Last October, I stopped at Repentigny near Montréal to recharge my Niro EV 2023. My car peaks at 84kW, so I usually look for chargers with 100kW or more. I noticed that Flo was installing eight 50kW chargers nearby and thought I’d never use them since faster chargers were right there.
Today, I was heading to that same Electrify Canada site but realized I needed at least 30 minutes for lunch, and the recharge I needed was shorter than that (from 23% to 62%). More than that would be a waste since my destination was a hotel with free Level 2 charging.
In this scenario, the 50kW Flo charger was perfect. The timing worked out great. It made me realize there’s a place for chargers that match your plans, even slower ones like 24kW DC in our province. It’s all about what the customer needs.
I did the same thing on a road trip—chose a slower charger so I could have a relaxed lunch.
Airports should have a lot of regular 15-20A Level 1 outlets. Charging at 2-4 miles per hour is totally fine for most airport garages!
Amelia said:
Airports should have a lot of regular 15-20A Level 1 outlets. Charging at 2-4 miles per hour is totally fine for most airport garages!
The only issue with that is theft, since you need to use your own charging cable. I don’t think it’s a huge problem, but it would make me nervous. That said, slow charging at airports makes a lot of sense. I parked at Spokane once, where they had plenty of Level 2 chargers (7kW per two stations, so 3.5kW per car if both are in use), and there were always spots. It felt weird leaving the car plugged in fully charged for days, but it worked out well.
@sorphia
I’ve mentioned this before, but if manufacturers hardwired the 110v cable to the car, like they do with block heaters in cold climates, that would solve the theft issue entirely.
Ronald said:
@sorphia
I’ve mentioned this before, but if manufacturers hardwired the 110v cable to the car, like they do with block heaters in cold climates, that would solve the theft issue entirely.
It would help, but it’s a pretty niche use case. Personally, I’d only use it once a year at most, like when I park long-term at an airport. I think for most other situations, Level 1 charging is too slow. Engine block heaters are more essential in cold places, where they get used daily for months. Also, block heaters are often an aftermarket addition, not something automakers build in.
@sorphia
I live in a cold climate and would probably use it every day during the winter. Even if it couldn’t fully charge my truck, it would prevent the battery from cold soaking and losing range. I’d gladly pay a few hundred for a hardwired solution, like a block heater.
Ronald said:
@sorphia
I’ve mentioned this before, but if manufacturers hardwired the 110v cable to the car, like they do with block heaters in cold climates, that would solve the theft issue entirely.
Thieves sometimes cut cords off DC fast chargers, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they did the same with car cables. But hardwiring would still make theft harder.
@izael
In 30 years of driving, I’ve never had my block heater cord stolen. A 15A, 110v charging cord would look just like that, and if it got stolen, it’s way cheaper to replace than a mobile charger.
Amelia said:
Airports should have a lot of regular 15-20A Level 1 outlets. Charging at 2-4 miles per hour is totally fine for most airport garages!
Or like at PDX, where they have a line of Level 1 chargers.
@Peggy
Pittsburgh Airport has a row of about ten Level 1 outlets. You just bring your own plug and cord. It works well and I’ve never heard of any cords being stolen.
Flo chargers are really consistent. Before I got my Level 2 home charger installed, I used a 50kW Flo charger in town. I also had access to a 200kW Petro Canada charger that was 50% more expensive because it’s time-based. Despite that, my charging rate would fluctuate and sometimes drop below 50kW. But the Flo charger gave me a steady 50kW every time.
When I’m on road trips, I try to use faster chargers, but for longer stops, I pick Flo because I know exactly what I’m getting.
@Connie
I’d rather have a bunch of 50kW chargers instead of just 1 or 2 350kW chargers in shopping areas. Level 2 (7kW) is nice, but getting a full charge while shopping would be ideal.
zendaya said:
@Connie
I’d rather have a bunch of 50kW chargers instead of just 1 or 2 350kW chargers in shopping areas. Level 2 (7kW) is nice, but getting a full charge while shopping would be ideal.
I like the idea of splitting power. Say there’s a 350kW charger, add 2 more 50kW stalls. Split the total 450kW evenly, and that way, you make four people happy instead of two. Many cars still don’t charge much faster than 50kW anyway.
@Thomas
That would work. Imagine 20-30 plugs sharing a 1MW base station with a queue system. You could plug in, go do something else, and the system would start charging your car automatically once it’s your turn.
I’d probably choose twice as many 100kW chargers over half as many 200kW chargers. It’s fast enough for a quick stop without generating too much heat.
If the price per kWh is cheaper, I’ll take the 50kW charger and enjoy a meal with the savings!
Unfortunately, in Germany, all new chargers are 150kW or more. No new 50kW chargers. In places where people spend time (shopping, eating), a lot of ‘slower’ DC chargers would be ideal. People won’t stop eating pizza just to move their car after it’s charged!
@olivia
When I go to London, I park at on-street spaces provided by Source London. Charging is expensive, but still cheaper than paying for parking in a car park. They only give 7kW, but I can park most of the day and fill my battery.
The price should reflect speed. If the 50kW charger costs the same as a faster one, there’s no incentive to use it. Circuit électrique is much cheaper than Electrify Canada, so it makes sense.