AndrewTX
Member
Learned many things in last couple of days.
First the stall closest to the Tesla Controller Cabinets is for "Disabled user vehicles' only.
Its only one stall, but instead of the red Tesla sign, there is a handicapped sign.. it looked so uniform like the others I missed it late at night and had to move mid-charge.
That stall also has an unusual hand grip or cable splice.. I'm not sure which.. and it seemed to restrict its charging rate to something less than 50 kW max. per hour.
Next
While my Tesla iPhone app updated and shows this as a legitimate destination, my Tesla has not.. my vehicle is not on WiFi often, but so far sending the site thru the app to the vehicle produces an endless loop that never completes a navigation solution.. and searching for it on the Vehicle screen does not show it as live or available. Coincidentally.. my last two charges aren't showing up as paid charging sessions.. they are zero.. so Brkaus maybe right in that it may be in some sort of Twilight Zone status as a soft opening and some kinks are still being worked out
But, I also don't have the latest software update.
I live in an apartment complex and extending WiFi into the parking lot is a complicated dance.. I dangle the WiFi router on my balcony and park close enough to the balcony to get a signal. I don't do that often.. but will do it this weekend.. perhaps that carries the Site updates. Most of the maps data comes over LTE.. so I had until now assumed the Supercharger site locations would get updated over the app or LTE.. it looks like that depends on the Tesla WiFi Software updates.. or the site is a 'soft open'
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I was confused about that College Station, Tx - Texas Avenue South, address as well.
I haven't seen anything new regarding the (1) old Texas and University proposed site (2) on campus Polo Rd site (3) Century Square site
In fact since the current HEB Fuel lot location has come online, those other three appear to have disappeared in the Tesla online information and leaks; I think they were "possible, hopeful, aspirational" sites that may have even progressed to a degree, but then fell thru.. my 'total guess' is that they will not materialize.
For all my griping about the flood curves and mud traps.. this was a rather quick and seamless install that co-partnered and shared the existing real estate allocated to an HEB Fuel lot. This location is one of six in the general area.. four other HEB Fuel Lot locations are much closer to major highways around four by-passes around town. This one is almost at the center of town.. not far from City Hall. - if this one works out.. and so far it has.. those other five HEB Fuel Lot locations may be more likely destinations.
And lastly, rather non-intuitively ..the farthest Supercharging stalls seem to ramp up to very high charge rates and charge the fastest. I didn't think there was a difference between the stalls.. you wouldn't think so to look at them. But even when there are no other cars.. the farthest from the cabinets charges the fastest.
And lastly last, I went out around the time the majority of the HEB Fuel lot shuts down for the night and turns off the overhead parking lot lights. These Tesla stalls have rear projection lighting so you can see them clearly in the dark glowing bright red. And the Superchargers are not turned out for the night they truly are 24/7 available.
So far.. perhaps not everyone has a software update that allows navigating to them, there seems a constant flow of users.. but its no where near congested or busy all the time.. there are usually some free slots open.. and they are 250 kW Superchargers.. so they are Super Super chargers.. not only are they slim and extremely easy to use compared to EvGo, EVConnect or Electrify America.. but they are also premium Superchargers even amongst Tesla's fleet of Supercharger locations.
And a thought; you can't Pre-condition the Battery yet since it doesn't show up as a Supercharger destination in the Vehicle; when it does, the effective charge rate for every vehicle will get yet another speed bump, since the battery will be preconditioned.. reducing charge times even further.
I was in CS last weekend and we had to go to this HEB a couple of times. Wasn't in my Model S so didn't charge but did drive by. You were correct about the awkwardness of getting in and out of this location, lol! But that's a minor grievance.