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New Section of the Website? "Charging"

Lyon

2016 S P100DL, 2016 X P90D
Dec 26, 2011
2,004
215
Eugene, Oregon
Definitely new. There's all sorts of new info.

- iPhone and Android App to be released late this summer
- guides for people to figure out which charger set-up they should get
- installation guides for the HPC and for the mobile connector.
- **SHOCKER** Solar City is their official partner for charger installations (bet they'll give you a quote for solar panels while they're at it!)
-
 

Bardlebee

Member
Apr 4, 2012
599
1
San Antonio, TX
Says it will take 6 to 7 hours to recharge for traveling 40 miles? That doesn't seem right at all. That's for the 110v by the way. Maybe I am not understanding it correctly.
 

Bardlebee

Member
Apr 4, 2012
599
1
San Antonio, TX
It seems right. Using 110v is like trying to fill your gas tank with a drinking straw. Install a NEMA 14-50 (dryer outlet).

Ah! Good idea, I didn't think about that. I have very little experience with electronics, which is interesting because I work with computers. I will have to look into that, thank you.
 

gg_got_a_tesla

Model S: VIN 65513, Model 3: VIN 1913
Jan 29, 2010
6,533
769
Redwood Shores, CA
What a beautifully designed webpage!! Everything's explained well even for EV noobs.

And, it's great that SolarCity can be called upon not just for HPWC installation but for a 14-50 outlet as well. SolarCity is well-acquainted with my home as they put a PV system in place here.
 

AnOutsider

S532 # XS27
Apr 3, 2009
11,957
198
Well, now we know:

  • The app will be late summer (probably mid to late september I'm guessing)
  • the 60kwh model S need additional hardware or software to super charge
  • superchargers can refill 300 miles of range in an hour (schweet for road trips)
  • The touch screen will allow you to search for charging stations (assuming on the map)
 

kendallpb

Model S: P 8061
Oct 29, 2010
1,251
52
MD, USA

Thanks for posting this! Great stuff for a neophyte like me.

The part about "don't use a supercharger all the time"...that's because it reduces battery life over time, more quickly than regular charging, right? Is there a way to throttle a supercharger back so it doesn't have this effect? I'm thinking of times I'll be on the road and need a quicker-than-120 charge, but don't need the 10x faster/top-it-off. Does anyone know if we'll be able to get a supercharger to give it to us more like a garden hose, not a fire hose (supercharger) or straw (110v)? Am I even making sense?

Apparently electricity is more expensive in my area--a lot!--than the national average of 14 cents, or else I'm overinterpreting my bill--23 versus 14, or really 24 when I count the per-kwh taxes/fees (I'm guessing 14 is just the energy itself, for the national average figure they quote...?) So I think I'll cut my fuel costs roughly in half (maybe it'll be over half; I'm not sure what my MPG is on my current car, anyway...not great).

Anyway, great stuff!
 

Citizen-T

Active Member
Aug 25, 2011
2,443
104
Raleigh, NC
Thanks for posting this! Great stuff for a neophyte like me.

The part about "don't use a supercharger all the time"...that's because it reduces battery life over time, more quickly than regular charging, right? Is there a way to throttle a supercharger back so it doesn't have this effect? I'm thinking of times I'll be on the road and need a quicker-than-120 charge, but don't need the 10x faster/top-it-off. Does anyone know if we'll be able to get a supercharger to give it to us more like a garden hose, not a fire hose (supercharger) or straw (110v)? Am I even making sense?

Apparently electricity is more expensive in my area--a lot!--than the national average of 14 cents, or else I'm overinterpreting my bill--23 versus 14, or really 24 when I count the per-kwh taxes/fees (I'm guessing 14 is just the energy itself, for the national average figure they quote...?) So I think I'll cut my fuel costs roughly in half (maybe it'll be over half; I'm not sure what my MPG is on my current car, anyway...not great).

Anyway, great stuff!

You should contact your utility company and ask if they have a Time of Use plan. Many do. It can have a huge affect on how much it costs to charge your car (assuming you charge at the right times). As an example: my flat-rate electricity cost is roughly $0.12/kWh, but if I switch to their Time of Use plan and charge my car at night, I will only pay about $0.05/kWh.

As the new charging page mentions, you can even program Model S to not start charging until a certain time. This way, you can plug the car in right away when you get home, but it will wait until your lower-rate hours to start filling up your battery.
 

Spurkey

P04251
Jan 25, 2012
228
11
Edmonton, Alberta
The part about "don't use a supercharger all the time"...that's because it reduces battery life over time, more quickly than regular charging, right?
I caught that too, I wonder if that's because 'filling' the battery that fast generates more heat, heat being a known enemy to lengthy battery life? I also wonder if the Twin Chargers would suffer from this but obviously to a lesser degree?
 
S

smoothoperator

Guest
I hope the new Model S connector to Roadster connector will be available immediately. It would not be fun to have to use a Roadster HPC, UMC and concurrently also install a Model S HPC and UMC. All these charging stations will occupy a whole wall! Would be easier to just replace the roadster charging equipment with Model S equipment.
 

Odenator

Member
May 2, 2011
365
42
Olympia, WA
So they're partnered up with Solar City to do the EVSE/PV residential install, but what about us folks in states that are not serviced by Solar City? Will there be a list of approved electricians or should we just get on Angie's list?
 

gjunky

Trifecta: Solar and both cars are EVs
Mar 26, 2012
1,247
405
Scottsdale, AZ
I think there is a bug in the calculator: Selected a distance (100 miles) and a single charger. The charging time cuts in half between the 240v-40a Nema 14-50 and the wall charger. This seems correct except that the wall charger with a single charger in the car is also rated at 240v-40a and should be taking the same amount of time. Both options correctly show 240v-40a. It is just that the charging time should be the same between them.

Update: I was just contacted by Tesla and apparently they are looking into the issue.
 
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