Notwithstanding unreliable 50kw chargers, I think capitalism works differently here perhaps at $2 gas, than it does at $4/gallon. Either way, there is money and time to be saved by doing the 365 day per year math, rather than focusing on 45 minute waits as if they should be a deal-breaker. It's a tough call, and not what I expect people paying >50k for their cars will want to do.
IF Porsche and VW spent a portion of their 2bb fine on 800v compatible (what, level 4?) charging, we could see another leg in all of this, but I'm not holding my breath for a genuine Tesla competitor within 5 years. The 50kw chargers going in on the Pike will feed growth that perhaps only higher gas prices, and/or "free cars" might accelerate.
Think of the CARB state 2% of all sales ZEV-mandate, coming up in 2018. That's a ZEV MOU target, as I understand it (includes MA), and at some point it cannot be back-filled by, say, over-sales in CA. Ford, GM, Nissan have to climb to 2% of MA sales as ZEVs. Our state is 95% non-alternative, the last I heard. Even hybrids are in that last 5%, and with gas ~$2 I'm not seeing how anything other than bigger MOR-EV rebates, or
big concessions from the OEMs can achieve that. I'm getting "$8,000 off" flyers for the new Volt, already. I don't know how the ZEV rules bend, but have to conclude the OEMs can smell the coffee of low demand. Frankly, I think Tesla can spot the low demand for the others appliances, too. If they can make 500k Model 3's by 2018, it is that many credits they'll be selling to the others who fail. To be on-topic, a successful car, with a 100kw uptake, may be what capitalism ultimately tells us about these 50kw highway chargers. They may mostly end up seeing Model 3 over-flow
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