Then Tesla did an about face with the release of the supercharger letters in mid-2015, so obviously Tesla itself is thinking daily use is going to be an issue.
No. The problem was not that people were using Superchargers. The problem was that people were effectively ICEing Supercharger stalls by sitting in them all day, and all night, as a personal parking space, without charging their cars. So, they were blocking those who needed to use those spaces in transit.
No, my solution is not to have absolutely no urban superchargers. It is difficult to plan a long distance route this way.
Glad to see you recognize that issue, at least. Others here have said the exact opposite. They literally want all future Superchargers to be on the open road, alone.
My solution is to have the expansion urban stations nearby be pay per use (and they won't be branded as superchargers). I'm referring to stations where Tesla 100% intended it to be used primarily by daily users (like in Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, etc where there are close to no single family homes with dedicated parking). I'm not sure if the LA stations necessarily fall into this that well (there is probably a greater mix and a large portion is still long distance travellers). For the US, probably a station right in the middle of Manhattan for example would be a good example (or for LA, right in downtown LA or West Hollywood).
Once again, this is a
'solution' to a
'problem' that does not exist, and isn't going to be. As mentioned above, the only problem is that there are some determined, entitled individuals who are [ICEHOLES] that purposefully block Supercharger stalls because
'they got a right'. Well, no, they don't. Worst case imaginable, no one should be plugged in at a Supercharger more than two hours, and no one should be in a parking space without being plugged in. When someone uses it as a camper hookup lounging during the day, or sleeping overnight, it is incredibly insensitive to the potential needs of others. That is the behavior that Tesla Motors protested. Hence, why they asked owners to be more considerate.
The long distance supercharger ideally would be built just off the highway even if inside a city (so useful for long trips and avoid traffic).
If this is a good business model, then let the guys at ChargePoint, Blink, or even Solar City do it. That should have NOTHING to do with Tesla Motors own distribution of Superchargers, offered at no charge, everywhere they exist. Even the very few Supercharger locations that are inside paid parking structures waive the parking fee if you leave within two hours.
I feel like there are lot of people in my shoes where they would want to use a supercharger 4-5 times a year, and there's no way that spending $2000 for that is worth it, yet there are circumstances where you'd be totally stuck in going someplace you need to go.
Electricity is everywhere. Tesla Motors would like to make the use of electric cars ubiquitous, not rare. As easy as possible, not inconvenient. The problem though, is that people who don't have the foresight to understand that once they own a Tesla product, they will want to drive more than they did before, will turn around and complain to high heaven that they
'never would have bought the car' if only
'they had known' how much trouble it would be to use it without Supercharger access. Better to not give these people the choice to begin with... No discount for NOT getting Supercharger access. No way to get the car without Supercharger access. You don't want to use Superchargers? Fine. Don't use them, as often as you'd like.
By the way... In terms of what's
'worth it'... What is the fuel economy of your current car? How much does gasoline cost where you live? Here in Los Angeles, $2,000 might buy you 800 gallons of gasoline. In a car that got 40 MPG, that would allow you to travel pretty far, around 32,000 miles. At 30 MPG, 24,000 miles. You'd be able to go a lot further than that in a Tesla Motors product that includes Supercharger access.
Especially with the model 3 getting maybe 50-70 miles less range.
Wait...
"less range" than...
WHAT?!? For a given capacity, the smaller, lighter Model ≡ will probably have a greater range than Model S. Where the Model S 60 was rated at 208 miles EPA range... A Model ≡ 60 will likely achieve something in the 225-to-250 mile range.
So what's the solution?
Maybe split the difference and offer unlimited supercharging for one price, and pay per supercharge at a lower price.
Or pay a lower price, and get 5 a year, and then it's a relatively cheap price per every other charge.
The
'solution' already exists. If you object to
'paying for fuel' included in the cost of the car, buy a BMW 3-Series, AUDI A4, or Cadillac ATS instead. Sorted.
I'm not familiar with supercharging and the Model S. From the configuration info., it is a standard option. I recall it used to be optional. I assume you need SuperCharging capability to use the Chademo Adapter.
Supercharger access has always been included in the cost of Model S 85. It was a $2,000 option on Model S 60. It was unavailable on Model S 40 because, originally, the 40 kWh capacity was not high enough to accept the power output of a Supercharger, and Tesla Motors expected its range would be too low to span all Supercharger locations on the road anyway. Later, it was decided that instead of building actually 40 kWh capacity battery packs, they would just use 60 kWh battery packs and de-rate them to 40 kWh via software. That allows for the option of upgrading from 40 kWh to 60 kWh for a fee, then having another fee to add Supercharging. The 40 kWh version was Discontinued in mid-2013 because less than 5% of buyers chose the option even as Reservations continued to climb. All that ended with the introduction of the Model S 70D in early 2015, because the Model S 60 was Discontinued at the same time. And, for the first time, every iteration of the Model S included Supercharger access by default.
Do you foresee Tesla offering 2 options in regards to Fast Charging? Perhaps $500-$1000 where you can use the Chademo Adapter (or some new design) and more for SuperCharging? Currently GM charges about $750 for SAE Combo for the Spark EV. I hope you don't need SuperCharging to get possible other types of Fast Charging. What do you think?
What I think is that Tesla Motors learned their lesson from the Model S. It is easier and simpler to just include Supercharger access and the DC Charging hardware it uses in every car you build. The $2,000 fee on Model S 60 was originally to add the DC Charging hardware to the car as it was built. Supercharger access was meant to be available to every car that was so equipped, and at no additional cost beyond the DC Charging hardware that you bought with the car. The option to include the DC Charging hardware was NOT available to those who ordered the Model S 40 at all. Once the decision was made to build the Model S 40 with a de-rated 60 kWh battery pack, that meant each car would also include the DC Charging hardware by default. When the CHAdeMO Adapter was introduced, it required Supercharger access. Apparently some Model S 60 owners protested, so there was a separate software level that allowed DC Charging, but no Supercharger access, at a lower rate. Keep in mind that the CHAdeMO Adapter also dropped in price by several hundred dollars as well. I believe that with Model ≡ Tesla Motors will want to 'Keep It Simple Stupid'. The fewer things that are options, the easier it is to build the car.
I live inside the perimeter of Atlanta, GA in Live, Work, Play environment. Our building is actually attached to a garage with several supercharges down on the 2nd level of the parking deck. This would be my charging solution as often as I needed to charge. I'd prefer to pay for Supercharging included in the cost of the car rather than pay as you charge.
Good. Luckily, that is exactly what Tesla Motors currently does.
I'm probably in the minority of people who actually have no garage and would need supercharging as their main charging option.
And, despite protests by worry warts and others who are certain the sky will fall, there is nothing wrong with that at all.
Maybe there are two option pay as you charge or pay $2000 upfront and charge as often as you'd like.
That won't be necessary at all. Just buy a car. Use Superchargers as often as you like. Wherever you like. Free of any additional fees. For the life of the car. Sorted.
You want to help out Tesla Motors' bottom line? Easy. Buy some hats, mugs, and jackets with their logo. Get every option on the car that could be of some use to you. Spend the dough to get their Extended Service Agreement. But no, there is no need to 'pay by the tank' to fill up. Tesla isn't interested in becoming 'The NeXT EXXON!'