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EV charging network EVgo announced a new maintenance program today that will roll out upgrades, replacements, and even the retiring of hundreds of chargers across the US. The new “EVgo ReNew” program looks to improve the fast charging experience for its customers by “doubling down” on charger reliability.

Since its founding thirteen years ago, EVgo ($EVGO) has become one of the United States’ more prominent public EV fast charging networks. It is currently touting 850 charging locations that serve over sixty metropolitan areas across more than thirty states.

By adding capabilities like Plug & Charge for certain EV models and numerous free charging programs for new vehicle purchases, EVgo has put a keen focus on customer service. However, as many of you drivers know, just because a given charger shows up in your app or on your EV’s center screen does not ensure it is operational – or at the very least, delivering the charge rates it should.

With hundreds of fast chargers in operation across the US, each consisting of various levels of technology, EVgo is tasked with making sure each is up and running to its fullest capability to ensure you can cruise in, replenish, and be on your way, but that’s no small task.

To help guarantee it can deliver the quality of charging network it advertises, EVgo has introduced a new maintenance program called “EVgo ReNew” – you can learn more about it in the video below.

EVgo chargers
Source: YouTube/EVgo

EVgo doubles down on quality chargers with new program

The charging network shared details of its EVgo ReNew program today, which will include an overhaul of hundreds of EV chargers throughout 2023. EVgo states that the goal of the new program is to not only enhance the quality of its chargers but to instill more confidence in its network for EV drivers.

The ReNew program is built around six pillars that EVgo says make up the core of network reliability:

  • Prevention
  • Diagnostics
  • Rapid response
  • Analysis
  • Resilience
  • Continuous customer service

To begin, EVgo intends to evaluate each site based on its historical charger performance and current and forecasted user demand, then compare its location to the proximity to other fast chargers. Wherever possible, the company says it will install new chargers capable of power levels up to 350 kW.

In addition to replacing dated charging equipment, EVgo plans to implement more in-person preventive health checks while simultaneously bolstering system monitoring, diagnostics, and recovery tools. EVgo CEO Cathy Zoi spoke to the new program and the company’s goals:

More than a decade ago, EVgo was one of the first companies to install public fast chargers. The EVgo ReNew program represents our ongoing dedication to reliability as we proactively modernize legacy infrastructure and work to deliver the consistent, high-quality charging experience customers expect across our network. As more EVs come to market with expanded ranges, large battery packs and higher power charging capabilities, EVgo is invested in building and maintaining a charging network fit to welcome and support an all-electric future for every driver.

EVgo relayed that it replaced, removed, or upgraded 125 different EV chargers through the first three quarters of 2022 and intends to evaluate and upgrade many more in 2023 under the new program. You can watch EVgo’s video introducing the ReNew program below, which includes commentary from Zoi herself.

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Elon can’t get it up (past 325 kW), BP can, and GM hopes to keep it up in 2025

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Elon can't get it up (past 325 kW), BP can, and GM hopes to keep it up in 2025

Despite mocking 350 kW as “a child’s toy” in 2016, the company is just rolling out 325 kW V4 chargers in 2025. Meanwhile companies like BP are celebrating 400 kW installations along major highways – and they’re making money doing it. All this and more on today’s thrilling January 47th episode of Quick Charge!

We’ve also got a blast from the past in the form of one of my first Electrek article from way back in 2022, GM’s performance making TSLA look like a meme stock, and a massive lithium project in the Heartland.

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (and sometimes Sunday). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.

Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.

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After delays, the VW ID.7 now won’t be coming to the US at all

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After delays, the VW ID.7 now won't be coming to the US at all

Volkswagen has officially cancelled the long-delayed ID.7 electric sedan in America, instead focusing on selling it in Europe and China.

The ID.7 is VW’s electric mid-size sedan offering, currently available (and selling well) in Europe and also in China.

Previously the ID.7 had been intended to launch in 2024 in North America, after launching in Europe in 2023. But when launch time came close, VW delayed the North American debut of the model indefinitely last May.

As recently as October, VW America’s boss Pablo Di Si (who has since moved on) said that the ID.7 could still come in 2025.

But now we know that that indefinite delay is now fully definite: the model has been canceled in the US and Canada.

The news was broken yesterday by The Car Guide, speaking with a VW Canada representative. We’ve since reached out to VW, who confirmed the news to us.

Automotive News quoted a VW spokesperson saying the decision was made due to “the ongoing challenging EV climate.” Last year in North America, EV sales grew by 9%, faster than the overall auto market which grew at 2.5%, suggesting that the market is in fact more challenging for non-EVs than EVs at the moment. Further, gas car sales have been in long term decline since 2017, whereas EV sales have risen drastically in that time period.

That growth was achieved with very few available sedan models as well, with almost every EV available in America being an SUV-type. Adding additional model availability could open up the market to more buyers who want a right-sized vehicle instead of a land yacht.

But VW has been having a challenging time itself in the US. Until recently, it only offered a single SUV model, the ID.4, in the US. While the ID.4 has brought a lot of upgrades recently, it’s also one of the few vehicles whose sales were down in a growing market (which was true even before the stop sale which has now been lifted after fixing a door handle problem). Perhaps VW could have benefitted from offering a vehicle in a different format.

VW had previously blamed its delay of the ID.7 on “market conditions.” It didn’t specify which market conditions it was referring to, but we have some suspicions.

Manufacturers have a belief that Americans only want SUVs (or so they say – really, this is at least partially driven by emissions rules), and the ID.7 is not one. Although VW at one point did try to portray it as one – when we first saw the ID.7 it was in the guise of the “Space Vizzion” concept, and VW said it “combines the aerodynamic qualities of a Gran Turismo with the generous interior space of an SUV,” trying to leverage Americans’ supposed desire only for land yachts by portraying a somewhat more sensible wagon as something it’s not.

That said, the car likely would have been higher-priced than the ID.4, as it is in Europe. The best-selling electric sedan in the US is the Tesla Model 3, with few other options outside of the luxury market. The ID.7 could have offered an alternative for buyers who are looking for something that isn’t associated with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, but its likely high starting price might have limited that appeal.

But while this is a disappointment for those of us waiting for more right-sized electric vehicles, it doesn’t mean the end for new VW EVs in the US. Automotive News quoted a VW spokesman as saying that “electric vehicles continue to be a core part of Volkswagen’s long-term product strategy, and new electric models will continue to be introduced for this market.” So, stay tuned for more.

Well, if you still want an electric VW, there’s always the ID.4. To contact a local dealer and see if they have any VW ID.4s ready to sell, feel free to use our linkYou can also reach out about the ID.Buzz, if a quirky electric minivan is more your speed.


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Shares of Nextracker soar on stellar earnings. What we need to see before upgrading the stock

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Shares of Nextracker soar on stellar earnings. What we need to see before upgrading the stock

Justin Paget | Digitalvision | Getty Images

The sun is shining on Nextracker in extended trading Tuesday, as shares soared after the solar technology company reported a top and bottom line beat for its fiscal third quarter. Even better, management increased its full-year profitability outlook and reported a record backlog.

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