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Comment by michelsedgh | Hacker News Reader

Most EV chargers are burning gas to charge the ev cars. Thats just wasting energy. Almost any fast charger ive used has a gas generator next to it.

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And no fast charger i've ever used had a gas generator next to it. Even if it were true (and in the EU it is definitely not) DC fast charging is only small percentage of EV charging.

https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/2035921843757216158?s=20 This is just one example. EVgo and many other very large charging networks use generators also. Even if you charge at home or anywhere else which you don't see the generator, that electricity has to be made from using coal gas or other stuff, renewables are not a big share in most of them. Those cables transferring electricity loses a lot of energy and gives off lots of heat but you won't see that.

Rare exceptions exist (the other is chargers out in the middle of nowhere, or during construction that impacts the grid connection), if they all used gas generators that cost for a fast charge would be 4x what it is, it's obvious it's not normal.

> that electricity has to be made from using coal gas or other stuff, renewables are not a big share in most of them

If we're talking about Europe as this thread was, fossil fuels are 35% of the grid and dwindling (it was over 50% 20 years ago). Coal is only 11%.

> Those cables transferring electricity loses a lot of energy and gives off lots of heat but you won't see that

Transmission losses are 5%. Transporting oil (be it by ship, truck or pipeline) isn't free either.

Totally understand thanks for the explanation. still it doesnt make sense and answer why are they so strict about using cooling devices. If theyre using renewables and stuff it only makes sense cooling would be more okay that using that same energy to heat houses, yet cooling is just political and restricted. Im in US and i could care less it just reading comments even on here how hard can be installing AC and stuff really doesn't make sense.

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