EV News Roundup
By Samantha Oller on Jul. 23, 2019CHICAGO — From new Tesla Supercharger locations to installation rebates, here is some of the latest news on the development of the electric-vehicle (EV) market and charging infrastructure ...
Sheetz plans Pennsylvania Tesla Supercharger site
Sheetz Inc., which hosts one of the largest networks of Tesla Supercharger sites in the United States, is adding another in Pennsylvania.
Renovations are planned for the Altoona, Pa.-based retailer’s store in Williamsport to add eight stations, according to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Sheetz plans to convert a grassy area near the gas pumps into a parking lot, which will include the Supercharger site.
Sheetz has 21 stores with Tesla Superchargers. Another site opened recently in Blair County, Pa. The Supercharger stations can deliver about a 50% charge in 20 minutes and a full charge in 40 or more minutes.
Tesla recently updated its map of existing and coming Supercharger locations. According to the EV manufacturer, more than 99% of the U.S. population is “covered” by its network of Superchargers. In March, Tesla debuted its latest charging architecture, V3 Supercharging, which has the potential to deliver a full charge in about 15 minutes.
Consumers strongly support EVs: survey
Thirty-one percent of consumers would consider an EV for their next purchase, according to a recent survey of prospective car buyers by Consumer Reports and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). The survey found that another 27% of consumers would consider an EV in the future, while 5% are definitely planning to buy or lease one for their next vehicle.
Interest in EVs seems to go beyond wealthy consumers: Thirty-one percent of consumers making less than $50,000 and 39% of those making $50,000 to $99,999 per year said they are considering an EV for their next vehicle purchase.
More than 7 in 10 consumers say automakers should offer more types of EVs, including SUVs, pickups and minivans.
And two-thirds of consumers are supportive of state investments in EV charging stations. The same amount say electric utilities should offer discounted rates for plug-in EV charging.
Rebates available for Michigan charging stations
Rebates are available for the installation of public charging stations in Michigan from state utility Consumers Energy.
Consumers Energy's PowerMIDrive rebate program, which launched in early June, offers rebates of up to $5,000 per charger for Level 2 charging stations in public places and workplaces in the lower peninsula of Michigan. These stations can typically deliver a full charge in about eight hours. Consumers Energy is also offering rebates of up to $70,000 for 24 Level 3 DC fast chargers at sites located along highways and main routes in Michigan. These charging stations can delivery up to an 80% charge in about 30 minutes.
Consumers Energy has approved more than 125 rebates for EV charging stations, including more than 90 public charging stations in Kent, Jackson, Calhoun, Saginaw, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Charlevoix, Allegan and Midland counties.
U.S. charging location count grows
The number of public and private Level 2 and DC fast-charging units reached more than 68,800 as of May 2019, according to the Vehicle Technologies Office of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). A charging unit is a single charge point; multiple units may exist at one EV charging station.
About 16% of the units were DC fast chargers, which can add 60 to 80 miles of range with every 20 minutes of charging. California has the most charging units—about one-third of the U.S. total. Another 18 states have more than 1,000 Level 2 and DC fast-charging units.