The USA is known for Road Rage. You hear about it less now, but it used to be a regular thing. People shooting each other on the freeways in larger towns, people purposely hitting other cars, gapping, driving on the berm, etc. It has gotten a little better with laws that punish those asshole drivers. Now, we need to be on the lookout for “Charge Rage”.
Yep, it’s becoming a thing, but not in the USA…yet.
The U.K. is having a real problem with “Charge Rage”, so much so that in one case the police were called in because there are arguments and fights over people taking too long to charge their cars. Some cars have super fast charging, which can get the battery to 90% within 5 minutes, but the average normal charge can take as much as 20 minutes. Add that to a line of people want to charge their cars, the wait could last for HOURS. These longer charges are just part of the problem.
The other problem is, as much as you may like the idea of a “green” vehicle with a lower “carbon footprint”, the truth is with the rise of EVs, the number of charging stations hasn’t been able to keep up with the refueling…I mean, recharging station. This has been causing long lines and short tempers. So much so, in England that the police are being called to watch over these charging stations to prevent problems. Again, long lines, short tempers.
Check this out:
Now, I am not one to hate on EVs. I mean, I find them fascinating and kinda cool. It’s just not something that I think is practical in the Midwest, considering who spread out we are. But if you want one, Rock On with your bad self.
There are some other issues with EVs, regardless of where you are in the USA and that is a LOT of EV charging stations are broke or just don’t work for a variety of reasons. That would piss me off too, I mean, I get panicky when the low fuel light comes on, but I know if I have to pay a bit more for gas, it is readily available. I can only imagine the panic when the red “charge me” light comes on and there isn’t a charging station in sight.
Then there are people who have no issue with parking gas powered vehicles in the EV slot. This guy does have an point that it doesn’t say “only”, but it also reinforces the problem of broken chargers, as you will here:
What blows my kind is that I have always thought of EV owners as a more passive and patient vehicle owner. I am not sure why I thought this, but I guess my stereotype is WAY off the mark.
Get ready for it, the Brits have given us, the British Invasion, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal…and coming soon to a charging station near you “Charge Rage”.