# How does public-available charging of electric vehicles work?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 30, 2024, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613 "2024-03-30T19:19:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/81 "2024-04-30T22:12:29Z")
> [@md-2000](#):
>
> So if you run your big battery down to zero, then the clock is ticking on the 12V. When that runs down to zero, you got problems. First, I hope you left the door open or window down. Silly, but like many car doors, there is no top frame, the window goes into a slot on the trim - so without power, you will have to bend the trim to open the door, even from the inside. Similarly, unlocking is by keycard or phone, so that won’t work without 12V. (or, leave the trunk open and the seat down.) At least you can pry open the chargeport door.
>
> So you get to the charger with access to the interior, but no 12v. You have to crawl into the trunk through the back seat if it’s not open to pull on a ribbon, move the catch to allow the charger plug to seat all the way. Then, you need 12V to charge.
>
> Remove the cover plate for the front towhook (little round cover) and hook 12V (polarity matters!) to the wires in there. That pops the frunk. Inside, remove the trim near the windshield - it snaps out - and you see the battery, ready to be jumpered just like a regular gas car. (Again, polarity VERY important). I’ve seen suggestions even a simple 9V battery is enough to open the frunk, but you definitely need a regular jumper for the rest.
>
> Wait for the computer to boot up, then it will allow you to start the charge process. Once you have a few miles of charge, you sjould be able to disconnect the jumpers.
I think you can skip the first part of this where you break into the car, and just go for the second part where you pop the frunk:
Pop the front tow hook cover and use a 9-volt battery or jumper box to open the frunk. This will only open the frunk when the 12-volt battery is dead, so under normal conditions, this is **not** a way to break into the frunk.
Once the frunk is open, gain access to the 12-volt battery, and attach a jump box or other 12-volt power supply. Wait for the car to boot-up, and then unlock the door as normal. Proceed to charge the big battery. Once the big battery is alive, then the jump box can be disconnected.
It is not possible to charge the big battery if the 12-volt battery is dead, because the car can’t close the contactors to connect the big battery.
> [@md-2000](#):
>
> “running on fumes” is a lot more hassle than with a gas car. You should avoid going down below 10%.
Yes, people who run out of gas because they’re broke, will find charging easier, because it is cheaper (or free, if you plan right). People who run out of gas because they are incapable of planning ahead will probably run out of charge just the same. Perhaps instead of making special gas stops, the ability to daily charge while the car is otherwise parked will help prevent running out of go-ness in the car.
---
### Author:  [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/82 "2024-04-30T22:12:41Z")
Or a diesel–run that out and you probably have to re-prime the fuel pump, which is likely a tow. Don’t run your vehicle out of energy if it’s a complex system or unless you like pushing.
---
### Author:  [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2024, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/83 "2024-04-30T23:28:23Z")
> [@md-2000](#):
>
> The moral of the story, like with a gas car, is DO NOT GO TO ZERO.
But I think a valid point, as we’re seeing in this thread, is people are a lot less familiar with the procedures for keeping an electric vehicle fueled up than they are with keeping a gas powered vehicle fueled up.
---
### Author:  [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2024, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/84 "2024-05-01T03:09:00Z")
There is a mindset difference between ICE and EV. Running the EV battery below 20% will take a tiny bit of life out of it. So there is a nagging little voice that says it will cost you if you do drop below that. Enough of a voice that 20% kicks in the time to charge behaviour in one’s mind.
With ICE, the fuel low light tends to be the beginning, but one also learns how far that can be pushed. My old car had two litres of fuel left when it showed zero range left. There was no penalty for going this low - so long as one filled up pretty soon. Thus it was possible to allow one’s self to run very close to the edge. (Cyclic fuel price discounting was the driver for such behaviour. Prices swing by up to 30% - so not trivial. Something I really don’t miss worrying about.)
---
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2024, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/85 "2024-05-06T14:01:51Z")
> [@echoreply](#):
>
> > [@Dangerosa](#):
> >
> > And that assumes you get 150 miles out of a charge
>
> Road tripping an EV is different than a gas car. Gas car you drive until empty (or the screams from the people who need to pee get too annoying), and then fill up. EV you go to the next charger, and then charge just enough to make it to the next charger. If chargers are dense you might be skipping locations.
>
> Maximum range often isn’t that important. You just need _enough_ range. So yeah, 1.5-2.5 hours (150ish miles), and then a 5-20 minute stop.
>
> The way I think about it is I’m only “wasting” time charging if the people are all waiting for the car to finish. Often the car is done before the people, but frequently we’re all back to the car and ready with 5 minutes of charging left. So that stop we wasted 5 minutes compared to a gas car.
Last month, we did 1000 miles in three days to rural western NY for the eclipse. 7hrs/400 miles there on Sat, 200ish miles driving around on Sun, & longer drive (stoopit traffic!) / 400 miles home on Mon.
On the way there, we stopped once for fast food, eaten in the car at the closest place out of our way; no charging available, about 5 min stop & 10 mins until back on the interstate. The second stop was to fuel up, & since it was full serve, I went in to pee; came out as it was finishing, four min stop & six mins off the interstate (one min each way). There was no (okay, maybe 110 on an extension cord) charging where we stayed.
Food stops on Sun were the Anchor Bar in Buffalo for wings & a place the college kid picked to be treated; neither had charging in their lot; other than that it was very much rural, not really seeing any retail until in the Buffalo suburbs so all EV fueling would have been wasted time not otherwise doing anything, & that doesn’t even include detours to get to a charger as they’re not right at the exit in rural areas because there’s frequently _nothing_ right at the bottom of the ramp in rural areas.
That trip would have been significantly longer in an EV. No, it wasn’t a one-time thing as we’re going there again later this month & at least two trips there next year. Not the type who stops every 1½-2 hrs.
> [@md-2000](#):
>
> So if you run your big battery down to zero, then the clock is ticking on the 12V. When that runs down to zero, you got problems. First, I hope you left the door open or window down. Silly, but like many car doors, there is no top frame, the window goes into a slot on the trim - so without power, you will have to bend the trim to open the door, even from the inside. Similarly, unlocking is by keycard or phone, so that won’t work without 12V. (or, leave the trunk open and the seat down.) At least you can pry open the chargeport door.
Are you saying that w/o power one can’t even open the doors? Seems like a serious safety hazard in the event that the batteries short out in flood waters. Yes, there are a lot of idiots out there who drive into them, & I’m the swift-water rescuer going into said flood waters to pull 'em out. Sometimes the vehicle has flooded out & stopped & they’ve managed to get themselves out & are standing on dry ground when we pull up & sometimes we need to go in after them. Having to break a window & have them crawl out, into flood waters is definitely going to be harder than opening the door & getting them out by putting their feet on the ground the way people are used to getting out of a vehicle.
---
### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2024, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/86 "2024-05-06T14:17:17Z")
> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> Are you saying that w/o power one can’t even open the doors?
No. Obviously not. There are obvious and easy to use mechanical latches to open all of the doors.
---
### Author:  [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2024, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/87 "2024-05-06T14:19:09Z")
All these cars are supposed to have emergency releases, and it’s not limited to EVs–a lot of higher trim ICE cars also have electronic door releases and/or motorized soft close.
Your Eclipse trip would have been pretty easy with our EV but you do have to change your mindset a bit–it’s got 300-340 miles of highway range, so to make your drive you would need at most a 10 minute DC fast charge. BUT you need to plan your trip around that charge and you need to find lodging with at least a level 2 charger nearby. Both are easy if you incorporate them into the planning process. And n.b. you need to limit your speed to about 70 mph–the range drop precipitously at 80.
---
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2024, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/88 "2024-05-06T14:43:19Z")
> [@hajario](#):
>
> > [@Spiderman](#):
> >
> > Are you saying that w/o power one can’t even open the doors?
>
> No. Obviously not. There are obvious and easy to use mechanical latches to open all of the doors.
Seemed kinda crazy to me but
> [@md-2000](#):
>
> So if you run your big battery down to zero, then the clock is ticking on the 12V. When that runs down to zero, you got problems. First, I hope you left the door open or window down. Silly, but like many car doors, there is no top frame, the window goes into a slot on the trim - **so without power, you will have to bend the trim to open the door, even from the inside.**
from the way it was written it looks like it, & with some of the other stuff Musk has done it doesn’t seem completely crazy for one of his products. Musk & Trump don’t do well in The Onion because they do so much outlandish stuff regularly that it’s hard to tell what’s a parody & what’s real with them. Sounded like the blond joke where she calls AAA because she’s locked _in_ her car.
---
### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/89 "2024-05-06T14:46:10Z")
Well yeah but I assure you that there is a mechanical latch exactly where you’d expect it to be. The electrical one rolls down the window a little bit so it doesn’t wear out the gasket.
There is no way the regulating agency would allow you to be trapped in the car if it loses power
---
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2024, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/90 "2024-05-06T15:12:18Z")
> [@Tride](#):
>
> Your Eclipse trip would have been pretty easy with our EV but you do have to change your mindset a bit–it’s got 300-340 miles of highway range, so to make your drive you would need at most a 10 minute DC fast charge. BUT you need to plan your trip around that charge and you need to find lodging with at least a level 2 charger nearby. Both are easy if you incorporate them into the planning process. And n.b. you need to limit your speed to about 70 mph–the range drop precipitously at 80.
I’d start out with a 300 mile range charging to full overnight at home, but ‘fueling’ from 20-80% only gives me 180 miles from each stop. Secondly, in rural areas one needs to drive further out of their way than the bottom of the highway ramp to find refueling; that 10 miles into town & back both adds time & decreases effective range.
We stay in the same place every year & book it, I think, book it for the next year before we even leave from the current year but there is limited housing & it’s frequently tough to get a room (& campsites in the park won’t have Level 2) if you try & book late, in general in that area & virtually none of it has level 2 charging. Urban, or even suburban with six hotels on three corners of an interstate exit it ain’t.
EVs are great for a lot of use cases, but long drives to rural areas, especially for people who don’t otherwise stop frequently are where they come up short.
---
### Author:  [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/91 "2024-05-06T15:17:50Z")
No argument there, although even rural areas are getting level 2–all you need is a dryer outlet. And actually, a campground set up for RVs might be your best bet with 220v hookups at the campsites. IF you can find a place to stay with level 2 charging, then you only need 1 10 minute stop to go 400 miles.
---
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2024, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/92 "2024-05-06T15:24:07Z")
Ha! Try getting an RV into there will make it a write off, no these are cabins & yurts. The road in a mix of about 20% dirt, 20% gravel & about 60% potholes, at least in the park; there are some RV places outside of the park.
I thought level 2 was home overnight charging & level 3 was superchargers & even those take longer than 10 mins for that kind of range.
---
### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2024, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/93 "2024-05-06T15:29:33Z")
Everything you say about EVs not being ideal for long rural trips is correct but you can certainly charge to 100% and take it down to 2% to accommodate longer legs.
---
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2024, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/94 "2024-05-06T16:54:55Z")
but isn’t the rate of charge slower below 20% & above 80% so it’ll take longer to top off from 80-100% than it does to get a little boost from 50-70% even though I’m recharging exactly 20% in both cases.
I live in Greater Suburbia, I will run the tank a lot lower in my ICE at home, where there are a ton of gas stations, & I even know where the cheapest gas is than I will in Ruralia. I’ve gone _out_ with my low-gas light on, done whatever errands & gotten gas _on the way home_ because I know I can do it & that’s a more logical route for whatever I’m doing whereas I get a lot more panicky at even ¼ tank in rural areas. Where we were/are going again this month we stay about 40 mins from the interstate, there’s a gas station right by the exit & one more about 25 mins from the interstate. That’s it; only two in 40 mins of driving & except for lower in the two small towns where the gas is, it’s 45-55 mph speed limits the whole way, & I gotta drive about 20 mins past where we stay before I find gas station #3. I won’t let it get down to either fumes or electrons out there because there isn’t a plan B if you’re intended refueling station is unavailable for whatever reason.
I believe I asked previously but didn’t see an answer, Tesla usually has large banks but other chargers are typically only two; is that common? How often do the other companies have more than two chargers at a given location
---
### Author:  [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2024, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/95 "2024-05-06T17:00:34Z")
> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> but isn’t the rate of charge slower below 20% & above 80%
Only the latter. The less charge there is in a battery, the faster it’ll take charge. So below 20%, it’ll be very fast.
---
### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [May 6, 2024, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/96 "2024-05-06T17:04:42Z")
> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> Tesla usually has large banks but other chargers are typically only two; is that common? How often do the other companies have more than two chargers at a given location
In my very limited experience there are way more than two alternate chargers per bank. Obviously it’s going to vary considerably.
---
### Author:  [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2024, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/97 "2024-05-07T17:50:24Z")
First - not sure why the complaints about the door set-up. My BMW is exactly the same - the window goes into a recess on the car automatically once the door closes (and opening the door automatically lowers the window a fraction of an inch). When you have no power, the window will not drop that 1/2" so there is a risk that the window will break or the trim it is recessed into will bend. (BMW never mentioned that possibility but it seems equally obvious) That is the warning to Tesla owners when they get their car, that using the emergency mechanical latch may not retract the window - so the trim may bend when you open. It’s nothing wonderful different about EV’s.
Second - yes, the problem today is that there are not a lot of chargers compared to gas stations, particularly in remote rural areas. In the future, that may be different, chargers may be everywhere. Also, some housing is not wired appropriately for home charging. Until then, some people can’t use electric vehicles, or perhaps for some, one of their two vehicles needs to be gas.
---
### Author:  [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)
#### Post date: [May 7, 2024, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/98 "2024-05-07T17:58:58Z")
> [@Spiderman](#):
>
> I believe I asked previously but didn’t see an answer, Tesla usually has large banks but other chargers are typically only two; is that common? How often do the other companies have more than two chargers at a given location
I used to see single non-Tesla chargers, now typically there are double chargers. I see the more recent Tesla installs are usually 8 Tesla chargers and 2 non-Tesla fast chargers (and sometimes, 2 slow chargers too…) I believe this is what Tesla has to do to qualify for subsidies for installing charger infrastructure.
(Of course, in places like California, there are a lot more chargers. Even around Toronto, for example - there are two installs near Canada’s Wonderland theme park. one with 20 and one with 16. Obviously I’ve never really looked for larger non-Tesla installs)
---
### Author:  [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)
#### Post date: [May 9, 2024, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/99 "2024-05-09T18:19:49Z")
FYI - tracked a recent road trip. much of it was interstate travel at a sedate approx 76mph.
At that speed, my Model 3 used about 1.53 to 1.57km of charge for each km driven. Charging costs worked out to about 8¢ per km; whereas my BMW usually gets in the neigbourhood of 10km/L, and a litre is pushing $1.50.
---
### Author:  [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2024, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613/100 "2024-05-10T23:02:36Z")
Gift link:
> **[The Future of Electric Cars Hinges on a Dongle](https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/05/electric-cars-tesla-supercharger-adapter/678346/?gift=hzomlMR2dBLPzkPdeme4aB4plQ1N6DAmxG98TTlNwRU&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share)**
>
> A free charging adapter can help alleviate one of the biggest problems holding back EVs.
> Even though Tesla Superchargers make up nearly three-quarters of America’s fast chargers, most non-Tesla EV drivers have had to look for a plug elsewhere. That’s because Tesla’s cars use their own proprietary charging port, similar to how the Lightning Connector is only for Apple products. But in recent months, Tesla has opened up its Superchargers to cars from Ford and Rivian. With a brick-size charging adapter, drivers can plug into more chargers than ever before, alleviating one of the biggest challenges to owning an EV. Many more automakers may soon get Supercharger access and adapters, but that has gotten complicated by Tesla’s shocking and sudden decision to fire its entire Supercharger team last week. So much about the adoption of electric vehicles in America now hangs on a dongle.
> Last week, Musk laid off Tesla’s 500-person Supercharger team, a baffling, inexplicable move considering how central charging has become to the company. On his social platform, X, Musk posted that Tesla will grow the Supercharger network “at a slower pace.” Ford and Rivian reportedly are now in the dark, having lost their main contacts at the company. The layoffs might already be slowing down the dongles: Unhappy Ford-EV owners have taken to Reddit to discuss delays in adapter delivery, as first reported by The Verge.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613.md?page=4)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-public-available-charging-of-electric-vehicles-work/999613.md?page=6)