So I just got this iPhone app that shows a bunch of charging stations & I notice they charge $2.00 an hour. Hmmm let's do some math. I may be incorrect in my calculations but it takes about 6 hours to charge a Karma at one of those, so basically $12.00 to obtain a full charge. On a full charge I'm getting 35 real miles in my car under normal driving conditions. So basically if I charged my car at a charging station I would be paying 34 cents per mile. Currently right now gas in my area (TX) is $3.16 a gallon. If I decided not to use the charging station & just run my ICE it would cost me 14 cents per gallon (this calculation is based on 22mpg running on ICE mode). That's less than half the cost to goto a charging station. If u were to break it down, if u went to a charging station, it's equivalent to getting 9mpg! My V-12 Lambo gets better mileage than that. So why would anyone want to goto a charging station???? Other than the fact they want to be Eco-friendly of course. Again my calculations may be off which would throw this whole thing out the window
Charging Stations - Does it make sense??
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If you have a pure electric vehicle you're a captive audience and have no choice. That's who the pay charging stations are really aimed at.
With the Karma (or the Volt) the range extender gives you choices, and your math is correct. On a strictly dollar basis, paying $2 an hour to charge is very expensive, and not at all worth it. For me, it's also about 500% more than I pay charging at home. There were a few threads about this many months ago, but the general consensus was Free was a no brainer, $1/hour was about as high as most people would go, and anything more more was ridiculous and not worth it. For me, I'll use free chargers where I can find them (they are scarce, but growing in Atlanta) but I've never paid to charge.
Brent
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I don't think all charging stations charge $2/hour depends on the location.
If you're a pure EV and you need to get home of course you will pay!
If you're a pure EV and you need to get home of course you will pay!
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I'd pay $2/hr to park at a charging station if I also had to pay $2/hr to park in an equivalent non-charging spot. 
In other words, if it's not a premium, if it's just the regular going rate, then, OK, that's the going rate. The premium I, personally, would pay for a charge spot, over a non-charge, is about $.50/hr here. Electricity here is roughly $.10/kWh and at 3.3 kW, one hour of electricity is thus about $.33. In more expensive areas, like LA or SF, I might be willing to go to nearly twice as much of a premium. If the Karma could charge at 6.6 kW I might pay more, too. Basically, take the cost of the electricity and round it up to the nearest quarter or 50 cents or whatever.
It's probably not feasible yet but that's the pricing model I'd like to see: parking lots with chargers allow you to choose your pay rate, which limits your charge rate, so if you have a 6.6-kW car you can choose the lower 3.3-kW hourly rate. I suspect people would even be willing to pay a little extra for fast charging, which might cover utility demand charges, although it makes more sense to have on-site cogeneration (i.e., also make hot water, hot air, cooled water, cooled air, whatever is needed) and/or garage-rooftop-PV in the southwest.
In other words, if it's not a premium, if it's just the regular going rate, then, OK, that's the going rate. The premium I, personally, would pay for a charge spot, over a non-charge, is about $.50/hr here. Electricity here is roughly $.10/kWh and at 3.3 kW, one hour of electricity is thus about $.33. In more expensive areas, like LA or SF, I might be willing to go to nearly twice as much of a premium. If the Karma could charge at 6.6 kW I might pay more, too. Basically, take the cost of the electricity and round it up to the nearest quarter or 50 cents or whatever.
It's probably not feasible yet but that's the pricing model I'd like to see: parking lots with chargers allow you to choose your pay rate, which limits your charge rate, so if you have a 6.6-kW car you can choose the lower 3.3-kW hourly rate. I suspect people would even be willing to pay a little extra for fast charging, which might cover utility demand charges, although it makes more sense to have on-site cogeneration (i.e., also make hot water, hot air, cooled water, cooled air, whatever is needed) and/or garage-rooftop-PV in the southwest.
One think not mentioned yet, the charging stations tend to be well positioned in the parking garage, and the spaces are larger. I can zip right out of the stadium if I park at the charging station and fill 'er up. That might save me 30min of time winding around the parking garage breathing the ICE fumes. Is it worth it? Everyone has a different value equation.
Where I work they installed 4 ChargePoint charging stations. Besides paying you regular monthly parking rate you pay an additional $2.50 an hr to charge your car. If you leave your car there over 4hrs. you receive a nice parking ticket for exceeding the 4 hour limit. Needless to say they are not used at all.
On the other hand, in the structure where I park the management company charges me $1.00 a day to charge my car over my normal parking rate. I have to use my charger but I think it's a very reasonable deal.
On the other hand, in the structure where I park the management company charges me $1.00 a day to charge my car over my normal parking rate. I have to use my charger but I think it's a very reasonable deal.
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I bet the charging stations are gone in a year and the comment is: "we removed them because nobody used them because obviously no one has any interest in charging their car!"
(And in other news, after we installed laser beams that shoot holes in your tires, nobody wants to park any car here, obviously there's no need for parking!)
I have 2 chargepoint stations 2 blocks from my office. I can park there and I can charge for free. They gave me the key fob so I can use it for free. Entergy Arkansas forbids reselling the electricity that lights up the parking deck so you can always charge for free.
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