GM and EVgo To Build 400 Ultra-Fast EV Chargers Across the US (insideevs.com)
- Reference: 0174986299
- News link: https://tech.slashdot.org/story/24/09/13/0151223/gm-and-evgo-to-build-400-ultra-fast-ev-chargers-across-the-us
- Source link: https://insideevs.com/news/733461/gm-evgo-400-ev-fast/
> General Motors is joining forces with EVgo, one of the biggest electric vehicle charging operators in the United States, to [1]build 400 ultra-fast DC chargers nationwide to support the growing number of battery-powered cars hitting U.S. roads. To be clear, these are individual stalls, not charging stations. However, the two companies describe the new locations as "flagship destinations" which will feature 350-kilowatt DC chargers, ample lighting, canopies, pull-through spots and security cameras. Most locations will feature up to 20 ultra-fast charging stalls, but some will have even more -- good news for those crowded holiday road trips. GM and EVgo said the fancy new stations would be located near shopping areas offering dining, coffee shops and other amenities.
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> We don't know exactly where the new stations will be built, but EVgo mentioned that the "flagship destinations" will be deployed coast to coast, including in metropolitan areas in states like Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New York and Texas. The stalls will be co-branded EVgo and GM Energy -- the automaker's charging and energy management division. The first new "flagship station" is expected to open next year. The new stalls will make use of EVgo's prefabrication approach which can reduce the total cost of a new station by 15% and the deployment time by 50%. Similar to Tesla's prefabricated Supercharger stalls, EVgo's ready-made structures come with stalls and accompanying equipment already mounted on a metal base plate which is transported from the factory to the charging site.
[1] https://insideevs.com/news/733461/gm-evgo-400-ev-fast/
sooo... (Score:4, Interesting)
How many total would be needed in the US? 40 000? 400 000? Well if they actually build any, as opposed to what is currently going on with the current Biden project - 8 stations at $1B/piece [1]https://www.autoweek.com/news/... [autoweek.com] - it would be a good start.
[1] https://www.autoweek.com/news/a60702457/federal-funds-yield-only-8-ev-charging-stations/
Re: (Score:2)
This is that:
> LOS ANGELES - October 12, 2023 - EVgo Inc. (NASDAQ: EVGO) ("EVgo" or the "Company"), one of the nationâ(TM)s largest public fast charging networks for electric vehicles (EVs), today announced it has been selected for more than $12.7 million in preliminary awards from a variety of funding sources across California, Colorado, and Pennsylvania, including utilities, air districts, state energy offices, and state departments of transportation via the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NE
Re:sooo... (Score:5, Informative)
> How many total would be needed in the US? 40 000? 400 000?
Not even remotely that many. The vast majority of charging for the population is done at home or at L2 charging stations. These kinds high power ultra fast chargers are designed for long range driving only. Why would you need 400000 high speed chargers when there are currently less than 200000 total gas stations in all of America and when oil companies themselves estimate a 90-99% drop in service station use as a result of EVs not being charged mid-trip?
Re: (Score:2)
My office has L2 chargers in the parking lot and gives us 4 hours/day of free charging. The fast chargers are going in mainly along the interstates and major roads for drivers taking longer trips. Some of the big-box stores are getting into the game on the assumption you're spending 20-25 minutes shopping and want to 'top up' while you're there. The mall just down the road has an eight-stall charging station, half of them DCFC.
If you go by the assumption that most EV owners are charging at home, then the
Re: (Score:2)
My local grocery store has an EV charger, but it's only a 6.5 kw charger. What's the point in that? Unless you work at the grocery store, you're not going to be there for enough time to get a meaningful amount of charge. At that rate, it would take 12 hours to fully charge a modern EV.
Re: (Score:2)
> it would take 12 hours to fully charge a modern EV.
I guess but if we reframe it knowing that on avverage you get 3mi/kwH and shop for 1/2 an hour, that's 3.25kwh or 9.75mi.
That basically the grocery store providing you free gas for your trip to get there. If they offered this with actual gasoline I feel like everybody and their mother would be lined up even to get a free 1/2 gallon every trip.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm on your side, but your post is just as misleading. You can't compare stations to individual chargers, you have to consider total locations AND number of vehicles served per hour. Given that there are "less than 200000 gas stations", perhaps you could assume that 100000 EV fast charging stations may be enough, but where 1 gas pump could serve 10 vehicles an hour, a charging bay may serve only 1-2. That would suggest 500,000 charging stations could be needed. There's your number. Of course, that assu
Re: (Score:3)
> How many total would be needed in the US? 40 000? 400 000?
We're all nerds here, so let's do the math:
America has 200k gas stations, with an average of six pumps each, for 1.2 million fueling points.
But gas cars must go to a gas station, while EV owners do 95% of their charging at home.
TFA says these chargers are 350kw. My EV has a capacity of 80kwh. So that's 15 minutes of charging. But my 9-year-old EV isn't capable of fast charging. So, let's say an average of 30 minutes of charging vs. 5 minutes to refuel a gas car.
1.2M * (1 - 0.95) * 30/5 = 360,000
Re: (Score:3)
> ...while EV owners do 95% of their charging at home.
While that figure might be true for present EV owners, what about all the millions of car owners who would like to make the switch to EV, but cannot charge at home or work?
Until there's a great many more convenient charging points available, these millions of ICE drivers can't - not won't, but can't - make the change to EV.
Re: (Score:2)
"But gas cars must go to a gas station, while EV owners do 95% of their charging at home."
Any stats about EV usage today don't matter. All that matters is what the stats would be if EV adoption goals were met. NO way that number remains as high as 95% as adoption increases, both because more drivers will not have access to home charging and fewer drivers that drive long distances will avoid EV. Right now, homes can consider EV as a second car and/or if they have a private garage and do not road trip too
Re:sooo... (Score:4, Informative)
> as opposed to what is currently going on with the current Biden project
[1]That article [slashdot.org] [2]is a lie. [slashdot.org]
It was a lie when it was originally published and it becomes even more of a lie to repost it every passing month.
=Smidge=
[1] https://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=23446434&cid=64770084
[2] https://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=23432176&cid=64734512
Re: (Score:2)
"but they paid $1B each for 8 charging stations!!!"
Re:sooo... (Score:5, Informative)
You're right, that article is out of date. There are now a whopping 14 operational stations that were directly paid for with NEVI funds.
You can download the list of them here if you don't believe me:
[1]https://afdc.energy.gov/corrid... [energy.gov]
Download the .csv file, and sort it by funding source.
More stations are certainly coming soon, but they're taking forever to get built.
[1] https://afdc.energy.gov/corridors
Re: (Score:2)
"8 stations at $1B/piece"
8 stations is the claimed number delivered SO FAR, the article does not say $1B/piece and any fool knows that's an absurd lie. MAGA morons are pathetic.
EVGo chargers suck (Score:1)
I hate EVGo. I got a $500 credit for it when I bought my GM EV, and good god, half the chargers I have tried to use have been broken or had a line for hours because most of not all EVGo chargers can only charge at 30-50kW.
Re: (Score:2)
> half the chargers I have tried to use have been broken
I don't understand why so many chargers are "out of order" so often.
It's just a frick'n cable and plug. What is there to break?
When a charger displays an "out of order" message, the cable and plug appear to be fine. So, it seems to be mostly software or connectivity problems, which are really human competence problems.
Weirdly, ALL the charging networks have this problem.
Re: (Score:2)
Weirdly, ALL the charging networks have this problem.
Nope. Not Tesla's.
Re: (Score:2)
Lack of use, lack of a responsible business plan (that includes maintenance) and vandalism. Around me, all L2 chargers are broken, all because of clear vandalism.
It's a transitory problem, once there is a steady need and steady profits, maintenance will solve itself. It would be nice if connectors are less easily destroyed, but there is a transition to J3400 anyway, so all those broken connectors we see today will not remain relevant.
And Tesla chargers break too, they just get fixed.
"It's just a frick'n c
Re: (Score:2)
The Electrify America chargers are usually much faster... when you can find them. Currently, they all seem to be spaced about 40 miles apart from each other and there are always a few broken chargers there once you arrive. It kinda sucks having to plan your road trip based on where they are located if you have a non Tesla EV.
Where does the power come from? (Score:1)
You have to be careful. Many places are putting in '200 kW' chargers, but they only have 30 kW of actual power. Put in the stations now, power comes later.
From the article:
350-kilowatt DC - " locations will feature up to 20 ultra-fast charging stalls, but some will have even more"
So 350 X 20 = 7000. Seven megawatts of power. Enough power for nearly 4700 homes (because we all know that a house only needs 1500 watts). "Hello, power company? I need a 7 megawatt substation out on the freeway.... 8 to 10
How fast is "ultra-fast?" (Score:2)
Roughly, how many minutes does it take to go from nearly "empty" to fully-charged? Same question for the current crop of chargers.
Hell..make them Buc-ee's... (Score:5, Insightful)
If they want to really generate business...make all of these new stations Buc-ee's (sp?)....those HUGE TX markets with spacious refueling areas, great bathrooms and great food.
Hell I like to stop at those even if I don't need gas....
Re:Hell..make them Buc-ee's... (Score:4, Funny)
That makes sense. A 'destination gas station' makes comparatively more sense for a longer (charging) stop than for just a quick gas stop.
Looks like it's happening but somebody [1]isn't a fan [youtube.com].
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzvQcC16WDk
Re: (Score:2)
Makes sense to me. Tesla is already installing Supercharger stations at Buc-ee locations.
Re: (Score:2)
Buc-ee's has been expanding into Florida in the last couple of years; their stores in St Augustine & Daytona have a long row of Tesla chargers to go with the 30-odd gas pumps. Don't know if they're retrofitting them into their existing footprints but I'm guessing yes.
Re: (Score:2)
It's disappointing that they are installing old technology though. We have had 400kW chargers deployed since last year.
Current gen Xpeng cars are getting close to 350kW peak, and will sustain around 300kW for much of the charge cycle. The 400kW chargers split that between two vehicles, with the first to plug in getting priority, so even an additional 50kW helps.
Maybe they don't have 800V cars that can take advantage of it.