Vehicle Charging Stations " FREE " ?

[K8MHZ]

Maybe, but 2 weeks ago I watched gas prices go up $1.00 in a single day because one refinery shut down for scheduled maintenance. Somebody is making a killing off gas at the expense of all the consumers.

If you are talking about the BP plant in Whiting, that's not what happened.

A heat exchanger had failed and BP had to shut down the largest process section of the plant. That section was over half the output of the entire facility. It was not scheduled maintenance and occurred in the newer part of the facility. They were caught totally off guard by the failure.

Here in Michigan our prices only went up about a half a buck from $2.45. They topped out at $2.99. The state warned the oil companies they would be on the lookout for price gouging and wouldn't stand for it. They were also planning an investigation.

As of last night we were down to $2.69.

BP supplies gas for most of lower Michigan. For the areas BP serves, they have a 90 plus percent market share. Our only pipeline system goes to the Whiting refinery.

 

[donaldelectrician]

How old are you? Is this your first time living through an energy crisis?

I already lived through the one in the '70's. All the oil was gonna be gone before I got out of high school.

I remember that , " Oil Crisis " , in the 70's . The first time we had gas lines .

It was not so bad with me . I was driving 2 fuel trucks , off road , for a power line construction job .



Don

 

[ggunn]

I remember that , " Oil Crisis " , in the 70's . The first time we had gas lines .

It was not so bad with me . I was driving 2 fuel trucks , off road , for a power line construction job .



Don

I remember it well. I was driving an MGB at the time. Whenever I got in a gas line I would turn off the engine and push my car until I got up to the pump.

 

[kwired]

So, dividing up the cost among all the shoppers in the store at the time, it costs you... what? $0.01? $0.005?

<Rastafarian accent> So what? Big deal.

(Closing line of Buckaroo Banzai)

They could also cut down some cost by not installing lighting - make customers bring their own portable lights be it disposable batteries, rechargeable battery, shake to charge lights, kerosene lantern, more primitive torches, etc.

 

[kwired]

I remember it well. I was driving an MGB at the time. Whenever I got in a gas line I would turn off the engine and push my car until I got up to the pump.

Hope you got in line "up hill" from the pumps.

 

[ggunn]

Hope you got in line "up hill" from the pumps.

It was South Louisiana. What is a "hill"?

 

[Terrier]

Tesla "Super Charging"

Tesla "Super Charging"

The cost of charging an electric car is probably insignificant in comparison to the cost to light the store and operate all the refrigeration.

Excluding Tesla, most EVs charge at 3300 or 6600 watts. Assuming 12 cents per kWh, that's only 39-79 cents per hour of charging.

It's often the case where it's not cost effective to add the hardware to allow for session-based billing. "Dumb" stations can be had for $500-1000 whereas units capable of billing for energy are more in the $2500-8000 range. A price difference of $2000 could equate to 4 hours of free charging per day for 3 years for a single station.

Tesla Superchargers are approximately 90kWh, depending on the Tesla car model being charged. Like others have indicated, in some markets non-Tesla chargers may or may not be "free" but we can all make the educated guess that as PHEVs take off, the free chargers will disappear as well.

 

[Girswald]

I talked to a marketing guy about this exact thing a short time ago. Here is his general answer...A person spends $X.XX for every minute they stay in a retail store and the average person stays X minutes, those numbers are calculated to the second, and most are closely guarded trade secrets. So, if the "free" charger takes 25 minutes to give you a 1/4 charge, you will be in that store for 25 minutes, which is longer than average.

Its purely a financial calculation. There is no "free" lunch.

 

[donaldelectrician]

Just a follow up on Free Power Car Chargers at Whole Foods ...


Stopped by Whole Foods and all the chargers are installed ... up and running ! But not today , all cars parked in the spots with chargers but they were not electric cars



Don

 

[kwired]

Just a follow up on Free Power Car Chargers at Whole Foods ...


Stopped by Whole Foods and all the chargers are installed ... up and running ! But not today , all cars parked in the spots with chargers but they were not electric cars



Don

That is going to happen unless you put the chargers in the spaces furthest away from the entry doors, and the store management probably realizes they will use less energy if they don't get used so much as well, but also that customers with EV's will still like the fact they do provide them the opportunity to charge their vehicle.

 

[ggunn]

That is going to happen unless you put the chargers in the spaces furthest away from the entry doors, and the store management probably realizes they will use less energy if they don't get used so much as well, but also that customers with EV's will still like the fact they do provide them the opportunity to charge their vehicle.

Or unless they start towing gasoline powered cars from the charging stations or hiring some guy to stand there and yell at them when they try to park there.

 

[donaldelectrician]

That is going to happen unless you put the chargers in the spaces furthest away from the entry doors, and the store management probably realizes they will use less energy if they don't get used so much as well, but also that customers with EV's will still like the fact they do provide them the opportunity to charge their vehicle.

The chargers are very close to the entrance ... and also effect 2 handicapped spots ... they are positioned to effect 2 parking spaces each , 8 spaces in all . I think it will be rare that a electric car gets to these spots first !



Don

 

[kingpb]

I can't wait for Prius owners to starting fighting with EV owners over who is more "Green"; the man-bags will be swing'in high and wild to see who gets to charge up first.

I think I'll just park my truck in a front row charge spot, open the gas tank fill nozzle door and sit the charging cord there. It will look like I'm charging. Then take video's of the nimrods that walk by and get all pissy. :rant:

These charging stations will be the next bubble that bursts and throws the economy into shambles.:slaphead:

 

[kwired]

I can't wait for Prius owners to starting fighting with EV owners over who is more "Green"; the man-bags will be swing'in high and wild to see who gets to charge up first.

I think I'll just park my truck in a front row charge spot, open the gas tank fill nozzle door and sit the charging cord there. It will look like I'm charging. Then take video's of the nimrods that walk by and get all pissy. :rant:

These charging stations will be the next bubble that bursts and throws the economy into shambles.:slaphead:

Better yet park any 1960's "muscle car" there and act like you are charging it

 

[Rampage_Rick]

If I could afford one I'd buy one of these instead of a Tesla. Guess I'm stuck with a Volt and my lifted GMC...