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Numbers can solely take you thus far. It’s straightforward to check numbers and specs in a desk, crunch them in a spreadsheet, and inform people who you recognize about one thing. However, in the true world, there’s a distinction between information and knowledge. Info and figures can provide you some information, however you may solely achieve knowledge by expertise.
That is mainly what I skilled lately on the first operational EV charging station from GM’s partnership with Pilot/Flying J truck stops and EVgo to put in 2,000 charging stalls at 500 areas throughout the US. I made a decision to make use of one simply outdoors of Knoxville, Tennessee alongside I-40.
Don’t get me flawed, although. The specs are nice at these new stations.
On high of a whole lot in planning, building, or completion, the websites supply speeds of as much as 350 kW for automobiles that may pull that a lot energy from them. That alone means both quick charging of smaller batteries or cheap charging instances for large batteries like we’re seeing within the vans and SUVs with the most important batteries now.
One other huge factor these stations have going for them is the format. They’re all underneath canopies, giving each the stations and the folks utilizing them safety from the solar and the rain. Most, however not all, of them are laid out with pull-through areas, so it’s straightforward to cost up and get going once more with out having to hook up a trailer or trouble with looking for a strategy to pull up with out unhooking.
Maybe extra importantly, the station has a pleasant, lengthy cable that may attain EVs of any plug configuration/place, and hooked as much as a trailer or not. This alone was massively handy in comparison with older Electrify America and most Tesla stations.
The stations themselves, run by EVgo, are able to plug and cost. Even my Bolt EUV was configured for that, so I solely wanted to plug the car in to cost. Utilizing an app or a bank card isn’t a giant deal normally, however this further little bit of comfort is sweet.
One other huge factor was the facilities. On the station itself, there have been squeegees and fluid, identical to at a gasoline station. So, I used to be capable of clear off my windshield while not having to go over to the gasoline station facet. That may seem to be a small factor, however when you think about that Pilot/Flying J truck stops have clear loos, showers, meals, and quite a lot of drinks, it’s a nicer place to spend a couple of minutes than a Walmart car parking zone or some random purchasing middle in a giant metropolis that isn’t near the freeway.
Between all of these items, it was a station that I can actually say was one of the best one on my 1800-mile journey. All the things was straightforward, easy, snug, and hassle-free.
About the one draw back to the station was the price of utilizing it. EVgo costs are excessive in comparison with most different EV charging stations, and even with a reduction I get from having a Lyft driver account it was 57 cents per kWh! However, the a lot better charging setting makes it value a number of further bucks to make use of.
Pictures by Jennifer Sensiba.
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