…and what can be done about it…
With the increase in electric vehicles on America’s roads, we also see an increasing number of charging stations. Besides the fact that there still are not nearly enough of them, those that do exist leave a lot to be desired. They can often be difficult to find, located in obscure places around shopping center parking spots or stores, or added as an afterthought to existing gas stations. They often lack the shading canopy that’s typical for gas stations. To make matters worse, often the charging stations are not reliable, broken, or consumers face issues with payments. In short, not particularly a recipe that can sustain the growth projections of electric vehicles in the next few decades…
Does it have to be this way? Let’s look at some innovation in this area. Some time ago, a Canadian organization, Electric Autonomy, held a competition among designers and architects to imagine what future EV charging stations might look like. The designs that the contestants submitted were quite amazing; they weren’t just sterile places to charge up your vehicle, they provided a sense of place that welcomed people. As it takes more time to charge your vehicle as opposed to a trip to the gas station, these designs incorporated other leisure activities on the premises and opportunities to interact with other people. The contestants utilized alternative building materials such as wood and seamlessly integrated the stations into the surrounding landscape, inviting visitors to explore the area.
At Pitpalazzo we believe that even though the number of EVs on our highways will increase rather rapidly over time, it will still take a few decades before EVs will dominate the road. We have therefore developed a more hybrid concept for our Travel Center where cars can refuel or recharge regardless of the energy source they use; our facility will provide in equal measure both gas and diesel re-fueling as well as EV charging stations.
But in line with the contestants in the Electric Autonomy competition, at Pitpalazzo we do believe that highway travel centers should provide a sense of place and be made welcoming. They should provide opportunities to refuel, recharge and rejuvenate – and not just for your vehicles and trucks, but also for your bodies and minds, including your children and pets….