[WTF, North Carolina?] North Carolina’s plan to ban free EV charging is an environmental disgrace [WARNING: NO POLITICS]

[MostlySafeBear]

It worries me that NC will not be alone in this.

https://thenextweb.com/news/north-carolina-ban-free-ev-charging-is-environmental-disgrace

(I copied/pasted a portion of the article to summarize, note that it is longer, and you should click through the link to read the entire article)

"While the US federal government is moving towards standardizing fast-charging infrastructure and installing the first national network of chargers on highways, North Carolina might be going in the opposite direction.

NC Representative Keith Kidwell, together with his colleagues, Reps. Ben Moss of Richmond County, Mark Brody of Union County, and George Cleveland of Onslow County, last week filed House Bill 1049 — one of the country’s most anti-EV bills to date.

Titled “Equitable Free Vehicle Fuel Stations,” the proposal wants to remove free charging stations in North Carolina and ban EV charging on government property. That’s unless free gas and diesel fuel stations have “equitable” availability.

First off, the bill wants businesses (restaurants etc.) with free charging stations to print at the bottom of every receipt how much of the customer’s bill goes towards subsidizing charging — whether the customers make use of the service or not.

How exactly stores are supposed to calculate this cost is unclear, unless they can accurately determine how much business came in as a result of the free charging. The logistics don’t really work here.

But even if there is a way, it doesn’t really matter. How is providing free EV charging any different from spending on ads, or offering free WiFi? They all come from the same operating budget that aims to attract as many customers as possible.

Secondly, the bill aims to prohibit the use of public funds (from the state and the local governments) for free EV charging on public land unless fossil fuels are also provided for free.

That’s where things start to get really insane, simply because it’d be impossible to install free gas stations. The higher price of gasoline compared to electricity would require larger public funds, which would, in turn, require heavier taxes.

And if the Representatives are so worried about wasting taxpayer money, then shouldn’t taxes be spent on making your planet (and life) better?

To put it in a nutshell, the bill’s provisions are clear: no more free EV chargers just because."

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[data003]

Hilarious but I doubt this goes anywhere. Surely they aren’t that crazy in NC?

 

[sotek2345]

Hilarious but I doubt this goes anywhere. Surely they aren’t that crazy in NC?

The last several years has taught me that this doesn't even approach the limits of our crazy.

 

[hturnerfamily]

I can see where some who are not for 'only the wealthy get EV credits' are also in the same boat with the thought that providing some type of 'free' EV chargers floats the same boat. Their boat, though, has holes in it - they've just yet to see them.

Providing 'free' EV charging, Level 2 I presume, is akin to 'free' parking, or 'free' services that they provide so many other 'non-wealthy' folks.

The idea from the get go was to prompt the general public to consider EV vehicles, in order to support the idea of 'saving the planet' and 'saving fossil fuels', etc.,etc. Now, though, their mind has been 'washed' to think that only 'wealthy' folks can afford EVs, so therefore the government should not be involved in helping 'them folks'.

 

[RDeFran]

It is a ban of free charging stations. What is the big deal? That doesn't ban pay or paid subscription stations, which most are.

 

[data003]

It is a ban of free charging stations. What is the big deal? That doesn't ban pay or paid subscription stations, which most are.

Most “destination” chargers are free. It’s a perk to get people to visit somewhere.

 

[adoublee]

It is a ban of free charging stations. What is the big deal? That doesn't ban pay or paid subscription stations, which most are.

Yeah, this is exactly what I want government doing. Better lock up those outlets on the outside of your building since those electrons could slip into a vehicle without that additional level of taxation. Are you in favor of metering a home charger seperately and tethering that cost to gasoline as well? Maybe the government themselves shouldn't hand out charging but this idea is insane.

 

[Pioneer74]

If North Carolina is going to ban anything, they need to ban the Carolina Lift.

 

[Amps]

If North Carolina is going to ban anything, they need to ban the Carolina Lift.

I think the Virginia ban goes into effect in a couple of weeks. We may need to build a wall.

 

[theblunden]

If North Carolina is going to ban anything, they need to ban the Carolina Lift.

North Carolina banned the "Carolina Squat" back in December of 21' so you can't register your vehicle this year until it meets certain requirements. That being said the charging network is pretty bad in North Carolina as far as fast charging goes but I plan on doing 90% of at home charging so I'm not too worried about this BS bill.

 

[FordLightningMan]

North Carolina banned the "Carolina Squat" back in December of 21' so you can't register your vehicle this year until it meets certain requirements. That being said the charging network is pretty bad in North Carolina as far as fast charging goes but I plan on doing 90% of at home charging so I'm not too worried about this BS bill.

As most people do 90% of their charging at home, thankfully this bill won't have much of a real world impact. If this was only for public government sites I can almost see the logic, as no one voted for the budget to install a charger and provide the electricity. The counter-point is the government spends tons of our money on stuff we never vote for, so why is this any different?

For private businesses though, this just becomes laughable. The party that talks bad a lot about communist China is sure trying to emulate their firm grip over the private sector.

 

[RDeFran]

No interest whatsoever in partisan politics. Just looking at it as a business owner. I just spent $13k on two level 2 chargers, $15k on the parking lot, $4k on power. At this point I can charge whatever I want for charging. Cost of power is $.096, Blink charges 8% to manage the network, I am going to charge .19 to .24. If I had a restaurant in a state where we were not allowed to charge and I wanted to give power away, I would figure out a subscription or retail credit/validation to handle it. Nothing is truly free, costs are passed on somehow.

 

[sotek2345]

No interest whatsoever in partisan politics. Just looking at it as a business owner. I just spent $13k on two level 2 chargers, $15k on the parking lot, $4k on power. At this point I can charge whatever I want for charging. Cost of power is $.096, Blink charges 8% to manage the network, I am going to charge .19 to .24. If I had a restaurant in a state where we were not allowed to charge and I wanted to give power away, I would figure out a subscription or retail credit/validation to handle it. Nothing is truly free, costs are passed on somehow.

What L2 EVSEs did you buy that cost $6.5k each? I don't think I have ever seen ones that expensive.

 

[FordLightningMan]

No interest whatsoever in partisan politics. Just looking at it as a business owner. I just spent $13k on two level 2 chargers, $15k on the parking lot, $4k on power. At this point I can charge whatever I want for charging. Cost of power is $.096, Blink charges 8% to manage the network, I am going to charge .19 to .24. If I had a restaurant in a state where we were not allowed to charge and I wanted to give power away, I would figure out a subscription or retail credit/validation to handle it. Nothing is truly free, costs are passed on somehow.

That's exactly the point. A private business owner should be able to do whatever the hell they want to do. Public property I am genuinely indifferent and even might say these politicians have a point. But if someone owns a restaurant and wants to give free charging and charge $1 per glass of tap water to pay for that, they can do whatever they want.

 

[VTbuckeye]

It does not say that charging charges must cover the actual cost of charging. Make it a penny to connect...Then pay it from the penny jar at the register.

As for the free gas, make it so that the gas is metered out at the same energy rate as the level 2 charging. 1 gallon equivalent is 33.7 kw. So the level 2 evse delivering 7kw should deliver 13ml per minute (7kw/33.7kw x 3785ml/gallon /60 min per hour) and then only have as many gas dispensers as EVSEs. So if you want free gas get in line for it to dribble out at 13ml per minute (aka 4.3 drops per second). When people realize that is how slow these cars are charging, they may not hate it so much. They may also realize how much more efficient EVs are. If the free gas is at a DCFC location would the gas pumps have to be variable? Start at 150kw equivalent (280ml and taper down to 20ml for that last 10 percent of charge). Maybe also have some gas pumps randomly not work or deliver less than their nominal fill rate ...Sorry it's cold, you only get half of the capacity... All in the name of equality!!!

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