this post was submitted on 20 Sep 2023
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Showerthoughts

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A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The best ones are thoughts that many people can relate to and they find something funny or interesting in regular stuff.

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[–] [email protected] 167 points 1 year ago (7 children)

We live in a corporate hellhole so you’ll get a screen just big enough to play obnoxious ads instead.

[–] [email protected] 97 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Hey, the thoughts I have while I'm showering do not account for the dystopic problems that'll likely prevent their implementation. My shower is a happy place.

[–] [email protected] 59 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sorry to take a pee in your shower, that was rude of me

[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago

You're only allowed to pee in the shower while you're in the shower. Common courtesy says you need to sneak into the shower behind OP first.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

PSA: At every Exxon Mobil I've been to, when the screen on the pump starts vomiting up ads as you're pumping your gas, if you tap the 2nd button from the top on the right side of the screen, it mutes it.

Enjoy your peaceful gas station visit.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

I bought an EV two months ago because I didn't know this one trick

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is already done on gaz pumps here. It's fucking terrible how everything is trying to sell you more shit

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (3 children)

The lower right buttons on those screens usually mute if they have audio. In case anyone didn't know that.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Is there a button to turn the screen off?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Yes, it is behind the screen and you have to activate it with a hammer.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

the screen will be large. Mostly because it was a good idea by some well-meaning soul. The problem is there was a soulless corpo bureaucrat that inserted themselves into the implementation process.

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[–] [email protected] 47 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Teslas do this already with the center screen. And a charging stop usually isn't long enough to make that much meaningful progress on a show. You're there for like 15 mins a lot of time tops. Going to the bathroom/getting a sandwich/etc substantially eats into that time.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

lol my kids are always disappointed when we’re done charging on road trips because they weren’t done with the episode of their TV show. We can’t even make it through one whole movie 20 minutes at a time on an all-day road trip. Supercharging really only allows enough time to stretch your legs and go for a quick walk before getting back on the road every ~200 miles or so, which you should absolutely be doing anyway.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Supercharging really only allows enough time to stretch your legs and go for a quick walk before getting back on the road every ~200 miles or so, which you should absolutely be doing anyway.

Tell that to my Canadian friend who considers anything under 7 hours an easy drive

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Enough time to squeeze in an episode of Frasier. I'm down.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 1 year ago (3 children)

A better idea is a vacuum nearby the charger. Meanwhile you pay for the charge you could also pay to vacuum the car. Maybe pay for that water less car wash

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

A car wash and snack bar is a better was to spend 15-30m. This isn’t 2004. EVs don’t need a movie’s length of time to charge unless you’re at home.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The drive in theater option would be great for people who live in apartments with no access to a charger. To fully charge, not just top up.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

A lot of people just use super charger for this use case. 15 min and you get 200mi of range. There is no need to really hang around for over an hour. Its not much worse than a trip to a gas station.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

I'd start with a trash can nearby. Almost none of them that I've been to have a trash that's anywhere close.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I like this!

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago

Yeah, all I can think of is that they would play ads 24/7 right in front of the parking spot.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago

The couple I went to when I rented a polestar didn’t even have like a coffee shop or anything nearby. It seemed like such a wasted opportunity for capitalism to squeeze more money out of the traveling public. Oops I meant provide valuable services.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago

It only takes twenty minutes to fast charge an EV these days. Better to install them at places like Starbucks and McDonalds so travelers can stop, get a drink, and use the bathroom.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I like this idea just for bringing back drive-in theaters. They're pretty non-existent around me. Used to be several and it was always more fun than a regular theatre.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I’m sure corporate America is ready to charge you $100 to watch that movie too.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

You’re only charging for 15ish minutes.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Oh wow you're right. Those supercharger stations must be pushing a lot of amperage. I had no idea it only took 15 minutes for 200 miles range. I assume there would be battery degradation over time but still impressive.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

So batteries are happiest to charge with high power between like.. let’s call it 25-60%. Most of the time the cars will have you pull over to charge at 10-20% and you’ll only charge up to 70-75% tops.

Charging in that band would take like 15-20 mins. If you charge to 100%, it could easily take 30 mins just for the final 30% because the batteries can’t fast charge as they top off.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

I assume there would be battery degradation over time but still impressive.

There is degradation over time. Long term results are showing 10% capacity loss over a 10 year period. So if you start with a 300 mile range, after 10 years of use charging and discharging, you have 270 miles of range.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

It really depends on the vehicle. The fastest ones (Kia/Hyundai) will charge 10-80% in ~18 minutes (350kW max). Something like a Nissan Leaf can take an hour or more.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Anywhere from 150 to 350 kilowatts! Usually 400-800 volts. It’s pretty serious.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago

IMO, there's a lot of things EV charging stations should have that they do not. Free WiFi for one. It doesn't need to be fast, just enough that you can use the stations app or whatever to buy the electricity. There's a nontrivial number of stations in places with poor or no 3G/4G connectivity. But it's obvious that the station has internet somehow, so it can process transactions.

Then, for any locations that don't have nearby amenities, maybe a covered area, or small indoor area with vending machines? Like the ones that dispense "fresh brewed coffee" which never seems very fresh. Even if it sucks, it's something, and sometimes that's exactly what you need.

Toilets. I think this is obvious, so I'll leave it at that.

Maybe some picnic tables or benches to rest on so you're not glued to your driver's seat.

Make charging stations actual rest stops.

For the TV thing, that's not bad, but I wonder how it would work to pick a movie or something. Alternatively, you could tune it to the local over-the-air channels, then turn the TV on or off based on the presence of a vehicle in the bay.

IDK, there's a ton of work still to do.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

This actually exists here, the first two rows at the Aschheim drive in cinema have chargers.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

At home, my car plugs in over the weekend once a week

On long trips, it charges at a fast charger in less time than it takes to get the children toileted and fed. You need to set an alarm on your phone to avoid getting idle fees

On long trips without kids the in car entertainment is great, but even without it you don't have much time for YouTube, especially if you need to pee

(Tesla with premium connectivity)

With your external screen idea, wouldn't you prefer one you can cast your own content to?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Or we should improve rail and bus transit. Wi-Fi on board and you can stream whatever you want. Plus no stressful, bad for the earth, driving. #fuckcars

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

There's wifi on board Australian inter-town buses and trains, it's really useful as there's not much phone network between towns here

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Are there many EVs that don't have a giant screen with the capability of watching movies?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

It will be really cool when AR becomes a bigger thing. Then you can watch movies or whatever anywhere.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Legitimately solid idea here, my friend!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

There's a new charging technology that allows to charge 50km of range in ten minutes already being rolled out by either Renault or Stellantis. Next step will be full charge. I like your idea but: is it necessary?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Drive in theaters rocked. Miss them.

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