Europe’s Electric Vehicle Woes Are a Lesson for E.V.s Everywhere

Started by ZLoth, October 25, 2024, 08:50:56 PM

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vdeane

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 31, 2024, 08:15:33 AMMy commute is 36 miles one-way.  There isn't a single charging station between my house and regular work destination.  There are six EV chargers at my work and they have a lot of competition for their use.
Usually EV owners just charge at home.  The days of the Nissan Leaf being typical are long gone, so most have ranges of 200 miles when fully charged, well enough to do that commute every day.  A 240 outlet will work fine; just plug in when home, and then it's ready when you leave the next day.  If that can't be installed for whatever reason, that's where things get complicated.  A typical 110 outlet will work but charges really slowly, so is only really viable for shorter or infrequent trips.  And if you're renting and relying on public charging?  That's where it's really not fun, especially since most apartment complexes that have charging tend to only have a few spots with chargers, not every spot, so I'm not sure how that would work in a world where everyone (or even most people) drives an EV.

Roadtriping is one area that I just don't see ever working the same as gas.  Hopefully business will eventually get with the program and charging will be ubiquitous at places travelers stop, so it would just be a matter of plugging in when you would normally take a lunch break anyways and not lose any time, but it will probably always be an adjustment for those who like to just grab something and eat in the car to minimize time stopped or are driving off the beaten path such that finding such a place for lunch at the appropriate time would be a challenge even with a gas car.

Quote from: Max Rockatansky on October 31, 2024, 10:49:53 AMA lot of my opinion on the current state of public charging infrastructure is largely swayed by a recent experience I had in Dublin, CA.  I was in a friend's car which is a Model Y Tesla.  Her car needed a charge and thusly she looked up where nearby stations were on an app.  Every charger had an anticipated minimum 15 wait to even plug in).  We ultimately went to the Tesla dealer and waited for 25 minutes for before even starting a charge (about another 30 to get to an 81% charge). 

Mind you, Dublin was in the home market for Tesla and more or less the EV epicenter.  If things are that bad in terms of competition for public charging then it can't possibly be ready beyond niche use elsewhere.  At least it didn't give me the impression that long distance travel in an EV wasn't going to include some major headaches. 
From what I've seen on YouTube, California has the worst charger situation in the country in terms of wait time since they have so many EVs and charging infrastructure has not kept up.  It certainly makes me wonder how things will be as EV usage increases in other states; it doesn't seem like the world is prepared for demand to increase.

Quote from: JayhawkCO on October 31, 2024, 11:22:22 AMIt's also very different from what I see. I rented a Tesla when I flew back to KC and when I needed to charge, I just needed to find any Price Chopper (grocery store), and there were 6-10 fast chargers, all wide open.
Wait what?

*searches on Google Maps*

Oh look, there's another Price Chopper out there!  What are the odds?
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.


JayhawkCO

Quote from: vdeane on October 31, 2024, 12:47:45 PM
Quote from: JayhawkCO on October 31, 2024, 11:22:22 AMIt's also very different from what I see. I rented a Tesla when I flew back to KC and when I needed to charge, I just needed to find any Price Chopper (grocery store), and there were 6-10 fast chargers, all wide open.
Wait what?

*searches on Google Maps*

Oh look, there's another Price Chopper out there!  What are the odds?

Yep two different chains with the same name, which is strange.

Rothman

Perhaps the problem is still with how long it takes to charge one up.  If it was like filling up with gas, there would be no problem, since that's the status quo (except for possible availability).

Another issue with chargers
Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

Rothman

Perhaps the problem is still with how long it takes to charge one up.  If it was like filling up with gas, there would be no problem, since that's the status quo (except for possible availability).

Another issue with chargers is that there is still a big issue with damage, whether through vandalism or human error, though.

Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position(s) of NYSDOT.

JayhawkCO


mgk920

Quote from: Rothman on October 31, 2024, 01:56:02 PMPerhaps the problem is still with how long it takes to charge one up.  If it was like filling up with gas, there would be no problem, since that's the status quo (except for possible availability).

Another issue with chargers is that there is still a big issue with damage, whether through vandalism or human error, though.



I have heard of scrap metal thieves being a big problem WRT to chargers of some areas.

Mike



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