06/03/2011 – Electric vehicles short term REAL use
There is a big issue going on related to the instalation of recharging posts on public roads and the direct incursion of electric vehicles in our cities. Indeed it seems that many people think that energy-providers and vehicle manufacturers are playing a chicken-and-egg game accusing themselves one to each other: “…build more electric vehicles and I will install all the electric recharging posts necessary!” … and “… install thousands of electric recharging posts and we will start mass producing ev’s!”
Well… to me it is very clear what comes first: I personally think the normal step-by-step introduction of evs will be made by the electric vehicles early adopters. I think that today, a person without having to ride for more than 70-80 km per day, could perfectly own an electric vehicle… For the next 2-3 years, the “normal” electric vehicles (apart from Tesla!) will be focused on urban transport, that meaning, not having to make more than 70-100 km per day. The natural use of an ev today is very straight forward: you charge your vehicle during the night, and in the morning you have 70-100 km to go… then you come home in the afternoon, and re-plug again for the cycle to start next morning. Let’s face it: for this type of use, there is no need for recharging posts! Why would I plug my vehicle downtown for recharging? To top-off? Maybe… but isn’t too cumbersome to find the posts, hope it is free, hope no smoky vehicle sits there, and then try to find how to open the electric juice for you vehicle…? I would not think that is comfortable, when I know I have all the energy in the tank for a full day’s drive.
In the future, when all these posts will offer super-fast charging, maybe they will become popular, specially for tourists coming from other cities, or people travelling for 100-200 km to get to a place and then need juice to return… so I think the posts will become “practicle” in 2-3 years minimum.
On the other hand, I think there should be more interest in developing charging stations along highways so that at every 50km or so there is a possibility of a fast charge… that will expand the use of ev’s I think. This will make your “urban ev” compatible for those few trips per year you make that take higher ranges (vacation, country house, etc…)
I think the introduction of ev’s will be made this way… unless you get a Tesla!