5 Mistakes Made at Various EV Charging Stations

Overview

I will share with you 5 mistakes I made at various charging stations. You may feel embarrassed if there are people around, but you should be grateful if there is someone around the station who can explain things to you. When there was no one around, I had to spent a long time to figure things out myself.

For the evGo fast charger, pay attention to the tricky lever to unplug. I did not read the instructions, could not unplug it, it was my fault.
For the Clipper Creek charger, make sure you follow the correct order and sequence. There was no instruction on how to use it, you have to use trial and error, I was lucky someone explained it to me.
For the Blink faster charger, the charger itself was faulty, it was my first time and I was not familiar with the charger, there was no one to ask for help, so I wasted a lot of time to experiment on how to get it working. When I tried a second charger, the unit was not faulty, it was pretty easy. You only need to pay attention to how to latch it and how to unplug it.

I hope by sharing my mistakes, this video can save you time and frustration. Happy charging.

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Alternative Methods

There is more than one way to approach this task. Here are the most common methods, ranked by difficulty and cost.

Home Level 1 Charging

Plug into a standard 120V household outlet using the portable EVSE that came with your vehicle.

Difficulty: Beginner
Estimated Cost: $0 equipment (included)
Notes: Slowest method — about 3-5 miles of range per hour — but zero installation cost

Home Level 2 Charging

Install a 240V outlet or hardwired EVSE in your garage for significantly faster home charging.

Difficulty: Requires electrician
Estimated Cost: $500-$2,000 installed
Notes: Adds 25-30 miles of range per hour; ideal for overnight charging

Public DC Fast Charging

Use a DC fast charger (CCS, CHAdeMO) at public stations for rapid top-ups during road trips.

Difficulty: Beginner
Estimated Cost: $0.30-$0.60 per kWh
Notes: Charges to 80% in 20-45 minutes; frequent use may degrade battery slightly faster

Tips and Common Mistakes

Avoid these pitfalls and use these tips to get the job done right the first time.

Always check the charging station’s status on the network app before driving to it.
Carry a Level 1 portable EVSE in your trunk as an emergency backup charger.
DC fast charging to 80% is quick, but the last 20% takes almost as long — plan accordingly.
Keep your charging port clean and dry — debris can prevent a solid connection.
Cold weather reduces charging speed — precondition your battery when possible before fast charging.
Check for free charging at dealerships, hotels, and municipal garages — many offer complimentary Level 2.
Do not unplug other people’s vehicles at public stations — this is considered extremely poor etiquette.

Tools and Materials

Item	Estimated Cost
Level 1 EVSE (120V, included with car)	$0
Level 2 EVSE (240V, home install)	$200-$700
240V outlet installation (electrician)	$200-$800
Charging adapters (J1772/Tesla)	$50-$200
Extension cord (heavy-duty 12-gauge)	$30-$60
Charging station app subscriptions	Free-$5/month

When to Take It to a Mechanic

While most EV charging issues are user-error or station-side problems, see a professional if:

Your vehicle will not accept any charge at home or public stations — the onboard charger or charge port may be faulty.
Charging speed has dropped significantly compared to when the vehicle was new — battery degradation or thermal management issues.
You smell burning or see scorch marks around the charge port — this is a safety hazard that needs immediate inspection.
The 12V auxiliary battery dies frequently — EVs still use a 12V battery for accessories, and a failing one causes charging issues.
Error codes appear on the dashboard related to the high-voltage battery system — never attempt to service the HV system yourself.

Video Tutorial

For the full video tutorial, visit Genius Asian.

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This article was originally published on cartrek.com on 2015-04-22. Content has been updated and expanded for 2026.