Los Angeles: Chaos at charging stations

With regard to the increasing number of electric vehicles, there is an imbalance between e-cars and charging options in many cities around the world. The situation is no different for the American metropolis of Los Angeles. With around 63,000 electric vehicles and only 3,957 public charging stations available, the infrastructure is largely inadequate, he says. Above all, several points for fast charging are needed. Only 81 of them are Tesla Super Chargers. An insufficient number, which caused chaos and crowding at filling stations all over the city. The world-famous e-car manufacturer reacted to this by raising prices.  

In order to take control of the situation, Tesla had changed the charging costs at peak times in recent months. In this way, the brand hoped to thin out attendance and divert customers to alternative charging options. Customers will only be able to charge cheaper before 11am and after 9pm. Instead, the hours between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. will be considered peak hours, during which increased prices will be charged. A visit to the Supercharger will cost twice as much as at other times of the day. Tesla drivers used to have to pay around 0.24 US dollars/kWh when they were unable to charge at home. Now, instead, prices fluctuate between $0.29/kWh and - at particularly popular charging destinations - even $0.58/kWh.  

But is this the right strategy to control the number of visitors? No is the answer of many Tesla drivers. On social media, they exchange tips on how to save money, such as charging the car at the free charging stations of the supermarkets. But this is not enough to solve the problem. Even in front of Walmart & Co. the charging stations are often full. 

Instead, the answer to the problem lies at the root. Tesla had raised its prices in response to the inadequate charging network. According to this, they could stabilise lower again if the charging infrastructure in Los Angeles were expanded and optimised. At least that is the opinion of the city council, which has voted for the expansion of commercial charging stations. About 28,000 charging points are to be built in L.A. by the end of the decade.  Furthermore, the construction of so-called charging hubs is planned, where several vehicles can be charged with electricity at the same time. 

Should the network be sufficiently developed to meet the demand of electric car drivers, thus bringing prices down to a more affordable level, Los Angeles would confirm the importance of the charging infrastructure. It is here that the success of all transport electrification efforts can begin, as well as end.