Question about the Model S charger

[Jaff]

+1 for sure...I'd rather have my Roadster and its chargers retro fitted with a J1772 rather than using another cable adapter!

Tesla should investigate this, along with retro-fitting the Roadster with the new charge port. That would enable ALL Tesla cars on the road to use either existing or to-be-rolled-out charging infrastructure.

 

[jaanton]

The EVSE credit is affected (negatively) by AMT (At least it was for 2010). If you're subject to AMT or close you should consider that. Of course if you need an EVSE then you're going to get one, but it's not a simple tax credit. The EV purchase credit is not subject to AMT.

 

[neroden]

A question is what the EVSE credit will be for 2012; it looks like it won't be clear what to buy in terms of charging station until then.

At the moment thanks to excessive tax-preferred income I'm having enough trouble generating enough income to use the full EV purchase credit (that's the George W. Bush tax cuts for you), so I'd rather get the charging station and the EV in different years... but I really doubt that will be possible due to lack of information from Tesla.

 

[vfx]

I sure hope Tesla will start selling parts like a regular car company. The new Tesla connector looks small enough that maybe some old avcon cars could be adapted to use the Tesla inlet. Roadster conversion to the new inlet seems simpler then it would be to J1772. That way the Roadster & Model S owners can have one easy home charger. The more cars which can use the new stuff the better.

Yeah I would like to wait to jump to the new Tesla connector to be mounted in my Roadster as opposed to any J connector.

Though those Avcons are huge (especially with their cam-style locking swing), so you can probably fit any new connector in their plug-hole.

 

[Andrew Wolfe]

That's a good question. The onboard charger is located under the rear seats. How much power do you expect gets sunk as heat? (What's the anticipated efficiency?) Given the location, it not obvious that there is a path for proper air cooling. Is it not enough to be thermally anchored to that large aluminum chassis? I suppose it would be possible to add the charger on the motor/inverter cooling loop, but I haven't heard anyone say anything that would indicate that was the plan.

The Leaf charger is 85% efficient according to multiple tests (including Consumer Reports). I would expect the Tesla charger to be in a similar range - between 85 and 90% efficient. I think that this includes heat loss in the batteries during charging and any cable losses.

This means that a 10KW charger would put out 1000-1500W of heat. Think blow dryer.

 

[Tommy]

The Leaf charger is 85% efficient according to multiple tests (including Consumer Reports). I would expect the Tesla charger to be in a similar range - between 85 and 90% efficient. I think that this includes heat loss in the batteries during charging and any cable losses.

This means that a 10KW charger would put out 1000-1500W of heat. Think blow dryer.

It looks like you're attributing all of the loss to the charger. The 1000-1500W of loss is across ALL components in the charging circuit not just the charger. The closest device I can think of that would have similar loss to the charger is a solar inverter; these typically have 94-97% efficiency. Not nearly the heat output of a blow dryer.

 

[TEG]

Well, I guess this is an example of HPC2:

(credit to VFX for the picture.)

 

[widodh]

Well, I guess this is an example of HPC2:

(credit to VFX for the picture.)

Where did VFX find that one? Sneaked in somewhere?

 

[dsm363]

Wow. That looks sharp. Looks like something out of Star Wars.

 

[dpeilow]

VFX posted this after the LA ROTEC party:

View attachment 3221


Any guess as to how tall it is?

 

[cinergi]

Well, I guess this is an example of HPC2:

Yes, that's just like the one I mentioned I'd seen earlier.

From what I could tell, the unit is approximately as tall as the current HPC, but 1/3rd the width.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Looks great and sleek! (just as the battery engineer at the factory promised)

Not a long cable run though so, got to have it installed at the back of a garage or back the car in.

 

[Larry Chanin]

Hi,

Please forgive a basic question. :redface:

For overnight charging at home, why go to the expense of buying and installing this charger? Why not install a NEMA 14-50 outlet? Won't the Model S's onboard charger be adequate for overnight charging at 240 volts at a reasonable amperage?

Thanks.

Larry

 

[Mycroft]

The HPC would allow faster charging. For example, if you get home from work and you have to leave a few hours later for some event, then you'd be able to charge up enough to attend. Definitely something that can wait 'til the car is paid for and to see if there's really a need for it.

You could also make it available for fellow travelers. :biggrin:

 

[dsm363]

Hi,

Please forgive a basic question. :redface:

For overnight charging at home, why go to the expense of buying and installing this charger? Why not install a NEMA 14-50 outlet? Won't the Model S's onboard charger be adequate for overnight charging at 240 volts at a reasonable amperage?

Thanks.

Larry

The main advantage is that if you have fellow Tesla owners visiting, you can get them charged up and on their way quicker. This also applies to your own car as mentioned above.
It also looks slicker and is an all in one unit if that matters that can be permanently installed. You're right though in that you can get by just fine with a NEMA 14-50 outlet. That's what I have.

 

[gg_got_a_tesla]

Right; charging from a 240V outlet to "top up" on a nightly basis would be good enough without this HPC. TEG's classification of the options from a different thread: What charge port connector?

 

[TEG]

Where did VFX find that one? Sneaked in somewhere?

I think he mentioned seeing it at the Tesla LA store during an "after party" after seeing the LA opening of "Revenge of the Electric Car."
I guess they had the White Model S Beta on display there too.

 

[dsm363]

Tesla needs to get the HPC 2.0 and the DC fast charger out before the end of the year to take advantage of the 30% federal tax credit. I don't think that will happen of course though.

 

[W.Petefish]

I saw the UMC2 in Houston today. It was plugged in and charging the Model S Sig that is in the galleria.

 

[dsm363]

I saw the UMC2 in Houston today. It was plugged in and charging the Model S Sig that is in the galleria.

Any chance they'll have them for sale before the end of the year (even though the car won't come out until mid 2012)?