I have both a Tesla Model 3 and a Toyota RAV4-EV. I had an aftermarket CHAdeMO port added to the RAV so I could access higher speed charging. I have driven both of them on long distance trips (around 1000 miles RT) and the differences in charging experience are large. With the RAV, there is often just one or two charging stations. About 25% of the time one of the stations is down or the card reader doesn’t work. You use a RFID card belonging to the station brand (like the old gas station credit cards). The newer stations seem to have a kiosk added so regular credit cards can be used. You have to read the instructions on the small screens to get the charging started. Each brand seems to be different. The connector and cable are quite large and heavy.
With the Tesla, you simply pull up and plug in. It is much faster and easier. The station recognizes the car and automagically charges your generic credit card on file, like the FasTrak system for the toll roads and bridges here in California. The cable is much lighter (even though it carries 2-3 times the amps) and shorter plus the connector is 1/4 the size. It would be much easier for a disabled person to operate. I rarely find a broken Tesla station and I find there are usually 10-40 stations at each location. The stations are usually closer to main highways. Messages are displayed on the car’s large screen rather than a small screen on the charging station. You can monitor progress from inside the car. In our area, gasoline stations are open 24 hours, but the store and attendant are only there a much shorter time. So at night, you can only pay with a credit card and not cash. John John Blair > On May 19, 2021, at 7:07 PM, EVDL Administrator via EV <ev@lists.evdl.org> > wrote: > > I've been suggesting for some time that EV charging should have payment > parity with gasoline and Diesel fuel purchasing. We should be able to pay > for an EV charge with cash or generic credit, just the way we can at any > filling station. We don't have to carry RFID cards or use a smartphone to > buy gasoline, why should we have to use that stuff for EV charging? > _______________________________________________ Address messages to ev@lists.evdl.org No other addresses in TO and CC fields UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub ARCHIVE: http://www.evdl.org/archive/ LIST INFO: http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org
