Charging Station Progress is Slow Going

[RickLightning]

Note this refers to the VW settlement funding.

$424 million given to states more than 4 years ago
48% spent
6 states haven't spent a dime

https://wallstreetjournal-ny-app.newsmemory.com/?publink=0a59640e2_1348497

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[beatle]

Paywalled, but I could at least see the graphic.

The expansion for EA only shows 76 "coming soon" stations nationwide. They currently have 758, so about a 10% growth rate if they actually build 76 new stations this year.

Tesla grew the supercharger network 35% year-over-year in 2021 and they have 3,476 stations. These stats are not exactly apples-to-apples since those supercharger numbers are worldwide, but the growth rate difference is staggering. They also have an average of 7 chargers per station where others have 3-4.

I don't think a lot of states actually care, and EA doesn't seem to care. The stations then have to be maintained which nobody wants to pay to do, and since EVs are still not everywhere, in some places there is little incentive to build new chargers since they will sit idle most of the time. I'm not sure why charging companies insist on giving the service away. I've said before that right now companies could easily charge 2-3x what they currently charge for a reliable fast charging experience, but instead the price of DCFC is still cheaper than gas. When DCFC you're paying for the service and convenience of being able to fill up away from home, not the commodity.

Similarly, "If people only knew you could make coffee at home, Starbucks would be out of business in no time." -Nobody ever

 

[EVben]

That’s the risk with not owning the infrastructure. You end up tying your customers to an inferior or inadequate experience.
Even if Ford didn’t 100% own the network, if they had to put their logo on it, they’d have to give a damn.

 

[detroitlightning]

I’m no Tesla fan, but their strategy around superchargers is undeniably smart. I’m guessing that building at that rate is a bit of a “loss leader” for them, but it’s totally necessary for growth.

For the rest of the OEMs, it’s the complete opposite - total patchwork approach, and a lack of strategy. Hope it gets there in a few years…

 

[PV2EV]

The Supercharger network is a revenue opportunity for Tesla if they need it. Especially if they open it up.

 

[Amps]

The Supercharger network is a revenue opportunity for Tesla if they need it. Especially if they open it up.

They're the Exxon/Mobil of EV DCFC. I think they're just optimizing the timing for maximum profit and good PR because there's a CCS meltdown looming if nothing changes.

 

[Theo1000]

Actually I'm very certain TSLA is losing money on their charging network. Not a huge amount but a steady drain. It doesn't matter right now because they just issue shares for money but at some point it will matter. IIRC a chunk of the cost of each TSLA car is also fees for access to the network.

The CCS network has grown by leaps and bounds. EA is not the only company out there. Just in my Area Francis Energy put in about 200 chargers in 30-40 locations in Oklahoma. Caseys, Kum & Go and Sinclair's are putting in DCFC stations. Couple of them sell Electricity @ ~10-12 cents / kwh. Wholesale power in my area goes for ~3-4 cents / kwh. I expect retail will be well under 10 cents / kwh over time. If they chose to subsidize like gas under 5 cents.

There is simply no way a non-energy company like TSLA will be able to compete with the costs of the general industry, that knows how to do this for centuries. The CCS, open to all approach, is the right one even if it seems very wild wild west and chaotic right now.

 

[LightningShow]

Paywalled, but I could at least see the graphic.

The expansion for EA only shows 76 "coming soon" stations nationwide. They currently have 758, so about a 10% growth rate if they actually build 76 new stations this year.

Tesla grew the supercharger network 35% year-over-year in 2021 and they have 3,476 stations. These stats are not exactly apples-to-apples since those supercharger numbers are worldwide, but the growth rate difference is staggering. They also have an average of 7 chargers per station where others have 3-4.

I don't think a lot of states actually care, and EA doesn't seem to care. The stations then have to be maintained which nobody wants to pay to do, and since EVs are still not everywhere, in some places there is little incentive to build new chargers since they will sit idle most of the time. I'm not sure why charging companies insist on giving the service away. I've said before that right now companies could easily charge 2-3x what they currently charge for a reliable fast charging experience, but instead the price of DCFC is still cheaper than gas. When DCFC you're paying for the service and convenience of being able to fill up away from home, not the commodity.

Similarly, "If people only knew you could make coffee at home, Starbucks would be out of business in no time." -Nobody ever

The DCFC pricing should be similar to gas in cost per mile. The EA stations barely charge more than retail electricity price. I pay $0.26/kWh at home and can get DCFC for $0.31/kWh. The pricing model makes no sense.

 

[PV2EV]

The DCFC pricing should be similar to gas in cost per mile. The EA stations barely charge more than retail electricity price. I pay $0.26/kWh at home and can get DCFC for $0.31/kWh. The pricing model makes no sense.

Great point. More profit should provide more investment in the networks. Not sure I want it to match the price of gas.

 

[LightningShow]

Great point. More profit should provide more investment in the networks. Not sure I want it to match the price of gas.

I don't *want* it to be but I'd rather have it be more expensive if it will speed up the rollout. The price would come back down once the stations were more common and there was legitimate competition. There's virtually no competition right now.

 

[sotek2345]

The DCFC pricing should be similar to gas in cost per mile. The EA stations barely charge more than retail electricity price. I pay $0.26/kWh at home and can get DCFC for $0.31/kWh. The pricing model makes no sense.

This is very region dependent. We are at $0.13 at home and $0.43 for fast charging.

 

[RickLightning]

This is very region dependent. We are at $0.13 at home and $0.43 for fast charging.

31 cents with Pass+

 

[sotek2345]

31 cents with Pass+

Yeah, it would probably make sense to turn that on and off every time we travel, but the savings would only amount to a few dollars a year and I am too lazy for that. Just rely on Plug and charge.

 

[RickLightning]

Depends how much you drive.

1,000 miles at 3 miles per kWh is 333 kWh. 12 cents x 333 = $40 per thousand miles driven

 

[jefro]

Yes, the process is slow. I contacted the state agency and they said they couldn't tell me when the stations would be active. Apparently that information requires a FOIA.
EA app has a setting where if they report coming soon you can click on it for text or app notification when state changes.

There are many companies that provide chargers. Rivian is even getting some installed and they claim some DC stations going in.

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