Hi Tom,
how many of your friends or of those that have fueld their car up have a petrol station at home? None I assume... How many can officially GET a fuel station at home? None... How many can have a charging point at home? All of them, the infrastructur is already there (all it takes is 380V - which every household in Germany has, as that is what your stove in your kitchen f.e. is connected to...). Even if they are not having an own home, their landlord is responsible to make sure they can have a charging station for their car. In Germany, even the Aldi branches have now solar roofs and offer free charging on their parking spot. Same is in California if you go to a large mall, there are around 10 - 20 super charger from Tesla. How many malls have you seen having a fuel-up service while you are shopping?
Think different ;-)
It is a classic mistake to think in the barriers of existing solutions.
Hi Lothar,
Yes, agreed, many or most cars could be charged overnight and at home, given that every parking space has a charging point. Something we need to set up, and we can do that. Same goes for 380V 3-phase which is certainly not available in the majority of houses built before let's say around '95. And that is a lot of houses my friend!
Mind you that parking space is not the same as household; especially not in urban areas where concentration of people is high and space low. But that can all be solved, given some time and at a cost. I'm sure we will find ways.
I live close to a major train station and there are some public charging points in my street because some of the neighbours got a plugin hybrid with the charger thrown in 'for free' under a stimulation law (100% subsidised) some years ago. No private parking for 90% of the houses here, you're glad to be able to park within 100m of your house. What happens? During work hours sme people park their (whatever brand) large company car, hook up the charging cable, take the train to the airport and go on holidays. So the neighbours have those cars removed, usually right the next day. Happens every week.
Anyway, as the subsidies and tax advantages are lowered step by step so do the numbers of hybrids and e-cars sold. Most of them are exported to countries like Norway where those advantages still exist. Hardly any of them enter the second hand market, hardly any are driven by private owners. So does society really want these vehicles? If yes, put your money where your mouth is. Seems like you are with your house, but the general public does not.
As for fuelling up while going to a mall: very common in places like Belgium, France, Spain and now seen more and more here too.
Not for free indeed, but same goes for the battery charging. No free lunch, somehow you're paying, or at least someone is.
Not to say I'm against all progress or development (which is not the same), my next car will most likely be hybrid and the one after that full electric. But I will consider that last one a utensil, to transport me from A to B. Not a machine I like or enjoy. I'll have my petrol fuelled toys for that.
I really love to see people (read: society) finding many possible solutions and then selecting the one that fits best. It's an evolutionary form of progress that I consider both natural and democratic in its purest form. Not all those ideas may be to my taste, I likely have strong opinions on what solutions are better or preferable, but in the end may the best one win. And it will.
My little anecdote about the cars entering the fuel station was meant as an illustration of the brute numbers involved, no 2 or 3 superchargers will deliver that. And as you yourself said: we have gas stations everywhere. There are reasons for that. Let's find out so we can come up with real alternatives that actually answer society's needs.
As a former colleague used to ask during product development reviews: to what problem is this a solution?
gr
Tom
