Hours in line for Tesla chargers show we need better EV infrastructure

Tesla drivers in the UK have experienced unprecedented wait times at public charging stations, with some having to queue for hours.

Long queues at Supercharger stations are making it extremely difficult for Tesla owners in the UK to charge their cars, pointing to the need for better electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Of all the reasons people are skeptical about switching to an electric model, charging is the most important. For someone who is used to refueling a gasoline car in minutes, the idea of ​​waiting hours to recharge a car battery is meaningless. There has long been a debate about what automakers and industry stakeholders can do to remedy the situation -- more fast charging stations or faster EV charging.

While vehicular traffic peaks during the festive period, the increase in electric models has created a new problem - long queues at charging stations. Tesla drivers in the UK have queued up at Superchargers due to increased demand. Tesla user Jamie Waters tweeted that he waited 2 hours and 30 minutes at Tebay Supercharger to charge his Tesla. "Worst ride ever as a @Tesla driver. Q is now 40 deep!" the tweet read. Similar cases have occurred across the UK this season, leaving drivers disaffected, Metro reported.

EV Drivers Need Better Charging Infrastructure

In addition to the fact that driving an electric car is good for the environment, more and more people are ditching gasoline models due to low maintenance costs and the incentives that come with it. However, the experience of Tesla drivers in the UK echoes a major problem with electric vehicles. The charging station network is growing too slowly. This situation needs to improve, not only for current EV drivers, but also for those who are considering switching.

Such reports may deter people from considering electric vehicles. After all, the results of a recent study show that despite the increased interest in the model, many people are still hesitant to switch to electric vehicles. With EV queues found at many charging stations, it's safe to assume more people are buying electric models, but adoption will be slower until the charging station issue is resolved.

Efforts have been made to address the shortage of charging stations. Tesla already has more than 40,000 Superchargers around the world. According to the available information on the charging time of the supercharger, the Tesla EV can add 200 miles in 15 minutes. Third-party providers such as Electrify America and EVgo are also expanding their public charging network. In June, the U.S. government unveiled its plan to make charging affordable for all drivers by working with stakeholders to roll out charging stations across the country. As Tesla and other suppliers install more chargers, electric car drivers should have significantly shorter wait times.

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