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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Driver FAQ - Blink Charging

Blink Members

Do I need to be a Blink member to use the chargers?

Anyone can use a public Blink charging station; no membership is necessary. If you’renot a Blink member, simply download the Blink Charging mobile app to initiate a charge session as a guest. Alternatively, you can start chargingvia credit card over the phone at a Series X station by using an RFID credit card at Blink Series 8 and DC fast chargers. However, there are advantages to becoming a Blink Member. Members gain access to their charging history and may qualify for discounted rates at select public charging stations on the Blink Network across the country. Note that membership is required to charge at a private Series station.

No. Becoming a Blink Member is free. However, if you opt to link a credit card to your Blink account, the card will be charged to add funds into your Blink account.

Being a Blink member allows you to easily load funds into your account using the Blink Charging mobile app. You can set up auto-reload when your funds run low, view personalized charging reports, access private Series stations, and even receive discounts at select chargers.

While it is free to become a Blink member, you'll need to add funds to your account before using a paid charger. To simplify this, we conveniently request that you add funds to your account during the account setup process. Skipping this step is possible, but do note that having funds in your account is necessary for charging at a station that requires a fee

Once you’ve logged into your Blink Account using the Blink Charging mobile app, click on the ‘Account’ tab. This will grant you access to manage your account, update your password, manage payment options, Blink Card and Blink Codes, as well as update vehicle information and view your charging history. To update your email address, please contact our team at support@blinkcharging.com.

Manage Account
This is where you can manage your Blink Membership and personal details:

  • Update your contact information

  • Customize your Blink profile

  • Delete Account


Update Password
This is where you can update your Blink Charging mobile app password:

  • Update password

  • After choosing a new password, click update


Payment
This is where you can manage your payment options:

  • Update or add credit card information

  • Update billing address

  • View account balance

  • Manage auto-refill options

  • Create Blink code

  • View transaction history


Blink Card
This is where you can view and manage your Blink Membership Cards:

  • View your current activated Blink card

  • Request or activate a Blink card

  • Rename your card


Vehicle Information
This is where you can view and manage your vehicle information:

  • Add a new vehicle

  • Update or delete your vehicle information Contact support@blinkcharging.com if your vehicle type is not listed as an option.


Charge History
This is where you can view and manage your Blink public charging & Blink HQ* home charging:

  • View Blink public charging history

  • View how much kWh energy was consumed, gallons of fuels have been saved and pounds of CO2 have been reduced by your Blink public charging history

  • View home charging history

  • View how many kWh of energy was consumed, gallons of fuel have been saved and pounds of CO2 have been reduced by your Blink home charging History

    *Blink HQ home charging can be viewed with smart, Wi-Fi residential chargers only.

EV 101

How much does the charge cost?

Charging rates for our stations are shown on the chargers. Charging rates are also displayed on the Blink Charging mobile app when selecting a station. These rates vary between locations and equipment types. The total cost of fully charging a vehicle depends on its battery size and the specific car model. Referring to the car owner’s manual for battery size and charge speeds can assist in determining the charging cost. Information about charging fees and their determination can be found on the Blink website. Additionally, Blink Customer Support is available to assist users in determining the charging costs. Please contact our Customer Support at (888) 998-2546 for further assistance. View the Blink EV Charging Time Calculator.

The length of time necessary to charge an EV depends on the rate at which the car can receive a charge. To complete a charge from empty to full on a Level 2 EV charger, it can take a few hours to overnight. Refer to your vehicle’s owners manual for more detailed information.

We offer Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations, which provide a maximum of 240 volts with 80 amps of power to recharge an EV battery quickly, and DC Fast charging stations (DCFC), which are compatible with some electric cars and provide a rapid charge, typically deployed on 480 amp circuits and range from 30kW to 350kW. Please refer to the Blink Map or the Blink Charging mobile app to see what type of EV charging a station offers.

Level 2 charging is the most common EV charging type and is compatible with all electric vehicles sold in the United States. DC Fast Chargers offer a faster charge than Level 2 charging, but it is not compatible with all electric vehicles. For more information, visit our EV Charging Equipment page.

Blink provides flexible business models for station hosts, offering Host-Owned, Blink-Owned, and hybrid ownership models. Station pricing can be determined by either the Station Host or Blink’s recommended market pricing, depending on the contract. At certain locations, discounted rates may be available for Blink Pro members or employees/tenants at the host location. To view rates at your charging station, please check the Blink Mobile App or the station LCD screen.

Charging & Operation

What is the new Blink access fee?

Blink is introducing a $0.49 access fee per charging session. This fee helps maintain and improve our charging network and has been set below the industry average to keep charging affordable. This fee only applies to charging stations using a pricing plan and does not impact free charging stations. Drivers can use the Blink mobile app to view pricing and fees when searching for a charging station and before starting a charging session.

Drivers have multiple options to access and start charging sessions at public Blink EV chargers: through the Blink Charging mobile app, the Blink membership card, or the automated pay-by-phone system for Series X chargers. Additionally, they can use the credit card reader available on select charging stations. It's important to be aware that all credit card transactions will result in a $10-$40 bank authorization hold, which typically clears from your account within 2 to 3 business days, depending on your bank. (Some banks may require up to 10 days.) However, utilizing a membership with automatic replenishment will bypass this hold.

Blink Charging Mobile App
Use the Blink Charging mobile app to find the nearest charging station. Select the desired location from the list and view its details. Choose the station and click "Start Charge" to begin the charging session. At any time, you have the option to pause or stop your charging session via the Blink Charging mobile app. The app is available for Android devices on Google Play and for iOS devices on the App Store. Additionally, guests can charge by using a guest code at IT stations. Simply click on 'Charge as Guest,' follow the payment verification steps, and adhere to the app instructions to initiate the charging process.[icon to the right]

Blink Membership RFID Card
Hold your Blink RFID member card to the RFID reader on the charger and follow the on-screen instructions. Your Blink card is associated with your Blink Member account and payment information. Drivers can request a free Blink card on the Blink Mobile App.

Series 8 & DCFC: Physical Credit Card Reader
Swipe or tap your card to the credit card reader on the charger and follow the on-screen instructions.

Blink Customer Support
Blink Members: Contact our customer support at (888) 998-2546 for assistance in starting a charge with your Blink account at a charging station. To ensure security, our customer support agents are unable to take your credit card number over the phone. Please utilize the interactive voice response system to make a payment for your charge using a credit card.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
Call 850-909-8238 to start a charge at Series X chargers with a credit card using our automated voice system. Follow the prompts to type in the station serial number.

* Kindly note that when adding a credit card to your Blink member account, creating a Blink guest code, or making a credit card or IVR payment, an authorization hold will appear on the provided credit card account. This hold serves solely for authorization and will not result in charges. Charges will not be applied to your account until you add funds or start a charging session.

The current authorization hold amounts are:

  • $10 for Series Q

  • $20 for Series X

  • Up to $40 DCFC

With a Blink Code or Blink Guest Code you can use any of our publicly available Blink IQ charging stations. Get a Blink Code via the Blink Charging Mobile App: Download the Blink Charging mobile app. If you prefer to charge with a Blink guest code, simply select “Charge as Guest”, enter your payment information and continue to begin your charging session. Please note that creating a Blink Guest Code will incur a $25 authorization hold on your credit card. This is not a charge from Blink but will drop off your card after 2-3 days depending on your bank. Call Blink at (888)-998-2546 to request a Blink Code if you’re unable to connect to the Internet or experiencing poor cellular/data reception. Our customer service team can issue a Blink Code from your account or provide a guest Blink Code to start your charging session. Remember you can only have one Blink Code at a time, and codes expire after 12 hours. Your account or credit card will not be charged until you have used the code, and unused codes won’t result in any costs.

In North America, Blink Level 2 charging stations are compatible with all electric vehicles that use the J1772 plug, which is standard on all North American vehicles. The Blink units can also charge Tesla model vehicles with the Tesla/NACS adapter available directly through Tesla. For DC Fast Chargers, please check your vehicle manual for compatibility with standard CCS and CHAdeMO connectors. Beginning in 2024, some Blink charging stations may also feature a NACS plug.

When the charge is complete, the charger will display a steady green light at the charger port rather than the flashing green while it is actively charging. In addition, the charger screen will indicate the charge has been completed. Blink members who have opted in for communications may receive a text message, email, or both, alerting them that their charge has been completed. The Blink Charging mobile app can also provide you will notifications. To change notification settings, go to “Account,” click on Notifications, & you can set to opt into the app, SMS, or email notifications. </br></br>Remember to move your vehicle from the EV spot so that others may charge.

To stop charging at a Level 2 charger, press the lock release button on the charger connector, unplug it from your vehicle, and return it to the station. The charge will automatically terminate. Note that some vehicles have locks on their charging ports, preventing unplugging unless the car is engaged. When using a DC fast charger, ensure to press the stop button on the screen before unplugging your vehicle. With the Blink Charging mobile app, once you initiate a charge at a selected station, you can pause, resume, or restart the session at any time. Some vehicles have a mechanism that locks a charging connector to the charging port. If the connector is locked into your charging port, call your dealership or Blink Charging to troubleshoot. With some models, cycling through locking and unlocking your vehicle may help unlock the plug. Do NOT use a screwdriver to release the lock, as this may damage your vehicle.

ICEing refers to when an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle is blocking the charger. Contact the valet or building management alerting them that a non-EV is parked in the EV spot and request to have the vehicle moved so that you can charge. Similarly, if an EV is blocking a charging space but is not charging, contact building or parking management. Do not unplug someone else’s electric vehicle without their permission.

Once a charge has been initiated, the light on the unit will display blue. The charger screen will also indicate charge status. Most EVs also display current charging status in the dash of the vehicle.

When the power turns back on the unit will go through its reboot and test cycles. Upon successful completion, it will automatically return to its waiting to charge state. To continue charging you will need to initiate a new session. If the station is offline, please contact the property or parking manager so they can conduct a power cycle.

You can locate and view the real-time status (available, in-use, etc.) of Blink’s EV charging stations on the Blink Charging mobile app, available for iOS or Android devices. On the Blink Charging mobile app, you can search for charger location by zip code, city, business, category, or address, and filter results by speed, availability, hours, or connection type. You can also find Blink EV Charging stations on Google Maps, Apple Maps, and other popular mapping applications.

Learn More

§ The charger being offline depends on the reason behind it. If you encounter an offline Series Q charger, you can begin charging using a Blink card. The station will charge your battery normally and store the session information locally. When the charger reconnects online, it will automatically transmit the session information to Blink, and you'll receive a bill accordingly. If the charger is offline due to a power outage, you will not be able to charge until power is restored. Please call Blink if you need help authorizing a charging session.

If there is an issue with the EV charging station or charging, please contact Blink Customer Support at (888) 998-2546 or via email at support@blinkcharging.com. Our team is available 24/7. On the Blink Charging mobile app, when you select a station to begin your charging session, click on “Report Issue.” You can choose the issue, describe the issue, and add an image. Once you are done, click “Submit.”

Some Blink hosts restrict access to employees or residents. There are two ways to request Private Access at private Series stations.

1. Search for the location using the Search Bar in the Blink app, then tap the Request Private Access button. An email will be sent to the host requesting access. Once the host approves, you will be able to charge with your Blink account.

2. The second way to get access is with an Invitation Code given to you by the site host. Go to Account > Membership > Private Access Organization. Enter the Invitation Code. An email will be sent to the host requesting access. Once the host approves, you will be able to charge with your Blink account.

There are two main types of Blink Level 2 chargers: Series X and Series Q. You can find the station serial number, model name, and safety information on the left side of the station body. The serial number for a Series X station begins with the letters BAE followed by 6 digits. The serial number for a Series Q station has 16 digits, usually starting with L1.

Unlock Member Benefits

Becoming a Blink member offers discounts and an improved charging experience. To get started, download the Blink Charging app today!

Soooooo happy! My apartment complex just got these Blink stations, and I love their system.

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