The IDEAL Electric Vehicle World

[WWJPD]

With the new Ford E Division they may be trying to avoid dealerships, but.. I would not be surprised if Automakers do not start investing in charging stations at dealerships. Basic infrastructure is there and they tend to be near major highways...

I would say 90% of dealerships around me actually have L2 chargers and some even have up to 50kW DCFC... HOWEVER, these are generally not for public use but rather to charge up the cars they are delivering to customers. Additionally, they seem blocked about 75% of the time with dealer ICE vehicles. I've seen this so much that I have put an official request into Plugshare to have a "Dealer" tag and a filter to not show them. I do not want to see a charger at Chevy dealership show up in Plugshare or Ford NAV and then not be able to use it when I only have 10% left. I'd rather filter out all dealers.

I don't think dealerships are the best answer here, but as someone else noted, 50kW chargers at restaurants like Denny's, Chili's, BWW where you can spend 1hour+. I'd like to see 150kW chargers at most rest stops. 15 minutes of hitting the bathroom and getting coffee would give you a little boost and get you 2 hours till the next rest stop.

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[RickMachE]

There must be some good weed going around...

I would say 90% of dealerships around me actually have L2 chargers and some even have up to 50kW DCFC... HOWEVER, these are generally not for public use but rather to charge up the cars they are delivering to customers. Additionally, they seem blocked about 75% of the time with dealer ICE vehicles. I've seen this so much that I have put an official request into Plugshare to have a "Dealer" tag and a filter to not show them. I do not want to see a charger at Chevy dealership show up in Plugshare or Ford NAV and then not be able to use it when I only have 10% left. I'd rather filter out all dealers.

I don't think dealerships are the best answer here, but as someone else noted, 50kW chargers at restaurants like Denny's, Chili's, BWW where you can spend 1hour+. I'd like to see 150kW chargers at most rest stops. 15 minutes of hitting the bathroom and getting coffee would give you a little boost and get you 2 hours till the next rest stop.

My dealer's chargers are almost always filled with pre-delivery or inventory cars. Not to mention that pulling into those spaces, adjacent to the entry door to Service (where everyone lines up to pull inside to be written up), and one space being parallel and one being perpendicular, they're not real accessible. Totally agree they should have a dealer tag.

On our upcoming trip, I'll be assessing our ability to make 197 miles to the first EA charger at 30 minutes in, and if we can't make it likely stopping at a Chevrolet dealer with a 25kw charger. Appears accessible with pictures on PlugShare, and free. The only faster one is 45kw and is a distance off the highway, and isn't free. Given the amount I might need, 30 minutes there and we'll be good.

 

[WheresMyCar]

I think this problem will solve itself when users realize that they pay by the minute for charging and when the car is at 80% charge the cost vs the amount of charge you get is very high.
I learned from my first charge that wait time is billed by the minute.

Are you saying you are charged by the minute and not amount of power? Or are you saying you have to pay something if your car is just hooked up but not charging?

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

.

It doesn't have to be induction based to have a charge port at every parking spot. Cables work fine.

Sure, but there's less likelihood of vandalism if it's induction. And it doesn't require any effort to charge.

 

[sborsch]

My wife and I have had several conversations about why charging locations are often not “woman friendly” due to their remote locations.

Even though we’re waiting for our MME, we’ve already been scoping out fast charging locations and I’ll say, “Up or down?” meaning is this thumbs-up-or-down as a woman friendly location or not. She’ll give me her take and it’s most often thumbs down (and she’d never stop alone at a rest area, by the way).

Just one more thing to consider when we all advocate for charger locations and, in my case, whether I want my wife or daughter to sit alone in our EV for 45 minutes to an hour charging with no one around or too far away for safety.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

My wife and I have had several conversations about why charging locations are often not “woman friendly” due to their remote locations.

Even though we’re waiting for our MME, we’ve already been scoping out fast charging locations and I’ll say, “Up or down?” meaning is this thumbs-up-or-down as a woman friendly location or not. She’ll give me her take and it’s most often thumbs down (and she’d never stop alone at a rest area, by the way).

Just one more thing to consider when we all advocate for charger locations and, in my case, whether I want my wife or daughter to sit alone in our EV for 45 minutes to an hour charging with no one around or too far away for safety.

Absolutely. My partner and I have had the same conversation as we've scoped out the charging stations along our common long routes.

There are several that aren't at all acceptable to her.

 

[dml105]

You guys are making my case!! have the charging stations at restaurants. They’ll be manned and safe and you don’t have to wait in the car.

 

[RickMachE]

Are you saying you are charged by the minute and not amount of power? Or are you saying you have to pay something if your car is just hooked up but not charging?

Some are by the kWh, some by the minute.
Most slow down at 80 or 90% charge, making the last bit possibly more expensive.
Almost all charge a penalty after the car is done if you don't move it within minutes.

 

[dml105]

Some are by the kWh, some by the minute.
Most slow down at 80 or 90% charge, making the last bit possibly more expensive.
Almost all charge a penalty after the car is done if you don't move it within minutes.

But a company with lots of space might neither need to or choose to charge an idle time fee.

 

[RickMachE]

That's what my last sentence says...

 

[dml105]

Sure, and I’m saying a restaurant may greater value its customers being in the restaurant as opposed to getting back into their cars to avoid an idle charge. They might therefore choose not to have idle charges, particularly if they have a phalanx of charge stalls so everyone with need gets one.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Sure, and I’m saying a restaurant may greater value its customers being in the restaurant as opposed to getting back into their cars to avoid an idle charge. They might therefore choose not to have idle charges, particularly if they have a phalanx of charge stalls so everyone with need gets one.

And it's not like it takes very much time to run out, move the car, and run back in.

 

[RickMachE]

Ah.

As for "manned", most employees at locations with these know bupkus about them.

 

[heisnuts]

I really think it makes sense for there to be charging stations at each highway rest stop. Those should be 150kwh or more. This should also solve the problem of unattended cars filling up chargers since other than the restroom there is nowhere to go.

I also agree it just makes sense to put chargers in malls or shopping areas where there are a lot of businesses, including several restaurants. That mitigates the chances of all of the restaurants going under at that location and it will serve to draw EV owners to that area, especially if they are close to the major freeway.

It will be interesting to see what develops over the next few years after the US government starts spending the money just allocated for EV charging infrastructure. I am sure (or at least hope) there are plans already in the works to make it happen.

 

[FLmac]

Mmmmmmm Cracker Barrel.

I could see Cracker Barrel’s adding a basic 50 amp which could be used for RVs and EVs. It could be set up as a pay at the charger and per minute. Multi functional.

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