EV Charging Doesn't Need to Be as Fast as Gas, Ionna CEO Says

All the messaging about fast charging speed is focused on the wrong thing. EV drivers should be able to do the vast majority of their charging at home or at their destination. The messaging should be about getting chargers in more homes, apartment complexes and workplaces. Speed doesn’t matter as much if you’re going to be parked for half the day or overnight. That’s something that gas simply can’t do.

Fast charging stations should only be necessary for road trips, where you should be taking a break every so often anyways.

Speed doesn’t matter as much if you’re going to be parked for half the day or overnight.

The apartment complex and workplace chargers I’ve seen all limit how long you’re allowed to leave your car parked at them. I suppose speed doesn’t matter in the sense that having to move your car 20 minutes later isn’t much less annoying than having to move it 4 hours later. Still, I wouldn’t want an EV without my own garage even if I never went on road trips. It seems like a pain.

Considering how inexpensive it is to put in a 30A, 50A, or 60A circuit, and how modern L2 chargers can both downrate dynamically and be activated with simple apps or cards, this is not a difficult problem to solve.

Considering how inexpensive it is to put in a 30A, 50A, or 60A circuit

I have a 50A circuit that i just installed. And previously installed a 30A circuit at my last house. It’s not inexpensive. A 50A breaker and 30 feet of 6/2 Romex with ground costs $240. Then add in a 40A capable Grizzl-E Classic for another $299 and you’re on your way to $600.

If you’re like me, you also buy conduit for the wiring in the garage to keep it dry/protected and a receptacle rather than hardwiring to allow for a little more flexibility.

Easy, yes. Cheap, no.

That’s only $10/mo over a 5 year period.

Great which contractor offers those terms?

I have a 50a charger installed but holy hell this comment is silly.

You still have to pay up front for the charger+wiring. That can be a deal breaker for many, and the point is apartments are much harder as most don’t offer any electricity for even l1 charging

Think like a business and it makes sense.

Yeah, that’d be nice if people could take on debt and adjust cash flows like a business, but a lot of people don’t have the financial flexibility to spend $600 in a lump payment. That’s why people keep bringing up 60+ percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. I’m fortunate enough to be able to make those types of purchases a couple times a year, but I know my privilege is not the norm.

The best someone may be able to do is 12mo financing on a new credit card with 0% apr, but miss a payment and its 25% interest. If they even get approved.