How many EV chargers do we need?

I have been looking for an excuse to write an article about EV chargers, and my experiences on the NY Throughway this summer have provided that excuse.? News of renovated rest stops with upgraded EV charging infrastructure – up to 6 high-speed chargers per rest stop - initially made me very happy about the viability of EV travel in New York State in the future (https://electriccarsreport.com/2018/06/new-york-state-will-spend-250-million-to-build-more-ev-charging/).? However, the installation of these chargers has left much to be desired.? Construction of the new rest stations are underway between Albany and New York City, and the old EV chargers have been removed (all except 1 southbound!)? Sadly though, the replacement EV chargers have not been installed (https://www.pressrepublican.com/news/the-thruway-has-brand-new-rest-stops-where-are-the-ev-chargers/article_0b5e0986-2cd6-11ee-bf51-1b3e5e575beb.html), leaving EV travelers in NY stranded with no way to charge on the way home from upstate.? These chargers are 4 years late now!

Anyways, putting my rant aside, it did stir a curiosity in me to wonder, how many chargers will we need in the future?? To answer this question, I performed a relatively simple balance of energy calculation to compare how much useable energy we currently derive from rest stop gasoline stations, and determine the number of level-3 EV chargers that would be needed to deliver the same amount of energy in the same timeframe.? The results were quite shocking.

We assume 2 cars fill up at the gasoline station every 5 minutes and each takes on 10 gallons of gasoline.? This continues throughout the day.? (I consider this a low estimate.)? We calculate how many gallons per hour this would be, and determine the kWh equivalent that would be needed to charge EVs an equivalent amount.? Dividing by a typical level 3 charger power of 50 kW, we arrive at an estimated 161 chargers!? That is quite a lot!?

Actually, 161 chargers seem a little too high to me.? That calculation does not include losses from generating locomotion through the burning of gasoline.? A fairer calculation would work via a mileage equivalent.? If we estimate 30mpg for gasoline cars (a good estimate for sedans but not trucks) and 3.5 miles/kWh for EVs, we calculate a mileage equivalent of 41 charging stations.? This number seems more realistic to me, but still illustrates the LARGE scale of EV infrastructure needs for a highway populated by 50% - 80% EVs.? Certainly 6 chargers will not provide the energy needed.

Yet again, it is important that policy makers work with analysts to sketch out what impacts policy decisions will have on our infrastructure and the economy.? Surely no one is currently planning for 41 level-3 EV chargers at any Interstate highway rest stop.? Yet, this is exactly what we calculate will be needed for a future highway filled with EVs, as current policies envision by 2030-2035 (https://www.forbes.com/wheels/news/automaker-ev-plans/).

If you would like to learn more about the impacts of your favorite clean energy policies, please reach out.? I would be happy to hear from you.

? Copyright Lucas Finco 2024