Environment & Energy

Caribbeans

(1,038 posts) Mon Aug 26, 2024, 12:56 AM Aug 2024

The Southern California EV Charging Problem!

(Out of Spec Reviews) - Kyle, Jordan, and Coleton are realizing first-hand how rough the public charging landscape can be in the Los Angeles area. A majority of charging locations have messy queues, broken hardware, and disgruntled owners. What's the solve??

Waiting ~45 minutes to get your own car charged may not seem like very much (at least the first few months...) - until you get to the only charger in range and there are 5 or 6 cars waiting in line. DCFC? That will cost more if/when it works (and degrade the battery faster). And you can't just install them anywhere, the lines that feed the DCFC chargers will usually have to be upgraded ($20 - $50,000+. Who should pay?).

Level 2 charging costs about 30 cents per kWh. DC fast charging is significantly more expensive, costing roughly 40 cents per kWh. (75kWh to charge most Teslas @.40 = $30)

Then there's this:

So, Charge at home! (Except what about those without a home?) Or your apartment/condo. Talk about lines.

5 replies

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The Southern California EV Charging Problem! (Original Post) Caribbeans Aug 2024 OP

This must be causing buyer remorse and/or second thoughts about buying and EV. brush Aug 2024 #1

Yeah, rightwing criminalty is a problem in MANY aspects of daily life. Think. Again. Aug 2024 #3

Plug-in hybrid maybe. But conventional (i.e. non-plug-in) hybrid -- 100% of its energy comes from fossil fuel progree Aug 2024 #4

The EV charging industry is still in it's infancy... Think. Again. Aug 2024 #2

I used Tesla SuperChargers for 2 weeks until my home charging station came online Finishline42 Aug 2024 #5

brush

(58,034 posts)

1. This must be causing buyer remorse and/or second thoughts about buying and EV.

Reply to Caribbeans (Original post)

Mon Aug 26, 2024, 02:48 AM

Aug 2024

Hybrid is probably the way to go.

Also, nobody's cutting gas station hoses.

Think. Again.

(19,096 posts)

3. Yeah, rightwing criminalty is a problem in MANY aspects of daily life.

Reply to brush (Reply #1)

Mon Aug 26, 2024, 04:29 AM

Aug 2024

Once the fossil fuel industry stops paying rightwing influencers and politicians to wage this war against EV's, this war against EV's will stop.

progree

(11,463 posts)

4. Plug-in hybrid maybe. But conventional (i.e. non-plug-in) hybrid -- 100% of its energy comes from fossil fuel

Reply to brush (Reply #1)

Mon Aug 26, 2024, 06:50 AM

Aug 2024

namely gasoline or diesel. Yes, they are somewhat more efficient than their ICE counterparts, about 40% more on average per Consumer Reports. This is a considerable improvement, but it isn't a pathway to anything near zero GHG emissions or carbon neutrality.

From the cost standpoint, they cost more up front and have higher maintenance costs (compared to plain old ICE) because they have two drive trains - the conventional ICE gasoline one and the electric one.

re:

Hybrid is probably the way to go.

Think. Again.

(19,096 posts)

2. The EV charging industry is still in it's infancy...

Reply to Caribbeans (Original post)

Mon Aug 26, 2024, 04:24 AM

Aug 2024

Not everyone in America could fill a gas tank until they actually built a gas station on every street corner, either.

Finishline42

(1,117 posts)

5. I used Tesla SuperChargers for 2 weeks until my home charging station came online

Reply to Caribbeans (Original post)

Mon Aug 26, 2024, 05:57 PM

Aug 2024

I used them when I went on a 930 mile trip to Florida. A couple of times other than that.

I don't think it makes sense to own an EV without being able to charge either at home or at work. Locally it costs $0.37 kWh at a Tesla Supercharger and $0.11 kWh at home.

Tesla also has people that service their equipment on a regular basis. Don't know about the other charging networks.

The reason Ford changed to the Tesla plug was because CEO Farley went on a trip in a F-150 Lightning and had loads of trouble getting it charged.

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