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Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by Dylan16807 on Monday May 27, 2024 @04:30PM (#40494374)
You have to think about gas too, you're just used to it.

And the future has enough fast chargers that it's hard to be caught out no matter where you go.

The future also involves more high power plugs, which would have removed the issue you quoted.

If you would mind that issue more than they did, then you just need to get a plug installed when you buy an EV.

Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by kec on Monday May 27, 2024 @04:51PM (#40494571)
"Thinking about gas" for 99% of people means either glancing at the fuel gauge when you get in the car and making a 15 minute detour + pit stop if you think it looks a bit low for your trip, or just ignoring it and making the 15 minute detour once the low fuel indicator comes on.

Electric is on the whole better & cheaper, but insisting the downsides around charging and endurance do not exist isn't going to help convince anyone

Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by ajross on Monday May 27, 2024 @08:08PM (#40496043)
> glancing at the fuel gauge when you get in the car and making a 15 minute detour

You realize for a home-charged EV, that literally never happens, right? Your car is always charged, always ready. You never need to make a "detour + pit stop", ever. EVs are the superior solution in this regime, not a compromise. This is 100% not a "downside", period.

Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by p1necone on Monday May 27, 2024 @08:35PM (#40496204)
Repeating another comment further down - an EV is like an ICE that just magically has a full tank of gas again every morning.

All the comments on here calling them inconvenient seem to be either people who are clutching at straws because they want to believe that EVs are bad for whatever reason, or people with transport requirements well outside the norm (e.g. >~200km per day fairly regularly.)

Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by Dylan16807 on Monday May 27, 2024 @08:44PM (#40496267)
I don't think it's intentional clutching at straws, but there are definitely people that are quick to notice the inconvenience of a 120v outlet and extrapolate that into the future when they shouldn't, and into more situations than it's actually relevant.

It matters that many people don't have outlets at all, but when we're talking about "how many EV charging stations does the US need" that lack of outlets is a problem that will be fixed.

Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by kec on Monday May 27, 2024 @10:33PM (#40496827)
This is only really true if you have a 240v charger at home, not everyone has the ability to have that kind of setup.
Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by ajross on Monday May 27, 2024 @11:47PM (#40497146)
This is true enough, but it's advice of the same form as "Don't buy a pickup if you live in NYC and only have street parking". It's a valid exploration of the solution space but not a fundamental indictment of flatbed technology.

"We shouldn't say EVs are good because they aren't good in all ways" is... kind of a dumb point. And in particular the specific point you tried to make is, as I pointed out, actually incorrect for the bulk of actual owners.

Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by itsoktocry on Monday May 27, 2024 @06:34PM (#40495404)
>You have to think about gas too, you're just used to it.

Have you travelled in the past 40 years? There are gas stations on every corner across the USA. Even the smallest hovels have them.

Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by dragonwriter on Monday May 27, 2024 @06:40PM (#40495464)
> Even the smallest hovels have them.

Not sure what you are looking for, but it isn't sensible to use "hovel" (="a small, squalid, unpleasant, or simply constructed dwelling") here. "Hamlet", maybe?

Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by verisimi on Monday May 27, 2024 @04:39PM (#40494455)
Its a different order of magnitude. I don't need to think about fuel every day, and I don't have to consider my week if I have a busy day.
Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by vel0city on Monday May 27, 2024 @06:46PM (#40495504)
I have to think about my fuel a lot more on my ICE than my EV. I just plug it in when I get home and it's taken care of. Outside of a couple of road trips that were as simple as punching in addresses and following directions that's been my experience.

On my ICE, I think about if gas is expensive or cheap now, maybe I should go ahead and stop at Sam's/Costco while I'm out, but I still have a bit more than a quarter tank, maybe I'll get gas next time. Or I think darn I'm low, I guess I'll have enough, better stop on my way home. And then when I'm there I have to negotiate payment, stand in the 100F heat for several minutes, worry if this pump has a card skimmer on it, and get ads blasted at me. Rinse and repeat every couple of weeks.

Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by Dylan16807 on Monday May 27, 2024 @04:49PM (#40494554)
All of that gets removed if you have a bigger outlet. There are some people that mind that very little and won't bother to get the upgrade, but judging EVs in general based on the 120-volt situation is like judging pasta in general based on cups of instant ramen.
Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by SideburnsOfDoom on Monday May 27, 2024 @05:06PM (#40494709)
People who walk out every morning to an EV fully charged up on a home L2 charger (the "high power plugs" mentioned above) very seldom have to think about charge, and definitely not "every day".

How would you feel if your car automatically had a full tank of gas every morning? Even when near empty the night before. It's described as the complete opposite of "worry every day".

Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by verisimi on Monday May 27, 2024 @05:57PM (#40495146)
It sounds like you feel the same way I feel about a gas car - ie highly unconcerned about distance, fuel, etc.

However, going off the post I initially replied to, it seems that this person did have additional anxiety on account of their EV - ie the issues EV's have with charging, short distances, etc.

Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by NegativeK on Monday May 27, 2024 @07:49PM (#40495925)
It wasn't anxiety -- it was just awareness after having to unnecessarily go to a supercharger a couple of times.

But like I mentioned: I installed a 240V50A outlet, like I think most people will do. 120V15A works with some awareness. 240V50A is easier than having a gas car.

Re:How Many EV Charging Stations Does the US Need to Replace... by rdtsc on Tuesday May 28, 2024 @12:44AM (#40497399)
I never think about gas. In 20 some years driving only once I ran into an empty gas station during an end of holiday weekend rush. I just drove to the next station and got gas there. I can drive around with less 1/4 tank knowing I can stop at gas station and in and out in 5 minutes with a full tank of gas.

> And the future has enough fast chargers that it's hard to be caught out no matter where you go

For sure. I will happily sit here waiting for the future. It’s just probably good to acknowledge this isn’t the future yet.