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Specifically, the author's worried there aren't enough charging stations to travel all around the state of California. I know there's efforts to build more cha

Specifically, the author's worried there aren't enough charging stations to travel all around the state of California. I know there's efforts to build more charging stations, so that may improve somewhat. But my question is how do you charge an electric car if you live in a small apartment building? If we're all going to drive electric cars in the future, we're going to need viable ways for everybody to charge them.

OnionBlender 4y ago
My apartment building has charging parking spots but they cost an additional $50 per month, which is more than the money I would save on gas.
- barbazoo 4y ago
  I'd probably still do it. It's not just about money and these cost will probably get cheaper in the future.
  - cinntaile 4y ago
    For most people it is just about the money.
  - tomatocracy 4y ago
    Presumably the chargers are owned by a private company. Why would they lower their charges in future?
    - barbazoo 4y ago
      Competition, I'd assume as more and more chargers become available, their price will reduce.
      - tomatocracy 4y ago
        But competition within an apartment building car park will be limited - I'd assume there is only a single supplier today and it wouldn't be economically viable for a second supplier to build on top so it's a quasi-monopoly. If the building owners are alive to this then they would probably have negotiated a price cap of some form in the contract but I'd be surprised if theres any incentive to cut prices.
- mixmastamyk 4y ago
  Time spent at gas stations should be factored. One half hour per month would roughly equal that. Not to mention one less thing to worry about.
borski 4y ago
I’m on a road trip right now from Cupertino to San Diego and back, and have made this trip three times; have yet to have an issue charging. Moreover, in the Lucid, I only have to charge once (maybe twice, if it’s convenient) to make the trip.
linguae 4y ago
Indeed. I ultimately ended up purchasing a Toyota Mirai (a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle) for this reason; my apartment has no charging units and my landlord has no plans to install them. There is public charging about an eight minute walk away from me, however, which I did consider when evaluating my car purchase options last summer.
- iknowstuff 4y ago
  Wow a Mirai owner in the wild. Hydrogen cars are hilarious! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5lUkOHnjLsM https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5lUkOHnjLsM
- weebull 4y ago
  You were worried about electric charging infrastructure, and so bought a hydrogen car instead. I'm speechless.
  - linguae 4y ago
    It’s actually working out; my job is located near hydrogen fuel stations, and while there were hiccups with the supply back in December and January, I’ve had no problems refueling my car since. Refueling takes about five minutes, compared to 30 minutes when using a fast charger with a battery-backed EV. Another thing that helps is Toyota has been subsidizing fuel costs for purchasers of new and certified used Mirais; I have a $15,000 fuel card valid for up to six years after purchase, though I anticipate the card running out of money well before then unless hydrogen prices drop substantially. Yes, long-distance drives that are outside the limited refueling network are out of the question, but Toyota provides 21 days of complimentary car rentals for owners of new Mirai models. So far I enjoy my Mirai. While I wish hydrogen prices were cheaper (prices went from a maximum of $19.70/kg in November to $26.75/kg in January and have remained at that level since), the Mirai is the best car I’ve driven in terms of its drive feel, comfort, and technology; it’s a dramatic upgrade from the Toyota Prius c I used to own, and I even prefer it to the Subaru BRZ I had years ago.

OnionBlender 4y ago

My apartment building has charging parking spots but they cost an additional $50 per month, which is more than the money I would save on gas.

barbazoo 4y ago
I'd probably still do it. It's not just about money and these cost will probably get cheaper in the future.
- cinntaile 4y ago
  For most people it is just about the money.
- tomatocracy 4y ago
  Presumably the chargers are owned by a private company. Why would they lower their charges in future?
  - barbazoo 4y ago
    Competition, I'd assume as more and more chargers become available, their price will reduce.
    - tomatocracy 4y ago
      But competition within an apartment building car park will be limited - I'd assume there is only a single supplier today and it wouldn't be economically viable for a second supplier to build on top so it's a quasi-monopoly. If the building owners are alive to this then they would probably have negotiated a price cap of some form in the contract but I'd be surprised if theres any incentive to cut prices.
mixmastamyk 4y ago
Time spent at gas stations should be factored. One half hour per month would roughly equal that. Not to mention one less thing to worry about.

borski 4y ago

I’m on a road trip right now from Cupertino to San Diego and back, and have made this trip three times; have yet to have an issue charging. Moreover, in the Lucid, I only have to charge once (maybe twice, if it’s convenient) to make the trip.

linguae 4y ago

Indeed. I ultimately ended up purchasing a Toyota Mirai (a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle) for this reason; my apartment has no charging units and my landlord has no plans to install them. There is public charging about an eight minute walk away from me, however, which I did consider when evaluating my car purchase options last summer.

iknowstuff 4y ago
Wow a Mirai owner in the wild. Hydrogen cars are hilarious! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5lUkOHnjLsM https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5lUkOHnjLsM
weebull 4y ago
You were worried about electric charging infrastructure, and so bought a hydrogen car instead. I'm speechless.
- linguae 4y ago
  It’s actually working out; my job is located near hydrogen fuel stations, and while there were hiccups with the supply back in December and January, I’ve had no problems refueling my car since. Refueling takes about five minutes, compared to 30 minutes when using a fast charger with a battery-backed EV. Another thing that helps is Toyota has been subsidizing fuel costs for purchasers of new and certified used Mirais; I have a $15,000 fuel card valid for up to six years after purchase, though I anticipate the card running out of money well before then unless hydrogen prices drop substantially. Yes, long-distance drives that are outside the limited refueling network are out of the question, but Toyota provides 21 days of complimentary car rentals for owners of new Mirai models. So far I enjoy my Mirai. While I wish hydrogen prices were cheaper (prices went from a maximum of $19.70/kg in November to $26.75/kg in January and have remained at that level since), the Mirai is the best car I’ve driven in terms of its drive feel, comfort, and technology; it’s a dramatic upgrade from the Toyota Prius c I used to own, and I even prefer it to the Subaru BRZ I had years ago.