4 ms·

What’s Missing in the Electric-Vehicle Revolution: Enough Places to Plug In

14 points by jseliger 6y ago

jseliger 6y ago
This problem has affected my own decision making: the Hyundai/Kia electrics are a bit less expensive than Teslas, but Tesla has a far superior charging network and solution, and, consequently, I'll likely have a Model Y shortly. In Arizona, at least, Electrify America is not anywhere near ready for prime time.
- aryamaan 6y ago
  The whole industry can benefit itself if they don't close charging stations to their cars only.
- simonblack 6y ago
  Thank God we didn't have this sort of rubbish with gasoline engines. "Sorry, I can't put Esso gas in my car, I can only use Shell" The sooner we get back to this situation (every vehicle uses any charger) the sooner EVs will be usable. Personally, I wouldn't have an EV as a gift, until the charging gets a whole lot easier, and the range gets a whole lot longer.
  - jeffgreco 6y ago
    Perhaps one upside to there having been a “Standard Oil” ;)
  - bsder 6y ago
    > Thank God we didn't have this sort of rubbish with gasoline engines. Erm, we did actually. One of the reasons for using the Turnpikes prior to about 1985 was that it guaranteed that you had gas stations at usefully spaced intervals. Someone who won the Turnpike contract had to run gas stations at some points where it wasn't profitable to do so simply to maintain the spacing.
    - simonblack 6y ago
      That inadvertently proves my point. ALL cars using that turnpike could be refueled, because they all used a common way of getting a source of energy using a standardised strength and type of fuel. Now imagine that same turnpike today and you only allow Tesla chargers to exist. What happens with the other brands of EVs?
      - bsder 6y ago
        My point was that the government effectively subsidized gas station construction in order to get sufficiently uniform coverage. Until you get the government subsidizing charging station construction you're not at the same point. 2020 electric coverage is probably more akin to 1955 gas station coverage. And, one point that everybody is leaving out is that non-home electric charging cost is hideous in most places. Even when you get coverage, the networks want to charge you stupidly more than the going rate for electricity.
sidpatil 6y ago
From the title, I thought they meant enough places to plug in on the vehicle itself. That makes me think: what's the reason for not having more than one charging port on an EV? I'd imagine it would be a convenience to have rear EV charging ports on both sides of the vehicle, for example.
- bestnameever 6y ago
  I would think keeping cost down would be one reason to only have one charging port. Especially in these early stages.
julienchastang 6y ago
I am a happy EV owner (charge at home, drive within range), but I can confirm that the charging network is a disaster. Those rare times I have to charge away from home, I am faced with a spotty, confusing, unreliable, and most of all stressful charging network. I almost got stranded the other day during really cold weather. I was low on charge and the level 3 charger I planned on using almost failed though it did eventually work after a few tries. And the charge cord was like trying to handle a full grown boa constrictor. It still took almost a full hour to charge my 2015 Leaf.
- madengr 6y ago
  The charging network here in Kansas City is actually pretty good. A good amount of level 2 chargers, and a few level 3, though as you say, the latter can be flaky.
teleforce 6y ago
The newly launched Ioniq 5 EV from Hyundai has V2L or Voltage-2-Load function located inside and outside of the vehicle with 3.6 kW power rating that is capable of charging other EV cars. The outside V2L charging port can even works when the EV is turned off. It has very fast charging capability (i.e 18 minutes to 80% capacity) for charging itself. With this very high speed self charging capability and V2L, it even can functions as a mobile on-demand power charging station, i.e Uber for EV charging. I will not be surprised that in the near future there will be third party companies offering on-demand mobile charging stations. In addition, fellow EV owners can also sell their excess power to the other EV fellow travelers who are in needs of additional charging. [1]https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/company/newsroom/hyundai-ioniq-5-redefines-electric-mobility-lifestyle-0000016626 https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/company/newsroom/hyunda...

14 points by jseliger 6y ago

This problem has affected my own decision making: the Hyundai/Kia electrics are a bit less expensive than Teslas, but Tesla has a far superior charging network and solution, and, consequently, I'll likely have a Model Y shortly. In Arizona, at least, Electrify America is not anywhere near ready for prime time.

aryamaan 6y ago
The whole industry can benefit itself if they don't close charging stations to their cars only.
simonblack 6y ago
Thank God we didn't have this sort of rubbish with gasoline engines. "Sorry, I can't put Esso gas in my car, I can only use Shell" The sooner we get back to this situation (every vehicle uses any charger) the sooner EVs will be usable. Personally, I wouldn't have an EV as a gift, until the charging gets a whole lot easier, and the range gets a whole lot longer.
- jeffgreco 6y ago
  Perhaps one upside to there having been a “Standard Oil” ;)
- bsder 6y ago
  > Thank God we didn't have this sort of rubbish with gasoline engines. Erm, we did actually. One of the reasons for using the Turnpikes prior to about 1985 was that it guaranteed that you had gas stations at usefully spaced intervals. Someone who won the Turnpike contract had to run gas stations at some points where it wasn't profitable to do so simply to maintain the spacing.
  - simonblack 6y ago
    That inadvertently proves my point. ALL cars using that turnpike could be refueled, because they all used a common way of getting a source of energy using a standardised strength and type of fuel. Now imagine that same turnpike today and you only allow Tesla chargers to exist. What happens with the other brands of EVs?
    - bsder 6y ago
      My point was that the government effectively subsidized gas station construction in order to get sufficiently uniform coverage. Until you get the government subsidizing charging station construction you're not at the same point. 2020 electric coverage is probably more akin to 1955 gas station coverage. And, one point that everybody is leaving out is that non-home electric charging cost is hideous in most places. Even when you get coverage, the networks want to charge you stupidly more than the going rate for electricity.

sidpatil 6y ago

From the title, I thought they meant enough places to plug in on the vehicle itself. That makes me think: what's the reason for not having more than one charging port on an EV? I'd imagine it would be a convenience to have rear EV charging ports on both sides of the vehicle, for example.

bestnameever 6y ago
I would think keeping cost down would be one reason to only have one charging port. Especially in these early stages.

julienchastang 6y ago

I am a happy EV owner (charge at home, drive within range), but I can confirm that the charging network is a disaster. Those rare times I have to charge away from home, I am faced with a spotty, confusing, unreliable, and most of all stressful charging network. I almost got stranded the other day during really cold weather. I was low on charge and the level 3 charger I planned on using almost failed though it did eventually work after a few tries. And the charge cord was like trying to handle a full grown boa constrictor. It still took almost a full hour to charge my 2015 Leaf.

madengr 6y ago
The charging network here in Kansas City is actually pretty good. A good amount of level 2 chargers, and a few level 3, though as you say, the latter can be flaky.

teleforce 6y ago

The newly launched Ioniq 5 EV from Hyundai has V2L or Voltage-2-Load function located inside and outside of the vehicle with 3.6 kW power rating that is capable of charging other EV cars. The outside V2L charging port can even works when the EV is turned off. It has very fast charging capability (i.e 18 minutes to 80% capacity) for charging itself. With this very high speed self charging capability and V2L, it even can functions as a mobile on-demand power charging station, i.e Uber for EV charging. I will not be surprised that in the near future there will be third party companies offering on-demand mobile charging stations. In addition, fellow EV owners can also sell their excess power to the other EV fellow travelers who are in needs of additional charging. [1]https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/company/newsroom/hyundai-ioniq-5-redefines-electric-mobility-lifestyle-0000016626 https://www.hyundai.com/worldwide/en/company/newsroom/hyunda...