TMC is an independent, primarily volunteer organization that relies on ad revenue to cover its operating costs. Please consider whitelisting TMC on your ad blocker and becoming a Supporting Member. For more info: Support TMC
  1. TMC is currently READ ONLY.
    Click here for more info.

Tesla Supercharger network

Discussion in 'Supercharging & Charging Infrastructure' started by dsm363, May 25, 2012.

  1. Norbert

    Norbert TSLA will win

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2009
    Messages:
    5,410
    Location:
    San Francisco, CA
    It seems demand charges have large variations depending on the utility. So I could imagine that for EV fast-chargers specifically, they will eventually be regulated to max out at some reasonable value, by some political process.
     
  2. joefee

    joefee Active Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2011
    Messages:
    1,290
    Location:
    CA
    During the LA test drive event I was able to get some unconfirmed info:

    An announcement was coming only after the initial locations were built (keep your eyes out there should be activity as we type!) before the end of 2012.

    There probably will be solar panels involved.

    They may have found a way to cut the 30 min charge time to 15 mins! (wow ... if true)

    It will be N/S & E/W on routes to major cities.

    No info on how much supercharging is "too much"
     
  3. smorgasbord

    smorgasbord Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2011
    Messages:
    3,193
    Location:
    SF Bay Area
    Probably not. The math is pretty straightforward

    If you've got an 85kWh battery and you pump 90kW per hour into it (which is the supercharger spec), then you will a half charge in 30 minutes if you have only minor charging losses.
    If you've got the 60kWh battery and you pump 90kW into it (so a 1.5C rate, which isn't healthy), then you get a half charge in 20 minutes if you don't have any charging losses.
     
  4. AndyM

    AndyM Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2012
    Messages:
    663
    Location:
    Sherwood, OR, USA
    Thanks for the thread bump. It's more than halfway through July... with the giddiness Elon had hinting at the announcement at the shareholders meeting, I was hoping they'd have made it by now. Patience.... I must learn patience....
     
  5. Discoducky

    Discoducky Happy owner of a P100D X and a brand new 2021 M3!

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2011
    Messages:
    3,330
    Location:
    Seattle
    I'd bet TM will save all announcements for the earnings call at the end of the month.
     
  6. AndyM

    AndyM Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2012
    Messages:
    663
    Location:
    Sherwood, OR, USA
    Ah, I should have guessed as much.
     
  7. VolkerP

    VolkerP EU Model S P-37

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2011
    Messages:
    2,464
    Location:
    Germany
    While it is true that earning calls are used for announcements, the timeline is not "on the next earnings call". Remember the "order of (inaudible) magnitude drive train deal" that Elon announced back in 2011? It was confirmed just last quarter that it's about Daimler's electric B-class. So I get the impression that Elon sometimes jumps a little bit ahead of his buddies.
     
  8. joefee

    joefee Active Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2011
    Messages:
    1,290
    Location:
    CA
    We can only hope rocket man does it again!
     
  9. Discoducky

    Discoducky Happy owner of a P100D X and a brand new 2021 M3!

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2011
    Messages:
    3,330
    Location:
    Seattle
    Totally agree with that, I think that's a large part of we love him so much!
     
  10. AnOutsider

    AnOutsider S532 # XS27

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2009
    Messages:
    11,957
    from brianman's call transcript:

    I'm still a bit jaded, so when Elon gets really excited (a 8-9 range), I peg my excitement at around a 6-7, but I'm all ears.
     
  11. gg_got_a_tesla

    gg_got_a_tesla Model S: VIN 65513, Model 3: VIN 1913

    Joined:
    Jan 29, 2010
    Messages:
    6,533
    Location:
    Redwood Shores, CA
    I'd equate GeorgeB's 8-9 to a 6-7 in reality. Elon's definitely a 1:1 usually!
     
  12. TEG

    TEG Teslafanatic

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2006
    Messages:
    21,703
    Hopefully they will have a big, positive surprise that we didn't even anticipate.
    My guess list so far includes these possibilities:
    • Solar panels at supercharging locations?
    • Battery buffer to reduce/eliminate demand charges?
    • Multiple outputs so multiple cars can plug in at once?
    • Large numbers of superchargers already installed?
    • Agreement with major chain to host superchargers at their locations?
     
  13. richkae

    richkae VIN587

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2008
    Messages:
    1,917
    I've been thinking about this. There are two interesting possible sources for these batteries.
    The first is depleted EV batteries ( take 2 that are down to 50% capacity and just double them up )
    The second is rejected cells that weren't good enough for automotive applications, and would otherwise be in some bargain bin for a poor quality off brand laptop battery.
     
  14. Arnold Panz

    Arnold Panz Model Sig 304, VIN 542

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2009
    Messages:
    1,340
    Location:
    Miami, Florida
    Unlikely, only because it would be virtually impossible that it would have stayed this quiet if too many others outside Tesla were involved already. Someone would have seen or said something! The others are all good possibilities.
     
  15. dsm363

    dsm363 Roadster + Sig Model S

    Joined:
    May 17, 2009
    Messages:
    18,278
    Location:
    Nevada
    Something like Starbucks would be huge. Perfect place along the highway to hang out for 45 min.
     
  16. mitch672

    mitch672 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2012
    Messages:
    1,861
    Location:
    Stoughton, MA
    Elon did mention they where waiting for construction and permits. It does sound like when they do announce the SuperCharger network, they plan on doing it from a live site, and that they will have 1 or more locations functional at the press event/public debut. It's a safe bet that SolarCity is involved in the construction and installation of the equipment, and a "solar canopy" coupled with some onsite energy storage to minimize the utility demand charges seems very likely as well. We'll just have too wait until September for the official word, as Elon and George said "you can't believe things you hear on the forum" (quote from today's earnings Q&A call)
     
  17. bonnie

    bonnie I play a nice person on twitter.

    Joined:
    Feb 6, 2011
    Messages:
    16,427
    Location:
    Columbia River Gorge
    I'm with TEG on this. I'm betting there will be an announcement along the lines of 'here's where the network will go and we've already installed n superchargers'.
     
  18. Arnold Panz

    Arnold Panz Model Sig 304, VIN 542

    Joined:
    Apr 13, 2009
    Messages:
    1,340
    Location:
    Miami, Florida
    I'll keep my fingers crossed that you're both right!
     
  19. Robert.Boston

    Robert.Boston Model S VIN P01536

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2011
    Messages:
    7,844
    Location:
    Portland, Maine, USA
    I agree, Bonnie. Of TEG's list, the solar/battery/multi-outlet items aren't going to have "a profound effect on how the public sees electric vehicles." That's got to come from a massive and credible plan for infrastructure build-out. If Elon could say, "There'll be a supercharger every 120 miles on every interstate highway in the US, and here are the first twenty" that would be profound.
     
  20. Norbert

    Norbert TSLA will win

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2009
    Messages:
    5,410
    Location:
    San Francisco, CA
    TEG, too bad the satellite photos aren't up-to-date, right? ;)
     

Share This Page

  • About Us

    Formed in 2006, Tesla Motors Club (TMC) was the first independent online Tesla community. Today it remains the largest and most dynamic community of Tesla enthusiasts. Learn more.
  • Do you value your experience at TMC? Consider becoming a Supporting Member of Tesla Motors Club. As a thank you for your contribution, you'll get nearly no ads in the Community and Groups sections. Additional perks are available depending on the level of contribution. Please visit the Account Upgrades page for more details.


    SUPPORT TMC