A key asset for Tesla is its SuperCharger network. It is what has made it possible for people to consider a Tesla as their primary car, capable of both daily commuting and longer trips, and has driven its vehicle sales.
But it's also apparent that the SuperCharger network is an underutilized asset in most places, meaning that Tesla is losing money in building and maintaining them. Over the long run this matters, as underutilized assets don't get maintained.
A number of new EVs are coming to the market, but they face the issue of far fewer charging stations that support CCS vs the thousands that support Tesla's charging port. So this makes for a business opportunity that helps grow the market for EVs and helps Tesla with profitability.
Tesla should create its own SuperCharger to CCS adapter. A non Tesla EV could pull into a SuperCharger spot, and plug in the adapter to their car, and then plug the SuperCharger port into the adapter. The device would tie via Bluetooth to a new TeslaChargeAdapter phone app that has the user's credit card information and that authorizes the adapter to allow juice to flow. In essence, the SuperCharger just thinks of this as being another Tesla. Think of it as TeslaTap with a bit more brains and capable of higher currents.
Tesla can make money by charging a high per-KWH fee for using the adapter.
Note that I am making an assumption that the voltages and currents make this feasible, and that the communication protocols can be made to work.
Comments?
But it's also apparent that the SuperCharger network is an underutilized asset in most places, meaning that Tesla is losing money in building and maintaining them. Over the long run this matters, as underutilized assets don't get maintained.
A number of new EVs are coming to the market, but they face the issue of far fewer charging stations that support CCS vs the thousands that support Tesla's charging port. So this makes for a business opportunity that helps grow the market for EVs and helps Tesla with profitability.
Tesla should create its own SuperCharger to CCS adapter. A non Tesla EV could pull into a SuperCharger spot, and plug in the adapter to their car, and then plug the SuperCharger port into the adapter. The device would tie via Bluetooth to a new TeslaChargeAdapter phone app that has the user's credit card information and that authorizes the adapter to allow juice to flow. In essence, the SuperCharger just thinks of this as being another Tesla. Think of it as TeslaTap with a bit more brains and capable of higher currents.
Tesla can make money by charging a high per-KWH fee for using the adapter.
Note that I am making an assumption that the voltages and currents make this feasible, and that the communication protocols can be made to work.
Comments?