Hello from ChargePoint!

[alozzy]

Tesla still isn't profitable and has been able to build out its charging infrastructure because they have raised about $5B since their IPO. Pretty hard for any business to compete on that basis. More power to Tesla for the crazy stupid money they are capable of raising, but IMHO their hugely negative cash flow is unsustainable. There's no way Chargepoint is going to be able to match Tesla's charging network, not even close.

[2k1Toaster]

Tesla still isn't profitable and has been able to build out its charging infrastructure because they have raised about $5B since their IPO. Pretty hard for any business to compete on that basis. More power to Tesla for the crazy stupid money they are capable of raising, but IMHO their hugely negative cash flow is unsustainable. There's no way Chargepoint is going to be able to match Tesla's charging network, not even close.

Tell that to Amazon... If you live for short term profit, you throw away the long game.

And if I could write a cheque to ChargePoint for $2K (supercharger cost built into Tesla cars) or even $10K that gives me unlimited charging throughout their network, I would if it meant they would be building an entire network. Nobody said for free and nobody said without profit.

[specialgreen]

Agreed, Alozzy. Don’t be Tesla. I was suggesting a continuous expansion program taking years. Choose initial markets carefully. There are 2,000 of these truck stops to choose from. Site doesn’t have electrified truck parking lot? Pass it. No unused space next to the 13kv transformer at the edge of the lot? Pass it. Not located outside LA/SFO/SEA/PLT? Pass it (...in year 1).

Second, unlike Tesla, ChargePoints cost money to use... $5-$10 per visit. A 5-year break-even might be met with one customer per day. There are 53 US metros over 1mm population, each with 3-6 freeways entering that metro. I suspect that within 2-3 years, the first truck stop on each freeway outside each of those metros could provide one DCFC customer per day, paying an average $7.50 to “fill up.” And once you’ve lit the first truck stop, you can start looking at the second (then the third...).

But even if that 1st truck stop is your only 5-year goal, that’s still one new DCFC per week to install. That’s not a pace which can be achieved by asking strangers on the Internet to fill-out a web form to express interest, then research the locations, then approach the owners...

I was mostly posting to point out that DCFC deployment to-date has been haphazard, with a lack of consistency in placement. EV owners look like they’re hunting Pokémon, following smartphone apps and driving miles off the freeway to find a DCFC at a coffee shop 3 towns over. But truck stops are spaced regularly, have a predictable layout, enjoy an excess of space, have a supporting business model, a single corporate owner able to enter agreements, and now have lots of amps strung out to the cabs in the parking lot (to meet idling restrictions).

[GetOffYourGas]

I have a Chargepoint card and use it for DCFC. What I find most lacking are regular, predictable charging points along major highways/freeways. Rather than enumerate specific roads, I’d suggest that ChargePoint approach the major truck stop chains:
- Pilot/Flying J
- TA / Petro
- Love’s/Country

You could drive across most of the US, and find one of these every 70 miles for most of your journey. There are over 750 Flying J stores alone. None of these truck stops are built “on the cheap”, and the owners are not afraid of investment. All are likely to have 480v 3ph power. All of them attempt to gain significant revenue from travellers lingering, eating in the restaurant and browsing in the store. A DCFC which keeps travelers in the store for a half hour per truck stop would be in keeping with their business model.

DCFCs placed at these locations could issue some kind of coupon, which is redeemable inside the store. This would help drive foot traffic, and would validate the business model to the truck stop chain. It would be practical to deploy first along highest-auto-volume freeways, near those metro areas with highest market penetration of electric vehicles; and then expand as the business model proves itself.

ChargePoint appears to be asking for recommendations of new locations, one at a time. I’d suggest that ChargePoint look instead for an expansion process which can begin with trial deployments, then gain financial validation, and finally run itself, for years of continuous growth.

1000x yes to this! Thank you for posting it. ChargePoint came asking for recommendations, and a partnership like this is a great one! Absolutely a win-win-win for ChargePoint, the truck stop, and EV drivers! I hope they take it seriously.

[powersurge]

I still don't understand how the business model of chargepoint is to ask any regular JOE where they want a charging station.

I have all the charging I need in the areas I frequent, and in my house. I do not "need" to charge at the mall near me, however it would be convenient......

As many have previous stated, the future of charging is in covering highways, and eventually placing a charging station at each exit on highways. That would allow EV to travel across the country, and legitimatize the utility of the EV. It is such a simple business plan to expand the chargepoint network to long-distance drivers, where the need for charging stations is critical.

[DesertSprings]

Rather than enumerate specific roads, I’d suggest that ChargePoint approach the major truck stop chains:
- Pilot/Flying J
- TA / Petro
- Love’s/Country

You could drive across most of the US, and find one of these every 70 miles for most of your journey. There are over 750 Flying J stores alone. None of these truck stops are built “on the cheap”, and the owners are not afraid of investment. All are likely to have 480v 3ph power. All of them attempt to gain significant revenue from travellers lingering, eating in the restaurant and browsing in the store. A DCFC which keeps travelers in the store for a half hour per truck stop would be in keeping with their business model.

This. So much this. While EVgo is putting them in at seemingly every mall and Walmart, what we really need is a reliable network along the freeways. Truck Stops would be a perfect fit.

[TeamChargePoint]

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Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and thank you for welcoming us here in the My Nissan Leaf community!

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[Evoforce]

Should many (and almost all) of the ChargePoint posts be moved to the seller area?

[powersurge]

Should many (and almost all) of the ChargePoint posts be moved to the seller area?

NO... At this point chargepoint is free most of the time, and is at a very nominal cost... I see them as a service rather than a business at this point.

Also, the previous posts about installing charging stations on highways at $5-10 per charge is ridiculous... I'll be damned if I pay that much for $1-2 of electricity.. That is like running my car on champagne... I would have nothing to do with it...

[Evoforce]

Should many (and almost all) of the ChargePoint posts be moved to the seller area?

NO... At this point chargepoint is free most of the time, and is at a very nominal cost... I see them as a service rather than a business at this point.

Also, the previous posts about installing charging stations on highways at $5-10 per charge is ridiculous... I'll be damned if I pay that much for $1-2 of electricity.. That is like running my car on champagne... I would have nothing to do with it...

Practically everything ChargePoint is doing is selling in this thread. It should be moved to sellers area.

Um... I was just charged at $1 per 5 minutes at a ChargePoint. The property owners set the rate. You are just lucky the units around you are priced low by the property owners.

One thing that I do agree with you on is that I don't want to be gouged.