EV Renter Charged $418 After Using Dealership's Public Charger

      Tom Williams via Getty Images

      If you find yourself searching for public chargers in an unfamiliar location, you might frequently come across dealerships. Many of these are indeed open for public use, regardless of whether you’ve been to the dealership before. However, caution is necessary, as one Michigan resident discovered after charging his rented Chevrolet Bolt at a Hyundai dealership, only to learn later that he was charged a staggering $5 per kilowatt-hour and $5 per minute.

      The total charge? $418.

      The Bolt is equipped with a 65-kWh battery, and the customer, Stanley Kpenkann, informed news channel WXYZ that the electric vehicle was nearly out of power, estimating he had only about 20 minutes of driving range remaining. He used the EVgo app to locate a Hyundai dealership on Hall Road in Macomb Township, which he identified as Elder Hyundai, featuring a ChargePoint charger.

      Kpenkann stated he didn’t see any pricing information before starting his charging session, which lasted for 44 minutes, although it was reportedly displayed on the charger itself. EVgo and ChargePoint have a “roaming agreement” that allows EVgo users to access ChargePoint’s network as well.

      After receiving such a high bill, Kpenkann contacted EVgo, assuming there had been a mistake. EVgo confirmed the charge was accurate, and after considerable negotiation, they eventually offered him a “goodwill refund” of $405—an unfortunately insulting term, though he was likely relieved to have that money returned to him. The remaining $13.27 reflected what Kpenkann should have paid under the EVgo plan he had, highlighting the fact that he ended up paying 31 times the normal rate to recharge the Bolt for that duration.

      You might be curious as to why the Hyundai dealership set such high prices for this specific charger. According to the dealer, it is “reserved for its own customers and vehicles,” and priced steeply to discourage public use. The dealership could have potentially restricted public access in other ways or at least included a disclaimer to inform users of the costs they would incur. It’s also clear that this particular charger probably should not be listed on EVgo or any public charging map.

      For context, the average cost per kilowatt for a Level 3 DC fast charger across the country is $0.53, according to Qmerit. Thus, not only was the electricity ten times more expensive, but this also doesn’t include the additional per-minute fee. This serves as a stark reminder for any EV owner or renter to be aware that not all public charging stations are reasonably priced, especially when you find yourself away from your usual charging spots.

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