Panelists Say Charging Infrastructure Really Isn't Needed for Electric Vehicles
By Scott Doggett August 3, 2010
The refrain is growing: the new age of electrified vehicles is a good thing, but all that chicken-or-egg investment in charging infrastructure everyone always assumed would be necessary before people would buy them? Not necessary after all.
EV charging stations in San Francisco.
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At the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI, today, several panelists in a session titled "Full-scale Deployment: Making the Business Case," reiterated what is becoming the new conventional thinking about EV-charging infrastructure: It's not really needed.
Robert Bienenfeld, American Honda Motor Co. Inc.'s senior manager of environment and energy strategy in the automaker's product regulatory office, said although establishing a large charging infrastructure might be a "badge of honor" for EV proponents who've long fought for a quicker pace, the vast majority of consumers are well-served by the driving range provided by the charging they can do at home.
"Very little charging is needed in the public sector," Bienenfeld said.
He also said that although there are concrete plans in many regions to install reasonably extensive infrastructure, a lot of investment in public charging inevitably will come to be judged as "stranded assets."
The message was similar at a green-car conference earlier this year, where many auto-industry sources indicated that all the early angst about EV range anxiety is beginning to look unnecessary.
Improving battery technology is leading to increased driving range - Nissan claims up to 100 miles for the coming Leaf - while better intelligence about consumer needs and driving habits is leading to the understanding that public charging wouldn't be vital for most EV drivers.
Bill Visnic, AutoObserver Senior Editor
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What a surprise, Honda representatives being negative on the need to introduce better infrastructure for EV's.
For the record, Honda have consistently been negative to any real progress. Even for their favoured fuel cell technology, they are demanding huge sums from Government to roll out fuelling stations before they commit to build.
Since greater utility for electric vehicles would work directly against their commercial interests, opposing infrastructure for them is par for the course.
One wonders how many other participants in this forum have a vested interest in delaying or avoiding electric vehicles.
As for the notion that the range of electric vehicles is increasing so as to make it unnecessary, citing the Leaf, against what have they increased?
There weren't any mass produced EV's.
The only major contenders I can think of is the Tesla, which has a far greater range.
Obstructionism should not be mistaken for constructive comment.
For the highly filtered early adopters group (Affluent Home Owner with Garage and a 2nd Vehicle), public charging infrastructure is not a necessity. However, to work for the Condo/Apartment dweller with unassigned/street parking using an EV as their only car, WILL require public infrastructure. I do not think it premature to be working on both if the goal is wide spread adoption. It would be interesting to look at the often quoted 95% of trips less than 100 miles and see what?s left after removing AHOG2V drivers.
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