Download the PowerFlex app using the appropriate storefront below. If you need some help getting started, check out our PowerFlex App User Guide for a step-by-step tutorial.
In simplest terms, you scan the station, then plug in and walk away. It’s that simple!
In more detail:
Press the release latch/button on the charger plug to remove it and return the plug to its holster. You can view your transaction details by tapping the hamburger menu in the top left corner of the screen and navigating to Payments & Billing and Transaction History. Or, you can go to the View Sessions tab and tap the Transaction History button if there is no active session.
The charging speed of a charger depends on a number of factors, including the type of charger, the vehicle model, and the available power at a charging site. PowerFlex employs both Level 2 and DC Fast Chargers in its network. Level 2 Chargers are the most common in the PowerFlex network and deliver power between 6 and 10 kW. These chargers can deliver between 15 and 35 miles per hour, depending on the vehicle model and available power at a site. DC Fast Chargers, sometimes (incorrectly) referred to as "Level 3" chargers, deliver power at rates from 25 – 250 kW, depending on the model of charger, and can fully charge most EV batteries in 1-2 hours, and in some cases even quicker.
Level 1 Charging is the slowest EV Charging speed and it is commonly achieved by plugging your EV into a standard wall outlet that you’d find in your home. Level 1 charging delivers only 3-5 miles per hour and is not a service PowerFlex currently provides.
You are not required to enter your vehicle information, however, providing your vehicle’s make, model, and year will allow you to enter your energy request in miles or “charge until full.” (Vehicle information is needed to look up your car’s fuel economy and battery size to make these calculations.) As always, your actual mileage may vary from your requested mileage based on your individual driving behavior.
By telling us how long you will stay parked, PowerFlex can optimize charging for you and all vehicles on the network. Should you need your car charged as quickly as possible, set your charging duration to as short as the app requires in order to deliver the energy you need. But if you’re able to stay longer, your car will charge at a slower rate , putting less stress on your battery, avoiding idle fees, and diverting energy to others who may need to leave sooner than you.
Once your original energy request has been delivered, you can elect to continue charging if you like by turning on “Keep Charging” (found on the “Charging Preferences” page). By setting a maximum price you are willing to pay to enable Keep Charging, the charger will continue to deliver energy for as long as the station price stays at or below the level you set, until it is full or reaches its own internal battery limit.
NOTE: Keep Charging will only engage after the full amount of your requested energy has been delivered.
Station pricing is set by the site host and is different for each location. The best way to look up pricing information is to tap on the charging location’s map pin and scroll down to Price Schedule. Alternatively, you can view the pricing schedule at any PowerFlex station by using the PowerFlex app to scan the QR code on the front of the charger and tapping Pricing Details.
In many locations, electricity prices vary based on the differing demands for energy throughout the day. This is called “Time of Use” (TOU) pricing, and typically the prices in the late afternoon and early evening are the highest (known as “peak” charging hours). You can view TOU pricing the same way as described in the previous question.
A charger may assess idle fees if a car is left plugged in but is not actively charging. Idle fees are meant as a deterrent for “stall-napping” and are enforced to encourage drivers to move their vehicles when finished so that others may charge.
The idle fee pricing and terms are described on the Pricing screen that appears after the Charging Preferences screen.
Here are some potential causes for why a charge session may not go as planned:
Occasionally, due to the quality of the available signal, state of the mobile device, or other factors, the PowerFlex app may not scan the QR code successfully. Here are some things to try:
If after completing all of these steps you’re still unable to start your charging session, contact us at 833-4-PWRFLX or support@powerflex.com for assistance.
Many vehicles have security mechanisms to keep the plug locked into the charge port to prohibit others from unplugging it. Each vehicle is different, but things to try include:
Additional actions to try when using a DC Fast Charger:
Some vehicle models have charger lock controls located on the dashboard or driver door. Most vehicles also have an emergency mechanical release to eject the charger plug. Please consult your owner’s manual for more assistance should the plug become stuck.
Most PowerFlex chargers are not free to use. Drivers are required to maintain a sufficient wallet balance to cover the cost of their energy, plus an extra amount to cover any possible idle fees (assessed at some sites when the driver overstays the duration of their charge).
If you see the “Low Funds Balance” warning, you have a few options:
A site with time-of-use (TOU) charging rates may start out as free but may not stay free during the course of your session. Pay attention to the rate schedule at your station when calculating your needed wallet amount.
If you are charging at a free site with idle fees, you may be asked to make a wallet deposit in the event your car is left in its space and is not charging.
In each case, your wallet will only be debited if you charge when the cost of charging is greater than zero or if you incur idle fees.
Most PowerFlex Level 2 chargers utilize the most-commonly found J1772 charger plug. Charging a Tesla on these stations requires the Tesla/J1772 adapter, which can be purchased from Tesla (most Tesla dealers include the Tesla/J1772 adapter with the purchase of a new car).
The Tesla/J1772 adapter will click into place on the end of the charger plug. It does not matter if you attach the adapter to the charger plug or the vehicle first.
PowerFlex stations are unique in that they intelligently charge vehicles within the electricity capacity of the location where they are installed. We call this Adaptive Load Management®, and it enables us to charge many more vehicles simultaneously than may otherwise be possible. This means that if the site is full of charging EVs, it is possible that not every vehicle will receive full power for the entire duration of their session. This is precisely the reason why the PowerFlex App prompts you for how long you plan to stay parked and how much energy you need: that information is used to schedule the charging of your session along with the sessions of all the other vehicles plugged in to make sure every vehicle gets what it needs.
If you discover you need a faster charge than the station is delivering, there are a couple things you can try:
Some PowerFlex stations are placed at workplaces, schools, condominiums, or other locations where charging is reserved for employees or residents. Access to these stations is granted via the email address used to create a PowerFlex account. If you believe you should have access to a specific charger, please verify that you are using the appropriate email address for that site. You can change your email address by clicking the hamburger menu on the top left of the screen, selecting My Profile and tapping on the name/email field. You must follow the email verification steps prior to your first charging session to ensure you gain access to the private charger.
Many PowerFlex chargers are located at workplaces, schools, or other locations where discounted or even free charging is offered. There are three common reasons why drivers would not see a discounted price they expect:
The PowerFlex app can claim a session even if it cannot connect to the internet at the station.
Email verification is only required when certain additional privileges, such as access to a private charger or discounted charging rates, are granted via a specific email address.
Verification is also useful to ensure you’ve entered it correctly in the event you need to change your password, or if PowerFlex Support needs to contact you if we detect an issue with your charging session.
Check your Spam or Junk folders for the email with your verification code, as some email filters will block such messages. If the code does not arrive after 5 minutes, you can restart the verification process to request another code. If the issue persists, contact us at 833-4-PWRFLX or support@powerflex.com for assistance.
Click the hamburger menu on the top left of the screen. Select My Profile and tap on the name/email field. (NOTE: You must verify your new email address before your next charge session if the email address grants you access to a private charger.)
Go to the Locations tab at the bottom of the screen to view a map of PowerFlex charging stations near you. You can filter these stations by availability, connector type, and pricing by tapping the filter floating action button in the lower right corner. The Locations tab is the first tab you see after signing in.
To request a refund, please email support@powerflex.com.
