Here’s why electric vehicle charging stations may not be as convenient as gas stations anytime soon
One of the biggest obstacles to mass EV adoption is that charging an electric car isn’t as convenient as filling it up with gas. And charging the battery may not meet that level of convenience anytime soon.
The Alliance for Automotive Innovation (AAI) has released a policy roadmap earlier this month, but the team’s proposals do not fully address current charging issues, as detailed in a News E&E blog post.
For starters, charging stations often don’t display clear prices. You won’t find indications of a specific price, such as you get at gas pumps, at most charging stations. AAI has proposed that federal funding for new charging stations depend on cost-per-kwh, but most consumers aren’t familiar with that metric. News E&E shown.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV at EVgo . fast charging station
Many tollgates also do not accept credit cards, often requiring drivers to create an account with the station operator. Previously, this meant that motorists had to always have a collection of cards and fobs on hand to use the various charging stations. That has been streamlined by apps, and AAI supports universal credit card acceptance.
AAI also proposes requiring toll stations to be open 24/7 to receive federal funding, but E&E Note that many gas stations do not stay open all night. It should be noted that, while gas stations tend to be located on dedicated sites, charging stations that are often co-located with other businesses may not be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
This model can demonstrate more convenient than the gas station model, as it allows drivers to shop or eat while their car is charging. But it also means that, even if the toll stations are located fairly close to the highway, it can still take a bit of searching to find them. Find a suitable location That’s close to power, and having enough room for lots of parking can be tricky, Electrify America has noted.
Porsche electric vehicle charging station
Toll sites will also soon need more space to accommodate trailers. That’s a problem since the driver started towing with the Tesla Model X, and it becomes more relevant than ever as a range of electric pickups hit the market.
While the number of public toll stations has grown considerably, charging deserts still exist, especially in urban areas. Much attention has been paid to enabling EV road trips, but lacks urban charging may interfere with tram ride, has the potential to reduce emissions and improve air quality in densely populated areas.
Comparisons with gas stations are certainly not immune to some problems specific to toll infrastructure, but they are relevant to some extent. Some gas stations added EV charging, with the intended shell to install 50,000 charging stations from its subsidiary Ubitricity by 2025.
