Nary a day goes by without yet another auto manufacturer committing not just to creating and delivering battery-electric vehicles, but also to developing battery manufacturing facilities, or entering battery alliances, or developing EV sales networks.
Or, in the case of some firms, realigning their existing gas-powered dealers for electric vehicles.
What is mostly left out of the announcements, is this little nugget: electric vehicle charging.
What makes this a greenfield is the fact that with current technology, electric vehicle charging is mostly a lengthy affair, taking a minimum of at least 30 minutes to some over an hour for a full charge.
Just about all gas stations in America are not prepared for this, and almost all of them may not have the physical space, without a wholesale revamping of their facilities.
The superb Tesla Supercharger Network is, without a doubt, the secret sauce that makes the Tesla cars have an advantage over other EV entrants today.
Get in the car, plot a trip, onboard sat/nav computes the route, calculates the amount of charging stops based on the car charging levels, adds needed charging stops, AND needed charging times, then delivers the journey’s itinerary with all the information. Easy. Peasy.
Now, imagine what will be needed when the mega auto companies – Toyota, GM, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, et al – start delivering EVs.
Yes, charging networks offering interoperability between vehicle marques must be developed in order to boost the viability of EVs not made by Tesla.
These networks would have to accommodate the fact that EV charging times are longer, and also like gas pumps, take a varied amount of time.
It opens up an opportunity for “charge stations” to offer new products and experiences to customers who are literally held captive for an extended amount of time. These experiences could range from expanded retail to expanded food options, and even to parkland/walkways on travel routes.
If the US ever mandates a single charging port or dongle for electric cars, then the opportunity becomes even more delicious.
It is my hope that the US government announces a plan for funding the creation of these networks by SMBs.
