New EV Owners Need More Urban Charging Stations

Infrastructure planning for charging stations has been in the works for years, but will it be ready for EV consumers in 2021?

As a recent resident (not permanent) of Los Angeles, I was always for looking public charging for my Model S 2013 and its 200 mile battery pack via PlugShare. Luckily, I had workplace charging — Level 2 — as a day-to-day solution for my Model S that allowed me to add 15 to 30 miles every other day or when it was needed. However, Shell’s recent acquisition of a charging network drives home the point that the next wave of EV buyers need more urban charging stations.

Shell has signed an agreement to buy ubitricity, a European provider of on-street charging stations, and the EV charging network is popular in the UK with more than 2,700 charge points. Plus, the network provider has more than 1,500 private charge points — commercial — for fleet customers.

According to the press release, “ubitricity works with local authorities to integrate EV charging into existing street infrastructure such as lamp posts and bollards. The result is EV charging that is affordable, accessible and convenient for anyone who wants to charge their EV while it is parked on the street.

>> For charging station information, see “How to Eliminate Range Anxiety When Buying an EV.”

For the U.S., street-side charging stations could help alleviate daily and weekly charging needs for apartment and condominium dwellers. Urban planners have been enacting charging requirements for new townhomes — see Chicago Passes EV Ordinance and Maryland below — and a big proposal in May 2020 by Xcel Energy in Colorado would provide service and installation of charging stations so homeowner associations don’t have to monitor and maintain charging stations.

Thank you Delegate @mkorman for working to ensure that Maryland homeowners in HOA & condo communities will have a framework to allow them to install #EVcharging. #RightToCharge #mdga2021 https://t.co/qMI50tfTou

— Lanny (@Lanny) February 16, 2021

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Urban Electric Pop-up Charging

One curious UK street charging solution that is still in development is Urban Electric’s pop-up charging hubs, see below:

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File Under Disturbing

Automakers and dealerships are two distinct entities and getting dealers to understand EV cars & technology is a challenge, as Ford is realizing with its release of the beautiful Mustang Mach-e to dealers. See thread below and subscribe to Plugged In, your source for EV Buying.

Another day, a new #EV buyer note. He *loved* the Mustang Mach-E. But ...

"At least at the dealer I [visited], @Ford has a long way to go in educating their sales teams. They knew *nothing* about the car other than typical things like ‘heated steering wheel’ + common features."

— John Voelcker WEARS A MASK (@johnvoelcker) February 16, 2021

For the entire article on urban charging, visit our sister publication, Plugged In.