When you follow the chatter about Tesla Model 3 or the new 2018 Nissan Leaf all the excitement seems to be about the innovation and range. But I start to hearing more and more from current EV owners like Tesla Model S and Fiat 500e that with current range their EVs have some would prefer faster charging. They would like to have ultra faster charging for the following reasons.
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"I would prefer faster charging over range. With the range I have, it adds over 3 hours to my driving time to visit my parents stopping to charge both ways. Stopping once for 6 hours of charging in one shot wouldn't make it better. Now I can stop and grab a bite to eat or shop and cover most of the charge time. For the day to day there really isn't anything I need changed though, I use less than 20% of the range and charge overnight. Great fit for my normal use," commented a user named Tony, in Fiat 500e group on Facebook.
Indeed, fast charging becomes equally an issue to EV range.
Why I Didn't Buy an Electric Car
Recently I wanted to buy an EV. I went to Nissan's dealerships and saw a nice looking Nissan Leaf at a very good price. I really wanted to buy that car. However, while it's great for my city driving, each Sunday we go to church which is 70 miles away. My minimum round-trip is 140 miles. Current Nissan Leafs obviously cant make that range, but if there was a ultra fast charger somewhere on the way, I wouldn't mind stopping for extra few minutes, charge the Leaf and continue my journey either way.
EV Challenge: Make Long Trips Possible
I think the electric car industry will experience a huge boom if they make longer trips a real possibly. Right now electric cars have short range and slow charge. We need either longer range or much faster charging, which would make longer trips an actual possibility. I am glad to see that Tesla Model 3 and the 2018 Nissan Leaf (rare glimpse) are changing that.
"I use my car in the city quite a bit so quicker charge would be preferred. Having said that more charging station are another variable," writes another EV user.
I think 5 min per 50 mile range would be nice charging speed. Technically Tesla Superchargers already can do something close to this. Once I read that in six minutes a Tesla Supercharger added more than 50 miles of range to a Model S. Thus, asking 5 min. charging for 50 mile range on a smaller vehicle like Model 3 or Nissan Leaf is not out of the question in my opinion.
Faster charging would change a whole lot for EV owners and compel more people to buy electric cars. It's theoretically possible with some modifications some day. Changing the range of an existing car is a lot more work. May be utility companies could start doing some research and development on this topic. They are already in the game. Utility companies already realize that more EV adaption means more sales of electric power. In fact, recently two utility companies announced Nissan Leaf group buys for their customers, virtually cutting the price of Nissan Leaf into half.
What would be more important for your electric car:
1. Range?
2. Quicker charging?
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I am for quick charging. Not
I am for quick charging. Not that I have ever had the opportunity of using it on my Leaf in Alberta. It sure makes long distance travel pleasant in a Tesla.
I read a Leaf owner saying
I read a Leaf owner saying the most important thing for him would be an harmonization among charging networks as in now Quebec. Today if you want to travel outside of Quebec you need to either fill up your walet with RIF cards or your smart phone with apps. Also there is a cowboy style in how they set the price for electricity outside Quebec. It is like in Wild West times. My 2016 Nissan Leaf has the battery and range that I need.
Range is very important for
Range is very important for EV. If you have infinite range you don't have to charge when you are out and about. Just at home.
Range. At the moment, if the
Range. At the moment, if the charger is broken or occupied then the anxiety starts as you try to make it to the next charger. More range means you can trip like an ICE, charge before crisis. Unlike current low range EV where you get to crisis point and then charge.
I noticed the person who goes
I noticed the person who goes to church 70 miles away. If the church installed even level 2 charging, his problem is solved for the time he is in church. I think more level 2 charging where people spend ~1-2 hrs would solve a lot of EV owners range issues.
But the church's function is
But the church's function is not to install EV chargers. Also, not many in the community have EVs, in fact none yet. But who knows how that will change.
You might say church's
You might say church's function is not to have parking lots either. The problem is a chicken or egg problem. If work places, shopping malls and churches don't provide EV chargers, fewer people are inclined to purchase EV, and because fewer people have EVs, places that might provide EV chargers do not have incentive/pressure to do so. But there are more and more EV drivers and charging locations. When I bought my EV 4 years ago, there were no public EV chargers in my rural area but now, there are even DC fast charger and more being installed. EVs are the future!