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I strongly believe that charging stations need to become entertainment complexes, particularly if you're going to have them on highways. You have a captive audi
by Invisible-Hand 5y ago
I strongly believe that charging stations need to become entertainment complexes, particularly if you're going to have them on highways. You have a captive audience for however long it takes to "fill up" an electric car, you need to offer services to fill the time/make profit off of the customers while they're there. Get people loyal to your brand, your specific offerings of entertainment while you wait for your car to charge. Until we see those sort of things pop up to deal with the fill up time relative shortcoming of electric cars on long trips, I don't think electric cars will have truly "made it".
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- bhauer 5y agoOn long road trips, the ~20 to ~25 minute stops for charging go by in a blink. You get out, stretch your legs, hydrate, maybe grab a bite to eat, use the restroom, and before you know it the charging is done. Sure, some stations like the Kettleman City Supercharger have a coffee bar and some other accoutrements, but you're not really there long enough to enjoy more than a quick walk through. You could fire up Netflix on the car's screen, but most Netflix shows are longer than a charging session. Maybe a future Quibi clone will find a new home in the Tesla app store.
- toomuchtodo 5y agoSometimes the charge is faster than our break, and I have to move the car from the Supercharger stall before idle fees kick in. Annoying in a good way.
- Gibbon1 5y agoOn trips I used to time stops for future reference. It's surprising how long they take. Sure you can gas up a car in 5 minutes. But in practice it's usually a lot longer. 15 to 20 minutes is more common. For food, 30-45 minutes. Sit down dinner is often an hour and a half.
- dylan604 5y agoSounds like you just described places like Buc-ees.
- neverartful 5y agoI disagree. Buc-ees wants people to stop, buy gas, buy food and drink, restroom stop, maybe buy a souvenir and then be on their way. If Buc-ees wanted people to hang out and make themselves comfortable they would have tables and chairs for people to sit and eat the food that they bought. They have no chairs meant for customer sitting -- only some to buy and take with you.
- dylan604 5y agoThat's not been my experience at all. Every Buc-ees I've been to has a seating section of tables meant for this very thing. This section is located near where they are selling sandwhiches, ice cream, etc, and opposite where the store section is located. Maybe these are newer stores than the ones you've visited?
- Nicholas_C 5y agoI’ve been to ~10 Buc-ees (although I prefer mom and pop places like Hruska’s/Czech Stop) and I don’t think I’ve ever noticed seating.
- dylan604 5y agoIf you pass up Czech Stop for a Buc-ees, you should be tried for treason. At the least, driven to the border and asked not to come back.
- burlesona 5y agoYeah I was thinking this too. It’s not the “chill and sip a coffee” experience, but for a stretch break on a long highway trip, Buc-ees is perfect. Interesting food, weird shopping, high quality people watching. Good place to walk around for 15-20 minutes (within the context of being on the side of a major highway).
- tomjen3 5y agoThe people I know who own electric cars can sit in them and watch a movie while it charges. That is not much of a captive audience.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- paxys 5y agoThe pattern I see emerging is that people prefer to make more frequent 15-20 minute stops along the way rather than stop for a "full charge". That's enough to stretch your legs, use the restroom, buy snacks. Not very different from gas stops today.