The dealerships need to get people setup and prepared before they drive off the block.
Sure, for now maybe. A real and more permanent solution, is to make them accept simple credit card taps for payment. That way people don’t need to be setup on anything.
160kW fast charger for $3k is a steal, they should be peppered everywhere.
The units themselves are only part of the cost. The actual install can be 1-4x that much. Doing it properly (trenching cables underground) can be very expensive.
Credit card would be nice, but id still use the app. Being able to monitor the charge remotely is very useful. One of the chargers i used gave a QR code to remotely monitor it, so fhat was cool.
Even at 4x the cost installed its super cheap. They are charging about 70-80c per kwh, and the wholesale electricity price is ~30-50. So roughly 50% profit. My average charge cost around $30, so $15 profit per charge. That brings the payback period to around 1200 charges, which is great. To contrast it with a fuel station, you have to excavate a pit and install a giant tank. Thats going to cost significantly more.
Do what Portugal does and have there be a single nationwide network (that doesn’t require a national address to register, so tourists can do it too) so then you only need one app. While sometimes you can get a discount using other apps, you’ve always got the one that let’s you charge anywhere.
Ideally yes, but there are very good reasons for the app. Mostly because charging can be a relatively long excercise, apps let you monitor the process while you go eat or walk or whatever. The apps also let you check in advance if the chargers are working or occupied, avoiding the need to stop if you know its not available (or stop earlier if there is another option).
Getting charging down to a 5min process would solve both of those usecases somewhat, but there is still the broken charger issue.
You can setup an rfid card to do the paynent, but thats just linking a card to your app account. One card can support multiple networks though.
Is there any kind of pricing regulation? One network sounds like it would mean no pricing competition.
We have 4 charging networks that im aware of, but only 2 are needed to get 99% of places. But especially for small towns, there is only one charger, so no real choice (or competition).
There are lots of different operators who charge their own rates, they just all have to use the same network for payment. And the (only?) good part about it being via app or keyfob or autocharge is that it doesn’t have to use Visa/MasterCard. But it would also be fine by me if they accepted MBWay/SIBS (which is our local payment network) right at the charger.
Sure, for now maybe. A real and more permanent solution, is to make them accept simple credit card taps for payment. That way people don’t need to be setup on anything.
The units themselves are only part of the cost. The actual install can be 1-4x that much. Doing it properly (trenching cables underground) can be very expensive.
Credit card would be nice, but id still use the app. Being able to monitor the charge remotely is very useful. One of the chargers i used gave a QR code to remotely monitor it, so fhat was cool.
Even at 4x the cost installed its super cheap. They are charging about 70-80c per kwh, and the wholesale electricity price is ~30-50. So roughly 50% profit. My average charge cost around $30, so $15 profit per charge. That brings the payback period to around 1200 charges, which is great. To contrast it with a fuel station, you have to excavate a pit and install a giant tank. Thats going to cost significantly more.
And still cheap compared to an underground tank and bowser.
Edit: sorry, I didnt read the rest of your comment.
Do what Portugal does and have there be a single nationwide network (that doesn’t require a national address to register, so tourists can do it too) so then you only need one app. While sometimes you can get a discount using other apps, you’ve always got the one that let’s you charge anywhere.
I mean, ideally you shouldn’t need an app at all.
Like I don’t need an app to pay at a grocery store or gas station or restaurant now. Why should I for charging a car?
Ideally yes, but there are very good reasons for the app. Mostly because charging can be a relatively long excercise, apps let you monitor the process while you go eat or walk or whatever. The apps also let you check in advance if the chargers are working or occupied, avoiding the need to stop if you know its not available (or stop earlier if there is another option).
Getting charging down to a 5min process would solve both of those usecases somewhat, but there is still the broken charger issue.
You can setup an rfid card to do the paynent, but thats just linking a card to your app account. One card can support multiple networks though.
Is there any kind of pricing regulation? One network sounds like it would mean no pricing competition.
We have 4 charging networks that im aware of, but only 2 are needed to get 99% of places. But especially for small towns, there is only one charger, so no real choice (or competition).
There are lots of different operators who charge their own rates, they just all have to use the same network for payment. And the (only?) good part about it being via app or keyfob or autocharge is that it doesn’t have to use Visa/MasterCard. But it would also be fine by me if they accepted MBWay/SIBS (which is our local payment network) right at the charger.
And then you have to worry about crackheads stealing the copper.