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I just tried Shell’s EV charging hub — and it's not the future I want
Toms Guide ^ | 30 Jan 2022 | Tom Pritchard

Posted on 01/30/2022 10:32:05 AM PST by DUMBGRUNT

A gas station-style forecourt isn't necessarily the best option

I’ve always been of the opinion that you should bring EV chargers to the people, rather than asking people to come to the chargers. But admittedly charging hubs aren’t very common, and until very recently they were all too far away to experience first hand.

But at the tail end of last year, Shell opened up its first EV charging hub in Fulham, in West London. It’s still pretty out of the way for me, and the trip involves driving into the heart of the U.K.’s busiest city from nearby Reading. But it’s not so far that I couldn’t check this out for myself, just in case I’ve been totally wrong about EV charging this whole time.

And yes, for those that didn’t know, Shell the oil company is also in the EV charging business. So is BP, which is all really weird to think about.

According to Shell the Fulham hub uses 100% renewable energy, with on-site solar panels contributing around a quarter of its needs.

It was a very painless experience, only really hampered by the fact the price was so high. £0.49 ($0.66). I’m used to rapid chargers being more expensive, but Shell Recharge is the most expensive I’ve ever seen. Back home a rapid charger will cost me £0.30 to £0.35 ($0.40 to $0.47) per kWh, depending on which company’s chargers I’m using. It’s not just London-centric inflation, either, since that is an all-too real problem in the English capital.

According to ZapMap, which lists the vast majority of available chargers, nearby rapid chargers were charging no more than £0.39 ($0.52) per kWh.

(Excerpt) Read more at tomsguide.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Travel
KEYWORDS: charge; dev; displacedemissions; electionvehicle; electricvehicle; ev; expensive; impractical; inconvenient
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To: TexasGator

And if you live in an apartment where do you charge it?


61 posted on 01/30/2022 11:17:59 AM PST by 2nd amendment mama (Self Defense is a Basic Human Right!)
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To: GOPJ
Maybe only 3 or 4 times since a fair number of folks can charge at home for their daily commuting. But interstate travel is another story. The Teslachargers are already swamped on holiday times.


62 posted on 01/30/2022 11:19:40 AM PST by nascarnation (Let's Go Brandon!)
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To: setter

Ignore kiryandil and Code Toad. They are trolling me. Goes back years when I labeled Cossacks and Banditos as motorcycle gangs.


63 posted on 01/30/2022 11:20:10 AM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: CodeToad

“I am probably getting a tax refund this year so to you the government paid for my groceries.You communists seriously need to take a civics lesson, as I have never met a communist who really wanted socialism. They always want wealth they have and control and just think the government will do that for them.”


You are truly losing it. Show the link where I claim to support communism in any way. Commie is the racist word to you to bully opponents who is besting them in an argument.


64 posted on 01/30/2022 11:21:48 AM PST by setter
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To: setter

Not everyone owns a home. I never have, and like an electric car, I don’t want one.


65 posted on 01/30/2022 11:22:44 AM PST by mass55th ("Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~~ John Wayne )
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To: MtnClimber

A little cheap one around town for short errands, maybe $8k range.


66 posted on 01/30/2022 11:22:51 AM PST by ImJustAnotherOkie (Let's go Brandon)
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To: Mr Rogers

“Or CURRENTLY as convenient as gas.”

Filling up at home is more convenient.

No routine oil changes is more convenient.


67 posted on 01/30/2022 11:24:24 AM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: brianl703

Not for normal branch circuit wiring. The only place aluminum wiring is used is for main feeds. Aluminum branch circuit wiring was tried decades ago. Mostly in mobile homes and in some homes. Caused a LOT of problems/fires. Problem is the dissimilar metals contacts with receptacles/switches, etc. For main feeds, a no-oxidization compound has to be used.


68 posted on 01/30/2022 11:25:44 AM PST by Gaffer
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To: TexasGator

I still not sure why someone hasn’t built a hybrid where the gas motor only powers the battery, and is not part of the drive train. My guess is that the government incentives are not there.

The motor would be able to run at the most efficient point on its power curve, and would not have to be large-displacement, high HP unit. A small, air-cooled engine may do the trick.

It would reduce the complexity compared to modern hybrids which have both motors connected to the drive train. It would also be a source of heat in colder regions and would give the owner an alternate way to keep the vehicle going where charging stations or time are at a premium.


69 posted on 01/30/2022 11:25:52 AM PST by kosciusko51
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To: 2nd amendment mama

70 posted on 01/30/2022 11:26:14 AM PST by TexasGator (UF)
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To: RWGinger

“How does that work at apartment buildings?”

When the demand warrants it and the cost of outside charger come down (which they already are) the apartment owners will eventually put them in.

Some apartments already are and are advertising charging stations as a selling point.


71 posted on 01/30/2022 11:27:30 AM PST by setter
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To: nascarnation

Can they put enough charging stations at apartment buildings so everyone can as Texasgator put it “charge while you sleep’?
No
Even Buttagig knows that isn’t possible


72 posted on 01/30/2022 11:29:06 AM PST by RWGinger (Does anyone else really )
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To: DUMBGRUNT

“According to Shell the Fulham hub uses 100% renewable energy, with on-site solar panels contributing around a quarter of its needs.”

Ok, so lets do the math, something that reporters don’t bother with, at least when it comes to Leftist causes:

1. The picture shows 9 standard-sized solar panels per charging station. 2. Each panel will generate a bit over 200W in ideal conditions, so figure 2000 Watts can be generated (again, in ideal conditions).
3. Average sun hours per day in London is a bit under 5 hours, so let’s use 5 hours. This takes into account nighttime, cloudy days, and seasonal variations. It does not take into account shadowing.
4. Therefore, energy generated for the panels over one bay is 10 kWh per day.
5. Since Shell says that represents 25% of the energy used, then the average energy used per bay would be 40 kWh (with 3 coming from the grid).
6. An average car being charged might take this same 40 kWh.
7. Therefore the bay must only be charging ONE CAR per day.

I SERIOUSLY doubt that’s the case...

Moral of the story. They’re playing us by sticking nearly useless solar panels on the roof and then claiming that they’re generating a bunch of power from them.

What else are they lying to us about?


73 posted on 01/30/2022 11:33:20 AM PST by BobL (Money is the most important thing in my life.)
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To: setter

Lol Exactly how many charging stations did these apartment owners install? Got a link?

Show me ONE apartment building that has put in enough chargers for every apartment dweller.
Do you honestly think That will ever happen?


74 posted on 01/30/2022 11:37:46 AM PST by RWGinger (Does anyone else really )
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To: kiryandil

Your comment about your neighbor’s Tesla is idiotic, sorry. How would losing power at home cause his Tesla to suddenly have a drained battery?


75 posted on 01/30/2022 11:38:44 AM PST by dinodino ( )
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To: DUMBGRUNT

How long does recharging take compared to filling your tank?


76 posted on 01/30/2022 11:42:17 AM PST by SkyDancer ( I make airplanes fly, what's your super power?)
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To: DUMBGRUNT

Just for reference, EVs get about 4 miles per kWh. So when electricity is 50 cents per kwh (12.5 cents per mile), you’re basically that same as what it costs in fuel to drive a gasoline car (roughly).


77 posted on 01/30/2022 11:42:38 AM PST by BobL (Money is the most important thing in my life.)
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To: mass55th
This is to make cars too expensive for the average citizen to own and operate forcing people onto public transportation. Why do the progressives push trains so much even when they don't make economic sense? To force people through TSA Checkpoints and to restrict and control movement. Once you have to take a bus,train,or plane to travel between cities or a bus to travel within a city then becomes easier to implement both an environmental and social credit system tied to an internal passport to allow or restrict travel based on some beaurcracts decision if your trip is really necessary or if your a security risk due to your inappropriate views.
78 posted on 01/30/2022 11:50:21 AM PST by bonehead4freedom
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To: Tennessee Nana

—”Let me get this straight ...”

Not very straight.
He usually charges near his home, used the Shell charger to write a review.

“For instance, I used 15.4 kWh of power at the Shell hub and was charged £7.56 ($10.13) for it. Had I stayed at home and used the Gridserve rapid charger near my house, I would have paid £4.63 ($6.21) for the same amount of power.”


79 posted on 01/30/2022 12:00:12 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT ("The enemy has overrun us. We are blowing up everything. Vive la France!"Dien Bien Phu last message)
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To: setter

“Rustbelt Cleveland has 350 of them and growing.”

That’s more than one charging station for every EV in Cleveland.😃


80 posted on 01/30/2022 12:01:28 PM PST by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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