They should add a feature where users can virtually “get in line” for the next available charger. In some places, it’s not practical or safe to physically line up a bunch (or even a few) cars waiting for the next available charger. It’d be nice if the app would just let you virtually queue for a charge, so you can go park somewhere close by. Maybe have it set so once a charger is available, you have a few minutes to start charging, or you lose your place in line. If somebody else physically pulls into the charging spot, it wouldn’t let them charge, and would ideally show a notification on their app that X number of people are in line in front of them.

  • jakgal04@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    This will never work for a variety of reasons.

    • Its going to hurt EV adoption if you have to reserve charge spots, especially for road trippers.
    • If you reserve a spot for ~10am and don’t roll in until 10:15am, is the charger not available to anyone for that entire 15 minutes? What if you reserve and don’t show up at all.
    • It puts more unneeded dependence on apps.
    • If someone pulls in desperate for a charge but they can’t use it because someone with 52% reserved it an hour ago but isn’t there yet, are they just supposed to sit around?

    The only solution is to introduce more charging stations. More and more are being built, but solutions like this aren’t going to help.

    • markn6262@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      1 year ago

      They just released update that predicts how many will be at supercharger by the time we arrive. The next progression of this would be to know which car is virtually next in line and can estimate arrival & charge times. So could easily juggle cars around and not rely on the user. If you don’t show up on time it goes to next in line, the car thats a minute or two away. I think its a great idea.