Charging stations at trailheads

[PaddleTracker]

It would be great if there were charging stations at trailheads, campgrounds, lake parking. Possibly solar/wind. A day hike, weekend backpacking trip, or lake day offers hours of charging. Possible collaboration with US Forest service?

 

[cyure]

It would be great if there were charging stations at trailheads, campgrounds, lake parking. Possibly solar/wind. A day hike, weekend backpacking trip, or lake day offers hours of charging. Possible collaboration with US Forest service?

Welcome to the community!

 

[Chavannigans]

Welcome.

Love the idea. I think there may need to be some serious infrastructure investment to get power to remote trail heads, but I’d be all for it!

 

[PaddleTracker]

I meant if it were all solar and wind. Slow charge.

 

[Chavannigans]

I meant if it were all solar and wind. Slow charge.

Wouldnt they still need batteries or something to capture the load when not in use?

 

[cyure]

Rivian is building charging stations at national parks. They have one at Yosemite if I am remembering correctly.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Rivian thought they were going to do this and it got to be a lot more expensive than they probably imagined.

We need a separate company that can raise a few billion dollars to put together something like this.

My biggest concern is that any charger at a trailhead that's low population will likely see vandalism by anti-ev chuckleheads.

 

[J Alynn]

Rivian thought they were going to do this and it got to be a lot more expensive than they probably imagined.

We need a separate company that can raise a few billion dollars to put together something like this.

My biggest concern is that any charger at a trailhead that's low population will likely see vandalism by anti-ev chuckleheads.

Exactly-that’s the hardest part of evolution is the fear of change

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Exactly-that’s the hardest part of evolution is the fear of change

I really don’t understand it either.

To me, modern EVs are the most exciting advancement in automotive technology in 100+ years. As a gearhead/car guy, how could I not be excited about this?!

If you know of any billionaire angel investors who want to do something fun, let’s put together trailhead charging company building chargers that are resistant to vandalism. We’ll do induction charging with an inducer in every parking spot. We'll sell a retrofit kit to be bolted to the underside of the vehicle. You pay with a credit card swipe or via an app. Level 2 charging at 30-80 Amps.

 

[J Alynn]

I really don’t understand it either.

To me, modern EVs are the most exciting advancement in automotive technology in 100+ years. As a gearhead/car guy, how could I not be excited about this?!

If you know of any billionaire angel investors who want to do something fun, let’s put together trailhead charging company building chargers that are resistant to vandalism. We’ll do induction charging with an inducer in every parking spot. We'll sell a retrofit kit to be bolted to the underside of the vehicle. You pay with a credit card swipe or via an app. Level 2 charging at 30-80 Amps.

I’d be happy just seeing the local gas station throwing a solar array on their roof to boost the free energy and add 1 or 2.

 

[FernandoR211]

Most camp grounds that allow for RV parking can charge an EV. It wont be as fast as a supercharger, but its something.

 

[cyure]

Most camp grounds that allow for RV parking can charge an EV. It wont be as fast as a supercharger, but its something.

Welcome to the community!

 

[BeerParty]

Most camp grounds that allow for RV parking can charge an EV. It wont be as fast as a supercharger, but its something.

You need to check with the RV park before using their electrical hookups to charge an EV. The outlets they use for RVs my not be rated to handle the continuous load that an EV draws when charging. The circuits are likely shared with other spots, so using electrical hookup for EV charging would also impact other people in the park.

 

[FernandoR211]

You need to check with the RV park before using their electrical hookups to charge an EV. The outlets they use for RVs my not be rated to handle the continuous load that an EV draws when charging. The circuits are likely shared with other spots, so using electrical hookup for EV charging would also impact other people in the park.

A EV uses 50 amps to charge. The average RV uses 30-50. When plugged in. Would be be basically the same. And, in an EV, at least on a tesla you can adjust it to be lower or higher depending on source. You are fine.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

A EV uses 50 amps to charge. The average RV uses 30-50. When plugged in. Would be be basically the same. And, in an EV, at least on a tesla you can adjust it to be lower or higher depending on source. You are fine.

The new NEC is close to fixing a problem RV parks have had for ages, which is that they have not been required to meet the continuous draw standard that residential installations are required to meet. Before 2017, the load used in the service calculation for a 240V, 50A service was not 50A * 240V = 12kVA, but rather 9.6kVA.

That was updated to 12kVA in 2017, but only for new installations.

 

[FernandoR211]

The new NEC is close to fixing a problem RV parks have had for ages, which is that they have not been required to meet the continuous draw standard that residential installations are required to meet. Before 2017, the load used in the service calculation for a 240V, 50A service was not 50A * 240V = 12kVA, but rather 9.6kVA.

That was updated to 12kVA in 2017, but only for new installations.

So really its a self defeating problem anyway...

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

So really its a self defeating problem anyway...

I've never had an issue at the places I've charged. But I use a 30A or 32A L2 charger, so it's not anywhere near the max.

 

[FernandoR211]

I've never had an issue at the places I've charged. But I use a 30A or 32A L2 charger, so it's not anywhere near the max.

Yep. I wouldn't push it if I were to plug in an EV. Unless the campground literally had no other RVs there and then I would ramp up slowly.