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McDonalds to offer free charging stations

Discussion in 'EV (Electric Vehicle) Discussion' started by accordingly, Jul 21, 2009.

  1. accordingly

    accordingly Member

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    Watts are free at new McDonald's - Technology - News & Observer
    Obviously 15 minutes of charge time is not going to do much with today's EVs, nor will the pool of early EV adopters and McDonalds customers necessarily overlap perfectly, but I do think it's great news. Other businesses will undoubtedly copy this and it's a great step forward twoards public acceptance.
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    #1 accordingly, Jul 21, 2009
  2. TonyPSchaefer

    TonyPSchaefer Your Friendly Moderator
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    +1

    I agree on all points.
     
    #2 TonyPSchaefer, Jul 21, 2009
  3. bedrock8x

    bedrock8x Senior Member

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    I hope it is not a coin operated charging station.
    This day will come.
     
    #3 bedrock8x, Jul 21, 2009
  4. Sphyrna

    Sphyrna Priusite

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    Actually I think I saw the chargepoint stations at our Electric Beach Bash earlier this year, and yeah, they can get a lot done in less time than plugging into a regular 110V AC outlet. So maybe not a full charge in 15-30 minutes but a substantial boost is possible.
     
    #4 Sphyrna, Jul 21, 2009
  5. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    While not a big McDonalds fan, if they offer this in my area and other places don't, it would result in me eating at McDonalds more often.
    I also would be likely to take my time while eating, quite possibly eating more?
     
    #5 Zythryn, Jul 21, 2009
  6. PriusLewis

    PriusLewis Management Scientist

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    McDonalds accomplished their mission with this already: some positive publicity to counter the negative publicity about the energy used to produce their beef, and the lack of healthiness in their offerings. One store? You can bet that if all cars became electric tomorrow, that charge station would have an ATM card reader slapped on the side of it. Which might be a good start-up business to go after: profit-making charge stations to install at local businesses. Hmmm... might have to write up a business plan...
     
    #6 PriusLewis, Jul 21, 2009
  7. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    Nice, while 15 minutes isn't much, I suspect that my family spends 30-45min when we go to the "arches". An opportunity charge of that duration, esp. if it's a 220V could certainly give a nice 25-30% range extension. If I'm on a drive at the limits of my battery's range this could be just the opportunity I need to make that drive practical in my EV.
     
    #7 efusco, Jul 21, 2009
  8. JimN

    JimN Let the games begin!

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    Should they add pay toilets? Water shouldn't be free & when ya gotta go, ya gotta go.
     
    #8 JimN, Jul 21, 2009
  9. Zythryn

    Zythryn Senior Member

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    Not really, the fact that beef takes more energy than just about any other food is not specific to McDonalds. I don't think they have any 'countering' of that fact to do as they already offer a number of alternatives.

    Again, this seems to not be bothering them much at all. They have already responded to this by offering healthier alternatives. Their offering of Salads could be seen as a counter to the publicity of how 'unhealthy' their food is, adding charge stations? Not so much.
     
    #9 Zythryn, Jul 21, 2009
  10. PriusLewis

    PriusLewis Management Scientist

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    Potable water will be in more of a worldwide shortage than energy in the not to distant future. The price of toilet maintenance is part of the overhead, but if water skyrockets, yes, I would expect to have to pay to p.

    Probably true.

    Besides, I agree that they will sell what people want.

    My point was that no corporation does anything without a profit motive, so this charging station is a publicity stunt. Not a bad idea in the long run, but still....

    What I find interesting is that we will see this in retail long before employers will help out their employees by offering recharging stations (yes, some already do, but there's far less incentive for them than for a retail mass marketing firm).
     
    #10 PriusLewis, Jul 22, 2009
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