So I was looking through the Gas Stations thread and was wondering does anyone model a Vehicle Charging Station on their layout? I was just curious? I surely can't find any kind of kit yet for them.
I imagine it's too 'new' for kit makers to have designed/tooled/produced these yet. 3D printing, anyone? Certainly the way things are going it will be a necessity for any 'modern era' layout in 5-10 years.
You know what, I think I got some extra pumps with my N Scale Walthers Modern Gas Station. And a few extra safety poles too. And in Memphis, TN the few that I have seen or kind of in strange area's. One is near a Best Buy in a shopping center in the parking lot. Another I have seen is in our really large public park, Shelby Farms, that actually got new construction and enhancements and upgrades, and they added some Charging Stations. So I might just try and put some, if I indeed still have extra pumps, in a area. I'll just have to see. Like @Bookbear1 said this would be perfect for 3D printing project. I just think the subject is interesting and NO I don't have an electric vehicle. If anyone on here does, can't you charge them at your home too?
I've had two EVs. Yes, you can charge at home. The charging stations you see out and about are almost always DC chargers, and take less time to fully charge or top up the vehicle's battery. At home, you can either use standard 120v wall current (can take up to two days to fully charge a near-empty battery) with the included charger. You can also purchase a 240v charger (assuming your house current supports that) and fully charge a near-flat battery in 8-10 hours. All that depends on the battery capacity, of course.
So 120v charging is enough to get you to work, shopping, etc... It's kind of interesting to me for some strange reason, as someone that might not ever own one at my age. Of course I could be wrong about that too. Does any OLD school gas station have both? Gas & Electric, say California where it is popular? Or do or can the companies prevent that? Sorry, way to many questions!
120v charging works but it is VERY slow. If your trips are short, and your recharge each night, it could work. I haven't seen any 'dual' stations, gas and electric. But the public charging stations are popping up all over. There are several networks of charging stations. Some, like ChargePoint, have you create an account and authorize an amount of your choosing to your credit card. Then you plug in, tap your account card, and the system deducts the charge from your account. Others have you use your credit card directly, just as you would at a gas station.
I prefer the method I used in '75-'77. Just start the little engine that turns the 24V generator that was in the front of the pickup we converted. There has been factory built cars like that for a long time. Why isn't 80MPG good enough anymore?
Not so quick with the plug in chargers. There are wireless chargers now. (I suppose inductive.) You just park over a square mat or box for a charge. No need to plug in. In addition, there are plans for strips to be placed in roadbeds, to charge while you roll! I’m not sure how well that will work. Maybe in traffic jam prone areas?
Rip Track, Is that what happened last night when I went to put out trash in the garage? Just outside I could feel the hair on my head and arms tingling and standing up. Maybe it was that the landlord has an older Suzuki cars with both gas and electric motors and the gas motor started up by itself briefly. Sure wish it would charge the battery in my bicycle while it was at it.
Could be, could be. I’n not sure, but I imagine this inductive charging might put off some warmth. I wonder what will happen when a cat crawls in there.
Along with charging station, the scene will also need a driver drinking coffee while his vehicle recharges. Not knocking EV's, but a friend said you get used to taking breaks at charging stations. (He invited me to drive his new Tesla Model 3 and it was a blast.)
I know of only one of those in Neenah/Menasha. It's in an industrial park for the execs. They need to be in the local shopping centers with Taxis to take people to the local stores while charging. The city could make money doing that without taxes.
It's all pretty new, would imagine a Starbucks or Restaurant in the future might be near them. They/We will figure it out. The idea with the strip in the road charging while you drive seems interesting. I guess a chip would know what vehicle to Charge ( get it? Not only charge but charge your account ) while driving along? So how was driving the Tesla? Was it weird not hearing the engine? I am just curious about this stuff. For those with EV, how long does it take to top OFF your batteries at those places? Wonder if any Rest Stops have them yet for people that travel?
I went skiing a few years ago at Keystone. There was a charging station-maybe a row of four-in the same little mall with the Starbucks. Can’t exactly recall how it was setup. But there were people drinking coffee on the way back to their car. So that’s prototypical I guess. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I often stopped and had a coffee and a snack along with filling the tank. Earlier I would have to go in and pay after filling. Also check fluids and tires. So what's the difference?
Yep-I don’t think there’s much difference in what people do when the fill/charge. It’s just that the charging stations aren’t always gas station. Public parking lots, malls, etc. so it makes for a potentially interesting detail in a scene off the tracks. I don’t have a spot for that on my layout here, but I really like the idea for the big one I will build one day. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
To me, the big difference appears to be the time for the charging stop vs getting gas and taking care of incidentals. Since this is modern era, you could always have an electric car on the side of the road with a reddish orange flicker bulb simulating the battery on fire.
