An electric car driver shows on TikTok an often-mentioned problem when charging electric vehicles and as a result strongly advises against buying it.
Stuttgart/London - E-cars are increasingly asserting themselves against the long-serving combustion engines and are no longer inferior to them in terms of performance and power. When it comes to infrastructure, many believe that e-mobility is still lagging significantly behind because, despite constant expansion, there are still not nearly as many charging points as gas pumps. However, an energy association described the alleged lack of charging stations as “a completely false picture”. What is certain, however, is that as electric car production ramps up, the number of charging options will also have to be expanded, but an often-mentioned problem regularly drives drivers crazy.
Since charging an electric car still takes significantly longer than refueling at a gas pump, electric vehicles often stand at the charging stations for quite a while. However, cars that park at charging points without charging always cause particular displeasure. E-car drivers have already called for drastic penalties for those who block charging stations. Another nuisance is when electric cars are connected to a charging point for hours even though they are already fully charged. A user on TikTok also describes such a situation. This seems to frustrate electric car drivers so much that they strongly advise against buying an electric vehicle.
E-car drivers angry about problems at charging stations: “Standing here all night”
Some drivers still criticize electric cars for the lack of engine sound, the supposedly short range or the heavy weight of the battery. In fact, one of the biggest annoyances for electric car drivers is “other electric car drivers,” as one user writes under the TikTok video by “iamdollard”. In the video “Life with an electric car” you can first see how the driver connects the cable from a charging station to his vehicle. “If you’re thinking about getting an electric car, all I can say is: Don’t bother,” he says. “Save yourself the money.” He cites the infrastructure of charging stations as the reason, which he says is “simply not there”.
In the short clip on TikTok, iamdollard explains that you cannot charge at the charging point every day. “The app shows you that the charging station is free,” he says. “And when you get here, it will be occupied.” To demonstrate this, the TikToker walks around his electric car and to the neighboring charging station, where a Kia model on the left and a Porsche Taycan on the right are charging. According to the green flashing display on the charging station, the charging processes for both models have already been completed. “These two idiots have probably been standing here all night,” says iamdollard. The network is currently also discussing the order at the charging stations.
TikTok users welcome comments – “Finally an electric car driver who tells the truth”
The TikToker is visibly upset by the fact that the two electric cars are standing at the charging station even though their batteries are already fully charged according to the display. “They simply left their cars here, even though they were fully loaded,” he says. “And now no one else can use the charging station.” The fact that the app shows that charging points are free, even though they then turn out to be occupied on site, apparently upsets the electric car driver. In addition, the user, who apparently comes from the United Kingdom, has another problem. “When modern electric cars were new, charging cost £4 or £5,” he says. “Now a full battery charge costs between £40 and £50.”
The Tiktoker therefore comes to a devastating verdict regarding electric cars, even though he drives one himself. “Don’t bother yourself, the infrastructure simply isn’t there,” he explains. “Don’t bother buying an electric car.” The clip has now received around 7,000 comments, and many users welcome the honesty of the electric car driver:
“Finally an electric car driver who tells the truth!”
“Seems like other EV drivers are the worst aspect of owning an EV.”
“That is the unsaid truth. Electric cars are currently not practical.”
“I would rather ride a horse before driving an electric car.”
“So far, electric cars are only worthwhile if you can charge them at home.”
“As an electric car owner, I completely agree with you!”
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However, there are also many comments under the video who are firmly in favor of an electric car and explain that they have never had problems like those in the clip. In fact, the expansion of a charging station network has progressed to varying degrees in individual countries. It is making great progress in Germany and Sweden has around 100,000 charging points in the capital alone. But Great Britain, where iamdollard is apparently based, is also massively pushing forward the expansion of the charging infrastructure.