Spark EV Charger Compatibly

[Randy960]

I want to start this thread to document what fast chargers do and don't work with the Spark EV.

I got my car when during the era of Electrify America having compatibility issues with the Spark. After many Spark owners worked with them, eventually seemingly all of their chargers worked for us.

They still seem to, but now other chargers are popping up and some don't seem to work on our cars. So I want to document the chargers that I try and how they work.

I used to work for a small mobile EV charging company, so I'm pretty familiar with the CCS protocol. Funnily enough, their chargers never worked with the Spark. I always wanted to work with the software guys to figure out what the issue was, but I was generally too busy fighting with the other engineers, trying to get them to design two panels that could actually bolt together. So I know that the Spark is finicky, but not precisely what the difference is.

 

[Randy960]

I'm going to try a few chargers today, and my first is one that hasn't worked for me.

Charger: Tritium PKM
CPO: Livingston Charge Port
Location: Quaker Crossing, Orchard Park, NY
https://www.plugshare.com/location/611143

This charger DID NOT work for me. I paid with the card reader, application, and on the phone with support. The payment processes, the charger talks to the car, the lock drops down, then it unlatches and says the charge is finished. Always the same way. I talked to support, who is going to run it past engineering to see if they can figure anything out.

 

[Randy960]

Charger: Tesla V4*
CPO: Tesla
Location: Tops, West Seneca, NY
https://www.plugshare.com/location/596149

*The dispensers are the new V4, but the power cabinet says 500V max, which means it should be a V3 cabinet, making this what is referred to as a V3.5

DID NOT work for me.
I tried this with both the Magic Dock and an A2Z adapter. Both started to charge after the payment processed via the Tesla app, but shut off immediately after dropping the car side latch. This seems like a software issue.

 

[Randy960]

Charger: Power Electronics NB120SU
CPO: Ford
Location: Basil Ford, Cheektowaga, NY
https://www.plugshare.com/location/602557

This is my good friend Atom. I don't know why Ford decided to give their chargers names, but I use this one frequently and even got towed here once, so we're friends now. Being directly next to Tim Hortons is just a bonus.

But anyway, other than this charger having the looooongest handshake of any working charger I've ever tried, it has always worked for me. The 240kw version (NB240SU) also works fine.

 

[Randy960]

Charger: Tellus Power TP-EVPD-180KW
CPO: Blink
Location: Towne Chevrolet, North Collins, NY
https://www.plugshare.com/location/605813

This charger DID NOT work for me, and there's no service number to call about it. Most Chevy dealers have the Chargepoint chargers that always seem to work, this is the first Blnk unit I've tried.

It didn't even seem to try connect though.

 

[Randy960]

Charger: Tellus Power TP-EVPD-180KW
CPO: Blink
Location: Towne Chrysler, Hamburg, NY
https://www.plugshare.com/location/581571

DID NOT work in the same way as the other Blnk charger I tried today.

 

[Randy960]

Charger: ChargePoint CPPL0002
CPO: ChargePoint
Location: West Herr Ford, Hamburg, NY
https://www.plugshare.com/location/15317

I stopped at this to show that these Chargpoint units always work for me, and it wouldn't work for me, haha. I thought these 200kw units had worked for me before, so I'm not sure what's happening.

 

[Randy960]

Charger: ChargePoint 62.5kw*
CPO: ChargePoint
Location: West Herr Chevrolet, Hamburg, NY
https://www.plugshare.com/location/168497

Yes, this and the previous 2 chargers I tried are all on the same intersection, haha.
This unit didn't have an information sticker, but THESE are the ChargePoint chargers that have always worked for me.
This worked for me right away. Now that I've realized only some ChargePoint chargers work, maybe they can narrow down the difference.

 

[Lil' Sparky's owner]

Charger: Tellus Power TP-EVPD-180KW
CPO: Blink
Location: Towne Chevrolet, North Collins, NY
https://www.plugshare.com/location/605813

This charger DID NOT work for me, and there's no service number to call about it. Most Chevy dealers have the Chargepoint chargers that always seem to work, this is the first Blnk unit I've tried.

It didn't even seem to try connect though.

There are Blink chargers at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, Az that I did get to work with my '14 Spark. I also use Chargepoint chargers at multiple locations of ASU.

 

[Randy960]

There are Blink chargers at the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, Az that I did get to work with my '14 Spark. I also use Chargepoint chargers at multiple locations of ASU.

If you stop there again, get a picture of the unit and information sticker. As for Chargepoint, I've used a dozen different 62.5kw units without any issues, but I think this is the first time I've tried their 200kw unit.

 

[Randy960]

I was just looking at ChargePoint's website,
https://www.chargepoint.com/businesses/stations
and the charger that I have never had any issue with is the Express 250. The one that I haven't gotten to work is an Express Plus.

 

[LoveMy2014SparkEV]

I want to start this thread to document what fast chargers do and don't work with the Spark EV.

I got my car when during the era of Electrify America having compatibility issues with the Spark. After many Spark owners worked with them, eventually seemingly all of their chargers worked for us.

They still seem to, but now other chargers are popping up and some don't seem to work on our cars. So I want to document the chargers that I try and how they work.

I used to work for a small mobile EV charging company, so I'm pretty familiar with the CCS protocol. Funnily enough, their chargers never worked with the Spark. I always wanted to work with the software guys to figure out what the issue was, but I was generally too busy fighting with the other engineers, trying to get them to design two panels that could actually bolt together. So I know that the Spark is finicky, but not precisely what the difference is.

I just got done replying to another of your posts on a different thread. Have you done the modification to your charging port on your Spark or has it already been done?
https://sparkev.blogspot.com/2015/09/solution-problem-with-dc-fast-charge.html?m=1

If it hasn't been done then there is a good chance the communications problem is due to a poor connection of the communications wires.

Thanks for trying the A2Z adapter. Now we know that doesn't work with Tesla chargers I won't buy one.

 

[Randy960]

I just got done replying to another of your posts on a different thread. Have you done the modification to your charging port on your Spark or has it already been done?
https://sparkev.blogspot.com/2015/09/solution-problem-with-dc-fast-charge.html?m=1

If it hasn't been done then there is a good chance the communications problem is due to a poor connection of the communications wires.

Thanks for trying the A2Z adapter. Now we know that doesn't work with Tesla chargers I won't buy one.

This is 100% a communications issue caused by software, not a physical connection issue. When I try a charger, I check the latching, I attempt to start a charge with and without lifting up on the handle, and these units that are failing for me are failing in the exact same way each time.

 

[Randy960]

I had originally meant to (but forgot) get photos of the actual connectors on each unit, to see if there was any particular pattern. While I am still reasonably confident that the underlying issue is software, I want to eliminate all other possibilities too.

Today I'm back with my good friend Atom, the Power Electronics Ford charger. The connector is one I'm very familiar with, as it was used by the charger manufacturer I worked for. It's an Amphenol, with a stupidly heavy cable. This is notable because the Sparkcharge chargers with this never worked on the spark, and the Blnk chargers from Tellus Power that didn't work for me has these. However I have no issues with them on the Power Electronics units. I don't even do anything special when plugging in. Jam the heavy ass connector in, letting the heavy ass cable with broken cable management weighing it down, and it works every time.

 

[Randy960]

I was out running errands yesterday, and I stopped at a ChargePoint Express 250.

First as a note, it uses a REMA CCS connector that I've seen on other lower power chargers, and the smaller charger that Sparkcharge used to make (which never worked on my car).

Second, I've been thinking about potential causes of failed connections to chargers. I was reading through the thread from around 2020 and 2021 about issues with Electrify America chargers. An odd thing that I noted back then was that my car kept connecting to my phone's Bluetooth while it was failing to connect to a charger. I had a theory that the car was trying to turn on mid-initialization. I never really followed up that theory because eventually EA updated the Efacac chargers and they started working. But it has me thinking about the car being "on" or "off". I've always pulled up to a charger, turned the car off, and plugged in. But most modern EVs do the thing I hate (I'm rapidly becoming old) where they're never really "on" or "off", just in various states of readiness. I generally connect with the car off, then turn it on to see the actual power coming in and get the radio/HVAC going.

So anyway, I tried to connect to the charger with the car still on and key in the center console, and it tried to connect for awhile, then decided it was done charging. I turned the car off and tried again, and it connected without issue. I was short on time, so I didn't do any further experiments, but what if the issue is that the car tries to turn itself on mid-handshake? I need to try a few other things, mostly getting a solid idea of if NO chargers work while the car is on. Then if the car definitely won't connect while on, I can try previously not working chargers but with the key set far away or in a faraday bag.

 

[Randy960]

Or, related idea, if the car is trying to turn on while connecting, perhaps the key needs to be left in the car while connecting.

 

[zoom314]

I was out running errands yesterday, and I stopped at a ChargePoint Express 250.

First as a note, it uses a REMA CCS connector that I've seen on other lower power chargers, and the smaller charger that Sparkcharge used to make (which never worked on my car).

Second, I've been thinking about potential causes of failed connections to chargers. I was reading through the thread from around 2020 and 2021 about issues with Electrify America chargers. An odd thing that I noted back then was that my car kept connecting to my phone's Bluetooth while it was failing to connect to a charger. I had a theory that the car was trying to turn on mid-initialization. I never really followed up that theory because eventually EA updated the Efacac chargers and they started working. But it has me thinking about the car being "on" or "off". I've always pulled up to a charger, turned the car off, and plugged in. But most modern EVs do the thing I hate (I'm rapidly becoming old) where they're never really "on" or "off", just in various states of readiness. I generally connect with the car off, then turn it on to see the actual power coming in and get the radio/HVAC going.

So anyway, I tried to connect to the charger with the car still on and key in the center console, and it tried to connect for awhile, then decided it was done charging. I turned the car off and tried again, and it connected without issue. I was short on time, so I didn't do any further experiments, but what if the issue is that the car tries to turn itself on mid-handshake? I need to try a few other things, mostly getting a solid idea of if NO chargers work while the car is on. Then if the car definitely won't connect while on, I can try previously not working chargers but with the key set far away or in a faraday bag.

The last time I went to an EA charger in My 2015 Spark EV, I went from Charger to charger before I had to call AAA to take me and my gf home, they said there was something wrong with my car, the chargers there would not start to charge, yet the previous time there I had been able to charge there, after getting home I put my spark on my EVSE cord and the battery started charging just fine, I'm wondering if EA has decided that Spark EV's are not worth the time to charge and have like Tesla and Chevy just written US off as not worth their time and money.

When I bought my EV, it had 185/55r15 up front and 195/55r15 (all 4 were V rated tires) in the back with only 6" rims up front and 6.5" rims in back and the dealer showed 64 miles of range in a pic, yet the dealer put on cheap crap tires, one of their cheap tires developed a bubble in the sidewall, I was never able to get past 3.0miles/kwh and 60 miles of range, I got tired of this and put on four Goodyear Integrity 185/55r15 82T on four 6" wide stock rims and discarded the 6.5" rims, I am now getting 3.1 miles/kwh and this week the range first went to 63 miles on Sunday, then 64 miles on Tuesday, on Wednesday the range went to 65 miles, while at 3.0 miles/kwh the max was 62 miles/kwh and that happened twice.

I live in a hot desert where temps had gone as high as 117F for 4 days in July 2024, in Dec 2023 my range dropped to 43 miles cause night temps under my carport were at or below freezing, in 2008 this area had 6" of SNOW & I had no EV then, I'd need the parks permission to erect walls and two or three doors w/a proper foundation and get a building permit, I don't have the money for that, my home is paid for and has no mortgage, I own the carport and my home and in Dec I get to pay the property taxes on my home. I'm still charging at 120v since I have no 240v available, yet, in November or in December I get to pay $251 or so to the CA DMV, my property tax bill has shown up, but not the DMV or my ballot but then I have to drive 2.5 miles to see if I have any mail at the Post Office.

I still need to get two toilets installed and a 120v 8 gallon water heater, my 20yr old gas water heater died in late November 2023 just after I was approved to buy my car, plus I need to do floor repairs to part of my kitchen(rust stains under my old long gone Whirlpool fridge, a free Frigidaire fridge replaced it, that was from a Capsbc weatherization program), under my clothes washer and in front of said washer, and to a small area in front of my rear bathroom's vanity, water dissolved the fiberboard floor under the linoleum.

But first the DMV, unless my lender is paying for that thru the loan, then pay down 2 credit cards, then save up for the floor repairs, electrical, and plumbing work, right now I can't get an estimate for the plumbing since the local plumber has only 2 plumbers, I do have a reliable contractor if needed, he charged $440 to install a vanity and to relocate an electrical outlet, everything works, what was left of the old falling apart vanity(the front was gone and just a sidewall was there along with the top which was propped up by a board on one side so I could have a working sink) were hauled away too.

My homes gas furnace pilot is out and there is no one here to light it anymore thanks to the rent increases, I've tried and failed to light it, in Jan 2024 my gas bill was $107.98 and $102.90 in February 2024.

Since then the gas bill ranged from $21.61 to as low as $14.89. and of course the water and trash went from $30.00 and $15.00 to $40.00 and $28.62 respectively and the space rent went from $390 a month to $420 while next year the rent will be $450 with rents going up indefinitely according to the park.

The park is embargoed by the state government on new hookups of any homes until the buried antique and obsolete infrastructure is brought up to date, the park shoves out 60 amps to each space max and can't get new compatible parts as the ones they want are not made anymore, after that the park designated the empty spaces as guest parking and only digs if there is a gas or sewer or water leak in the OLD buried pipes. Out of 88 spaces here only 28 have homes and only 26 are occupied, the rest of the spaces are now empty as the last two owners sold off homes to other parks, rather than refurbish them before the embargo happened. The park did install some solar powered lights to lower their electric bill. And Frontier wants to install Fiber in the park, as the park has been red flagged and painted about 3 months ago, the park could be holding that up, I'd have to ask Frontier and they've only said soon so far.

 

[Randy960]

If you're near that EA location again, try to get pictures of the charger model info. The last few EA stations I've tried have all worked on my spark, but it's been most of a year because the closest one is always crammed full of Waymos.

 

[zoom314]

If you're near that EA location again, try to get pictures of the charger model info. The last few EA stations I've tried have all worked on my spark, but it's been most of a year because the closest one is always crammed full of Waymos.

It's the ones at Super Walmart in Barstow CA, in November I'll swing past there and get on the fwy there to get home on.

I looked thru my pictures on my hdd and could not find an EA pic there. But I found someone else took 3 pics, 2 are close ups, so here they are, the older one in green was one of the ones I could charge at, though the last time it was busy as it is the lone Chademo charger in the Walmart Supercenter lot. Eddie World in Yermo CA has Charge Point Chargers. All are pics from the web, but are from the actual locations, Eddie World also has some Tesla v2 150Kw Superchargers which are not CCS compatible.

But since the Spark EV was written off by Chevy, when I looked around the Tesla site for Spark support I did see Other as in cars Tesla is not naming directly so maybe that would work with Spark EV's on v3 and v4 CCS Superchargers, v4 has the longer cable, there will be only upgrades to Chevy Bolts from 2017-2019, 2020-2023 Bolts don't need a software patch I've read, just no software patch to the Spark 2LT EV(the Proto-Bolt EV) I own a 2LT version, want to get DCFC working on a non DCFC Spark 1LT EV? Add a missing cable up front under the hood and you're set.

Oh and here's my dash saying I have 65 miles of range, this pic I took.

 

[SmokeyPete]

These EA units look like the BTC Manufactured units which should work, however looking at the side of the charger to see what model BTC, Delta, Schneider, etc would be extremely helpful.