Tesla drivers in NYC grapple with long waiting times due to lack of fast charging stations for EVs

By lauraharris // 2024-01-25

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Tesla drivers in New York City (NYC) are grappling with long waiting times as the Big Apple does not have enough fast charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs). According to the Daily Express, Tesla Superchargers are designed to be the fastest charging option away from home. The stations boast of the ability to charge a vehicle for up to 200 miles in just 15 minutes. However, the growing number of Tesla EVs on NYC's roads has highlighted the inadequacy of the current charging infrastructure. The limited availability of these fast charging stations in multiple boroughs, including Brooklyn and Queens, has led to persistently long lines. Even rideshare EV drivers are impacted, with some having to wait an average of 90 minutes for a charge. This ultimately affects their ability to earn income on the road, according to the Express. (Related: GREEN FAIL: EV owners struggle with depleted batteries and long charging station lines amid freezing temperature in Chicago.) One frustrated Tesla driver from Brooklyn reached out to the EV maker's CEO Elon Musk. The said driver posted a picture of a congested Supercharger station at his borough on Musk's X platform, pleading for help. "In Brooklyn, 10,000 guys bought [a] Tesla and now it is impossible to charge," the driver lamented. Another user complained about a congested Supercharger location, this time at Regal Atlas Park at the Queens borough. "This is not a great experience; we need more Supercharger locations in NYC. As a Tesla customer, we shouldn't have to go through this," they said. In response, Tesla has implemented congestion fees at selected Superchargers in the city. The company replaced idle fees with congestion fees, which accrue when the Supercharger is busy and the EV battery is above a certain level. This change seeks to reduce wait times and ensure access to Superchargers when needed.

Kilmer: Government is to blame for lack of EV charging stations

Renowned mechanic and online personality Scotty Kilmer begged to differ, however. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, he pointed his finger at the U.S. government for its failure to fulfill its promised EV charging infrastructure. Despite a substantial financial commitment from both the executive and legislative branches, not a single charger has been constructed. "Congress approved $7.58 billion for [EV] chargers. You know how many they built so far? None, they haven't built a single one – that's the government for you," said Kilmer. "Two years ago, the Biden administration gave $7.5 billion to build tens of thousands of EV chargers across the country. Two years later, they haven't built even one single charger yet. There's the government; there's our wasted taxpayer dollars." According to Kilmer, the government ought to take investments in EV infrastructure seriously if it wants to achieve its EV goals. The Biden administration has been adamant in converting America's cars into electric ones, even though demand is plummeting. "Now these clowns haven't built a single one yet, but they say by 2030, they have a goal of making 500,000 chargers. That's still a spit in the bucket over the millions that would be needed, [and] they still haven't built a single one," he said. "I'm not holding my breath about these chargers, and I’m also not planning on buying an electric car any time soon." Learn more about Tesla EVs at ElonMuskWatch.com. Watch this Fox Business clip discussing the pros and cons of primarily using electric vehicles. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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Kilmer: Government is to blame for lack of EV charging stations

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