FreeWire Launches EV Charging Accelerate Program - No Upfront Costs For Site Hosts

[@ShoppingBag]

This sounds like a fantastic opportunity for business and property owners. I've used FreeWire's Boost & Boost Pro chargers across south central Alaska and they are incredibly reliable and functional. The requirement for a minimum of two chargers per site might be challenging, but this provides needed redundancy and extra supply for site owners who want to attract the growing number of EV drivers out there.

[@TimCristy]

This is a great option for lower use sites that might normally only have level 2. Fill the battery at level 2 rates, dispense to customers at DCFC rates.

[@burfoerste]

We have them (or similar) installed at Chevron/On the run sites. This model absolutely doesn’t work at least for this application. These so called DCFC become depleted very fast. It’s impossible to know beforehand what charging speed you will get 150kW or 7kw. It’s vey frustrating.

[@mikesartstudio]

I've used them too. Where they've installed them, in Metro Vancouver, there's way too much demand for this kind of charger. EV adoption here is very high, and many people don't have home charging. It would probably work better in more rural areas

[@VicariousModder]

It seems like they’re overselling the “runs off L2 power” feature. It’s good, helps site operators avoid demand charges but will cause frustration if the batteries are always depleted. Great for sites with less traffic. A large installation with many dispensers sharing would probably balance better as well.

[@Lor-dn1vz]

@@VicariousModder yeah agreed. this is a good solution for locations with low utilization but decent grid connections (the question is if you can recuperate the lease costs if you only charge 5 cars a day. I'd assume if you fill with 11 kW you'd sell a max of 230 kWh a day (lets call it 90% round trip efficiency). if you make 45cents/kwh profit the lease and maintenance costs would have to be < $3100 a month. Over a 5 year lease that's just 200k. I just don't see this paying for itself and that's ideal case of no completely full battery ever. If you have a 30kW+ connection available that may be more feasible. If/when batteries become cheaper this may be a better model because the above mentioned utilization seems very unrealistic. People charge most in the morning and late afternoon hours than any other hours

[@linuxrules25]

One thing to consider is the currently installed sites are there older model that couldn't combine the batteries and were capped at best to 27kw input. The new model that launched a month or two ago can go to 51kw per unit. But also all the units can act as one battery. I am hoping this will result in better scaling of the utilization of the units then the ones currently out there where each one can run out and can only use its own input to recharge itself.

[@COSolar6419]

It seems best suited for remote locations. In those sites no other DC fast charging options exist due to both limited grid capacity and low utilization.

[@johnpoldo8817]

This is the first DC Fast charging vendor to offer no upfront cost and revenue sharing. It’s a big investment for them. There must be strict limitations.

[@burfoerste]

It could be many factors affecting the charging speed, state of charge, battery chemistry, and usually tesla users if have to charge at CCS station, they put closest location supercharger to precondition the battery.

[@Nunya-lz9ey]

10:23 Completely dodged the servicing question here.

[@sparkysho-ze7nm]

Ouch

[@eb1888.]

It would be enlightening to explore in depth and in understandable language the money. The tax incentives and Federal funding available for charging and battery installation. State funding could be referenced. You touched it briefly at the end. But that is actually the beginning of being able to move forward.

[@ArtiePenguin1]

We need the first FireWire Boost in New Mexico! 🔋⚡⚡⚡

[@olebloom1641]

Freewire seems to be a innovative product and company. Always like to hear more.

[@lemongavine]

Seems like a very well thought-out business model

[@gaolutsoctrang4507]

Interesting idea!

[@tomsummers1137]

In areas where there is time of use increase in power cost from the grid operator, this concept is ideal. I would think the first consideration for a site host would be “can the battery get me through peak hours?” Money saved by not paying for Peak can then be applied towards expanding power dispensing capabilities. Nobody should pay for Peak! It is a mystery to me why independent gas station operators aren’t installing this technology. Most have canopies over their pumps which are ideal for solar arrays, and even if they only charge cars at Level 2 for free, it’s a win. if existing gas station owners do not quickly adopt this model, they will be out of business in a few years.

[@mikecarter2737]

We have charged, or tried to, perhaps a dozen times on the earlier versions of these units. Love the visual interface and the dual charging. But they have all been in urban/suburban areas, and a high-powered grid connected alternative has been nearby that is almost always preferable. Your experience depends on the last customer - how much they charged and when they charged. Just not acceptable unless you are desperate. Here the main CPOs for these seem to be EV connect and BP Pulse. How they plan to keep up with escalating vehicle pack size is beyond me.

[@burfoerste]

I think they ideal for fleet implementation, not for public use.

[@DblOSmith]

I have a dream of starting EV charging hubs where needed. I would love to discuss opportunities!

[@sparkysho-ze7nm]

Mobile charity Chargin with back up generator until installed solar array nearby

[@sparkysho-ze7nm]

Indeed…. I needa price to add to a grant GOTTA know how much $ I need

[@bobvittengl8116]

Freewire is the wave of future charging , crush those crazy demand charges. Most folks don’t realize how utility’s compute demand from the inrush current . Only 2,880 data points to chose from in one month, highest spike of only 10 seconds is what you pay for delivery. , a Ford Lightning Will pull up to 178 kw x$14.33 Per kw , a Tesla Plaid Or Hummerr Will pull over 250 kw , you have 3 Hummers Plug in at The same 15 min interval and now you have a 750 kw demand spike, OUCH I have seen worst case sceniro of $22 of supply and delivery of $3357 over a 3 month start up period.

[@ab-tf5fl]

Agree. The biggest limitation of the Freewire model ultimately boils down to the cost and energy density of the batteries. As batteries get cheaper, and are able to pack more energy into a given amount of space, expect battery-backed chargers to become more and more common, with larger and larger batteries to maintain reliable service. Once you have the batteries on site, it also begs the question of whether it makes sense to install renewable energy generation on site to feed the batteries, rather than needing to depend on the grid. In a windy area, a single wind turbine, plus battery storage, could theoretically power an entire large supercharger site.

[@JamesBrittonIRL]

This is a clever financing model for them. I’m curious if Freewire would also realize the subsidies or if the site host would benefit from that. I’m assuming the former, since they will own and operate the infrastructure.

[@Nunya-lz9ey]

Yes, they would get the incentives, as those go to the CPO

[@robert5008]

Nice show

[@sparkysho-ze7nm]

Quality information Great Great Great

[@mtaa11]

Google-backed EV charging startup Gravity just opened fastest public chargers in the US. 500kW EV chargers, which are about the size of a carry-on suitcase. 200 mile charge in 5 min, 300 mile charge in 7.5 min..etc. This FreeWire company is dead and they don't even know it yet. Absolute product. They better come out with a better charger quick.

[@sedawk]

Freewire is the bate-and-switch of DC fast charging. Their battery based fast chargers need to be deleted from every EV routing application. Ford Pass jumps to them all the time and it is so frustrating.

[@TechKingGame]

It just needs to be connected and smart. Fordpass shouldn’t show 200kw speeds when the battery is empty and you’ll only get 20kw.

[@sparkysho-ze7nm]

False advertisement

[@sedawk]

@@TechKingGame That's not the way it currently works - right now its a major pain. I get EV routed by my Lightning - A scheduled 25 min charging session suddenly becomes 2+ hours. These are horrible, horrible units. They are a scam to take advantage of government EV funding money but NOT pay for proper DC fast charging infrastructure. They are a joke for ANYONE on a road trip in an EV. I don't want to play a lottery. And for your suggested connected system what exactly is an acceptable SOC of these units for me to arrive? Someone beats me there, drains the unit and then I need to find another charger and change my route.

[@LarsDennert]

They need to stop using the term "Power Conservation mode" when someone shows up and needs DCFC. It sounds like "We are ignoring your need to charge right now." "High speed charging temporarily exhausted." Would be a better explanation.

[@sparkysho-ze7nm]

Technology will improve

[@mainelivin3699]

waste of money

[@PeaceChanel]

Thank You everybody for All that you are doing for our Planet Earth.... Peace.. Shalom.. Salam.. Namaste 🙏🏻 😊 🌈 ✌ ☮ ❤

[@evan010101]

Freewire closing down on Friday.

[@stanpiers247]

The more I watch EV videos I get the feeling the presenters themselves want to be you father, mother, best friend, guru etc but most of all they WANT money which is the only GREEN they know. I do think some of them in the beginning want to educate you on electric vehicles. It then becomes evident that they are looking for money. The biggest thing is there is sometimes a mystery of any education that would make them experts on electric vehicles. I guess they consider OTJ their education to be experts when they are in real life experts on NOTHING !!!!