Stopped here on the way from NorCal to SoCal today (Sunday; about noon). Surprisingly, about a dozen Teslas charging when we arrived. Ate our lunch on the patio (laughing at the situated adjacency to a massive gas station and auto repair shop). Used the restroom. Toured the lounge/cafe area. Studied the supercharger map/numbers. Chatted with the baristas and others. Bought a "cold nitro brew" (sorta a Guiness-looking coffee. Tasty). Kids played cards. Wife and I caught up on emails in some nice chairs. Here about an hour (to fully charge for a stretch run to Claremont in our S85D).
Sharing a few reactions/thoughts:
1. This is a different kind of Supercharger site in more ways than just more Superchargers. It is a destination, which I suppose very much may be Tesla's intent. Rather than a just a refilling point, it is a legitimate spot for some R&R on a road trip. A place to do some business. A decent refreshment vendor. A place to easily and conveniently connect with other Tesla fanboys/girls.
2. The effect of thought 1 (at least for me) is that instead of hopping down I-5 using 3 or 4 SC stops at nondescript spots to maximize charge rates, I am specifically going to plan on using/staying here and more fully charging and knocking out 1-2 stops. I am not sure what the precise travel time effect will be as charging longer (due to higher states of charge) will be offset somewhat by less time spent in the overhead of getting off/on freeways. But I really don't care. It was just a lot nicer to have a comfortable place to relax, hang, and talk with folks I can relate with.
3. I am convinced that the existing assumptions and rules of Superchargers don't apply to this place. Perfectly situation halfway between LA and SF, people are going to try and make it to this place (versus Bakersfield, Harris Ranch, etc.). The compounding effect of more usage on shared superchargers creating slower charge rates, the choice that people will make to more fully charge to knock out 1-2 additional SC stops, the draw of "green" (solar-derived, at least in part) energy, and legitimate reasons to hang out here (versus get back on the road) will make this a busy place. Others may be betting that this place will never fill up. Based on my experience (most notably, my third SF-LA Thanksgiving week run in a Tesla), I will bet that it will fill up on some busy travel weekends - particularly when the Model 3 adoption reaches larger numbers. I'm certainly curious what the stall fill percentage will be the weekend after this Thanksgiving - just 2 weeks after its opening...
