Biden wants to build 500,000 charging stations for electric cars. Where will they all go?

That's the number of charging stations in four U.S. states. It was President Joe Biden's favorite phrase during the 2020 c 500, 000 charging stations Despite his reputation as an ardent fan of trains and Amtrak, the president last year called for America to be filled with electric cars by 2030.

Summary:image created. Part of this ambitious plan, however, has been overlooked as the Biden government prepares for a $2 trillion infrastructure proposal that includes a $174 billion investment in electric cars. Today, there are only about 115,000 charging stations in the U.S., and 41,000 across the country. This means that electric cars need to quickly make up the difference with the stations that distribute their favorite fuel. Even with sufficient funding, where will those 500,000 stations go?

Why public charging stations?

The first thing you need to know about electric car charging stations is that they have a charging mechanism that looks an awful lot like the nozzle at a gas station, but not a gas station. It takes only three or four minutes to fill the gas tank of the average car. Meanwhile, an old-fashioned household outlet level 1 of a typical public charger level 2 up to 120V or 4-8 hours. (If you're lucky, a fast streaming charger level 3 can take as little as 30 minutes). Often at home while the owner sleeps: it only makes sense to charge the car when you're not using it. Most people charge their electric cars at home Electric cars.

However, if, as Biden promised, the country does drop emissions by 2050, the U.S. will need more public chargers because people won't be able to charge at home (apartment buildings and public housing can make it difficult to find available outlets). For those who want to charge while traveling or taking long trips. Mike Nicholas, a researcher with the International Clean Transportation Council, believes the country needs a charger for every 10 to 15 electric cars. That means Biden's plan would cover 5-7.5 million electric cars nationally. (There are about 1.4 million electric vehicles in the country today).

Where would this take place?

Currently, public chargers in the country are scattered around retail stores, hotels, malls, grocery stores and office buildings - anywhere you think you can park for an hour or two Unlike gas stations, charging stations for electric cars, because they take time. units are concentrated in places where people can shop, etc. American Consumerism: The only charging station is behind a cafeteria called English Muffin Bakery. The population is 438 residents. In San Jose, California, 20% (!) are electric cars, and 28 chargers are in mall parking lots. This may seem like an inherent flaw in Biden's plan: charging stations will only be made if stores, restaurants, and hotels decide to spend the money to install them. However, according to Nicholas, companies have already said that the benefits of adding charging stations and incentives are likely to increase in the coming years. First, companies that install charging stations can already get a credit of up to $30,000 in federal tax 500, 000 to try to add stations. The government can also provide more direct rebates or financing to help companies, such as paying for cement, reconnecting their electric systems and providing charging. Providing charging for electric vehicles can also attract customers and sales. An analysis by ChargePoint, which operates a charging network in the U.S., found that electric car shoppers in California retail stores stayed in the store 50 minutes longer than the average customer, spending an average of $1 a minute.