How to Report a Broken Charger
If you drive a plug-in electric vehicle (EV), at some point you may come across a charging station that does not work.
In Connecticut, many EV chargers were funded by grants through EVConnecticut, as indicated by signage at the charger location. While EVConnecticut may have provided funding for some of the chargers in Connecticut, station owners or operators are responsible for their operation, maintenance, and repair.
If you come across a broken charging station, please follow these steps to report the problem:
1
Attempt to alert the business/property owner
A good first step is to let the company responsible for the charging station know that it is not working. If the charging station is at a business, you can go inside, find someone in authority at the location, and alert him or her of the issue. If they are aware of the problem, they may tell you how the problem is being remedied and/or when they expect the charging station will be back online.
2
Check for a contact number on the EV unit
Some EV chargers have signage on or near the charging unit that directs people to call a specific phone number to report charger problems. There is often a 1-800 number or a local phone number where you can leave a message about the location of the charger and the problem.
NOTE: Please do not notify DEEP or EVConnecticut if an EV charger is broken. EVConnecticut is not responsible for the operation or repair of EV chargers.
3
Alert the charging provider
If the charging station is part of a network, you can contact the network provider. All the networks maintain customer service numbers that can assist with charging issues and a support representative may be able to direct you to another available nearby location. Network providers may also have more direct lines of communication with facilities and can be better positioned to resolve operational issues. Here are links to the support portals of some of the larger networks found in this region: Electrify America, Chargepoint, Tesla, blink, and EVgo.
4
Alert social media/use crowd sourcing
If the charger is part of a network, you may also post comments on the network's website about the charging station being out of service. Other community charging sites, like Plugshare, provide information on charging stations. Networks and station owners often review this information and look at user feedback, which may accelerate station repairs.
5
Be patient and have a backup plan
Once an EV charger operator is notified of a problem, an EV charging station is often repaired within several days. However, it's a good idea to have a backup plan in case a repair takes longer than expected. You can use the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Alternative Fueling Station map to find another nearby charging station, but keep in mind that the EV charging network is dynamic and operators may sometimes shut down a charger. If you come across a public EV charger that is permanently shut down or a new EV charger that is open to the public, please notify the DOE and they will amend their charging station map.
Please contact us at DEEP.mobilesources@ct.gov if you have questions or need further information.
Content last updated February 11, 2020