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The cost of ChargePoint charging - worth it?

Discussion in 'Prime Plug-in Charging' started by DerekR, Oct 7, 2017.

  1. Pdog808

    Pdog808 Active Member

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    I personally go with a wash, then a Mother's Clay kit, then another wash, a coat of Klasse All-in-One then a final coat of Klasse High Gloss Sealant Glaze :)
     
  2. MMBH

    MMBH Member

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    When he plugged in initially he wasn’t using the app as the courtesy cards came with the Toyota purchase initially so he wasn’t paying it out of pocket, but was noting that at that cost he wouldn’t be using them again in the future...
     
  3. MMBH

    MMBH Member

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    Only able to run the ac and heat remotely if you have the Advanced model as far as I can tell... if I’m wrong please inform me as I’d love,to be able to do that in my Premium Prime!
     
  4. VTBIGDOG

    VTBIGDOG Active Member

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    You can do that in the Premium as well.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  5. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    But "remote" for the Premium means "within range of the key fob". For the Advanced, you can use the smartphone app anywhere you have cellular service.
     
  6. Glenn G

    Glenn G Member

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    That was not my experience. We stayed at a Hampton Inn whilst in RI. I noticed that they had a Charge Point station on the premises.
    ($1.00 for 1 hour but I'm new to this & thought I'd try it).

    The signage was very vague, I kept waiving my Credit Cards over the spot on the post (several cards - all with chips) and no luck. I called the assist number and they told me
    that I had to have an account with them (I think - very hard to hear them) to charge my car. They wanted to keep me on the line while I gave them my info for their card. I was standing off of the interstate with traffic roaring by, and couldn't hear them well, I hung up.

    Why not just accept credit cards?
     
  7. Dennis_MA

    Dennis_MA Active Member

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    These stations use Near Field Communications. I don't believe you can find a credit card that supports that. Most modern cell phones do. Also you should have received a ChargePoint tag with your Prime. You will need a ChargePoint account with a linked credit card to use this service either with a cellphone app or the card I mentioned. I have been using them for close to a year without any issues. Just used one this afternoon to top my Prime off when I was at a meeting.

    Their app is very nice for locating stations near you and will tell you if there are available. I use my app all of the time.
     
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  8. VTBIGDOG

    VTBIGDOG Active Member

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    Some ChargePoint stations are free but you still need an account. I can use the tag I got with my Prime and I don't have a credit card linked to it, and it works fine.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  9. Old Bear

    Old Bear Senior Member

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    I had the same question: why won't my credit cards with chips work?

    The answer is that the system uses a radio sensor which works with different technology than the basic credit card chip. You need a card with a NFC (near field communication) embedded device. These cards are identified by a symbol like this:

    NFC-enabled-card.jpg

    As I noted, only my bank ATM/debit card had this symbol -- and it worked easily with ChargePoint.

    There is a more detailed explanation of NFC enabled cards on this web site.
     
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  10. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    My credit cards used to have that, but not anymore. I'll have to check my bank card.
     
  11. Dennis_MA

    Dennis_MA Active Member

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    I would remove the numbers on your credit card on the post for security reasons.
     
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  12. CraigM

    CraigM Active Member

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    I recently set up a ChargePoint account (never set up the “free” account that came with the 2017 Prime). ChargePoint populated my iphone’s *wallet* with a virtual card. I was able to get a charge by holding my phone to the ChargePoint unit. I don’t know/recall if the unit actually started because of the ChargePoint *card*, or because of the credit card also in my iPhone’s wallet. It was a free unit.

    I found it strange that ChargePoint never asked for my bank, or credit card info. I’ll have to try another unit and pay closer attention to how it was activated.
     
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  13. Team ChargePoint

    Team ChargePoint Active Member

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    Sounds like you've got it connected to your Apple Wallet, and if the station you used was a free station, you would not have been charged.
    :) Here's more on the Tap to Charge feature!
     
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  14. Old Bear

    Old Bear Senior Member

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    Of course! The image I used was from a Google image search. It is a card which is used for illustrative purposes and not a valid account number.
     
  15. CharlesH

    CharlesH CA HOV Decal #5 on former PiP

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    All Visa/MasterCard credit cards in the US now come with the contact chip, bringing the US in sync with the rest of the world, where magnetic stripes long ago fell into disfavor. The main reason for them is security; while copying magnetic stripe cards is cheap and trivial, it is very difficult to "clone" a chip card.

    A few cards also support RFID (contactless, tap-and-pay), which, as noted above, can be identified by the WiFi-like symbol on the card. Interestingly, the Costco-branded Citi Visa card is one such RFID enabled card, which you can use to tap-and-pay at Costco gasoline stations.You can also tap-and-pay with these cards anywhere Apple-Pay/Google-Pay is supported (I have done it), since chip cards, RFID-enabled cards, and Apple/Google Pay all use the same underlying authentication system.
     
  16. Dennis_MA

    Dennis_MA Active Member

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    That good to hear. Thanks
     
  17. My first EV

    My first EV Junior Member

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    Give it to me, give it to me!

    Oh, you Americans are lucky enough to have a “free card” and you don’t even need nor use!
    I am in Vancouver, Canada dealers don’t give us cards or info about charging, only full charge of my prime on delivery. But luckily most ChargePoint stations I used here are free. Most locations they charged for parking but the EV Charging is free! Had the Prime for 2 and 1/2 month only bought 19 litres (5+ gallons) of gas, and $1 for charging at a business area.

    Now everyone knows your credit card #
     
    #77 My first EV, Jan 19, 2019
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 20, 2019
  18. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    You're just a tad too late. ;)
     
  19. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    Hi Chargepoint,

    There's a new free Chargepoint charger in my town but no way to use it. I don't own any apps and I'm not buying a new phone so I can charge my car. When I go to the Chargepoint website and tell it "I'm new to Chargepoint/Sign up" to ask for a card it just takes me to ChargePoint, which is a blank page. The charger claims to be free but the cables are all locked into the unit. What should I do?
     
    #79 kenmce, Jan 26, 2019
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2019
  20. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    They will send you an RFID tag once you find a way to sign up online. But you must have an account to use the station.