Public EV charging is expensive compared to juicing up at home, but $16,000 for 4.91 kWh is really taking the electrons. That’s the bill ($CAD22,308) one Canadian Kia owner says he received after a charging session apparently remained electronically open for more than 15 months.

Reddit user IntelliDev posted the incredible invoice more than a year after he’d topped up his EV9 with Hypercharge Networks. It shows the session beginning at 6.57 p.m. on May 17, 2025, but not ending until 1.09 p.m. on August 25, 2026.

Related: The Best Fast Charging Experience In America Isn’t From Tesla

The Kia EV9 is among the faster-charging electric cars, capable of swallowing up to 235 kW when hooked up to the right kind of equipment. But if this bill was to be believed, and the EV9 really did need 15 months to chug down just 4.91 kWh, its effective charge rate would have been less than half a Watt per hour. “And I thought my Bolt charged slowly,” one Reddit commenter joked, alluding to the 2017-23 Chevy‘s modest 55 kW rate.

The invoice itself offers a clue besides the price to there being some major mix-up going on here. It says the session “took place in the past on a terminal that was out of communication.” That suggests the actual charging stopped long ago, but the network didn’t receive or correctly process the message telling it the session was finished.

Billed By the Hour

And because the charger appears to have billed by time rather than electrical units, the meter apparently kept running. At roughly CAD$2 ($1.44) per hour, the elapsed time between those start and finish dates gets you close to the enormous invoice total.

In another glitch, the invoice lists the session duration as only seven days, 18 hours, 12 minutes and 40 seconds, apparently omitting the preceding year and three months even though the billing calculation seems to have remembered them.

IntelliDev said he emailed Hypercharge to dispute the bill but hadn’t received a response at the time of his latest update. We’ve also found nothing suggesting the company has publicly explained what happened yet.

Kia, IntelliDev

H/t to Auto Evolution

Automakers recently waved the white flag and decided to adopt the North American Charging Standard popularized by Tesla. On top of that, they signed up to gain access to the company’s massive Supercharger Network, which consists of more than 80,000 chargers globally.

While Tesla is the gold standard, they’re not the best. That’s according to a new study, which examined the user experience at various charging stations.

More: Tesla’s V4 Set The Bar At 500 kW, ChargePoint Just Made It Look Slow

Conducted by JD Power, the U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience Public Charging Study found Ionna provided the best experience. The firm – which is backed by numerous automakers including BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes, Stellantis and Toyota – operates a handful of “Rechargeries” across the country.

Despite coming out on top, Ionna has big gaps as there are zero stations in Michigan and only one in New York. However, the company inked a deal with Circle K earlier this year, which will see more than 350 gas stations outfitted with Rechargeries.

Second place went to the Mercedes-Benz Charging Network, which has a handful of locations mostly in the south and on the east coast. The final podium position was taken by the Rivian Adventure Network, which is “planned to grow to more than 3,500 fast chargers at over 600 sites across the US and Canada.”

Tesla came in fourth place, which is pretty surprising. Of course, McDonalds also has a lot of locations and you certainly wouldn’t say they have the best hamburger in America.

Rounding out the list is Red E, Electrify America, EVgo, and ChargePoint. As you’ve probably noticed, consumers clearly prefer automaker-back charging networks over ones from private companies.

EV Charging Experience Largely Improves

While the rankings are surprising, the study found satisfaction with DC fast chargers improved. The overall score climbed 12 points to 666 out of 1,000, and JD Power said all ten attributes improved. The biggest gains were charger availability (+27), how safe customers feel at charging locations (+18), and charging cost (+18).

The good news didn’t end there as EV drivers are being greeted by fewer broken chargers. According to the study, the “industry non-charge visit rate” dropped to an all-time low of 12%. That’s down from 14% last quarter and JD Power said the newer OEM-backed networks had the “lowest failure rates.”

It wasn’t all good news as satisfaction with slower, Level 2 public chargers dropped 12 points from a year ago. This was largely due to problems related to “ease of payment and ease of charging.” Drivers were also underwhelmed by DC fast chargers located at dealerships and stand-alone parking lots or garages.

JD Power’s executive director of EV solutions, Brent Gruber, said “The public charging experience is becoming more consistent, and that’s critical as the EV market matures.” He added “data consistently shows that public charging is the top reason new-vehicle shoppers reject EVs,” so these improvements “go a long way toward supporting the infrastructure needed to meet the rise in forecasted EV sales in the coming years.”

In many parts of the world, EV charging infrastructure has failed to keep pace with the electric cars and batteries it’s supposed to serve. That’s not the case in China, where BYD has been rapidly expanding its network of 1,500 kW Flash Charging stations, most recently teaming up with state-owned petroleum giant Sinopec to turn gas stations into EV charging locations.

The two companies have been working together since mid-2024, and the fruits of their labor have been shown at a new charging station in Shanghai. Previously, this had been a gas station operated by Sinopec, but the oil giant obviously saw the trend among Chinese buyers towards EVs and plug-in hybrids, and knew it had to get into the EV charging game.

Read: BYD Says Its New Battery Can Recharge As Fast As Filling Up Your Gas Tank

While this is the first Sinopec location converted into a Flash Charging hub from BYD, it won’t be the last. Plenty more of the company’s fuel stations are slated for the same treatment. Running at up to 1,500 kW, these chargers can take a battery from 10 to 70 percent in five minutes, and from 10 to 97 percent in as little as nine.

A Look Into The Future

Thanks to the ultra-fast design, they don’t need to be arranged like typical DC chargers. Instead, they’re set up like gas pumps with six large T-shaped chargers installed at this site, each with two plugs. As this site was once a gas station, it still includes a small convenience store and a lounge where owners can sit while their cars are charged.

For years, EV critics have been stating that charging an EV would never be as quick as filling up a combustion-powered car. Not only has BYD’s Flash Charging brought charging speeds almost in line with pumping gas, but it’s now started to actually replace gas stations. In the event of a blackout, each Flash Charger has four spare Blade batteries with a capacity of 169 kWh or 185 kWh, which can be used to top up the brand’s eligible EVs and PHEVs.

Through the Federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program launched under the Biden administration, US states received millions of dollars to grow their local EV charging networks. Some of these taxpayer-funded chargers have been built, just not in Florida, where it wants to spend the money on flying cars.

Florida received $197 million through the NEVI program. That cash could have gone a long way toward expanding the state’s EV charging network, but according to state officials, the private market has already done enough for local owners to charge quickly and easily at public locations.

Read: Toyota’s Getting Into The Aircraft Manufacturing Business

A plan uncovered by the Miami Herald, surfacing after a records request filed in January, shows how the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) intends to spend the charger funding on an ‘Aerial Highway Network’ of electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, or eVTOL, plus 32 take-off and landing pads scattered across the state. FDOT says it started planning for flying vehicles in 2021 and has spent more than three years on public engagement about the project.

Bad Luck For EV Owners

“The Florida Department of Transportation will not waste taxpayer dollars and spend it on everyday passenger vehicles,” the document reveals. “Instead, FDOT’s proposal…takes an innovative and strategic approach to offer the greatest benefits to Floridians by supporting a new emerging mode of transportation.”

Stephen Smith of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy criticized the proposal, telling the Miami Herald, “Money is being hijacked from what would have benefited a large population to go to the oligarch, ultra-wealthy for these emergent technologies.”

$5.6 Million A Pad

The plan estimates each pad will cost about $5.6 million to build, and they could land near airports, luxury apartment buildings, military bases, and golf courses. The list alone tells you who benefits: wealthy residents, not the EV owner stuck hunting for a working charger. The documents also indicate Florida could cover the required state matching share for some projects itself, rather than leaving that cost to private companies as is typically done under NEVI.

The Miami Herald’s report notes that there were 452 fast chargers and 1,708 Level 2 slow chargers in Florida as of January 2025, although it’s unclear how many there are now. While this number has increased since the NEVI funding was announced, thanks to private firms, Florida residents have the second-highest number of EVs in the country but have a below-average number of chargers per vehicle.

The Rules Allow It

Under updated NEVI rules, funding awarded through the program can be redirected toward other charging needs. The Federal Highway Administration has reviewed Florida’s charger highway corridor and agrees it is fully built out. Other states have used that flexibility in very different ways. North Carolina, for instance, is putting the money toward chargers at apartment complexes for residents without home charging. On that basis, the FHWA is expected to approve Florida’s request to spend its share on flying cars.

Florida says its flying car ambitions will help ease highway traffic congestion, but unless hundreds, if not thousands of eVTOL are deployed, it’s hard to imagine them having a significant impact on traffic. The state would, of course, then need makers of eVTOLs to deploy and sell their aircraft locally, or elsewhere take-off and landing pads could sit idle.

If you’re shopping for a used EV, chances are the health and longevity of the high-voltage battery, the big slab of cells under the floor, is the thing keeping you awake at night. But according to a new analysis of warranty repair requests, it’s far from the problem owners encounter most often.

The study, based on repair request data collected by Warrantywise in the UK, found that the biggest EV reliability headaches are largely the same kinds of issues drivers have dealt with for years on cars running more conventional combustion powertrains. Electrical gremlins, suspension wear, and even the humble 12-volt battery appear far more frequently than failures involving the high-voltage battery pack.

Leading the list were general electrical faults, including sensors and central locking systems. Those repairs averaged around £810-900 ($1,085-1,205), although some individual claims climbed well beyond £3,000 ($4,020) and even topped £4,000 ($5,350) depending on the fault.

Also: An American EV Was Germany’s Most Defective Vehicle

Suspension components, particularly wishbones, also featured prominently. Average repair requests exceeded £1,200 ($1,600), with the largest individual claim passing £4,100 ($5,490). That’s a reminder that even without an engine or gearbox, an EV still has plenty of conventional hardware that wears over time – and with more weight to bear, suspension takes an even bigger beating in an EV.

Top 5 EV Faults

The only genuinely EV specific component to crack the top five was the on-board charger. While the average repair request for one of those came in at £2,160 ($2,890), the largest single claim reached a hefty £10,455 ($14,000), showing that although these failures aren’t everyday occurrences, they can become scarily expensive.

Battery Problems Overblown

What about the high-voltage traction battery everyone worries about? It didn’t make the top five at all. That doesn’t mean battery failures never happen, only that they were comparatively rare in the warranty data, quite possibly because EV batteries are more robust than many people think, and they tend to have longer factory warranty cover than the rest of the car. When problems did occur, though, repair requests averaged more than £6,400 ($8,570).

The figures also showed average EV repair request values increased by 10.7 percent between 2024 and 2025. That rise isn’t necessarily down to worsening reliability, with inflation, labour costs, and parts prices all likely contributing to higher bills.

Also: Huge Study Shows EVs More Reliable Than ICE Cars With One Surprising Common Issue

As with any warranty dataset, the results only reflect vehicles covered under those policies rather than every EV on the road. Even so, it points to the expensive battery that dominates so many buying conversations as not being the scary bill-in-waiting it’s made out to be.

Heliox, A Siemens Business, a leader in EV charging solutions, introduces the H60D fast charger, a compact, high-utilization solution designed for a wide range of vehicles including cars, buses, and trucks. The system combines a dynamic power allocation between its two CCS1 outlets, broad EV and backend compatibility, and flexible mounting options to support higher charger usage across a wide variety of sites.

The H60D enables two parallel charging sessions from a single unit, cutting both hardware spend and footprint while increasing the number of vehicles that can be served at each location. Both outlets can operate simultaneously and share power dynamically, allowing operators to either deliver the full 60 kW to one vehicle or distribute power between two vehicles as demand shifts throughout the day. With 60 kW rated output and up to 150 A maximum DC current, the charger delivers efficient DC charging for a variety of cars, buses, and trucks, helping reduce overall charging time and keep assets in service.

EV compatibility is supported by US-based in-house testing and development capabilities, ensuring seamless integration. The charger’s flexible design allows deployment as wall- or pedestal-mounted and in either networked or standalone configurations, so operators can scale and customize installations to match site constraints and operational priorities. A new RFID capability expands driver access management, enabling Heliox products to deliver flexible authentication across fleet operations. Peak efficiency above 96% minimizes power losses and energy use while maximizing energy delivered to vehicles. A NEMA 3R-rated enclosure enables safe, reliable operation indoors or outdoors and is engineered to stand up to daily wear and tear, expanding siting options from depots and yards to parking lot environments. A compact, low-profile enclosure helps operators fit chargers into new or existing facilities with minimal disruption, further decreasing benchmark installation time through design improvements.

Built for interoperability and future-readiness, the H60D supports the SAE J1772 (CCS Type-1) standard, providing compatibility with the dominant North American DC fast-charging connector. A broad 200–1,000 V DC output range enables support for today’s and next-generation commercial EV battery platforms, protecting infrastructure investments as vehicle technology evolves. Communication based on open standards, incl. OCPP 1.6J and OCPP 2.0.1, enables robust vehicle-to-charger connectivity and supports advanced smart-charging capabilities.

Engineered and manufactured in the United States, the H60D leverages domestic engineering and production quality standards, with system-wide durability and thermal upgrades that support consistent performance over the product’s lifecycle. Rated to operate from -22°F to +131°F, the charger delivers reliable performance across diverse climates and seasonal conditions, enabling nationwide deployment strategies without extensive customization.

To support long-term reliability and predictable lifecycle performance, the H60D includes a standard 24‑month warranty and optional preventative maintenance programs that help operators maintain high uptime and optimize asset performance over the charger’s service life. This comprehensive support model gives fleets and site hosts confidence that their charging infrastructure will perform reliably and remain a strong, future-ready asset in their operations.

About Heliox, A Siemens Business
Heliox, A Siemens Business, delivers world class EV charging equipment, services, and robust solutions for a broad range of EV fleets. Our portfolio encompasses all aspects of smart and efficient AC and DC charging infrastructure, including IoT-connected hardware, software, and a comprehensive service offering. Designed and manufactured in North America, Heliox builds UL and CSA compliant products that also meet Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) standards. Heliox’s high-quality, field-proven charging products are now backed by Siemens’ financial strength, global reach, and long-term stability—delivering the best of both worlds.

For more information, visit www.heliox-energy.com.

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The July issue introduces the STN 2026 Innovator of the Year, Cameron Wood, the lead electric vehicle performance analyst for Student Transportation of America. Read the full story to learn how the 26-year-old is helping shape the future of electric vehicle charging. Read articles on how student enrollment affects transportation operations, cameras with new AI capabilities impact on driver training, school bus driver fatigue, alternative vehicles and learn more on the National Express to Summit Services contractor rebrand.

Read the full July 2026 issue.

Cover Story

Taking Charge
Cameron Wood, the lead electric vehicle performance analyst for Student Transportation of America, is this year’s STN Innovator of the Year. At only 26 years old, Wood is credited with developing a patent-pending program to help electric school buses charge smarter.

Features

Growth Spurt
Districts leaders say growth isn’t solely defined by an increase in student enrollment. Factors such as increased routes and new schools contribute to expanded transportation operations.

Smart Move
What do cameras with AI capabilities that record driver activity and student behavior mean for the future of school transportation?

Dealing with Driver Fatigue
While they love aspects of the job, school bus drivers share the many external and internal factors that contribute to burnout and resignation.

Special Reports

Same Goals, Different Vehicles
Increasingly, non-yellow vehicles are taking students to and from school and extracurricular activities. This makes it even more paramount that the bar of alternative transportation safety standards is set high.

Q&A: Industry Ascension
CEO Tim Wertner discusses the reasons for the recent rebrand of one of the largest school bus contractor groups and plans its companies have for the present and future.

Conversations
Ad Index

Editor’s Take by Ryan Gray
Safety in Sight

Publisher’s Corner by Tony Corpin
Fuel Choice, Budgets & Fresh Ideas

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Heliox, A Siemens Business, a leader in EV charging solutions, is proud to highlight its VersiCharge Blue 80A, engineered for the most demanding fleet and commercial vehicle charging environments. Designed to deliver up to 80A AC (19.2 kW) power output, the VersiCharge Blue 80A ensures that fleet operators can keep vehicles moving efficiently and reduce operational downtime. With Level 2 charging capability via a J1772 connector and a 24-foot cable, this solution is compatible with most standard EVs, E-Trucks and School Buses, and streamlines installation and daily operation for maximum flexibility and reach.

This charger exemplifies robust quality, featuring Buy America compliance to meet government procurement requirements and ENERGY STAR certification to support lower operational costs and high energy efficiency. Safety remains paramount, as the VersiCharge Blue 80A holds multiple UL listings and carries a NEMA 4 and IK10 rating to ensure exceptional resilience against extreme temperatures, humidity, and physical impact. Backed by a 3-year warranty, customers gain peace of mind knowing their investment is safeguarded for the long haul.

Connectivity is central to the VersiCharge Blue 80A’s design, with cellular and Wi-Fi networking providing easy remote monitoring and flexible network-sharing in commercial deployments. Site safety and aesthetics are prioritized thanks to retractable cable management, reducing trip hazards and maintaining a clean, professional appearance. State-of-the-art smart charging features, including ISO15118-2 hardware readiness and OCPP 1.6J support, enable advanced load management, authentication, security, and future compatibility, while Sifinity Setup mobile app configuration simplifies multi-charger installations.

Precise energy tracking is guaranteed by embedded metering, helping operators optimize usage and manage costs. Built for resilient operation, the unit withstands wide temperature swings from -40°C to 50°C (>50°C with derating) and functions reliably in up to 98% humidity, making it ideal for harsh climates and challenging locations. Wall or post mounting options offer flexible installation for any site layout, and over-the-air (OTA) software upgrades future-proof investments by delivering remote updates and new capabilities.

Engineered for versatility, VersiCharge Blue 80A features rated current settings from 12A to 80A to easily accommodate varying power needs across fleet and facility applications. Its recommended wire cross section of 3 AWG with a 90°C minimum ensures safe, high-capacity wiring and consistent performance even under heavy usage. Built-in ground fault and overvoltage protection shield both users and vehicles against electrical risks, while multicolor LED indicators provide instant feedback on charging status, connectivity, and fault diagnostics to streamline site management.

Advanced OCPP and ISO15118-2 user authentication deliver enterprise-grade security and fleet management capability. The charger operates at altitudes up to 6,562 feet, expanding site possibilities in high-elevation regions, and customizable mounting options ensure seamless integration in diverse venues.

​​With VersiCharge Blue 80A, Heliox, A Siemens Business, is bringing a powerful blend of reliability, safety, and intelligent connectivity to the heart of fleet and commercial EV operations, enabling customers to scale with confidence as electrification demands grow.

About Heliox, A Siemens Business
Heliox, A Siemens Business, delivers world class EV charging equipment, EV charger maintenance and support services, and robust solutions for a broad range of EV fleets. Our portfolio encompasses all aspects of smart and efficient AC and DC charging infrastructure, including IoT-connected hardware, software, and a comprehensive service offering. Heliox manufactures UL compliant products that meet Buy America Act (BAA) and Build America Buy America (BABA) standards. Heliox’s high-quality, field-proven charging products are now backed by Siemens’ financial strength, global reach, and long-term stability—delivering the best of both worlds.

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In a year marked by significant economic uncertainty, we have observed a first half in which reactions to the common shift in the...

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New Poll: American Voters Support Federal Investments in Electric Vehicles Broad, Bipartisan Support for EV Investments and Incentives that Lower Costs, Expand Access, and Help the U.S. Beat China in the Race for Auto Manufacturing WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new bipartisan national poll conducted by Meeting Street Insights and Hart Research finds broad public support …

The post Support for Electric Vehicles appeared first on Alternative Energy HQ.

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Among those considering the purchase of a new or used battery-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, or just curious about EVs, charging can still be the EV dealbreaker. Unless you don’t have a way to easily install or access home charging, your excuses are quickly disappearing, though. In 2024 public charging kept pace—or...

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