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Electric vehicles are the future but they are presently facing some major growing pains. The biggest argument against EVs is their lack of practicality due to battery capacity. Automakers are creating electric vehicles with more battery range but finding local chargers is still an issue for many EV owners. What if there was a service that brought the EV chargers to you?

Electric vehicle charging on-demand

Electric cars charging point with high amps charger is seen on E45 motorway near Aalborg, Denmark on 29 July 2019.
Electric vehicle charging point | Michal Fludra/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Despite holding a very low percentage of the total new-vehicle market share, electric vehicles aren’t actually that new. Automakers like Tesla, Nissan, and Chevrolet have been consistently producing EVs for years. Electric vehicles have improved drastically but battery range on the average EV isn’t high enough to keep most drivers from experiencing major range anxiety.

Few EVs on the market can combat range anxiety. Those that have amazing 300+ mile single-charge range aren’t affordable. But what if there is a way for electric car drivers to have chargers brought to them rather than frantically searching for chargers? What if there is a company that could alleviate all fears of being stranded after an EV’s battery is depleted?

According to InsidesEVs, a company called SparkCharge is now offering portable EV charging on-demand. EV drivers than need a charge can simply order it through an app called BoostEV. BoostEV operates in Los Angeles, New York City, Austin, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, San Diego, San Francisco, and many other big cities.

Are on-demand portable chargers actually useful?

Electric vehicles charging station charger operated by the Jantarenergo company belonging to the PAO Rosseti.
Electric vehicles charging station | Michal Fludra/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Electric vehicle charging is too complicated for most drivers to wrap their heads around because of the scarcity of chargers. Is on-demand EV really a viable solution to battery range issues? It’s hard to see on-demand portable chargers as the future of EV charging but they do have some use in emergency situations.

Electric vehicles can and will lose power before reaching charging stations. This is one of the unfortunate growing pains of building a charging infrastructure in an industry that is still showing resistance to EVs. Automakers like Tesla have established charging networks but they are still too few and far between.

On-demand portable chargers can be great for when electric vehicle batteries start to deplete quickly. They can save drivers from getting stranded and also help relieve range anxiety. On-demand portable chargers may not have a place in the future when EV charging stations are abundant but they can be useful to many drivers today.

What is the future of EV charging?

Electric vehicle connected to the charger seen in Lindholmen Science Park in Gothenburg.
Electric vehicle connected to charger | Karol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

The future of electric vehicle charging is uncertain. Automakers like Tesla are establishing charging networks that can be compatible with all EVs. Other automakers are building charging stations specifically to suit their brands. Tesla’s Supercharger Network accounts for many of the electric vehicle chargers in America but still isn’t ubiquitous.

Portable on-demand EV chargers are a quick solution to a problem that automakers have been dealing with for over a decade. To truly overcome poor battery range, stronger batteries must be developed as well as more charging networks. On-demand EV chargers may have a place in the automotive industry but it’s time for charging networks to expand.

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