In Chicago area for anyone wondering using the Walmart charging network. This is about ~13% capacity, wasn't really low started charging at about 70%.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 67 points 4 weeks ago (23 children)

$.47 per kilowatt hour? That seems very high to me. How does that compare to the household utility rate?

  • source
  • hideshow 23 child comments
  • [–] 18 points 4 weeks ago* (7 children)

    DCFC is much more expensive than home rates. Approaching petrol cost per km. I don’t use them, but I think that would be an aggressively low rate around here.

    The worst ones are the ones that bill by time, so if you have a slow car, it costs more.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 7 child comments
  • [–] 8 points 4 weeks ago (5 children)

    The worst ones are the ones that bill by time, so if you have a slow car, it costs more.

    Chargers based on time are usually due to laws about only power companies being able to charge for electricity usage.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 5 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 3 weeks ago (4 children)

    Interesting. TIL. Makes sense that those laws exist.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

    Wait, why should an electric company be the only one allowed to sell electricity?

    If I’m paying for it from them it’s mine. Can I put it in cellphone chargers and rent them out?

    Why can’t I sell car charging to my buddy that comes and parks in my driveway and insists on paying for the pixies he uses?

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 1 point 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

    I don’t know but would guess the official answer is something like:

    secondary market arbitrage potential exacerbates existing problems such as power theft / meter fraud, bootleg electrical work, unregistered grid ties, etc.

    But tbh my very first thought was landlord abuse

    Edit: and FWIW what you’re describing sounds more like a service, like offering facilities for rent, than an illegal secondary energy market

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 child)

    I wonder if this applies to something like an off grid solar car charging setup.

    I know the panel and weather requirements are hard to work around, maybe once salt or solid state batteries bring storage costs down we could have modular containers that could be dropped all through the desert or at gas stations and parking lots.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 1 point 3 weeks ago

    Off-grid part surely bumps the question into fruit stand territory (not a lawyer)

    But decentralized energy storage is a foregone conclusion once you accept that the most abundant source of energy isn’t diurnal

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 11 points 4 weeks ago (6 children)

    This is nuts, we pay 8c cad per kw/h.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 6 child comments
  • [–] 1 point 3 weeks ago (3 children)

    With fast charging you are paying for the service not the power. Most people (that EVs make sense for) will do almost all their charging at home. Fast chargers are for road trips.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 3 child comments
  • [–] 2 points 3 weeks ago* (2 children)

    What service? It’s charger attached to public infrastructure. They also get better electrical rates than you do. And almost everyone who owns an EV that I know has a fast homer charger, can’t get any rebates without its installation.

    You also won’t get much charge during winter if you just use a regular outlet charger. Too cold, and not fast enough.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 2 child comments
  • [–] 1 point 3 weeks ago (1 child)

    The service is the fast charger being able to charge fast and being in a location you want to use it? The extra cost is to cover infrastructure costs like buying and installing the thing, leasing the land for it, running the technology, and replacing cables every time some muppet comes along with wire cutters. Plus the cost of running a network where some charge points are hardly used but still need to be maintained.

    You also won’t get much charge during winter if you just use a regular outlet charger. Too cold, and not fast enough.

    I use a wall outlet at home for my EV, it has never been an issue. I guess I live in a different environment. No rebates available so no incentive to install a faster home charger. We just charge a couple of times a week during the day when the car is home (we have solar so like to make use of it). If we need to go on a big trip we'll do a proper top up overnight. The weather doesn't get below freezing here really so YMMV.

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 1 point 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

    The service is the fast charger being able to charge fast and being in a location you want to use it?

    Want? They’re by gas stations and malls.

    The extra cost is to cover infrastructure costs like buying and installing the thing,

    They made the thing, it’s pure profit for them, they aren’t renting them lmfao.

    leasing the land for it

    Normally it’s the land owner, why would you rent land?

    running the technology,

    It’s a POS unit and a charger, what tech? Do you realize none of these things are a thing for GAS or Petrol..?

    and replacing cables every time some muppet comes along with wire cutters.

    Insurance dude….

    Plus the cost of running a network where some charge points are hardly used but still need to be maintained.

    What…? How much cost do you think there is for an unused charger that doesn’t draw anything when not used? I already said it’s built off the public utilities… or do you think that they’re digging up a few 100 miles beside a road to run a power line….? This seriously isn’t what you’re thinking is it…..?

    use a wall outlet at home for my EV, it has never been an issue. I guess I live in a different environment.

    If it’s not getting to -30 to -50c, no, you really aren’t, and the vast majority of people refuse to acknowledge that.

    Imagine if gas or another “service” charged 500% profit on the only cost they have….

  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 3 points 3 weeks ago

    not OP but for me it depends, -9c (US6c) here in Australia. I have solar in my roof and 70% of the time i charge there but for every kW of solar I use my provider doesn't pay me 9c solar feed in fee.

    We have timed tariffs in Australia to discourage peak useage, so I get a cheaper overnight tariff 10pm-6AM of 11c (US8c) and use that at times I need a top up over night eg very occasional get home late, leaving early situation. I can schedule charging on the car or on the charger. I have a BYD. For road tripping I have seen 40c-75c but don't really care as its a very infrequent use.

  • source
  • parent