Why Public Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles Require Payment
It’s not always the case, times two. In my world, public parking is frequently not free, but I have a dozen or so free charging options in my town. So, why do public charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) usually require payment while many public parking spots don’t?
Public Parking and Charging Stations: Not Always Free
While public parking is often not free, many charging stations are available without needing to pay. However, there are variations for both. This dichotomy is due to the different economics and business models behind them.
Why charging stations require payment: The reason isn’t too different from why public gas stations or restaurants require payment. Charging stations are a service, and someone needs to cover the costs.
Payment Mechanisms for Charging Stations
High-speed Level-3 charging stations require payment of some kind. Tesla owners have it more conveniently, with payments often being automatically handled just by plugging in the car. For Level-2 chargers, known as destination chargers, many are subsidized by the local community or retail establishments like Kohls, Walgreens, and others, but many are not free.
The cost of these chargers and the minimal cost of electricity are covered by someone. It could be the company that spent a lot of money on buying and installing them, or sometimes the local community or business. Even then, it doesn’t make the stations free. That's because someone still has to pay for the power, which is not free.
Hidden Costs of Freedoms
Hidden costs behind public charging stations are often overlooked. For instance, in the past, many cities subsidized level-2 stations to encourage EV adoption. However, these were often cheaper stations where the cost of electricity was negligible, not the high-speed Level-3 stations. In 2017, many cities provided free charging at community centres, but they later contracted out to ChargePoint, a charging station provider.
The electricity provided is clearly not free. Consumers, taxpayers, or businesses need to cover the cost. Asking taxpayers to cover the cost of electricity for charging stations is like asking them to pay for free public parking. Someone always has to pay for these services, from the tarmac and lighting to maintenance. Charging stations are no exception.
In conclusion, while public parking is often not free, many charging stations require payment to cover the costs of installation, maintenance, and electricity. This balance is necessary to ensure that these services remain available and feasible for future use.