more proof that the govt mandates for only electric cars to be sold in California and England only is based on idiotic ideology, not achievable reality... half mile long waiting line of Teslas hoping to get a recharge

Tesla's Supercharger station in Kettleman City, on Interstate 5 halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, is already an immensely popular charge point, and this Thanksgiving weekend was one of the year’s busiest travel periods, but the facility’s 40 charging stalls were insufficient to meet the overwhelming demand.

To make matters worse, the overwhelmed location had maxed out simultaneous re-charging, slowing down the speed of charging for everyone.

With Tesla’s Model 3 now being produced in mass, there are currently thought to be more than 400,000 Teslas on the roads of America.

But the surge in popularity has exposed a series of flaws in the Supercharger network’s operations this holiday season, which is sure to give the Elon Musk-owned company food for thought as the fallout seen in Kettleman City was not an isolated incident. San Luis Obispo was another

This is a problem that can likely be solved for now with new charging stations, but what about when electric cars become more popular, and governments try to outlaw gas engines? Where's the electricity coming from then?

Then factor in heat waves and prime time electric use peak hours when the current system isn't capable of suppling enough electricity for the state when we all turn on our air conditioners... and if you think I'm making that up, check the record high temps 2 weeks ago. In the 90s. 

currently there are 14,497 Superchargers contained in 1,636 Supercharger Stations

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/san-diego/92101/november-weather/347628

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7755753/Chaos-California-Tesla-drivers-stranded-hours-half-mile-long-line-charge.html

currently there are 14,497 Superchargers contained in 1,636 Supercharger Stations

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/san-diego/92101/november-weather/347628

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7755753/Chaos-California-Tesla-drivers-stranded-hours-half-mile-long-line-charge.html

and Paul sent me this story that ties in with the electric car problems:

A couple from Kent have described how it took them more than nine hours to drive 130 miles home from Bournemouth as they struggled to find a working charger capable of producing enough power to their electric car.

Linda Barnes and her husband had to visit six charging stations as one after another they were either out of order, already had a queue or were the slow, older versions that would never be able to provide a fast enough charge in the time.

While the couple seem to have been “incredibly unlucky”, according to the president of the AA, Edmund King, their case highlights some of the problems that need ironing out before electric car owners can rely on the UK’s charging infrastructure.

The couple, who love their new fully electric Porsche Taycan 4S, which has a range of about 250 miles, contacted the Guardian newspaper to describe how difficult it is to recharge a car away from home. Their journey would have taken two and a half hours in a conventional car, they say.

The pair are not the first owners who love their electric cars to complain that the UK’s charging network is poorly maintained, complicated and hugely difficult to navigate via its various apps and payment systems.

When they finally got to a working fast charger at a motorway services – via two more that were not operating – they were met with eight shiny Tesla chargers but discovered they were out of bounds because they are only available to the brand’s owners.

Fortunately, there was another fast charger that was available and they were finally able to get enough power to get home with only 11% battery power to spare.

Linda says the sense of relief was enormous. “We ran through the entire gamut of emotions in those nine hours – resignation, range anxiety, annoyance and disbelief that this was happening – and finally elation when we realised we’d get home,” she says.

Thinking that they had just been unlucky on their first outing, the next day Linda’s husband drove to their nearest town where there are three charging points in a car park. None were working.

“He then drove to a local pub where there is one in the car park – that was not working, either. Undeterred, he drove to the local BP fuel station but, sure enough, that was not functioning. There was no helpline number on the charging point and the assistant in the service station couldn’t help and said it was nothing to do with them.”

Linda says she now knows why most drivers charge their cars at home overnight and avoid using the public network. “Someone needs to get a grip of the charging infrastructure,” she says. “On the plus side, we have discovered that electric car owners are a helpful bunch and everyone we met tried to help.”

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/nov/28/electric-cars-porsche-charging-network