Charging Stations Are An Issue In Many Cities

[bagsofcole]

I live in the Tampa Fl area and have driven 4 different EVs (3 brands) back and forth to North Georgia about 50 times, about 550 miles. As a previous poster said, between the apps and built in software, it’s nothing to worry about. I’ve rolled into a few chargers under 5%, a few times even lower. I’m guessing the Slate won’t have any route planning in vehicle but the Slate app (assuming it has one) will. It does take a moment to plan the night before. If you think you will have a high mileage day, bump it up to 100% the night before. Most charger and vehicle software can be programmed to hit x% at y time so the battery isn’t at full SoC for too long.
In my town, and the towns between here and N Ga, chargers are starting at gas stations. I’m sure there are still “islands” out there where there aren’t a plethora of chargers but the Slate isn’t being marketed as a road trip truck. For me it seems like the perfect around town gofer truck. Go for groceries, home improvement projects, used stuff on your favorite yard sale app. ABRP and PlugShare apps are your friends.

 

[ezjob]

All I'm saying is, if you have several chargers in and around your area then charging isn't something I'd worry about.

But when you are new to EV's and the Battery Percentage drops much faster below 20 percent (depending on your speed) you will get nervous about making it to the charger when it's 35 miles or more away. I know. I did.

 

[bartflossom]

Charging stations need to be at GAS STATIONS so we can charge vehicles without having to drive 30 miles to the nearest charger.

Is there a movement to get EV charging stations scattered across all cities instead of just ONE place in town that's out of the way?

Walmart is going all in and will be quite successful at it in my opinion. This guy is documenting it in his youtube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@TheArkansaseTraveler

 

[bartflossom]

This guy has good stuff too. https://www.youtube.com/@StateOfChargeWithTomMoloughney

 

[beatle]

Unless I'm going on an overnight road trip, I find that I very rarely drive more than 100 miles in a day. I can't think of a single time I've ever needed to charge at a station near my house.

Driving aimlessly/unpredictably in an EV is a good way to unpredictably have less range than you need. It is not a big deal to charge at home and leave with a nearly full battery every day. Much more convenient than having to stop at gas stations periodically.

The original post reads more like FUD than anything else. This really isn't a thing that happens.

 

[adele]

Also, if you’re having to go 30-45 miles out of your way to the nearest charging spot, that entails that you’re more than 30 miles from home. That’s not what I would consider “just to use locally”.

Personally I have never in my life ~just wound up~ more than 30 miles from home when I’m not on a pre-planned road trip.

 

[atx_ev]

Sure, charging isn't as convenient as filling up a tank with petroleum products. I'm not sure that's Slate's problem to solve (or blame for) though. Isn't that more of an open market kind of thing?

For in town daily charging, it is much more convenient to charge your car at home daily and never have to go to a gas station.

 

[AmatuerX]

I've taken my Tesla on many road trips (Chattanooga, Boston, Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago). I've never been worried about making it to the next stop, as my car will warn me if there's a chance I won't.

I can understand the anxiety of not having chargers around the area you're in. I live outside Detroit, but whenever I go to the UP, I never drive the Tesla. As you can see in the photo, chargers are few and far between. It's fine if you are traveling to one of those cities, but most times, you're driving right thru the middle (and there's nuthin', I mean, nuthin' in the middle of the UP.)

All that to say, have a plan. Of the 8yrs I've owned an EV, I always have a plan - even if it's just "go to work, and come home, maybe groceries after." And frankly, I doubt the Slate will even be comfortable enough for sustained driving (i.e. road trip).

 

[Shrink36s]

... And frankly, I doubt the Slate will even be comfortable enough for sustained driving (i.e. road trip).

This is something I'm really curious about. I'm not comfortable in most vehicles for a sustained drive. Being tall has it's drawbacks.

 

[ezjob]

Walmart is going all in and will be quite successful at it in my opinion. This guy is documenting it in his youtube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/@TheArkansaseTraveler

Thank you for sharing. I’m glad to know this.

 

[sodamo]

Closest gas station to me is about 5 miles in one direction (more expensive), 20 miles to other directions. I could say I never plan gas stops but in reality that would not be true. Truth is, I ALWAYS check the tank level every time I drive and decide when I will likely top off. Of course I don’t get too serious unless less than 1/4 tank. I’m sure I’ll modify thinking for my Slate, but fully intend to do all my charging at home Unless emergency.

 

[2thlesswithta2s]

For in town daily charging, it is much more convenient to charge your car at home daily and never have to go to a gas station.

And it's much cheaper. I currently have a plug-in hybrid & it's 50-70% cheaper to drive electric with the home charger than to fill with gas. This comparison is based on actual miles driven. This will vary as gas prices & electricity rates fluctuate, but home charging is the clear winner & it's convenient.

Getting your electricity from a public charger is probably more expensive than charging at home; they need to make a profit & it's probably a hefty one. My understanding is that you can pre-buy credits at a discount

 

[Kopsis]

I can understand the anxiety of not having chargers around the area you're in.

Yes, it's too easy for people on both ends of the country to dismiss this concern. The charging situation in the middle is not the same. Here in southern AZ, once you get outside Phoenix or Tucson, chargers can be few and far between. There are some at strategic location along major travel arteries, but in rural parts of the state, it's a different story. If I wanted to drive from Tucson to Organ Pipe Cactus Nat'l Monument, it's a roughly 250 mi round trip with no NACS or CCS1 charging anywhere on the route. I could go 30 miles out of my way and find two J-1772 plugs that would let me charge at 6 kW (roughly 10% per hour) assuming they're available and working, but with no viable plan-B that would be mighty risky. It's not specifically a Slate problem, but if you're considering a Slate (especially standard range), it's worth your time to get on plugshare.com and do some homework.

 

[Revenant89]

I never use public charging unless on a road trip. There seem to be plenty of options in Texas. A bigger issue to me is cost.. Even with high gas prices public charging is just as expensive if not more so than gas. In my area electricity is fairly cheap so the public charging cost seems absurd.. even for level 2.

 

[NMNeil]

Charging stations need to be at GAS STATIONS so we can charge vehicles without having to drive 30 miles to the nearest charger.

Is there a movement to get EV charging stations scattered across all cities instead of just ONE place in town that's out of the way?

The gas stations are owned by big oil and the last thing they would do is encourage the growth in EV's.
Surprisingly our local McDonald's has chargers and it's to encourage you to go inside while the car charges.
In Europe and the UK many supermarkets have them with the same profit driven logic.
https://www.pveurope.eu/e-mobility/...arging-station-attracts-supermarket-customers