Setup EA iPhone app

If you plan to use Electrify America for charging with the VW ID.4 free charging plan, you will need a registration code from your dealer.

Once the EA app is loaded on the phone and an account created, navigate to the "Account" in the bottom right and then "Premium Offers". In the next screen select "Browse all Premium Plans":

In the next form select "I have an enrollment code" and then enter the code in the next screen:

When all of the setup is complete, you should see these entries:

Filter charging stations in Navigation

The VW Navigation for routes and driving directions may be setup to add charger stops as needed. The setup includes options to:

1. Include or not include charging stops

2. Select the speed of chargers considered for stops

3. Specify whether only currently available chargers should be included

4. Turn on or off Electrify America chargers

5. Display range in the navigation map

The question is where to find and change these settings based on your preference?

From settings

Open settings using the 8 dots at the left and select Navigation:

In the navigation screen click into the gear to open settings:

Now open the Route Options:

In the route options screen click into the charging stations settings:

Finally set the range options to determine when to charge and whether EA should be the only stations shown (if blue slider as shown below, only EA stations):

Other options to filter by the charging power rating can be selected for a specific route, as shown below.

From the map view and destination search

Start by opening the maps in Navigation and then click into the three lines to adjust the settings:

If you are already entering a destination by either selecting a past one or entering an address, etc. As the destination is entered and confirmed, click into the three lines for settings before the route is "Started":

A series of options are provided related to the route such as volume for voice prompts, AM/PM display colors and brightness, and determination of charging stops. Click into the "Charging Stations" plug and gear icon to select charging stations based on criteria: 

The criteria to filter charging stations includes:

1. The kilowatt hour charging rate (all, greater than 50kw or greater than 100 kW)

2. Show only charging stations that are available or show all irrespective of current availability

3. Include only Electrify America/Canada stations (the blue bar indicates show only EA stations)

Electrify America grace period count down issue

In late July 2023 I started experiencing an issue with the Electrify America iPhone app after a charging session was completed. This issue has been reported to EA and as of this date no resolution is available.

When a charging session is completed, EA (like most other EV charging companies) gives you a grace period before making you pay for taking up space at a charger with no charging. 

This counter should only occur if the cord is still plugged into your car. I get this message after the session is ended and have left the station.

Tips:

1. Always click to "Finish" the session on the charger station.
2. If this message appears, check that you are not be charged by EA. If charges are posted to your account, contact EA.
3. I have not successfully removed these messages. They disappear over time, typically after another charging session.

Electrify America wallet and activation tips

Using Electrify America has been easy and reliable from my experience. The chargers are operating and I rarely wait for an open charging station.

As I have talked with other drivers at charging stations, there are several tips I have made:

Add EA to your phone wallet. The ID in the wallet can then be used to initiate a charging session without a connection to the internet. For my iPhone, open the EA application and select the Account option, then Payment. Scroll to the bottom of the payment screen and select Add to Apple Wallet (or Google should you have an Android):

The screen shows how you can then tap to activate on the EA charging station. Scroll to the bottom and click to add to your wallet, then you are prompted to add to your wallet:

Another tip for activation is when the station display is off or cannot be read. If the screen cannot be used to activate, then open the app, select the station number and then swipe the station number to initiate charging.