It was actually related to Tesla because I was mentioning how I've seen Tesla's use Electrify America for charging. But now that it's moved...let's talk about charging stations. Better than a gas station, nowhere near as crowded. You pull into the parking spot, plug in and use the app to start the charging cycle. Since it's in a shopping center, you run into the grocery store, grab some lunch at one of the restaurants, or go to either one of the coffee shops or the Tea shop (bubble tea is very popular in the Bay area). By the time you are back to your car, it's usually almost charged. Or you can just put on some tunes and lean back in your seat for 20 to 30 minutes while you "fill-up"

 

The only issue with EA across the nation is that its always always always at a damn Walmart.

I'd rather the charger be placed in shopping areas with decent places to eat.

 

Also commonly at Targets near me.

 

Here in the Bay area they are either in regular shopping centers, some are at Walmarts, but the Walmarts here usually share with shopping centers, so there are restaurants, coffee and Tea shops as well. The one in Fremont I sometimes use also has a Dollar Tree!

 

Thats funny because most of the Targets in California have Superchargers. There is one EA next to a target that I visit but it seems Walmart and them have a relationship. In California, there is sufficient 3rd party chargers to own other EVs besides Tesla. I'm seeing more Polestar 2s around the neighborhood too. Its noticeable because its new and you rarely see them

 

Yep, ran into two this week, both on the same day. One was pulling into EA as I was leaving, and one was directly behind me later that day. I'm really happy I made the choice and leased one. No regrets...and the free EA fast charging is the icing on the cake!

 

that thread is not all things Tesla, it's about the PLAID, and yours and follow up posts are about chargers that can be used with any Tesla, thus shouldn't be in the PLAID thread. thanks.

 

Yep, got it!

 

Actually sitting in Target parking lot (EA) getting a free 30 minute top off.
Didn’t need it but what the heck.
Won’t need to plug in tonight.

 

I'm going to wait till I get down to about 20 percent, which will be almost 2 weeks. I've found that the lower you let your battery go down, the higher the charging speeds. In other words, if I want to charge from 70 to 90 percent, it takes roughly the same amount of time to charge from 20% to 80%...30 to 35 minutes. I can just top off from home while I sleep with a slow charge

 

2 weeks? so you barely drive it?

 

I drive it everyday, but about 11 miles a day for work, weekends maybe another 20 miles unless we are invited somewhere. Two weeks is an exaggeration, it probably takes anywhere from 9 to 12 days to reach 20 percent

 

VW’s Electrify America unveils new ‘human-centered’ EV charging stations

Gas station meets Sky Club Lounge
By Andrew J. Hawkins@andyjayhawk Mar 24, 2022, 10:00am EDT



Electrify America, the electric vehicle charging company that’s a subsidiary of Volkswagen, announced plans to install new “human-centered” charging stations in several cities in California and New York, complete with solar panel awnings and a lounge-like waiting area. The company is also rolling out a slimmer, redesigned EV charger aimed at improving the customer experience.

The new multi-charger stations will be installed in several cities throughout 2022 and 2023, including Santa Barbara, San Francisco, San Diego, and Beverly Hills, as well as within the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn in New York City.

Charging an electric car isn’t as straightforward as refilling a gas tank. Recharging times can vary depending on the vehicle type and power source. Battery experts claim that charging times will eventually shrink to around 10 minutes, but not for years to come.


In the interim, Electrify America aims to make charging as comfortable and seamless as possible. The company’s new stations are organized around comfort, security, and amenities, with a nod toward the length of time it takes to recharge an EV. Electrify America says the goal is to create “a more inviting transition to an electric vehicle lifestyle from traditional gas station.”

“These new designs will help elevate the charging experience for our customers, building on the foundation of our ultra-fast and reliable coast-to-coast network,” Giovanni Palazzo, president and CEO of Electrify America, said in a statement.





The most notable change for Electrify America’s current design is the inclusion of solar panel awnings, which have the dual effect of sheltering customers from the sun and inclement weather while also supplying power for the station’s operations. The company says it is currently in the process of adding solar awnings to 400-500 individual chargers at 100 charging stations across the country. It already has solar canopies at its flagship charging stations in Baker and Santa Clara, California.

Customer lounges at the redesigned charging stations will feature dedicated event spaces. On-site cameras and additional lighting will help provide a sense of security for those EV owners charging at night. And those stations built near shopping locations may offer valet charging and curbside delivery options, Electrify America says.

The company has also begun rolling out a redesigned EV charger with a slimmer profile and newly simplified controls. The ultra-fast chargers with up to 150 and 350 kilowatts of charging power stand at nearly 8 feet tall, with recessed screens to help reduce sunlight glare.

And lastly, Electrify America said it would be deploying on-site battery storage systems to 150 chargers across the country in an effort to help manage the energy load to the grid and capture excess solar energy where possible. “The momentum moving us closer to an electric transportation system is accelerating with consumers finding more and more choices of EVs from virtually every manufacturer,” Palazzo said.

The charging experience in the US is extremely fragmented, especially for people who don’t own a Tesla. While Tesla’s Supercharger network has been praised for its seamless user experience and fast charging ability, the opposite appears to be true for pretty much everyone else. There are approximately 41,000 public charging stations in the United States, with more than 100,000 outlets.

The Biden administration recently announced a five-year, $5 billion plan to shore up the nation’s patchy electric vehicle charging network, tapping into funds that were approved as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law signed last year.

Experts in urban policy and electrification have saidthat the money authorized for a nationwide network of EV chargers would have a measurable impact on Americans’ car-buying choices. A more dependable charging network will likely help juice EV sales in the US over the next decade.

Other companies are attempting to build more lounge-style EV chargers, but it’s been slow going. In 2018, https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/14/17120634/tesla-permit-supercharger-restaurant-drive-in-elon-musk for a “Tesla restaurant and supercharger station,” possible in a nod to Elon Musk’s of building a 1950s-themed charging station, complete with rockabilly music and roller skates.

https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/24/2...n-design-ca-ny

 

the whole 'solar awning' at a charging station is pure PR as they will only generate a tiny tiny fraction of the power needed to even charge ONE vehicle.

and let's not forget that the ACTUAL electricity used to charge cars from these stations still comes primarily from fossil fuel and nuclear generation.

people charging at home on solar, however, are actually reducing emissions.

 

I agree... but it's free. I'm not an environmentalist. If there was a way to convert gasoline directly into usable energy to power my EV'S, I would be using it (one gallon stores enough energy for me to travel nearly 100 miles). I've used a few of them in the Bay area, and generally it's been a better experience than going to a gas station. You have a parking spot, you can either kick back in your car for 20 minutes, go into one of the stores, or just grab a coffee