Maybe I'm just in the mood to scrap, this weekend... Game on!
Superchargers are, indeed, a scarce resource, primarily intended for and absolutely needed by Tesla owners to take road trips. With the profound increase in number of Teslas being sold, the resource will be overtaxed to the point of being unusable, soon. Already, Superchargers in California's big cities experience lines and waits, rendering them excruciating for cross-country travel and inconvenient for backup use.
EV owners should charge primarily at home or work at L1 or L2. Secondary preference should be public L2 chargers. Tertiary preference would be using SCs for day-to-day use. Live in a condo without the hope of an outlet or charger? Well, I hate to say it, but if you can't charge at work, then maybe an EV isn't for you, just yet.
Here's a simple "Freakonomics" solution, one that would drive Supercharger behavior through economic incentive.
This system would disincentivize locals from using SCs during peak periods, while still allowing their use by all and allowing travelers full use of SCs without worry of penalty. Locals who are unwilling or unable to establish L1 or L2 charging would pay more for SCs in the day and on weekends, but they would also likely have shorter lines then, too.
Finally, Tesla should establish a more robust Supercharger queuing system, with arrival at or near the SC triggering a virtual spot in line or, perhaps, a reservation at an individual stall. Using GPS, such a system would allow parking nearby or even conducting nearby business while still keeping charging fair and orderly, and would maximize charging rates . Friendly Tesla owner goodwill will wane as Teslas become common, so there must be a better system than "I think I was here first."
* "Home" is where the car spends the greatest amount of time, on a rolling 60-day basis, determined by random, daily GPS pings by the mothership. So, if I live in Houston, that is home. I can take a four-week vacation to another city and still call Houston home. I can take three, two-week vacations in a row, elsewhere, and still call Houston home. But, if I spend the summer in Anchorage, Alaska, on day 31, Anchorage becomes my home, until I move back. In other words, move around all you want, but if you drop anchor for a month, set up your own charging or expect to pay the penalty rates.
Superchargers are, indeed, a scarce resource, primarily intended for and absolutely needed by Tesla owners to take road trips. With the profound increase in number of Teslas being sold, the resource will be overtaxed to the point of being unusable, soon. Already, Superchargers in California's big cities experience lines and waits, rendering them excruciating for cross-country travel and inconvenient for backup use.
EV owners should charge primarily at home or work at L1 or L2. Secondary preference should be public L2 chargers. Tertiary preference would be using SCs for day-to-day use. Live in a condo without the hope of an outlet or charger? Well, I hate to say it, but if you can't charge at work, then maybe an EV isn't for you, just yet.
Here's a simple "Freakonomics" solution, one that would drive Supercharger behavior through economic incentive.
- First, immediately end all new "lifetime free Supercharging" incentives. Current free users continue with no change, but the program dies when the cars die. "Free" anything introduces ridiculous distortions in any economic fabric, as anyone who has watched all the crab legs immediately disappear at the buffet knows.
- If you use a Supercharger outside 100 miles from home*, then you pay "1x" the local rate for Supercharging.
- If you use a Supercharger inside 100 miles from home*, then you pay "3x" the local rate for Supercharging.
- The "local penalty" would evaporate during "off peak" hours, established by algorithm when the chargers have plenty of availability.
This system would disincentivize locals from using SCs during peak periods, while still allowing their use by all and allowing travelers full use of SCs without worry of penalty. Locals who are unwilling or unable to establish L1 or L2 charging would pay more for SCs in the day and on weekends, but they would also likely have shorter lines then, too.
Finally, Tesla should establish a more robust Supercharger queuing system, with arrival at or near the SC triggering a virtual spot in line or, perhaps, a reservation at an individual stall. Using GPS, such a system would allow parking nearby or even conducting nearby business while still keeping charging fair and orderly, and would maximize charging rates . Friendly Tesla owner goodwill will wane as Teslas become common, so there must be a better system than "I think I was here first."
* "Home" is where the car spends the greatest amount of time, on a rolling 60-day basis, determined by random, daily GPS pings by the mothership. So, if I live in Houston, that is home. I can take a four-week vacation to another city and still call Houston home. I can take three, two-week vacations in a row, elsewhere, and still call Houston home. But, if I spend the summer in Anchorage, Alaska, on day 31, Anchorage becomes my home, until I move back. In other words, move around all you want, but if you drop anchor for a month, set up your own charging or expect to pay the penalty rates.