New Fast Chargers Should Boost EV Sales

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It is unclear how fast Tesla will continue to roll out its public SuperCharger network. The federal government has cut incentives for other companies to do so. Nevertheless, charger company Revel is quickly increasing its network, particularly in cities.

Axios states, “Electric taxi company Revel is rapidly expanding its public fast-charging network, focusing on cities where rideshare fleets face looming deadlines to switch to all-electric power.” It has an incentive to support its core business model, but it should also help the wider industry.

As the federal government has cut back, municipalities can sometimes provide money to underwrite the enterprise.

Expansion Into San Francisco

Axios described the Revel pace. “Within the next year, it will add 125 urban fast chargers at seven sites in the Bay Area, and 170 more in New York City, in a bid to be the dominant player in urban fast charging.”

The number and locations of public charging stations have been a major barrier to EV adoption. Most EVs cannot go more than 300 miles on a charge. The majority of owners charge their EVs at home. However, this is of limited value to people with a 100-per-way round trip. A person with a home charger cannot be guaranteed that there will be a charger at the far end of the destination.

Revel will need to deal with two hurdles: vandalism and long lines. Neither can be easily overcome, but that does not mean the expansion does not have value.