4 ms·
I took a trip to Fairbanks in February a few years ago. I was warned to plug in the engine block heater whenever I could. There were outlets many places. Th
by jdeibele 4y ago
I took a trip to Fairbanks in February a few years ago. I was warned to plug in the engine block heater whenever I could. There were outlets many places. There was no charge for using the outlet but it was just the typical 110 volt US outlet.
If people would aim more for that kind of infrastructure - really slow but "too cheap to meter" - it would be more widespread. No need for the expensive upgrades to the electrical system, no need for cabinets with cooling systems, no internet, no computers at all.
You could put all the EV slots in one part of an apartment or shopping center parking lot, like now. It'd be nice if there was a proportional circuit breaker, so that if every EV was charging they'd get half charge instead of tripping the breaker.
- Aloha 4y agoThere is a marked difference in the needs of a block charger and an electric car - block heaters draw between 4-10a, a car charger will draw 15+ (as much power as can be supplied).
- bombcar 4y agoAnd while someone may abuse the engine block charger (I've seen someone plug in a mobile phone to one) the total cost is minuscule and not worth metering. Not so for actual electric cars (you can plug one into a block charger but you won't get that many miles per hour) - especially on high-speed chargers that are 220 or 440 and many amps.
- dsfyu404ed 4y agoYou also don't "need" a block heater for a modern (last 40yr) spark ignited gasoline engine in good repair anywhere on earth. It's just a "nice to have".
- alliao 4y agoa lot of street lamps had a socket in London; but then they're on 230v 10A. with 110v 10A in colder areas it's probably just enough to keep the battery pack warm...