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It dawned on me that while we all go around discussing the pros and cons of who is and isn't benefitting from the rapid charging networks and how charging could or should be distributed, for the most part we seem to be missing a trick.
I know others have said so, but for a truly "all electric" future, we're surely going to have to do better than we have now (or at least, drop a lot of what we have)?
As range increases, as does battery capacity, as does the energy required to "refuel". Topping up, full charge, it doesn't matter. In percentage terms you need more energy to fill a bigger battery. (My physics teacher would be SO proud I took that much in)...
Anyway, for what most people "rapid" we're in the 40-60 kW range at present, which surely just wont be good enough as battery levels increase.
Tesla Superchargers deliver what, 120-135 kW and therefore, with the increased battery capacity, a comparible charge/dwell time for those of us in our LEAFs.
But is that enough? I know things will creep, not leap, it's how the industry works, but surely the infrastructure should be way AHEAD of what we need, not just enough?
Perhaps 22 kW should be seen as the "normal" charge rate and 120 kW the "fast", then we can watch as battery capacity creeps up?
I don't know, I don't have a big battery, but surely just about every charger below a certain threshold (so all the 3/6 kW chargers in Milton Keynes and car parks around the world) are really too slow, even for a decent dwell time or overnight stop?
I don't know, but it seems we need a real upshift in charging technology before we see any leaps in battery tech.
This isn't a "Tesla has it right, everyone else has it wrong" discussion, it just seems that we all want more pure battery range, but is the charging network ready for that? I don't think it is.
I know others have said so, but for a truly "all electric" future, we're surely going to have to do better than we have now (or at least, drop a lot of what we have)?
As range increases, as does battery capacity, as does the energy required to "refuel". Topping up, full charge, it doesn't matter. In percentage terms you need more energy to fill a bigger battery. (My physics teacher would be SO proud I took that much in)...
Anyway, for what most people "rapid" we're in the 40-60 kW range at present, which surely just wont be good enough as battery levels increase.
Tesla Superchargers deliver what, 120-135 kW and therefore, with the increased battery capacity, a comparible charge/dwell time for those of us in our LEAFs.
But is that enough? I know things will creep, not leap, it's how the industry works, but surely the infrastructure should be way AHEAD of what we need, not just enough?
Perhaps 22 kW should be seen as the "normal" charge rate and 120 kW the "fast", then we can watch as battery capacity creeps up?
I don't know, I don't have a big battery, but surely just about every charger below a certain threshold (so all the 3/6 kW chargers in Milton Keynes and car parks around the world) are really too slow, even for a decent dwell time or overnight stop?
I don't know, but it seems we need a real upshift in charging technology before we see any leaps in battery tech.
This isn't a "Tesla has it right, everyone else has it wrong" discussion, it just seems that we all want more pure battery range, but is the charging network ready for that? I don't think it is.