This just in – Portland, Oregon has installed their first Level 3 quick charger. Level 3 charging is the missing link between EV adoption and EV extinction. While Level 2 charging is what most of us will use to charge our EVs in our homes at night, Level 3 charging is what will give us the freedom to roam greater distances comfortably, confidently and without that dreaded “range anxiety” that we have been hearing so much about. Much ink has already been spilled writing about the massive Level 2 charging infrastructure build-up in several EV launch markets around the country. The problem with all of this Level 2 charging infrastructure is time. It takes too long to get an adequate charge for efficient long-distance driving. Key word – efficient. Certainly Level 2 EVSE will be handy when shopping at the mall, or spending an hour or two at your local big box store. But we don’t always have the luxury of time.
Level 3 charging stations, along with improving battery technology over time, is the answer to the question – Is an EV right for me. We can almost hear the collective sighs of potential EV owners around the country with this news. As more Level 3 charging stations are installed, within driving distance of each other, the greater the appeal of the LEAF, as well as other electric vehicles. We won’t likely see caravans of LEAFs traveling cross-country just yet. But for those of us with long-ish commutes, or uncertainty in our daily driving, the availability of a quick-charge location within reach will certainly make for a less stressful driving experience. A 15-30 minute break to “fuel up” is much more appealing than a four hour lock-down to get your juice back.
If you listen to the folks in Portland, they would like you to think that this is the first ever Level 3 charging station installed in the US. But several months ago, the city of Vacaville in California made that claim. No matter. The fact that this equipment is being installed prior to the arrival of most widely available EVs bodes well for the future of the EV in the US.