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Most new EVs have more range than the average human bladder. After four hours of driving, most people are going to need to pee. Current-generation EVs on 50kW f

Most new EVs have more range than the average human bladder. After four hours of driving, most people are going to need to pee. Current-generation EVs on 50kW fast-chargers can hit 80% charge in 30 minutes, which is only slightly longer than the average dwell time at a freeway service plaza. 150kW chargers are now commercially available, which (when connected to a vehicle with suitable battery cooling) cut the time to 80% charge to about 15 minutes. I'm sure that some people do drive for over four hours without taking a break, but I don't think that it's a safe or healthy thing to do. The technology is good enough already - we're just waiting for it to become widely distributed.

dwighttk 8y ago
30 minutes is close to the average? Wow. I don't think I've ever spent more than 10 minutes at a gas station.
- mikestew 8y ago
  Ever time yourself? I'm not doubting your estimate, but I wonder how close your are. Out of idle curiosity (and for more purposeful reasons), I've timed myself on the motorcycle. Pay-at-the-pump, and don't get off the bike, and I'm out of there like a LeMans pit stop. But getting off, hitting the restroom, and grabbing/paying for drink took longer than I would have guessed. And as sibling comment points out, it all goes out the window if you have passengers.
- harperlee 8y ago
  If you measure the time impact on the trip, and you count deceleration/accelaration, parking, etc. going above 20 minutes is super easy. That’s not useful for recharging, but a point to have in mind when discussing stop times with more people in order to avoid misunderstanding :)
- jki275 8y ago
  I'm with you. 5 minutes to fill and maybe 5 minutes to hit the bathroom and grab a drink, maybe even skip that and bac on the road. It's way different with family in the car though. That's where you hit 30 minutes. Everybody needs the bathroom, everybody needs to pick out a drink, everybody wants food, etc.
- ams6110 8y ago
  Also assumes that your need to pee/charge coincides with your proximity to a rapid charging station. I don't even know where one is close to me. There are a few in my state, but none within 50 miles of anywhere I normally go. It's not like gas stations where there's one at almost every single interstate exit. Also assumes there is not a wait. At 30min/charge, I could easily see a crowded charging station requiring a 60-120 minute wait.

dwighttk 8y ago

30 minutes is close to the average? Wow. I don't think I've ever spent more than 10 minutes at a gas station.

mikestew 8y ago
Ever time yourself? I'm not doubting your estimate, but I wonder how close your are. Out of idle curiosity (and for more purposeful reasons), I've timed myself on the motorcycle. Pay-at-the-pump, and don't get off the bike, and I'm out of there like a LeMans pit stop. But getting off, hitting the restroom, and grabbing/paying for drink took longer than I would have guessed. And as sibling comment points out, it all goes out the window if you have passengers.
harperlee 8y ago
If you measure the time impact on the trip, and you count deceleration/accelaration, parking, etc. going above 20 minutes is super easy. That’s not useful for recharging, but a point to have in mind when discussing stop times with more people in order to avoid misunderstanding :)
jki275 8y ago
I'm with you. 5 minutes to fill and maybe 5 minutes to hit the bathroom and grab a drink, maybe even skip that and bac on the road. It's way different with family in the car though. That's where you hit 30 minutes. Everybody needs the bathroom, everybody needs to pick out a drink, everybody wants food, etc.
ams6110 8y ago
Also assumes that your need to pee/charge coincides with your proximity to a rapid charging station. I don't even know where one is close to me. There are a few in my state, but none within 50 miles of anywhere I normally go. It's not like gas stations where there's one at almost every single interstate exit. Also assumes there is not a wait. At 30min/charge, I could easily see a crowded charging station requiring a 60-120 minute wait.