Push back against EV charging at rest stops

electriceddy

electriceddy

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National Association of Truck Stop Owners are opposing provisions that would allow EV charging at rest areas:
https://www.trucknews.com/sustainab...ign=TruckNewsDaily&utm_content=20210701140912
NATSO, along with NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores) and SIGMA (Society of Independent Gasoline Marketers) "opposed the INVEST in America act because the final measure contained provisions that would carve out an exception for electric vehicle (EV) charging to the long outstanding prohibition on the sale of food, fuel and other commercial services at rest areas and on the Interstate right of way" ... more details here:
https://www.natso.com/topics/house-passes-invest-in-america-act-fuel-retailers-truckstops-oppose
Personally I would think in the long term both services would benefit (maybe some tweaking of the legal wording to satisfy all).
When electric trucking industry takes hold, there should be ample $ to be made at the commercial charging levels. Truck stops would probably benefit without having to deal with cars smaller charging requirements. I can hear the horns blowing behind me now, as I am sucking up 25 kWh on a cold day, while the heavy transport behind me needs to charge up quickly (and obviously at a much higher rate) to get the transported goods to the destination on time.
Smaller charging facilities can still be supplied for cars, additionally the more places to charge, the better... for competitive and convivence for all:)
 
California has been installing chargers at rest stops for a couple of years now. They have avoided the prohibition of sales by making the charging free. Can’t beat that. I am always game fore a free charge
 
Fastnf said:
California has been installing chargers at rest stops for a couple of years now. They have avoided the prohibition of sales by making the charging free. Can’t beat that. I am always game fore a free charge
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California is known to find favorable ways to skirt the rules and that definitely ranks high up in that category:)
 
bwilson4web said:
Visiting my Mom a month ago, there were three new SuperCharger stations at truck stops and they were great:
  • Ozark AR
  • Lowell AR
  • Joplin MO
Bob Wilson
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Interesting, how were they set up? Were they drive through or back in as usual? I could see the Tesla Semi come with dual input fast super charging
(maybe charge half the pack with each input - one on each side) to accomplish 500kW using two V3 charging units fed from separate buses (non shared).
Or maybe they would require their own transformer/switchgear/charge units to accomplish that rate.
Just thinking, yet to be seen I guess, but if it were set up as drive through between every other unit, that could be a possibility.
There is a DC Fast set up being built not to far from my location in Parksville BC to serve Telsa Semi, maybe I will throw on my hardhat/safety vest and investigate (take notes on my clipboard) like I did when they built the Supercharger in Nanaimo a few years back.:)
 
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I am so glad I found this thread. It answered one of my questions about why EV charging is located in such weird spots. I am wondering what will happen to break the stranglehold oil, gas and ICE companies have created. Dealerships are doing whatever they can not to sell EV since they make their money on service. Going so far to block the direct to consumer model. All while the world is on fire, literally.

One thing that must change is the placement of availability of EV chargers on the signs that are on the highway prior to the exit that tell you about gas, food and lodging. This will change the perception of "range anxiety." Are these signs Federal? If you have the car you use on board nav or app but ICE drivers need to "see" to be willing to convert.

I've reached the age that I can only tolerate 6-7 hours total per day on a road trip. Separated by an hour lunch. So EVs need to target this, being able to drive 80 mph for 4 hours on a charge or 350+ miles. This must be the floor. I use rest area for bathroom only. I used to use the Oasis on the toll road for fuel and to eat fast food so a 30 minute stop.
 
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dawktah LucidGT said:
tolerate 6-7 hours total per day on a road trip. Separated by an hour lunch. So EVs need to target this,
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I tend to drive up to 14 hours per day but include frequent charging and bathroom stops:
  • 1st segment 100% SOC - typically 3+ hours up to 232 miles, current limit range, without a reserve. Typically the first stop is up to 200-210 miles.
  • ~20-30 minutes - fast food place for biology break and sack meal. Eat and stretch while charging.
  • ~2 hours - driving to next charging stop.
Bob Wilson
 
There are gas stations all over the interstates, and even the places with no real 'services' have snack machines and what ever

Most of them seem to be on toll roads, but not all of them.
I don't quite understand how this rule is applied
 
ENirogus said:
There are gas stations all over the interstates, and even the places with no real 'services' have snack machines and what ever

Most of them seem to be on toll roads, but not all of them.
I don't quite understand how this rule is applied
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Rest Area signs are brown or blue. They appear to be state and/or federally funded. You're right they only have bathrooms, vending, dog area and park benches. The argument is if they are placed here and charging is low cost people won't go to Love's, Flying J, T/A or others and pay higher cost for charging. The cost for charging at these places would have to be higher because of private investment, is the claim if I'm reading it right. If I understand the EU, no such nonsense. Cake and eat it too.

I'd rather charge close to a sit down restaurant over fast food. When we eat at restaurants we are always there about an hour.
 
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People affected by change (especially those with lobbying powers) will always find a reason to object. What is paying a few hundred thousand (shared by a few large corporations) to lawyers and PR firms when it may protect several million dollars in profit? If I charge in a rest stop I might bypass the big truck stop and not buy skittles and coffee and soda and hot dogs etc. I do not think they are as worried about losing the opportunity to sell you a few kilowatts of energy, as they are afraid of losing ancillary revenue .
 
interestedinEV said:
People affected by change (especially those with lobbying powers) will always find a reason to object. What is paying a few hundred thousand (shared by a few large corporations) to lawyers and PR firms when it may protect several million dollars in profit? If I charge in a rest stop I might bypass the big truck stop and not buy skittles and coffee and soda and hot dogs etc. I do not think they are as worried about losing the opportunity to sell you a few kilowatts of energy, as they are afraid of losing ancillary revenue .
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That's why I said they are trying to have their cake and eat it too. Currently there is no hot food at rest stops. So you'll still need to stop for the occasional coffee, hot dog and roller food. The business opportunity here is being missed. If I had the cash I know exactly what I would be starting.
 
dawktah LucidGT said:
I am so glad I found this thread. It answered one of my questions about why EV charging is located in such weird spots. I am wondering what will happen to break the stranglehold oil, gas and ICE companies have created. Dealerships are doing whatever they can not to sell EV since they make their money on service. Going so far to block the direct to consumer model. All while the world is on fire, literally.

One thing that must change is the placement of availability of EV chargers on the signs that are on the highway prior to the exit that tell you about gas, food and lodging. This will change the perception of "range anxiety." Are these signs Federal? If you have the car you use on board nav or app but ICE drivers need to "see" to be willing to convert.

I've reached the age that I can only tolerate 6-7 hours total per day on a road trip. Separated by an hour lunch. So EVs need to target this, being able to drive 80 mph for 4 hours on a charge or 350+ miles. This must be the floor. I use rest area for bathroom only. I used to use the Oasis on the toll road for fuel and to eat fast food so a 30 minute stop.
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This is false. Telsa's service centers are literally like the dealership service centers you assume are holding dealerships back from selling EVs. Dealerships don't sell EVs much because they either don't understand EVs or it's just difficult to sell EVs to people. So no, they are not doing whatever they can to not sell EVs. The age of modern EVs is less than 10 years old. Secondly, there isn't enough manufacturing capacity to build millions of EVs per year yet. So why would you expect dealerships to immediately start selling EVs in the millions when its just not feasible to build them and they are uncommon enough to where people don't know what they are? Drop the stupid conspiracies. Goodness.

EV chargers are only put in weird spots now because barely anyone drives EVs yet. It's not going to change until more EVs get sold. We are still in the early adoption phase.

The signs by the interstate for exits are largely regulated by states - hence why there are slight differences between the signs between states.
 
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