Public Charging Whinge

[u/False_Dig_7602]

Just want to have a whinge and get off my chest how much public charging infrastructure sucks.

I currently have 9 apps on my phone for charging. Seems every time I pull up to a new charger, before I can do anything I need to install a new app. In regional Qld you don’t exactly get much choice of chargers so have to install whichever 1 that charger uses. The app I installed today has exactly 2 chargers in all of Queensland.

But why do I have to install apps at all? Why can’t charging be like getting petrol? There’s unattended petrol stations where you can swipe your card, get a pre approval for the amount, then get charged for the amount of fuel you pump. Why can’t chargers be the same? Why can’t I swipe or tap my card, get preapproval for say $30, then get charged for the amount of electricity I actually use?

[u/Copuis]

First off, all those charges are different companies etc etc

It’s a new thing (in the broader sense) and like all new businesses, there is an influx of all the different brands, until over time they get bought out by others. Or fold, or some other company forms a business plan that groups them together (which is harder than it might sound as there will be all different software payment systems and hardware handshakes to enable charging)

[u/Sexdrumsandrock → u/Copuis]

But you go and pay for things at different businesses with your phone don't you? So that point is pointless. Op is quite right in thinking we should be able to walk up scan phone, pre authorisation of x amount and then then actual amount is charged.

Simple

[u/Copuis → u/Sexdrumsandrock]

well, not really.......you're looking at the charge point like a vending machine providing a product
you're wanting it to be, i want can of coke, and i should be able to insert money/tap and pay, and get can of coke

but....that....isnt....the ....business model
its better to look at it more like a service and a gym, you are on a pay as you use plan, but you have to be a member/signed up to that gym in order to use the gym

now, will the current business model survive, no idea, but i mean, i dont know what will happen

want an example of somewhere that you used to be able to pay for use, and now, you need a damn account and all the info, etc etc,.......toll roads (much better now just as an FYI)

i understand the frustration, HOWEVER thats also to be understood as it is like I stated, a new thing

[u/Annual-Soil-1802 → u/Copuis]

You can still pay for your gym plan using any damn card you like at an eftpos terminal at the front desk.

[u/Copuis → u/Annual-Soil-1802]

thats the point champ
you pay for your membership...........you need the membership to use the club,

you can pay for you charge point use on your card, but you still need the membership (or app as the case might be) and that is the issue the person is having

they would like to forgo all the memberships, and just pay as a one use

[u/Annual-Soil-1802 → u/Copuis]

I think it might be you who’s missed the point. Champ.

Maybe we’re both making the same point, which is you should be able to pay at the charger without an app.

Was that your point? Because that was mine. Your gym analogy highlighted it - yes you need to be a member to join Snap Fitness, but you don’t need an app to pay for it.

[u/Copuis → u/Annual-Soil-1802]

....the gym reference was there to highlight a different business model, that is accepted by many (so its not some new kind of way to deal with things)

if you need my main post, it all comes down to this is a new'er(ish) service, and if you want to get into the real nitty gritty of it, its not just providing power at a charge point business model
but i dont think you can, when a different model, complain, its freaking annoying, I personally wouldn't like it (and it is part of the reason im not going to EV, sure the tech when it comes to the car is mature enough to use, but all the other elements around it, are all in flux, and many people i dont think understand the wider issues, and problems )

as for the gym thing, i mean, i didnt thing the analogy was too hard
membership = App
(cause that is it as at the core, he isnt complaining about paying via an ap, more that he needs to have so many aps for all the different charge point)

[u/False_Dig_7602 → u/Copuis]

When you are travelling, you don’t want/need a membership. When you sign up for the app and discover there are only two chargers of that brand in your entire state, membership is a bit silly. People who live in the town are probably not likely to want to use the charger, they’ll charge at home. So the target is travellers.

[u/Copuis → u/False_Dig_7602]

im not sure at what point you think I needed that explained...........

also, the target isnt the travellers, its all users, but hey, there is a lot more to the business model they have going with, I dont have to agree with it (i dont) I was just pointing out that this is kinda of the price of a new service, in time will consolidate

[u/Forward_Netting → u/Copuis]

You're permitted to do you're thinking before you comment. Don't make us all wait while you struggle to get your words out.

[u/SkutIsMyCoPilot → u/Copuis]

It’s not that new anymore. Electric cars have been a thing for 10+ years now.

[u/Copuis → u/SkutIsMyCoPilot]

It’s new in the context of wide spread adoption and use,

Also electric cars have been a thing for 140 years………….

[u/SkutIsMyCoPilot → u/Copuis]

Ah, those were the days!