CA now has more public EV Charge Stations than gas stations but . . .

[DonTom]

See here.

It's kinda stupid. They're all crammed together in the same areas, such as in the Sacramento area. Few of them get used.

Here I am charging one of my electric motorcycles, where they have 14 EV DC Fast chargers.

This was at the Cosco in Loomis, CA hundreds of other chargers nearby, and we can see how busy this one is. The rest will be about the same. It's not uncommon to see none of them in use.

But from Reno, NV to Susanville CA, straight up Hwy 395, no EV charge station for around 80 miles. Not even one, including AC charge stations. Nothing at all. Many other places like this in CA.

So the number of charge stations in CA is meaningless, at least for now. Locations are more important.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[Mr Lars]

Is the definition of a ‘charge station’ a single cable on a pedestal?
In other words, you can have a ‘gas station’ with 100 hoses, but it is still ‘1 gas station’ not 100 gas stations. If a charge facility has 20 cables, it is still ‘1 charge station’ not 20 charge stations.

 

[John From Detroit]

It's kinda stupid. They're all crammed together in the same areas, such as in the Sacramento area. Few of them get used.

No different than a Flying-J/Pilot, Loves or TA with 20 gas pumps all lined up.

And 50 miles to the next one

 

[DonTom]

Is the definition of a ‘charge station’ a single cable on a pedestal?

Yes, one of the things that makes the number of charge stations meaningless. But there are often two charge cables on each pedestal.

If they could only spread them out better. But there are many issues with doing such. It's rather difficult to find very high power in small towns required for EV DC fast charging, but I would settle for more slow (240 VAC) charge stations in many areas. It's not that bad as is, but EV motorcycles have less than half the range of most EV cars, making more charge stations necessary for my rides, which are usually out in the middle of nowhere in the high Sierras.

-Don- Reno, NV

 

[DonTom]

No different than a Flying-J/Pilot, Loves or TA with 20 gas pumps all lined up.

And 50 miles to the next one

Yeah, it all depends on the area. Some areas have EV charge stations but no gas stations for many miles. In the Everglades Park of Florida, for example. While I was charging my motorcycle there, a car came by and asked me for directions to the nearest gas station. None in the Everglades Park, AFAIK.

Ernest F Coe Visitor Center, Everglades, FL:​

 

[John From Detroit]

Yeah, it all depends on the area. Some areas have EV charge stations but no gas stations for many miles. In the Everglades Park of Florida, for example. While I was charging my motorcycle there, a car came by and asked me for directions to the nearest gas station. None in the Everglades Park, AFAIK.

Surprised at that in FL.

When I went to Cape Cod for my B-I-L's funeral I rented and EV cause I wanted to drive one. Nice ride and the hotel I stayed at had a dual charge (Chargepoint) Station.

 

[Derby6]

It's kinda stupid.

the number of charge stations in CA is meaningless

Yep---LOL

 

[dave541]

Yes, one of the things that makes the number of charge stations meaningless. But there are often two charge cables on each pedestal.

If they could only spread them out better. But there are many issues with doing such. It's rather difficult to find very high power in small towns required for EV DC fast charging, but I would settle for more slow (240 VAC) charge stations in many areas. It's not that bad as is, but EV motorcycles have less than half the range of most EV cars, making more charge stations necessary for my rides, which are usually out in the middle of nowhere in the high Sierras.

-Don- Reno, NV

Yep. The town I live in has two gas stations. No charging station.

 

[DonTom]

Yep. The town I live in has two gas stations. No charging station.

A bigger problem for me than you, if you can home charge. Look for the charge stations that are at least 150 miles away for them to be useful to you, with most EVs these days.

BTW, the eight 250 KW Tesla Superchargers in Altrus are open to many non-Tesla cars ( but not to any of my electric motorcycles):

Holiday Market
1200 W 12th St,
Alturas, CA 96101, USA
8 chargers

-Don- Turlock, CA

 

[Joezeppy]

Yep. The town I live in has two gas stations. No charging station.

Moved into our little town 32 years ago - had two gas stations - a full-serve/auto repair shop and a self-serve/convenience store. Full-serve pulled out their pumps probably 25 years ago (kept the shop open, luckily) and the convenience store completely closed up about 5 years ago. Now I have to drive about 5 miles for gas...and beer.

 

[DonTom]

Moved into our little town 32 years ago - had two gas stations - a full-serve/auto repair shop and a self-serve/convenience store. Full-serve pulled out their pumps probably 25 years ago (kept the shop open, luckily) and the convenience store completely closed up about 5 years ago. Now I have to drive about 5 miles for gas...and beer.

The gas problem can be solved with an EV as long as you can charge at home. And then you will only care about the charge stations around 200 miles away.

But you will still need to keep your home well stocked up on food and booze.

-Don- Turlock, CA

 

[whiteva]

Great, all electric cars. How are they going to pay for roads & maintenance. Imagine traveling without the spice of road construction detours.

 

[DonTom]

Great, all electric cars. How are they going to pay for roads & maintenance. Imagine traveling without the spice of road construction detours.

See here. I pay a lot more for the road tax, because it is added to the registrations of my eight EVs. Not based on mileage, as are ICE vehicles. So I am paying around 6 times as much, even if they sit in the garage. Two are registered in NV where they have not yet started to road tax EVs.

ICE vehicles pay for it in gasoline, so the miles count, not the number of vehicles.

$118.00 times six=$708.00. How much to you pay in road tax per year?

-Don- Tehachapi, CA

 

[whiteva]

$118.00 times six=$708.00. How much to you pay in road tax per year?

Great question, I did not have an answer so research.

Florida gas tax averages 39.4 cents per gal.
I run about 12,000 miles a year. 16 mpg (truck)
304 gallons, times 39.4 = $119.77
You win by a buck.

Right now electric cars register at the same price as gas in a lot of states. Bet that changes soon.

ON another thought, DW was T-boned recently. No injuries in her flipped SUV but a total loss. (State Farm paid us a reasonable settlement). I can't believe I am saying this, but we are looking a an electric replacement. (TRAITOR) I am afraid my MGB, being parked next to an EC will one night just up and run away from home.

 

[DonTom]

You win by a buck.

Not really, because I pay the road tax even when none of mine are being driven, and I'm still paying for the others that aren't being used because I cannot drive them all at the same time. But I think they can be trying to get ready to change this now that the DMVs ask for mileage on all vehicles, at least in CA & NV.

I can't believe I am saying this, but we are looking a an electric replacement.

Have you driven one yet? Expect it to feel much different than ICE when you release the accelerator pedal. It will help a lot if you can turn the regen down until you get used to it. In pancake-flat Florida, the regeneration will not be as useful as it is out here in the west with all the hills.

Do you already have a 240 VAC 14-50R outlet in your garage?

-Don- Tehachapi, CA

 

[whiteva]

Do you already have a 240 VAC 14-50R outlet in your garage?

The charging should not be a problem. After 20 years the large hot tub has died. Moving the oversized electrical to the carport will be easy.

Thanks for the comments.
Cheers