First, the rate at the EVOasis / ChargePoint charger at San Juan Capistrano is EXACTLY the same rate as the NRG / EVgo negotiated deal with the state of California; $10 per hour off-peak, $15 per hour peak.
What’s different is that the minimum fee for theNRG / EVgo deal is $7, while the SJC site is charged by the minute with no $7 minimum. No other DC charger that I’m aware of charges by the minute. BTW, that unit has already gone over 500 charge events and is one of the busiest DC chargers in the country. Clearly, this charging location can’t and won’t compete with free, nor was this charger provided for free, nor installed for free.
If you think all the Nissan dealers are going to give away the CHAdeMo charges forever, I beg to differ. What will happen is that any free charger will get bombarded with folks while the nearby “fee” units get less. The Nissan dealers will get wise quickly that giving away several dollars worth of electrical power to everybody who lines up for freebies is not good for their bottom line. I think Connell Nissan in Orange County (who got one of the “free” Nissan / Sumitomo CHAdeMO chargers) will charge $5 per charge.
There are several CHAdeMO projects coming to San Diego county, including the Ecotality Blink / Kroger deal (Food 4 Less, Ralph’s, Alpha Beta). There are four 7-11 stores getting units funded by state money, several more privately funded EVOasis units, and 20 units from NRG/EVgo over 4 years.
Sadly, not one of the 8 Nissan dealerships accepted the “free” Nissan / Sumitomo chargers.
Full disclosure, I’m CTO of EVOasis.
Tony