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When I wrote about Tesla's rapid expansion of its supercharger network, I was equally surprised by the extent of its less publicly touted network of "destination chargers"—slower, "Level 2" chargers that it is distributing to hotels, malls, restaurants and other locations so folks can charge while they shop/eat/sleep, and thus relieve some pressure from the faster superchargers which folks use for longer distance road tripping.
It got me thinking about another network of charging infrastructure which folks often don't talk about: The Level 2 chargers which most of us electric vehicle drivers install in our homes and—sometimes—places of business. These chargers don't just enable our own electrified driving, but they also provide some peace of mind to any friends and relatives who may consider driving electric, and who can now be sure of a charge if they come for a visit.
In fact, I've noticed several private charging station owners—especially businesses—in my region are publicly listing their charging stations on the various apps that are available for locating charging spots. Interestingly, this isn't just limited to restaurants or shops offering charging as a perk for your business: We have real estate companies and industrial operations simply offering up their charge points as a free service to the electric vehicle community. (Often, they'll stipulate—quite reasonably—that their own vehicles get first dibs.)
Is a network of free- or metered Tier 2 charging stations the solution to EV range anxiety?
(Score: 5, Insightful) by VLM on Wednesday June 21 2017, @01:54PM (2 children)
I was basing it on historical analogy with old fashioned payphones. The odds of a payphone not being vandalized, defaced, spray painted, inoperative, peed on, whatever is pretty high at the little old white ladies arts and crafts store out in the burbs. Inner city hood area, not so good odds.
Its a class thing. If there's graffiti and the sidewalks are covered in used needles and smashed bottles and trash is blowing around in the wind the predicted lifetime of a charger will be very low compared to a burb where the police and homeowners association shoot to kill if you don't mow your lawn twice a week or if you place unapproved species of decorative flower in a flower pot. The charger at the byper-trendy organic free trade fro-yo store is more likely to work than the charger between the payday loan store and the dollar store.
(Score: 2) by coolgopher on Wednesday June 21 2017, @09:52PM
Fair point.
(Score: 2) by mojo chan on Thursday June 22 2017, @08:39AM
How does other street furniture survive in such areas? Things like street lighting, fire hydrants, parking meters, seating, bus stops, traffic calming measures, road signs etc.
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