Vice President of Sales | Indra Renewable Technologies | Driving Sustainable Innovation for a Greener Future.
Following my recent post about crash protection, let's delve into another aspect: Charging hubs and waiting bays for electric vehicles. If you're an EV driver, navigating the charging station Tango during peak times, it can certainly be a test of patience. The awkward nods, gentle horn beeps, and the vigilant individuals pacing up and down the charging stations, scrutinising each status, tutting as they go! – it's a familiar scenario. Most new charging hubs find their place in existing car parks, with bays arranged in various ways. To tackle the potential rise of "charger rage," why not consider implementing dedicated waiting bays or a queue system? We Brits are World Champions of staying in line and love nothing more than an orderly queue, this solution seems to make practical sense. Alternatively, a VIP booking facility through a mobile app could streamline the process. I'm eager to hear about your experiences and the solutions you envision for a smoother charging experience.
Naomi Francis
9mo
Leeds skeleton lake services is the worst for this and would definitely recommend a queuing bay system as the chargers are on both sides so there is always someone who drives up last and thinks they were first 🤦♀️
Andre Beard
9mo
The only answer will be installed rapid chargers at your own sites providing the grid will take it, we had to settle for 25kW 3 phase DC as the grid to our unit couldn't supply any more without a hyper expensive cable upgrade. Also and much improved real actual mileage from a full charge and the time that takes to happen. So my use of my EV is simple, less than 200 miles with an overnight or rapid charging option like at our own units I take the EV, anything over that with only short stops I use our pool car hybrid. EV's don't sit well if you have a very active work load that involves actual physical work or interaction with the client. Great if what you do doesn't matter if your taping on a lap top at the office at home or in a car, then you may also ask why it was you needed to travel at all?
Phil Davies
9mo
recharge when you stop, don't stop to charge. Mindset is the only way forward, organise and common sense... plan, plan and don't build in a charge at peak times and if this cannot be avoided then plan one in advance away from the crowds...
Andrew Morris
9mo
I rarely have this problem but I can see the value in a queue system with dedicated waiting bays or an app at high traffic sites, I love my Model Y but faced with the above once a week I'm not sure I would!
Investor, Director & Industrial Project Management
9moHi Simon, I have seen my favourite 8 bay Tesla charging station at Gordano go from ´just me and a few friends’, 6 years ago, to ‘mobbed and stressful’. I’ve communicated with the service station management but they were unable to give any firm plans on when Tesla and other EV chargers would be able to significantly increase capacity. There is only one charging station for other EVs at this location and it is on the main M5 corridor to Cornwall. Two things come to mind: 1) The market will start to prefer locations that have a drive through queue. Total required space for charging will have to increase to allow it. Fuel forecourts are huge at service stations but EVs are often expected to work in a tight corner at the end of the car park. 2) EV drivers will need more: a roof for protection from the elements; obvious signage prior to commiting: X bays available, Y cars in queue, charging rates (kWh per bay) and attractive, advertised pricing to pull to the free capacity. All of this will further boost the interest in well organised hubs.