I Just Charged My Brother’s 2024 Chevy Equinox EV, and I Sat For 15 Minutes Watching 25 Cars Fill Up With Gas, I Would Rather Pay For Gas 1000 Times Over

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If you are considering a Chevy Equinox EV or any electric car, Andrew Cipriano has a personal story you'll want to read. Andrew's brother asked him to charge his 2024 Chevrolet Equinox for him because he was busy. However, it was not a good experience. 

Y'all are lying about these electric cars.

If you are considering buying a 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV or any electric vehicle, those are Andrew Cipriano's words to describe his public charging experience. Check out what Andrew (@lifecoachandrew) discovered when he charged his brother's electric car. 

Before I share Andrew's experience, let me set the scene. Imagine you've never owned a battery-electric vehicle. Your younger brother, who is more tech-savvy than you, launched out and bought a 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV. You've always been the responsible one, the one who plans ahead, while he's the spontaneous, always-busy type. He's so busy he doesn't have the time to charge his EV.  

His midsize electric SUV is sitting in the driveway with only a few miles of battery life left, and he needs to get to work and has a 30-minute commute. He's in a bind, and he'll never get everything he has to do and charge his car without being late for work.

His Equinox can't get him to his job without getting a full charge in his new car, so he asks you to charge it. 

You want to be a good brother, be an example to him, and want to help him out and show your brother that helping out is the right thing to do, especially since you are a life coach. You need to practice what you preach. 

So you say yes, even though you wish your brother was a bit more responsible and would plan ahead. You've told him that 100 times. 

Let's hear from Andrew about his electric car charging experience. 

If you are on the fence about purchasing an electric vehicle, Andrew Cipriano says this is the truth about electric cars and public charging. 


Andrew says, "Check this out before you get an electric vehicle. I don't care what the salesman or the company is advertising. This experience has been horrible for me." 



Y'all are lying about these electric cars. My brother got an electric Chevrolet Equinox, and he's like, hey Andrew, can you charge this thing? I can't go to work and back on this charge. I said sure, like whatever.

So, I'm sitting in the car, watching this thing charge. I've selected the fast charge option, which costs as much as gas does right now. But here's the kicker-it's not a quick process. You have to spend an hour to an hour and a half of your time to charge your car, even with the fast charge option. 

It took 10 to 15 minutes to figure out how to use the thing because the card reader wouldn't work. Then, I had to download the app and submit it. Then, I had to unplug the car and plug it back in so it would reset. It's a process that's far from user-friendly.

Since I've been here, 25 people have gotten gas just for me to allow my car to get plugged in. 

By the way, if you don't want to pay $2,500 to install a car charger in your garage, you have to plug it into your 120 outlet with the car. Guess what? You get a one-mile-per-hour charge. So, you can charge your vehicle overnight and only get 12 miles. 

So, literally, you can't use that. So, charging these cars without getting a $2,500 garage charger installed is impossible. And remember, you'll be paying for that electricity, which can add up over time. The technology is not there, people.

So don't do it. Don't let some car salesperson rope you into one of these cars. The reason why it's not a good deal is because the infrastructure is not there to sustain them.

I have to stay out here in the middle of winter sitting in the snow and cold for 15 minutes because I have a plug-in car.


Andrew finishes by saying, "There is nothing user-friendly about that experience, and I'd rather pay for gas 1000 times over." 



Is Andrew's experience typical of all EV owners?

In its inaugural annual reliability report, ChargerHelp, a startup that trains and employs technicians who service and repair EV-charging stations in more than a dozen states, says some barriers keep many people from buying an electric car.


A report from Canary Media says, "Unreliable public charging infrastructure and unreliable information on EV-charger uptime have become two of the biggest barriers to the EV transition in the U.S. That's a problem, as the country needs to shift to EVs fast in order to slash carbon emissions from transportation. But it's a problem with clear, if complicated, solutions to implement."



Kameale Terry, ChargerHelp's CEO and co-founder, says, "When drivers say the charger doesn't work, there's a complex set of reasons why the charger doesn't work," she said. "It's not as simple as a gas station. And to fix something that complex, we need to take a more collaborative approach." 

So, the experts agree that the charging infrastructure needs to be significantly improved. 

What about buying a home charger? Are they really $2,500, like Andrew says?

A report from Capital One Auto Navigator says a level 2 charger will charge your electric vehicle to 80% in four to 10 hours. This is what Andrew mentions. 

Level 2 charging equipment ordinarily runs about $500 to $700, although some can be more expensive.

However, you need an electrician to install it because they require a 240-volt circuit.

How much does it cost for installation? 


EV Charging Summit says, "The national average EV home charging station installation cost is between $1,000 and $2,500. Still, this cost varies based on your region, the type of station you buy, and whether it is portable or hardwired into your home." 



So, Andrew is correct in saying it will cost an EV owner approximately $2,500 to purchase and install a Level 2 home charger. However, it could be more. This is a significant investment that potential EV owners need to be aware of.

Andrew is also correct when he says using your 120-volt outlet will take much longer to charge your vehicle. 


Capital One AN says, "Level 1 charging can typically bring an EV battery to 80% in about 40 to 50 hours. These chargers often come included with an EV purchase and require only a common household 120-volt outlet to work."



Conclusion.

Buying a battery electric vehicle like the Chevrolet Equinox EV, Tesla Model 3, or other electric models requires the buyer to consider how you will use the vehicle and how long the commute is. 

Owning an electric vehicle is not for everyone. Do your homework and make an intelligent choice before you buy. 

Check my Tesla Cybertruck story and what Haroon learned about public charging on a 1,300-mile road trip in his new electric truck. Tesla Cybertruck Owner Says, "I Took a Road Trip From NC to Toronto, Stopping Every 2 Hours To Charge For 20 Minutes Became Tedious." Read Haroon's story here.

How about you?

Do you own an electric vehicle? What is your experience with keeping it charged? Do you have a level 2 charger at home, and what was the cost? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReportAll Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierlFacebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Chevrolet

Submitted by Marc S (not verified) on January 13, 2025 - 12:02PM

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I’ve owned a Hyundai Ioniq 6 SEL for 7 months now and do not have this problem. The biggest factor is simply planning ahead instead of winging it at the absolute last minute.

I primarily charge in my garage using the level 1 charger that came with my car. As I can do basic math and know how electricity works, I can adequately charge my car at home and be able to plan accordingly with what I have on hand. I’d love to have a level 2 charger, but my home was built in the 1960s and just has 100 amp service, 200 amp service and a partial re-wiring will cost me a bundle, so it’s off the table for now.

I occasionally use public chargers and the one pain point is the payment and usage of them. They do need some sort of standard interface like most gas pumps do and not umpteen different apps.

I have never been in a situation like the one outlined in the story and likely never will unless I sustain a head injury or someone else drives my car without being shown how to operate it. For now, I’ll chalk up the author’s experience to a lack of experience with EVs overall. When one knows what they’re doing then these sorts of situations are non-existent.

Instead of doing a complete rewire, you can get a collar that fits behind the meter and allows up.to an addition 100A to be installed. This is how most folks wire in their F150 electric trucks due to the amount of charge needed. The collar comes with 60-100A fuses and you can then wire a new line off that to your charging point.

Submitted by Mike (not verified) on January 13, 2025 - 12:19PM

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When we charge our equinox away from home we simply turn the heat on in the car and relax while bringing the charge back to about 70%. We charge at a 12 amp rate while plugged in at home and it is always plugged in when not in use. So, what’s the beef? This isn’t rocket science. Best vehicle we have ever owned. Once over the learning curve for various chargers away from home there is very little hassle and is far more relaxing, reliable and efficient than any gasoline powered vehicle ever.

Submitted by Jim (not verified) on January 13, 2025 - 1:38PM

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I have an equinox ev, and I love it. But you need to have level 2 charging at your home, and you need to charge it every night. This is an awesome second car, but we also have a hybrid if we need to go far. Don’t think I’m ready to deal with the public charging infrastructure yet, but it’s coming along.

Submitted by Wearyvermicelli (not verified) on January 13, 2025 - 2:52PM

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TLDR: This biased article provides look into brothers' failures to understand EVs and charging.

Look, this is such a bullshit article. 1.) I own a 2024 Chevy Equinox EV and had a Bolt EUV before it. 2.) With our current lack of infrastructure, you need to charge at home. We paid about $1800 to install a level 2 charger in our garage, and our electric bill has gone up $50-80 per month. Way cheaper than gas. 3.) This is the worst type of person to own an EV, you have to be aware of your charge. 4.) I can get from below half charge to 80% charge in 25 minutes because I know how to use a fast charger. Anything above 80% is not only unnecessary unless you're trying to plan for a long trip, and results in trickle charging which WILL take forever. This article is totally biased against EVs because they provided zero info on the actual way to charge the car and use the charger, almost all of this is the fault of the younger brother, adding in the ignorance of the older one.

Submitted by Jason Dragon (not verified) on January 13, 2025 - 3:24PM

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This article really comes across as a hit piece. You don't buy an EV today without thinking through your needs and how to charge it. Chevrolet lists Level 1 charging as giving an Equinox EV 1-4 miles of range per hour, which may serve low mileage users well enough. It is common knowledge that a Level 2 home charger really is the game changer that makes charging cheap and convenient for people who drive more, and Chevrolet lists Level 2 charging as providing between 7-40 miles per hour of range depending on circuit size. If you can install a home charger but don't want to spend the money, then perhaps you shouldn't have bought an EV. A couple decades ago my commute was an hour each way and having an Equinox EV back then would have been a dream - I could have saved so much time and stress not having to stop at gas stations before or after work. And when I was a kid and got a truck, I knew that I'd have to add another parking spot off the driveway - and no crying was involved on having to spend money to do that.

Submitted by Darryl (not verified) on January 13, 2025 - 3:29PM

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I'm an Ev owner and I will say the best way to go is if you have a level 2 home charger. Being a DIYer I was able to install my own charger at a cost of about $200, but don't do this if you are not comfortable or knowledgeable about the process.. My choice of charger was about $500, totaling cost $700. No more high gas prices and about 10 seconds to plug in for the night. At home charging is no way near the price of gas or fast charging at a charging station. Being a commuter of about 80 miles a day I'm saving between $200-$250 per month. Basically everyone will need to weigh out their own situations.

Submitted by Josh (not verified) on January 13, 2025 - 4:56PM

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This article is wildly uninformed. The amount of misinformation in here is absolutely maddening. Plugging into a regular wall outlet gives you about 12 miles per hour, not just 12 miles overnight.

I understand that you may have struggled your first time at an electric car charger, but that does not mean that you're going to struggle every single time for that. Your experience will be anything like this going forward.

A self installation of a 240 V garage charger can cost less than $300. I'm not sure where the figure of $2500 came from, but that is wildly exaggerated.

This just seems like an article written by an easily frustrated person with very little patience. It also seems really entitled to gladly be willing to shell out more money instead of suffering a very minor time inconvenience.

Articles like this full of misinformation and horribly biased opinions are what prevent millions of people from considering electric vehicles when it might actually make sense for them.

Submitted by Brian OReilly (not verified) on January 13, 2025 - 5:41PM

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I already had a 30 220v service in the garage, so I hard-wired onto that. It only gives me 24A but that's enough to charge overnight. Also.local power company reimbursed me for charger, so that covers $500 of it. Costs me $4:to charge overnight.

Submitted by Bone (not verified) on January 13, 2025 - 6:00PM

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Sorry but absolutely no way did 25 car's fill up at the same pump in 15 minutes.

I've been driving ICE vehicles since 1977 and EVs the last 3.