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[Richard230]

The big concern for me in urban areas would be vandalism.  In many big cities, vandals will mess with anything that is unguarded and that looks like it might be useful to people who are "gentrifying" a community. Many of these people have no respect for private property and in California the police will not arrest anyone stealing or vandalizing private property if the value of the property is less than $950, due to a law passed by the voters a few years ago. That is why there are something like 70 car break-ins a day in San Francisco and the perpetrators never get caught. At least at a gas station there is usually someone there 24-7 to keep an eye on the fuel pumps, but that is not the case with charging stations. Most are left with no protection against damage by people or the environment and that has got to result in the potential for increased maintenance and repair costs.

Personally, I think the solution to the problem is for charging stations to be located at existing gas stations so that both IC and EV vehicles can refuel at a single location.  Of course this would need a change in heart by Big Oil and right now they seem to see electric powered vehicles as being competition instead of a source of additional revenue for them.  Big Oil needs to get its head out of the sand and embrace change.   

[ultratoad]

I think that Richard's idea of charging stations at existing gas stations makes all the sense in the World....  BUT, he is also right when he says that Big Oil does not play well with others....

[ultrarnr]

I can only speak for the east coast but I think Big Oil is testing the waters as far as EV charging goes. The charging stations in Knoxville and Dandridge, TN were both at Exxon stations. There are several BP stations in Charlotte, NC with EVgo DCFC systems in them. There are several Sheetz stations in Raleigh, NC with DCFC systems in them. Time will tell how much they expand what already exists.

[Richard230]

I can only speak for the east coast but I think Big Oil is testing the waters as far as EV charging goes. The charging stations in Knoxville and Dandridge, TN were both at Exxon stations. There are several BP stations in Charlotte, NC with EVgo DCFC systems in them. There are several Sheetz stations in Raleigh, NC with DCFC systems in them. Time will tell how much they expand what already exists.

Well, that is a positive trend.    Let's hope Big Oil realizes that profit is where you find it and in many locations they use oil or natural gas to generate electricity. They can make money catering to both technologies.

[NEW2elec]

Richard that has already passed in the UK, all petrol stations must have a charging station, well pretty soon (I don't remember the time frame quoted).
I'd say once a few guys get fried by > 400 volts word will get out not to steal from the humming boxes. Sounds like CA may be the next Detroit if they keep it up, but I'm not there so I'll leave that to yall. 
Now I love my electric bike and I do think it can be a much better system for travel but I also don't care what it costs to run a business I only know what I will balk at paying. 
 

[Shadow]

Richard that has already passed in the UK, all petrol stations must have a charging station, well pretty soon (I don't remember the time frame quoted).
I'd say once a few guys get fried by > 400 volts word will get out not to steal from the humming boxes. Sounds like CA may be the next Detroit if they keep it up, but I'm not there so I'll leave that to yall. 
Now I love my electric bike and I do think it can be a much better system for travel but I also don't care what it costs to run a business I only know what I will balk at paying.

Do charging stations in the UK hang copper for the plug as in USA or are they naked with a socket to plug a user-provided cord into as in EU/worldwide?