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At this point we should be thinking bigger and saying something like "by 2025 all new cars must not fill up at all because they must not use carbon-emitting fue

At this point we should be thinking bigger and saying something like "by 2025 all new cars must not fill up at all because they must not use carbon-emitting fuel".

VLM 10y ago
The problem persists with which side of the electric car gets the SAE J1772 receptacle? Of course because the only think more fun than one standard, is two standards, and that increments inductively, so universal charging stations are not only going to have cable side problems, but they're going to have a lot of cables to choose from. There is a UI problem for EV in that we're culturally programmed to get our energy from 80s style chrome and plastic R2D2 sized monoliths that plug into the side of our vehicles, whereas technologically theres no reason an overhead retractable cord or ground mounted cord couldn't work as well or better.
- officelineback 10y ago
  Because the charging receptacle isn't a safety hazard in an impact, it can be placed in a central location, such as the middle of the front or rear. Speaking of which, do electric vehicles even have a hood?
  - mikeash 10y ago
    EVs do have a hood. Most of them use it to hold drivetrain and various other equipment just like a traditional car. Teslas have enough surplus volume to provide a cargo area under it. Charging cables are more flexible than gasoline hoses, so they're easier to manage. They tend to be pretty long, so you don't usually have to park any particular way. If the charger is on the wrong side, you can easily plug in anyway. An exception to this is Tesla Superchargers, where the cable is just barely long enough to reach the charge port when you park the way you're intended to. But since all Supercharger-capable vehicles have the charge port in the same location, it's not an issue. Regarding the original comment's proposal to standardize this stuff, I can only imagine that California would mandate it on one side, New York would mandate it on the other side, and then we'd be even more doomed than we are already.
    - DiabloD3 10y ago
      The Tesla "Frunk".
  - mikestew 10y ago
    You just described the Nissan Leaf. And, yes, it has a hood. That's where the accessory battery and wiper fluid live (and some other stuff that needs access).

At this point we should be thinking bigger and saying something like "by 2025 all new cars must not fill up at all because they must not use carbon-emitting fuel".

VLM 10y ago

The problem persists with which side of the electric car gets the SAE J1772 receptacle? Of course because the only think more fun than one standard, is two standards, and that increments inductively, so universal charging stations are not only going to have cable side problems, but they're going to have a lot of cables to choose from. There is a UI problem for EV in that we're culturally programmed to get our energy from 80s style chrome and plastic R2D2 sized monoliths that plug into the side of our vehicles, whereas technologically theres no reason an overhead retractable cord or ground mounted cord couldn't work as well or better.

officelineback 10y ago
Because the charging receptacle isn't a safety hazard in an impact, it can be placed in a central location, such as the middle of the front or rear. Speaking of which, do electric vehicles even have a hood?
- mikeash 10y ago
  EVs do have a hood. Most of them use it to hold drivetrain and various other equipment just like a traditional car. Teslas have enough surplus volume to provide a cargo area under it. Charging cables are more flexible than gasoline hoses, so they're easier to manage. They tend to be pretty long, so you don't usually have to park any particular way. If the charger is on the wrong side, you can easily plug in anyway. An exception to this is Tesla Superchargers, where the cable is just barely long enough to reach the charge port when you park the way you're intended to. But since all Supercharger-capable vehicles have the charge port in the same location, it's not an issue. Regarding the original comment's proposal to standardize this stuff, I can only imagine that California would mandate it on one side, New York would mandate it on the other side, and then we'd be even more doomed than we are already.
  - DiabloD3 10y ago
    The Tesla "Frunk".
- mikestew 10y ago
  You just described the Nissan Leaf. And, yes, it has a hood. That's where the accessory battery and wiper fluid live (and some other stuff that needs access).