We don't even produce enough electricity for EVs, and now we are trying to power AI data centers poised to take even more power. It's not just a distribution problem, or a charging facility problem. It is an electricity production problem. The problem of producing power and distributing it alone will likely take 10-20 years to solve. Charging infrastructure is a different beast because it generates huge loads on the power grid in short bursts. Many big charging stations run massive diesel generators and/or have HUGE batteries on site to handle this load. Then there is the fire hazards, toxic mining for batteries, chemical pollution from batteries, and the long charge times. A lot of people live in apartments where home charging will never be feasible. On top of all of this, smart chargers are being designed to "handle" grid issues by turning off charging or even sending your electricity back into the grid which will leave you wondering "Why can't I use my car? It's been on the charger a stupid amount of time now..."
In summary, I won't be hopping on the EV bandwagon. The Toyota CEO is right. They have nothing against EVs and would make them if it made sense. Trying to ram EVs down people's throats will waste a lot of money and cause lots of problems. A hybrid is something that actually does work for many people. Hydrogen would also be superior, if they can get the kinks out. Toyota is a pioneer in hydrogen power too.
> A lot of people live in apartments where home charging will never be feasible
People in apartments usually have an assigned parking space, often covered. All you need to provide is a 240v outlet like a clothes dryer uses. Car owners can bring their own chargers.
It's more accurate to write that a lot of apartment complexes have simply not tried to install charging because most of their tenants don't have electric cars.
>People in apartments usually have an assigned parking space, often covered. All you need to provide is a 240v outlet like a clothes dryer uses. Car owners can bring their own chargers.
That sounds like rich apartments. Most apartments I've seen don't have assigned parking, or adequate parking for guests. Covered parking is extra, even in the hottest parts of the US. Tenants don't have anywhere to plug in. Don't take my word for it. Go take a tour of basic apartments in your area with a realtor and see how many of them can support more than like 5 EV cars. I think you will find that all of them cannot support mass adoption of EVs.
You're talking about installing megawatts worth of cabling for EVs that nobody wants as if it's already done or trivial to do. Even if you did it, the additional fire hazard is nothing to scoff at. State Farm (the insurance company) decided that EV charging was too dangerous for its parking garages. Who are we to tell them that they are wrong about the risks?
You might be somewhat right about this being a chicken/egg problem. It goes all the way back to the power plants that cannot produce enough power for EVs. This conversion to EVs, if it ever happens, will need decades to unfold. It could easily be disrupted by developments in synthetic chemical power such as hydrogen. In any case, whining about manufacturers and consumers not going in directions that don't work for them is a non-starter. EVs are at present luxury items that only work for people who can shape their lives around charging requirements.
I've lived in apartments most of my life, my guy. Literally every apartment I've lived in has had assigned parking or covered parking. That includes some crappy 70s-era housing with paper thin walls, lead paint, and no washer-dryer in the unit. Apartment buildings are generally required to have adequate parking for all residents. That's one of the building codes dense housing advocates want relaxed.
> You're talking about installing megawatts worth of cabling for EVs that nobody wants
They'd want it if it existed. I think we both agree it's a chicken and egg problem.
> Who are we to tell them that they are wrong about the risks?
Maybe they just gave a plausible-sounding excuse for ending an employee benefit?
> synthetic chemical power such as hydrogen
Hydrogen is a lower fire risk than Li batteries? Interesting...
> EVs are at present luxury items that only work for people who can shape their lives around charging requirements.
For people in single family homes who already own 2 cars, trading one out for an EV is a no brainer. I'm not describing particularly rich households.
>I've lived in apartments most of my life, my guy. Literally every apartment I've lived in has had assigned parking or covered parking.
I've lived in several apartments too and toured many more. The only covered parking any of these apartments had was an upcharge. In most cases the parking was not assigned. You are given a tag and you park anywhere you can.
>Apartment buildings are generally required to have adequate parking for all residents. That's one of the building codes dense housing advocates want relaxed.
Adequate parking yes, assigned parking no. In one apartment I lived at, there were about 5 guest spaces per 100 units. Your guests could have to walk half a mile to get to your apartment.
>Maybe they just gave a plausible-sounding excuse for ending an employee benefit?
This service costs very little, so I'm going to say no. They could have charged money for the service if they really wanted. My employer used to have free charging, but now it is a paid service. EV fires are super bad and toxic, and insurance companies can see through the propaganda because they deal with the true costs of the fires.
>Hydrogen is a lower fire risk than Li batteries? Interesting...
It actually is, because the fire can be extinguished. There are risks associated with hydrogen, as with anything, but hydrogen is just an example. I think we could actually work out how to capture carbon from the atmosphere and convert it into hydrocarbons as well.
>For people in single family homes who already own 2 cars, trading one out for an EV is a no brainer. I'm not describing particularly rich households.
If you own a house and have 2 cars that aren't old or in poor condition, and can afford to do electrical upgrades (which could involve rewiring half the house), you're not particularly poor either. If you want to trade out one of them for an EV because you know you need flexibility, a hybrid (plug-in or otherwise) is the real no-brainer. I'm not buying a hybrid or an EV because I don't consider the technology suitable for my purposes. But you buy what works for you, and don't complain to me when I'm proven right.
