Rural area EV DCFC charging is back!

[DonTom]

A very good start.

Ran by solar and a 3.4 million WH battery so it can charge EVs all day as well as night. And free to use for now and 360KW shared (means if two EVs are using it, 180KW to each, 90 KW if all four are being used).

See here. Hopefully this works out better for PowerStation than it did for Freewire.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[TheBar]

1 charger indicates rural charging is back? If it is as rural as it appears to be it will be a victim like all rural chargers, of copper cable theft. That's the number 1 problem to be solved. #2 is likely vandalism. As in the King of the Road song - "If its locked it ain't locked when no one's around."

 

[NY_Dutch]

1 charger indicates rural charging is back? If it is as rural as it appears to be it will be a victim like all rural chargers, of copper cable theft. That's the number 1 problem to be solved. #2 is likely vandalism. As in the King of the Road song - "If its locked it ain't locked when no one's around."

The closest charging station to me in this rural area is at a 24/7 gas station/convenience store a few miles away. Last year they installed four charge points, although it looks like they prepped for six. There are at least three cameras aimed in that direction, and signs warning of theft alarms. I haven't seen any signs of vandalism yet, just an occasional ICE vehicle blocking one of the chargers from time to time. I don't know if the blockage is meant to be a statement, or just the result of a busy parking lot at times.

 

[Derby6]

1 up in CA. 1down in AK. LOL
Grizzly Ridge fire

 

[DonTom]

1 charger indicates rural charging is back?

Yes. No connection to the grid makes it possible for many places in rural areas, this is only the start of many more coming.

Now hopefully we can watch it grow from there, as is in the plans. However, I do not understand how they can make any profit when we consider all the expenses of rural DCFC charging. And that one, even when they start to charge people for using it, it is a low KWH price rate, especially for here in CA.

It's been quite a while since I have heard about any charger vandalism or charger thief. Perhaps a way was figured out to deal with it. Shouldn't be too difficult to send an alarm as most connect to the internet anyway. Perhaps the cops can now get there in time.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[DonTom]

. I don't know if the blockage is meant to be a statement, or just the result of a busy parking lot at times.

For a while, that was a problem here and then no law against it. It was often deliberate.

It was fixed by:

• State Law: California Vehicle Code 22511 allows fines up to $100 for parking a non-EV in an EV charging space.
• Local Variations: Some cities, such as Tacoma (though not CA) or specific CA municipalities, have cited fines of $124 for this infraction.
• Towing: Vehicles not connected to the charger can be towed immediately if proper signage is posted, adding towing and storage costs to the fine.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[Derby6]

Yes. No connection to the grid makes it possible for many places in rural areas, this is only the start of many more coming.

-Don- Auburn, CA

Define “many” places. It only makes it possible in areas with large solar fields nearby. Lots in CA and the southwest. Not so much nationwide.

 

[DonTom]

Define “many” places.

Wherever possible & needed, hopefully.

I think in most cases, it is more of a convenience thing than a necessity these days as most modern EV cars can easily get through rural areas with range left over. But it will be useful to me on my electric motorcycles (as they have less range than cars) and the NV desert has plenty of room for such. So does many other rural areas of CA. Places such as here where they already have slow (7 KW AC) charging ran from solar:

CA Nature Preserve, Beckwourth, CA:

 

[TheBar]

most modern EV cars can easily get through rural areas with range left over.

Are you being paid for EV advertising or just invested your life savings in Tesla? I bet if we held a vote most people would believe you have some monetary interest in promoting this snake oil.

 

[NY_Dutch]

For a while, that was a problem here and then no law against it. It was often deliberate.

It was fixed by:

• State Law: California Vehicle Code 22511 allows fines up to $100 for parking a non-EV in an EV charging space.
• Local Variations: Some cities, such as Tacoma (though not CA) or specific CA municipalities, have cited fines of $124 for this infraction.
• Towing: Vehicles not connected to the charger can be towed immediately if proper signage is posted, adding towing and storage costs to the fine.

-Don- Auburn, CA

I don't know if there's any laws about it here or not, but I'm leaning towards just a busy parking lot since a couple of EV slots were still available.

 

[IBTripping]

Are you being paid for EV advertising or just invested your life savings in Tesla? I bet if we held a vote most people would believe you have some monetary interest in promoting this snake oil.

I guess those kind of accusations of bad faith are what make this such a friendly forum.

 

[DonTom]

Are you being paid for EV advertising or just invested your life savings in Tesla? I bet if we held a vote most people would believe you have some monetary interest in promoting this snake oil.

Nope, I just enjoy replacing the countless EV myths with the truth. And I enjoy my Chevy Bolt more than my Tesla for most of my drives, but Tesla is much better for longer drives which I almost never do via car.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[DonTom]

1 up in CA. 1down in AK. LOL

But that one has been down for many years. I just checked on Plugshare. That is a FreeWire (out of business and none of them are working these days, AFAIK).

Notice the "1" in the photo on the left at Plugshare. That is the reliability of the charger over the last year or so, from one to ten. One meaning it has not worked for anybody at all for years.

The photo with the note above saying it is not working has a date of Jan 30, 2024.

See the check-ins here.

-Don- (in pouring rain Auburn, CA with thunder and lightning)

 

[Arch Hoagland]

But that one has been down for many years. I just checked on Plugshare. That is a FreeWire (out of business and none of them are working these days, AFAIK).

View attachment 2439912

Notice the "1" in the photo on the left at Plugshare. That is the reliability of the charger over the last year or so, from one to ten. One meaning it has not worked for anybody at all for years.

The photo with the note above saying it is not working has a date of Jan 30, 2024.

See the check-ins here.

-Don- (in pouring rain Auburn, CA with thunder and lighning)

Well at least it is consistent.

 

[SuwanneeDave1]

Are you being paid for EV advertising or just invested your life savings in Tesla? I bet if we held a vote most people would believe you have some monetary interest in promoting this snake oil.

I think he is just a gear head with a lot of interest in EV's including motorcycles. People like to talk about what they are interested in.

 

[DonTom]

I think he is just a gear head with a lot of interest in EV's including motorcycles. People like to talk about what they are interested in.

Yep, we all have heard of mechanical type gear heads and nobody thinks anything of it.

Well, EV-heads also exist, such as I have been since 2017, when I purchased my first EV toy--Or as I thought before my first ride. the motorcycle in my Avatar here. I had to get used to the fact that it cannot tell when I am going uphill-- because of the torque. In such a small bike, same size as my Suzuki DR200SE that feels so gutless after rifng the electric.

-Don- Auburn, CA