DCFC in America - it’s falling apart

[pr0t0c0l_dr01d]

It’s amazing how often these stories align with my own concerns. I was just telling my wife yesterday that we are heading for a real crisis with fast charging. Everything is being done wrong, even by Tesla.

These stations need to be built like gas stations.

1. Everything needs to be payable with a simple credit card, no goddamned apps or subscriptions required.
2. The charging stations need to be built in such a way that a clear queue can be formed when there is congestion. If there is no clear way to line up first come, first served, there will be fistfights at the charging stations.
3. The DCFC stations should be at rest stops on the interstate.
4. More cars absolutely need to start rolling off the line with 800V, 350kw capability in large numbers.
5. LOCAL authorities/regulators must inspect and certify stations and hold accountable any suppliers that are not keeping their chargers in good working order. Inoperative charging stations are a SAFETY ISSUE. Imagine having a tired family with you at night and getting stranded in the middle of nowhere.
6. There need to be enough of these fast chargers spaced along the interstates that nobody NEEDS to use ABRP or plugshare to be assured they will come upon a charging station in time.

If we as a nation don’t get our heads screwed on right, EV adoption will hit a political brick wall. This community clearly believes EV adoption is in the public good. Not everyone agrees - if the wrong people take power in Washington then they will do whatever they can to kill this movement.

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[SWO]

The fact that he has a Plaid and Rivian and kept his Model 3 Performance... that's a man rolling in money

His Winnebago (?) probably cost more than both of those...and he bought the E-Tron too.

 

[barryvo]

I guess it depends where you live and go. I live in Las Vegas and travel to Southern CA with no issues other than an occasional wait to charge. I'm barely at the charger and it is time to go.

I ordered a MME 18 plus months ago and get jacked around. I ended up with a different EV and have had great success charging. It actually just arrived on 8/6 and my dealership was happy to have it to sell.

Things will get better in time and are pretty good now in some locations.

 

[SMann40544]

Honestly, Kyle needs an editor. I don't have enough time in my day to spend 90 minutes on each of his videos.

SOooo true!

 

[dbsb3233]

Watching this video and I guess the YouTube money must be good cause Kyle is able to afford to build his own 350kw DCFC station for his own use?

I'll be curious to see if he gives an approximate cost.

 

[silverelan]

I think the answer is simple:

1. No more free charging! This benefit needs to end to keep people from using it as their sole charging location.
2. Tesla CCS expansion will do a lot to help as well

its free to the user but the OEMs are paying the bills. I would think EA and EVgo have no problem sending a monthly invoice to Hyundai, Porsche, Polestar, Lucid, etc for charges racked up by owners.

 

[TonyaE]

I doubt N. Carolina has a plan. They have plans to destroy all EV stations. What a trash state.

I’m so ashamed and absolutely agree with you. My state is lead by idiots.

 

[TonyaE]

I don't believe that is accurate, but if you have a source, please share.

I travel to NC frequently, and have a house in the Outer Banks. It is a very nice state. Not trash at all.

It was proposed to get rid of all free stations if gas wasn’t free as well. I don’t think it went anywhere. Very Sad.

 

[Mopey]

I've read 8 of the state plans... skimmed a few more. Your take-aways may be different.

This investment is a good thing, but I don't feel optimistic that charging will be quick and widely available any time soon after going through the plans.

A few things I learned:

• It will take ~2 years before most states do enough for us to notice chargers popping up.
  • plan
  • get cash
  • build an org
  • hand out cash
  • build something

• • 
    Your lessons learned inadvertently highlights the point of this thread. You left off:
    • maintain
    • repair as necessary.

 

[Guss-E 2021]

Hour and a half video FYI ? But every auto maker building BEVs and everyone involved with charging infrastructure (private and especially government) NEEDS to watch that video!

 

[mkhuffman]

Are you employed by the government? If not, get over it. It’s a perk of working at that particular employer. Further, your anger is misdirected, your complaint is with cars not charging at charging spots. Talk to the employees involved or the managers above your level.

You are correct: I am angry at people who leave cars that are not charging in a space that is designated for charging. And these free chargers at my office are provided by the owner of the garage, not my company. If it were my company, we would fix that problem for sure.

The bill does away with free public chargers. Which have been put in place to assist in the adoption of a "new" technology. I know around me, some places put them in their shopping and restaurant area to entice patronage of local businesses. Instead of charging in an empty lot off the highway, they would rather people come to the downtown, plug in, and while they are waiting get a bite to eat or do some shopping. People in ICE cars generally just gas and go. So there is a public benefit reason. And the government does all sorts of things that benefit some people and not others. Would you advocate that people without kids shouldn't pay taxes for schools? Or that I have owned my house for 18+ years and never needed the fire department, so I shouldn't have to pay that portion of my taxes? Crop subsidies for foods I don't eat?
The bill would also address businesses that install free chargers on their own properties to entice ev owners to visit their establishment. Weird I thought the GOP was big on "let businesses do what they want"?

If cars are sitting there not charging, that typically isn't due to it being free or pay. But certainly, free can make a charger more popular for actual charging of course.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a40543385/north-carolina-wants-remove-free-public-ev-chargers/

You have not read the bill. The bill does not do away with free public chargers, unless the chargers are paid for with taxpayer money. You may be fine with our taxes being used to provide free electricity, that is fine. I am not.

A business, on the other hand, should be free to do whatever they want with their resources. The bill requires businesses to tell their customers how much they are each paying for that free electricity. While I don't agree with that part of the bill, it is not outlawing or doing away with the chargers.

If people had to pay idle fees for leaving their cars fully charged in a charging space, they would stop. For sure. So taking away free charging would open up more capacity, for sure.

 

[mkhuffman]

It was proposed to get rid of all free stations if gas wasn’t free as well. I don’t think it went anywhere. Very Sad.

Actually, that is not what the bill says. Only chargers made free with taxpayer money are to be removed.

 

[TonyaE]

Actually, that is not what the bill says. Only chargers made free with taxpayer money are to be removed.

It’s been a while since I read it. If that’s the case, carry on.?

 

[AZBill]

Hour and a half video FYI ? But every auto maker building BEVs and everyone involved with charging infrastructure (private and especially government) NEEDS to watch that video!

GM has partnered with EVGO and they are directly funding them. And, unlike Rivian, it is open to all EVs. This was put in place prior to the infrastructure bill.

 

[Guss-E 2021]

GM has partnered with EVGO and they are directly funding them. And, unlike Rivian, it is open to all EVs. This was put in place prior to the infrastructure bill.

I did read about that. Hmm, maybe "they" are listening. I also thought I read once that VW shoved some employees into an ID4 and said, "Now go drive across the country" (US). Would be nice if the EV and EV charging powers that be still did stuff like that.

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