Thanks to the success of its Congestion Reduction Pilot program, Electrify America is expanding its 85% SOC charging limit to more stations to reduce wait times and increase throughput across the charging network. The pilot was launched in July 2024 at ten selected busy charging locations in California, where the company enforced a state-of-charge (SOC) limit of 85%. Now, it includes almost 40 sites.

The SOC limit means that charging will automatically end once the battery is charged to 85% SOC. Simultaneously, charging will not initiate at or above 85%. Once an EV reaches 85% SOC, drivers will have 10 minutes to move their vehicle before idle fees are incurred.

The main reason why the 85% SOC limit is necessary is that after 80% SOC, EV charging usually slows down to a relatively low level. As we previously explained, EV batteries usually can’t accept peak power beyond 80% SOC, and as the charging power decreases, charging time increases. In extreme cases, charging from 85% to 100% SOC can take longer than 20% to 80% SOC. This effect reduces throughput across the charging network and increases wait times.

As of now, the Congestion Reduction Pilot program includes nearly 40 Electrify America charging stations. Most of them are in California (32), and a few are in other states. Electrify America said: “To further reduce queuing, we’ve expanded the pilot to include more stations. These stations will now display an “85% Limit” banner when selected in the Electrify America app.”

According to the company, the 85% SOC limit was implemented only at sites that met the following criteria:

• in urban areas, away from highways (because sometimes charging to a higher level is required to reach another station)
• with high utilization
• with additional charging options nearby

Considering that Electrify America has roughly 1,000 DC fast charging stations (including Electrify Canada and Electrify Commercial sites), the pilot includes just about 4% of the total network.

Here is the latest list of stations with the 85% SOC limit:

Los Angeles Metro Area

• Plaza Del Sol (Station 200068) at 10950 Sherman Way, Burbank, California 91505
• Target T2328 (Station 200041) at 651 W Sepulveda Blvd, Carson, California 90745
• Ralphs 060 (Station 200046) at 1416 East Colorado St, Glendale, California 91205
• Bank of America Washington-Centinela CA9-160 (Station 200044) at 12316 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90066
• Bank of America LA Chinatown CA9-167 (Station 200070) at 850 N Broadway, Los Angeles, California 90012
• Vons 2598 (Station 200049) at 3233 Foothill Blvd, La Crescenta, California 91214
• Target T0767 (Station 200051) at 888 W Arrow Hwy, San Dimas, California 91773
• Target T1309 (Station 200047) at 14920 Raymer Street, Van Nuys, California, 91405
• Yorba Canyon Center (Station 200079) at 21480 Yorba Linda Blvd, Yorba Linda, California 92887
• Ontario Mills (Station 100040) at 950 Ontario Mills Dr, Ontario, California 91764
• Target T0250 (Station 200040) at 3300 S. Bristol St, Santa Ana, California 92704
• Bank of America Gateway CA-8-113 (Station 200043) at 3812 San Fernando Rd, Glendale, California 91204
• Albertsons 0561 (Station 200050) at 298 E. Live Oak Ave, Arcadia, California 91006
• Target T2082 (Station 200053) at 7530 Orangethorpe Ave, Buena Park, California 90621
• Outlets at Orange (Station 200054) at 20 City Blvd W, Orange, California 92868
• Bank of America 17th-Tustin CA7-133 (Station 200067) at 2127 E 17th St, Santa Ana, California 92705
• Westminster Mall (Station 200077) at 75 Westminster Mall, Westminster, California 92683
• Palos Verdes Library District (Station 200308) at 701 Silver Spur Rd, Rolling Hills Estates, California 90274

San Diego Metro Area

• Walmart Supercenter 2177 (Station 200144) at 3382 Murphy Canyon Road, San Diego, California 92123
• Walmart 5023 (Station 200141) at 1200 Highland Ave, National City, California 91950
• Target T1846 (Station 200148) at 3424 College Ave, San Diego, California 92115

San Francisco Metro Area

• Walmart 4132 (Station 200055) at 9001 Apollo Way, Downey, California 90242
• Safeway 1138 (Station 200156) at 1100 El Camino Real, Belmont, California 94002
• Safeway 0995 (Station 200160) at 1335 Webster St, San Francisco, California 94115
• Walmart 2989 (Station 200164) at 44009 Osgood Rd, Fremont, California 94539
• Bank of America (Station 200170) at 3067 Castro Valley Blvd, Castro Valley, California 94546
• Lakeshore Plaza (Station 200171) at 4258 Ocean Ave, San Francisco, California 94132
• Broadway Plaza (Station 200175) at 1275 Broadway Plaza, Walnut Creek, California 94596
• Bank of America Emeryville CA4-137 9Station 200177) at 4120 San Pablo Ave, Emeryville, California 94608
• Save Mart Lucky #758 (Station 200186) at 565 West Capitol Expressway, San Jose, California 95136
• Great Mall (Station 200189) at 447 Great Mall Dr, Milpitas, California 95035
• Bank of America Blossom Hill Winfield CA 3-170 (Station 200193) at 971 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose, California 95123

New York City Metro Area

• Walmart 3520 (Station 200100) at 400 Park Plaza Dr, Secaucus, New Jersey 07094
• Walmart 5447 (Station 200104) at 150 Harrison Ave, Kearny, New Jersey 07032
• Shops at Skyview Center (Station 200106) at 40-24 College Point Blvd, Suite B215, Flushing, New York 11354
• EVolve NY JFK Airport (Station 700082) at 130th Place Between E & W Hangar Rd, Queens, New York 11430

Miami Metro Area

• Walmart 3235 N Miami (Station 200087) at 1425 NE 163rd. St, North Miami Beach, Florida 33162

Chicago Metro Area

• Target T2871 (Station 200015) at 1101 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, Illinois 60607

Learn more about Electrify America’s Congestion Reduction Pilot here.

To further reduce queuing, we’ve expanded the pilot to include more stations. These stations will now display an “85% Limit” banner when selected in the Electrify America app. Learn more: https://t.co/aL4jeJUet1

As always, the Congestion Reduction Pilot is only implemented:… pic.twitter.com/lNl1jeF9nT

— Electrify America (@ElectrifyAm) September 24, 2024