Another Californian whining about Supercharger Locations :)

[abasile]

Unfortunately, it is more important (both for Tesla and for us as drivers) to give priority to relieving congestion than to building superchargers in new areas.

I agree with this! The experience of Supercharging, in the locations where it's supported, should be something worth repeating.

However, I would hope and expect that Tesla is, or will be, allocating enough resources to Supercharger installations to both relieve congestion and add new areas. It shouldn't have to be one or the other.

 

[Ulmo]

I agree with this! The experience of Supercharging, in the locations where it's supported, should be something worth repeating.

However, I would hope and expect that Tesla is, or will be, allocating enough resources to Supercharger installations to both relieve congestion and add new areas. It shouldn't have to be one or the other.

Elon hinted about a new charging paradigm (if none other than speed (way over 350kW)), but he might have been joking. They should hurry up and communicate better about that and get it done, but if indeed it's coming soon, then that would be a reasonable reason to pause new installations of a soon to be outdated version presently in use. It makes me wonder why they didn't start work on the "future" version sooner so that this wouldn't be a big issue, but they still have a few months leeway at this second. Maybe that's why they also introduced usage prices at SuperChargers during this lull in installations. Here's some changes I'd consider worthy of a pause in installations:

• Robotic snake plug
• Double speed or more (even if only available in some batteries)
  
• Different port type which also integrates other improvements, such as speed, reliability, etc.
• All AC-DC conversion boxes switched among all plugs, so that you aren't paired one on one with only one other car, but take from the whole pool as needed.
• A fast automated battery swap station
• Double battery capacity product across whole line
• Double voltage requirements requiring new battery, car electronics, plugs, cables, chargers, etc.

I'm not very creative today. But I have a point: there are a lot of neat reasons they could be pausing installations.

There are also some not very neat reasons they could be pausing installations. One legitimate reason to pause installations is that it's winter. A lot of places have winter weather that make installing exterior SuperChargers a bad idea. Snow, ice, rain, wind, freezing, etc. There are some construction materials that won't even cure right in winter weather without undue expense. Even the construction workers might not be available. If this is the reason, I think we should expect to see a spurt of permits in coming months, unless that whole team got reassigned to Model 3 manufacturing.

 

[EV-lutioin]

[QUOTE="hard to make it to Lassen NP and back when cold. Basically, any kind of head wind makes tight trips complex.

Well, fortunately Childs Meadows is slated to get a couple of destination Chargers (I posted some info on the Norcal Tesla club site) What a great rest stop for food before you enter the park!

Childs Meadows

I also was successful at enticing a local restaurant owner/friend to reach out to Tesla's destination charger program. They have supposedly committed to help install destination chargers at both his Bed and Breakfast in Chester (100 AMP), and Restaurant on Lake Almanor peninsula. I share my home charger up at the lake as well on Plugshare. Its kind of a EV wasteland right now other than Susanville.

Chico is a perfect place for EVs, it will be interesting to see if the Bolt catches on here at the lower price point.[/QUOTE]

Glad to know you made contact with Highlands Ranch too! I have talked them half a dozen times in the past year encouraging them to get a destination charger, it the perfect place to grab a beer and a snack while getting a charge.