Are we being forced to go electric?

[icowden]

Except people prefer to park outside their own house if possible, so if that’s where there’s a charge point, that’s where their car may sit for hours or days on end

And? Hook up to the nearest lamppost. On a residential street lamp posts are around 30m apart. So at any given point in the street you will be within 15m of a lamp post. Get a 15m charging cable. Even with a 7m charging cable you still have the option of 3 to 4 different spaces per lamp-post. The lamp post charger can be set to auto-unlock when a car is not taking energy.

Install some charging bollards between the lamp posts. The solutions are endless, and relatively easy.

 

[Dadam]

Except people prefer to park outside their own house if possible, so if that’s where there’s a charge point, that’s where their car may sit for hours or days on end

So? If that's a public charge point, then tough luck, they'll have to move it, or get a longer cable as icowden said.

It's important to note there are no magic solutions that will make it easy for everybody, but BEVs will first be the default type of car then eventually the only available option. This should of course be accompanied by efficient, cheap (or even free!) subsidised public transport and vastly improved cycling and walking facilities to reduce the demand. It may be that for many people who live in places with no off street parking the better default vehicle would be ebike, e-scooter or e-motorcycle. There are several brands of motorcycle and scooter (the vespa type not the standon type) with batteries you can remove and carry inside the house to charge.

 

[ClichéGuevara]

And? Hook up to the nearest lamppost. On a residential street lamp posts are around 30m apart. So at any given point in the street you will be within 15m of a lamp post. Get a 15m charging cable. Even with a 7m charging cable you still have the option of 3 to 4 different spaces per lamp-post. The lamp post charger can be set to auto-unlock when a car is not taking energy.

Install some charging bollards between the lamp posts. The solutions are endless, and relatively easy.

The people I know tasked with rolling them out don't find it that straight forward for a whole host of reasons, including the existing network not being up to that sort of demand. Perhaps you could share these super insights of yours with them.

 

[vickster]

And? Hook up to the nearest lamppost. On a residential street lamp posts are around 30m apart. So at any given point in the street you will be within 15m of a lamp post. Get a 15m charging cable. Even with a 7m charging cable you still have the option of 3 to 4 different spaces per lamp-post. The lamp post charger can be set to auto-unlock when a car is not taking energy.

Install some charging bollards between the lamp posts. The solutions are endless, and relatively easy.

On my street there are drives and lots of dropped kerbs so even if there is a lamppost or bollard you may not be able to leave a car next to it.
There are solutions but they’re not necessarily simple within the current infrastructure.
When the power unhooks does the car magically move away too?

You presumably have a large driveway

 

[ClichéGuevara]

I'm glad I'm not attending your meetings if they are lasting that long!

I wish they were shorter too, sadly there's far much to discuss at most of them to take less time, unless of course we had lots of shorter meetings, but that would involve even more travel.

 

[vickster]

So? If that's a public charge point, then tough luck, they'll have to move it, or get a longer cable as icowden said.

It's important to note there are no magic solutions that will make it easy for everybody, but BEVs will first be the default type of car then eventually the only available option. This should of course be accompanied by efficient, cheap (or even free!) subsidised public transport and vastly improved cycling and walking facilities to reduce the demand. It may be that for many people who live in places with no off street parking the better default vehicle would be ebike, e-scooter or e-motorcycle. There are several brands of motorcycle and scooter (the vespa type not the standon type) with batteries you can remove and carry inside the house to charge.

There are a myriad reasons why people can’t ride bikes or motorbikes (which will increase with an ever ageing population). Why should people who don’t have a drive be restricted? Nothing like further creating a multi tiered social economic structure penalising those who don’t own a home with OSP

Presumably you don’t have a car and ride one of these two wheeled machines exclusively l but it’s not simple for everyone

 

[icowden]

There are a myriad reasons why people can’t ride bikes or motorbikes (which will increase with an ever ageing population). Why should people who don’t have a drive be restricted?

They aren't. No-one is forcing them to buy a car. I lived in a terraced house with no driveway for many years. I used the bus, the tube and taxis. Usually where there are no driveways, there is better public transport.

Presumably your argument is that whilst there is one person who might not be able to charge their car conveniently and cheaply, no-one should be able to have one?

 

[classic33]

And? Hook up to the nearest lamppost. On a residential street lamp posts are around 30m apart. So at any given point in the street you will be within 15m of a lamp post. Get a 15m charging cable. Even with a 7m charging cable you still have the option of 3 to 4 different spaces per lamp-post. The lamp post charger can be set to auto-unlock when a car is not taking energy.

Install some charging bollards between the lamp posts. The solutions are endless, and relatively easy.

One of the lights on the street I live on is on a pedestrian only section, around 31/2 foot wide, makes up just under a third of the street length.
Another is just in from the junction/too close to the junction, and unsighted at road level from one direction of travel.

Will your insurance cover you for leaving an obstruction on a public footpath?

 

[icowden]

On my street there are drives and lots of dropped kerbs so even if there is a lamppost or bollard you may not be able to leave a car next to it.
There are solutions but they’re not necessarily simple within the current infrastructure.
When the power unhooks does the car magically move away too?

Cables are quite long. If your street as lots of driveways you don't need a lamppost charger!!!! You can't have it both ways.

 

[icowden]

Will your insurance cover you for leaving an obstruction on a public footpath?

Why would there be an obstruction on the footpath? Are you parking on the pavement?

Any more? I'm guessing the next question will be
"but what if there's a removal van?"
"but what if someone leaves an unattended elephant in the way?"
"but what if the street has no lights at all'?

etc.

*Most* people have the ability to access a charger. More chargers can be installed in *most* places whether it's a lamp post, a bollard or whatever.
Simple. As demand increases, infrastructure will improve and increase, as will technology. Batteries will get smaller, lighter and longer range etc.
Probably the biggest risk is getting into an iPhone type situation where new charge types keep coming out and everyone needs a new model of car because of design changes and tech improvements.

 

[classic33]

Cables are quite long. If your street as lots of driveways you don't need a lamppost charger!!!! You can't have it both ways.

You're saying she should park in someone else's drive to charge?

 

[cougie uk]

Ah but how would the EV Charge Point Operators make any money with a blocked charger - the car is charged within 2-4 hours, but the charger blocked all day. We face this issue at work as more staff get EV's. They don't bother to move them all day - these spaces will need policing !

I think slow chargers will be more popular than the ultra fast ones. Or even just normal sockets. Save the fast charging for places like motorways.

 

[icowden]

You're saying she should park in someone else's drive to charge?

I'm saying that *usually* if my neighbour has a drive, I can also have a drive.

Although - why not? You can rent out your charger you know.

 

[vickster]

Cables are quite long. If your street as lots of driveways you don't need a lamppost charger!!!! You can't have it both ways.

Half the properties if that maybe have a drive but mostly only for one car. Many households have more than one vehicle

 

[vickster]

I'm saying that *usually* if my neighbour has a drive, I can also have a drive.

Although - why not? You can rent out your charger you know.

Not the case for me. I’m end of terrace and have space for one car. The other half a dozen houses in the terrace have no OSP