Reply from Electrify America

[dbsb3233]

It would be so much easier, but it's probably something to do with states granting them access.

Given my last trip, I'm starting to think that Walmart somehow got EA to put them on their properties with a really good deal. Literally one at every stop. I don't know if I've walked into their stores three or four times in a day anytime in my life like I did during that trip. ?

Putting EA chargers in shopping/restaurant spots next to the highway (often shopping centers with a Walmart or Target) makes a lot of sense. It's a very different dynamic than gas stations, since refueling gas takes just a couple of minutes, while DCFC charging usually takes half an hour+. Having something useful there to double-dip that wasted time makes it a lot more palatable.

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[MachMeNow]

Watch it Buddy! The Pumpkin Festival IS a big deal and a lot of fun for the kids. All three of my grandchildren love it and my two grandsons worked at booths as Cub/Boy Scouts.

Don't get me wrong, I agree - it is a Big deal. Was just trying to tease a bit, seeing how that's where I spent my grade school years.

Watched Biden's pitch today for his $2.3 trillion dollar infrastructure plan . If he can get it through it includes building 500,000 electric-vehicle charging stations. That would be a great start.

 

[dbsb3233]

Less time, yes. How much less is yet to be seen. And that will determine whether DCFC refueling will be able to follow the same dynamic as gas refueling (2-4 minute stops rather than a lengthy babysitting process).

If/when it gets to the point where it doesn't waste much time, then the location dynamic shifts closer to what we have now with gas. But until then, it's quite different.

 

[jparduhn70]

Putting EA chargers in shopping/restaurant spots next to the highway (often shopping centers with a Walmart or Target) makes a lot of sense. It's a very different dynamic than gas stations, since refueling gas takes just a couple of minutes, while DCFC charging usually takes half an hour+. Having something useful there to double-dip that wasted time makes it a lot more palatable.

It makes perfect sense to put DCFC next to retail and restaurants, I just look forward to a little more diversity in those establishments. I can only go to Walmart so many times in one day on a trip.

 

[GoGoGadgetMachE]

It makes perfect sense to put DCFC next to retail and restaurants, I just look forward to a little more diversity in those establishments. I can only go to Walmart so many times in one day on a trip.

well one trip you can use the Subway and one you can get your nails done and one you can get a haircut and one you can buy groceries for the trip... (assuming the Walrmarts are like the newer Super ones by me anyway) ?

 

[jparduhn70]

well one trip you can use the Subway and one you can get your nails done and one you can get a haircut and one you can buy groceries for the trip... (assuming the Walrmarts are like the newer Super ones by me anyway) ?

I could always use a manicure. Do they take walk-ins? lol

 

[GoGoGadgetMachE]

I could always use a manicure. Do they take walk-ins? lol

I think so. ?

 

[dbsb3233]

It makes perfect sense to put DCFC next to retail and restaurants, I just look forward to a little more diversity in those establishments. I can only go to Walmart so many times in one day on a trip.

True. Although commonly Walmarts and Targets are just the hubs of a shopping center, with restaurants and other stores there too. The department store is often just the one that provides space in their large lots.

More often than not I don't expect to actually go in the Walmart, but rather the Chili's or Freddy's that share the same lot.

 

[GoGoGadgetMachE]

True. Although commonly Walmarts and Targets are just the hubs of a shopping center, with restaurants and other stores there too. The department store is often just the one that provides space in their large lots.

More often than not I don't expect to actually go in the Walmart, but rather the Chili's or Freddy's that share the same lot.

it's a little known fact that the video game "Five Nights at Freddy's" was inspired by a slow charger at a Freddy's parking lot and an EV starting at 0%. (*)

(*) very likely not true

 

[dbsb3233]

800v should charge twice as fast, I'd agree. But just twice as fast still leaves it well short of gas time and well into "babysit" time, IMO. Definitely an improvement over 30-45 minute DCFC charges, but still long enough to not be a "pop in to fill up in a couple of minutes" thing like gas.

But it's all relative. While it may improve even more than that, DCFC on BEVs will likely always be a time-killing exercise that people will be looking to avoid. And when it is necessary, they'll look to double-dip that time with something else useful nextdoor. I still think "park it & forget it" L2 is the way to go for 95% of charging (homes, apartments, condos, workplaces), rather than gas station-like refuel stops (except on the road for distance driving).

 

[BadgerGreg]

Don't forget, there are rumors that Tesla is going to start opening up superchargers to non-Tesla EVs

That would be welcome news - of course, we would be welcomed with mean stares from the Tesla owners every time we plugged in

 

[JoeDimwit]

Yup, but I can dream that they really WILL look at the area I proposed. There are no fast chargers in that area of the state and I-88 is busy east and westbound. There is a large DeKalb Oasis that both directions of traffic can utilize as it's in the center of the tollway. Right now there is a gasoline station, clean and available rest rooms and a food court. It's open 24/7. If you look at today's news it says Biden is going to make a big push for the nation to go electric with cars and that means building a lot of charging stations.

I would like to see ALL rest areas/travel oasis’s have multiple fast chargers.

that said, Illinois seems like a perfect place to start something like that because most oasis’s are accessible from both traffic directions. That means fewer chargers needed to serve double the potential demand.

you may want to also send a note to your state and federal representatives to try to get them onboard with the idea of donating space and infrastructure as needed.

 

[JoeDimwit]

There are other holes. I would like to see them work towards cover traveling rather than around urban areas. Most urban areas are well covered. it would be nice if there was a fast charger every 150 miles or so along all interstates. in some areas there is a fast charger every few miles

Clearly, all the gaps need to be filled. Fast chargers need to be as prevalent as gas stations are. Not just in urban/suburban areas, but also in rural areas

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