place. However, one of the main concerns and issues that EV drivers reported in 2021 is the malfunctioning or non-functioning of EV chargers(1) across many different network providers.

A recently published UC Berkeley study(2), reveals that more than 25% of public DC fast charging connectors in the Greater Bay Area were non-functioning at the time of evaluation. The most common failures of the EV charger are both software and hardware related problems: Broken plugs, unexpected shut off during charging, charging station not functioning, payment system failures, unresponsive screens, and network failures.

Reliability is still a major barrier when it comes to EV adoption. That’s why more and more funding programs administered by the Energy Commission, utility companies and the NEVI program are setting annual uptime requirements in place.

The Rural Electric Vehicle (REV) Charging grant program and the Reliable, Equitable, and Accessible Charging for multi-family Housing (REACH) from the CEC as well as the NEVI Formula program from the federal governement have a 97% annual uptime requirement, about 354 days per year.

It’s easy to see how this may become the norm across all programs as well as future legislation.

Sources

(1) Plug In America, The Expanding EV Market - Observations in year of growth

(2) Reliability of Open Public Electric Vehicle Direct Current Fast Chargers

🔧 Vector will monitor your chargers’ status 24/7/365 for problems

🔧 Vector will detect and diagnose problems with your chargers before you even realize the charger is down, usually within 24 hours (1).

🔧 Once diagnosed, we will fix the problem, usually within 48 hours (2). If the problem is software related and can be fixed remotely, we will do it. If the problem is hardware related and an on-site visit is necessary, our certified technicians will do it. Our technicians carry the latest on-site, EV charger problem diagnosis tools. All we do is fix EV Chargers.

🔧 We work with all EVCS and network providers.

🔧 If the charger is within warranty, we will work with the vendor to obtain replacement parts, new chargers, etc.

🔧 Our solution covers “dumb,” non-networked stations as well.

🔧 Our solution offers a Customer Feedback Platform so that EV car owners can provide feedback and submit comments. Usually, these will be positive comments as EV chargers stay on-line, providing the entity with good reviews that can be shared with its clients/constituents.

🔧 For public, private and multi-family dwellings.

🔧 Flexible billing options: Hourly, per job, monthly maintenance packages available.

(1 ) 24 hours and 48 hours refer to business day(s) and does not include weekends or holidays.

(2) Repairs to software can usually be completed within 48 hours. Hardware repairs that may require the acquisition of replacement parts are excluded from the 48 hour turnaround, as we cannot guarantee immediate availability of the items required for repairs. Thus, the 48 hour turnaround does not cover shipping carrier delays in picking up parts for shipment or in delivering parts.

🔧 Vector’s EVC-Fix will detect and diagnose your charger problems within 24 hours of notice (1).

🔧 Usually fix within 48 hours.

🔧 Minimize, if not eliminate, negative feedback from charger users for broken down chargers.

🔧 Assist your entity in preparing to comply with looming 97% uptime requirements for chargers.

🔧 Happy end users = Happy constituents.

(1) 24 hours and 48 hours refer to business day(s) and does not include weekends or holidays.