Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

NickB79

(19,233 posts)
Sat Oct 30, 2021, 09:06 AM Oct 2021

Where the Heck Are We Going to Charge All of the Electric Cars?

https://slate.com/business/2021/10/electric-vehicle-tesla-charger-curb.html

Ann Arbor is one of many cities confronting a vast challenge as Democrats pin their hopes to reduce U.S. emissions on the rapid, widespread adoption of electric vehicles: How do you get power to people who park on the street? Does electrifying cars mean changing the way we park?

One in three U.S. housing units does not have a garage, according to the 2019 American Housing Survey, and many of those households do not have their own parking spots. As gas stations slowly yield to electric chargers, the ratio of fueling nozzles to vehicles is plummeting, with some studies suggesting we’ll need as many as one charger for every two electric vehicles. The bipartisan infrastructure bill contains $7.5 billion to charge EVs, which President Joe Biden hopes will make up half of U.S. auto sales by 2030, up from around 2 percent today.

Where to charge them? Many cities are experimenting with EV charging at the curb, and extension cords have been spotted hanging from the windows of East Village tenements and Boston triple-deckers. Street parking has long been a lawless affair, and so far, electric vehicle charging at the curb is working much the same way: every driver for him or herself. By and large, experts fear that EV adoption will lag in places where curbside parking is dominant, such as New York City, which despite its liberal voters and enormous wealth counts just 15,000 electrics among its 2 million cars.
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Where the Heck Are We Going to Charge All of the Electric Cars? (Original Post) NickB79 Oct 2021 OP
" Where the Heck Are We Going to Charge"" At your house, your work, or a parking lot. Botany Oct 2021 #1
The article addresses this NickB79 Oct 2021 #2
You want me to read the article? OK I will. Botany Oct 2021 #3
Installing car chargers is an excellent way for landlords to attract more affluent tenants... hunter Oct 2021 #4

NickB79

(19,233 posts)
2. The article addresses this
Sat Oct 30, 2021, 09:14 AM
Oct 2021

Street parking, workplaces and parking lots will all require massive infrastructure investments to make sure there's sufficient access and capacity, with no standards yet in place.

Botany

(70,496 posts)
3. You want me to read the article? OK I will.
Sat Oct 30, 2021, 09:18 AM
Oct 2021

BTW never said it will be easy but is very doable. We already have massive infrastructure expenses
in buildings, materials, and engineering in our old energy systems.

hunter

(38,311 posts)
4. Installing car chargers is an excellent way for landlords to attract more affluent tenants...
Sat Oct 30, 2021, 11:24 AM
Oct 2021

... and businesses to attract employees.

So far as I know there is no grave shortage of electricians and we can always train more.

Spending public money on charging stations isn't any kind of priority for me.

I'd rather turn our cities into places where car ownership is unnecessary.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»Where the Heck Are We Goi...