Wavebender
Well-known member
In a dream last night I saw a solution to the problem of the lack of EV charging stations in rural and semi-rural areas: private charging stations. People could install roadside government-subsidized stations on their land and list their service on EVSE.gov as well as on Apple Maps, Google Maps and Waze. Apple and Android users download a free smartphone app with current listings, port compatibilities, and charging levels these stations support. Landowners could set their own prices and compete with each other for customers, letting the market set the going rate.
They have the land to do it and they get a revenue stream while providing a clean, hands-off service to their community and to travelers from nearby interstates and highways. It would be less likely to work in urban and suburban areas due to the lack of parking space as well as zoning laws, but there will be exceptions to this in many locales. Multi-acre properties on the edge of town could easily find the space needed.
Customers have nothing to do while charging, so sell them something while they wait. Since power for refrigeration is right there at your EVSE, put a produce or meat stand next to your station and make even more money. Hell, serve coffee and donuts. In cannabis-legal states, sell them your dank farm-to-car buds too!
Thoughts?
They have the land to do it and they get a revenue stream while providing a clean, hands-off service to their community and to travelers from nearby interstates and highways. It would be less likely to work in urban and suburban areas due to the lack of parking space as well as zoning laws, but there will be exceptions to this in many locales. Multi-acre properties on the edge of town could easily find the space needed.
Customers have nothing to do while charging, so sell them something while they wait. Since power for refrigeration is right there at your EVSE, put a produce or meat stand next to your station and make even more money. Hell, serve coffee and donuts. In cannabis-legal states, sell them your dank farm-to-car buds too!
Thoughts?