The Biden Administration plans to invest $7.5 billion in charging stations for electric cars as part of the recently passed infrastructure bill. However, will these chargers be used by drivers?
Two of the biggest obstacles to widespread adoption are their range and initial cost. Only five electric vehicles have a range greater than 350 miles on a single charge. None of these models retail at a lower price than $47,000. The House passed the Build Back better Act last month, which includes tax rebates on new electric vehicles. However, not all five models are eligible for full amounts. A base Ford Focus model costs significantly less than the top-of-the-line Focus and is able to go farther on full gas tanks.
The convenience of vehicle chargers in a convenient location could reduce the range issue. The Biden plan will not solve this problem. There are two levels of public vehicle chargers: Level 2 (standard power outlet) and Level 3. Level 2 chargers use a standard electrical outlet. A Level 2 charger produces 25 mile per hour. This means that it can take up to five hours for a complete charge. Some vehicles can be charged from zero to 80 percent with Level 3 chargers. They are capable of charging them in as short as fifteen minutes. While Level 2 chargers are less expensive than $3,000 per unit, they can cost up to $140,000 each. Although it is not clear which option the administration favors, it seems likely that it will settle for Level 2 chargers if it wants to make 500,000 units for $7.5billion.
Electric cars are increasingly attractive, regardless of whether the Biden plan is implemented. Although they do cost more when they’re purchased, it seems that they tend to be less costly to maintain. With further competition among automakers bringing prices closer to what it would cost to buy a gas-powered car, many consumers will surely welcome the prospect of skipping trips to the pump—provided the charging technology advances as well. However, if you want to encourage more people to switch to gas-powered vehicles in the future, those cars must perform like current gas-powered models. It is not a good idea to spend billions of dollars on charging stations that can take several hours to fully charge your vehicle.