Enel X Way, Maker of JuiceBox EV Chargers That Are Part of the CT EV Charging Incentive Program, Shutting Down in North America
Update Oct. 13 – Enel X has apparently found a workaround and software service will not be disrupted. (Customer service for the hardware is offline.) This is an article in Electrek with more detail. Based on this, participants in the managed charging programs should be able to continue. We have had several members send us communications from Enel X or the utilities. Please keep us updated.
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Enel had previously announced big plans for a USA and Canada charging network, including installing 10,000 DCFC chargers by 2030. Now they are closing it down, though they are a huge company that remains in business in many other countries.
According to a statement posted on the JuiceBox website:
“After careful consideration, Enel X Way North America has decided to close its electric mobility business in the US and Canada, operated by the local subsidiary of Enel X Way USA, effective October 11, 2024.”
This is what they say about how it affects customers:
- Residential charging hardware (JuiceBox) will maintain the physical operating ability to charge vehicles, but that is it. (In other words, they become dumb chargers.)
- All Enel X Way software will be discontinued. Commercial charging stations will no longer work absent software.
- The Enel X Way App and all other Enel e-mobility apps in North America will be discontinued and removed from the App Store.
- Enel X Way customer support is no longer available, effective immediately. Any Enel X Way related questions and claims should be directed in the coming days to the claims information page (available soon). (The emphasis is theirs.)
The entire website, except for this one status page has been taken offline.
Impact on Managed Charging Incentives
There are Juicebox chargers that are approved equipment for EV charging incentives offered through Eversource and United Illuminating. Without software support, it will not be possible for the consumer to schedule charging nor for the utility to track it. The utilities were not given advance notice of the Enel decision.
We have been forwarded a few emails from members that were sent from Eversource and Enel X. Enel X is reporting that they are working to transition to the software of a third party. It sounds like they have made progress and there may be no interruption in service.
The emails we have seen from Eversource haven’t yet mentioned this. It may well be coming. But at this point, they suggest that if a vehicle is eligible for telematics, the customer can re-enroll and continue that way. Otherwise, they will be paid out through September and no longer part of the program. There is also the opportunity to subsequently re-enroll if the charger is replaced with an approved unit.
GM vehicles, which are not on the Eversource list of eligible telematics vehicles, are apparently able to connect through OnStar, which may require a paid subscription. GM vehicles are on the list of UI telematics vehicles.
I signed up with telematics via ev.energy. I set up my Tesla to start charging at 9pm weekdays. It seems to be working fine. I blocked enel x on my router so they no longer have access to my juicebox 32. The box’s purple led means it’s offline.
I received this email from Eversource on Friday:
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As you may be aware, your charger provider, Enel X Way, has announced the closure of its electric mobility business in the U.S. effective October 11, 2024. While your Enel charger should still work to charge your vehicle, Eversource will no longer receive information about your charging and this, in turn, prevents you from participating in Eversource’s Managed Charging program via your Enel EV charger.
However, you may still be eligible to participate in the program and earn rewards via your vehicle’s connection. By doing so, we would receive your charging data from your Hyundai EV to determine if you’ve hit your monthly charging goals.
You will receive an email from our vehicle Telematics partner, Rolling Energy Resources (managed and operated by ev.energy), early next week to help you reconnect to the program via this vehicle connection. We encourage you to reconnect as soon as possible so there is no lapse in your ability to earn rewards. Otherwise, expect to receive your final incentive payment this fall for your participation in Managed Charging through September 2024.
If you have any questions, please contact us at ManagedCharging@eversource.com or call 888-281-5224.
Thanks for this note. This certainly sounds like they are terminating participants if they don’t have a telematics-eligible vehicle. Vehicle makes for which Eversource can connect with Telematics are Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Mini, Tesla, Toyota, and Volkswagen. Not every model/model year. This detail is on their website. The list for UI is a bit different.