Texas Supercharger Locations (location speculation, discussion)

[purplewalt]

Historically, folk at the Galleries haven't necessarily been more informed than avid readers of this site. I hope it's Waco, but I've been burned before and am not going to take it as fact without further evidence. We should keep our eyes elsewhere too.

Any more Texas SuperChargers are good wherever they are.

Agreed, any and ALL Superchargers (Texas and all the rest) are good, wherever they sprout up.

If CBL Mall in Waco is NOT the location (surprise?), I keep looking at the revised Supercharger map, and would be surprised if Waco is the "other" SC location on I-35.
Looks like it might actually be closer to Hillsboro, West, Elm Mott, Lacy Lakeview or Bellmead, (covering ALL my bases here) some are much further North than mid-way (Waco's location) between Dallas and Austin.
Might actually make better sense too, as there is a charger @ Mall in Austin, and the new SC in San Marcos.

 

[sublimaze1]

Let's go back a few pages on this thread and revisit the Czech Stop in west. They have three or four places there including a Sonic and Subway, as well as a pizza place and chicken (granted, these are not Tommy Bahamas and Capital Grille) and plenty of bathroom space. Both the Czech stop and the Fina have mini-markets, and if you google the site, the actual updated google page has construction going on right next to the Czech Stop - too big for a supercharger, but construction nonetheless.

Again, my Vinnie Barbarino moment:

- newspaper and Domain (as reliable as they can be) have stated two weeks, one week ago
- the twidds has spread electrons all over Waco trying to find it
- everyone says Waco
- nothing is in Waco (or can be found)
- teslamotors.com map shows an I45 SC being done before the West/Waco one
- the only true fact I can come up with is LaBatt Maximum Ice is a bit strong ('tis what I have en face de moi maintenent)
- West to San Marcos is 153 miles, so a 60 can make it
- Hillsboro to San Marcos is 170 - still within a 60

Personally, this mental maneuvering is simply to pass time and will certainly not change the timeline. I see no real possibility of my Sept 6th trip being fueled by a SC, save the trip I am taking south of Austin to San Marcos just for fun. OTOH, Fremont kinda popped up with no real warning, but the workflow and logistics there were totally different so I am not relying on that as an indicator of things to come.

Back to la bière forte

 

[riceuguy]

Let's go back a few pages on this thread and revisit the Czech Stop in west.

But on the news here in Austin, several times in interviews re: the opening of the San Marcos superchargers, Tesla reps have mentioned the Waco supercharger opening soon. Just because we can't find it doesn't mean it's not there!

 

[Schmo]

Charging at San Marcos on the way to San Antonio. The food court has decent food. One other Tesla charging.

 

[purplewalt]

But on the news here in Austin, several times in interviews re: the opening of the San Marcos superchargers, Tesla reps have mentioned the Waco supercharger opening soon. Just because we can't find it doesn't mean it's not there!

Please go and visit the Tesla Supercharger page.

Supercharger | Tesla Motors

Look where Corsicana is, travel nearly due West, and you hit Hillsboro.
If THAT map is current and (reasonably) accurate, it is NOT Waco (which is nearly mid-point between Dallas and Austin), it must be Hillsboro.

Now, IF that is true, the next question is when?
Probably NOT going to be completed in time for this Labor Day travel, but miracles do happen.

Might try scouting restaurants, malls, motels around Hillsboro?

 

[texex91]

Please go and visit the Tesla Supercharger page.

Supercharger | Tesla Motors

Look where Corsicana is, travel nearly due West, and you hit Hillsboro.
If THAT map is current and (reasonably) accurate, it is NOT Waco (which is nearly mid-point between Dallas and Austin), it must be Hillsboro.

Now, IF that is true, the next question is when?
Probably NOT going to be completed in time for this Labor Day travel, but miracles do happen.

Might try scouting restaurants, malls, motels around Hillsboro?

If it's Hillsboro, then maybe at the outlet mall, just like San Marcos.

 

[riceuguy]

Please go and visit the Tesla Supercharger page.

Supercharger | Tesla Motors

Look where Corsicana is, travel nearly due West, and you hit Hillsboro.
If THAT map is current and (reasonably) accurate, it is NOT Waco (which is nearly mid-point between Dallas and Austin), it must be Hillsboro.

I'm suggesting the map is not updated or accurate.

 

[TXjak]

Well the maps have definitely changed. There used to be 6 Superchargers in the triangle, now there are only 5 until the 2015 time-frame when one more shows up in Fort Worth.

 

[gnelson]

I suspect the next Supercharger that will open will be in Huntsville. I also suspect that shortly thereafter the Supercharger will open in Columbus. Most of the Model S in Texas are in Houston and Austin. These Superchargers will be useful for those in Austin and Houston.

 

[sublimaze1]

I suspect the next Supercharger that will open will be in Huntsville. I also suspect that shortly thereafter the Supercharger will open in Columbus. Most of the Model S in Texas are in Houston and Austin. These Superchargers will be useful for those in Austin and Houston.

If you translate that (and I take gnelson's post completely out of context) it states:

"many if not all Houston owners with kids would like to take a quick trip to see the statue ... and while you are there ..."

 

[Electroman]

Most of the Model S in Texas are in Houston and Austin.

How do you figure that?

 

[gnelson]

Looking at the map on the Tesla Motors site and seeing photos of the construction in Columbus?

 

[purplewalt]

I suspect the next Supercharger that will open will be in Huntsville. I also suspect that shortly thereafter the Supercharger will open in Columbus. Most of the Model S in Texas are in Houston and Austin. These Superchargers will be useful for those in Austin and Houston.

Looking at the map on the Tesla Motors site and seeing photos of the construction in Columbus?

I didn't arrive at the same conclusion.
I have met several people who own MS in DFW area and don't participate on this site, thus: they couldn't have self-reported their locations.

Oh, and if the map is close to being representative of the actual numbers of owners, you may want to just count, not estimate those that HAVE reported.
Data don't lie.
Just sayin'

 

[andystj]

Well the maps have definitely changed. There used to be 6 Superchargers in the triangle, now there are only 5 until the 2015 time-frame when one more shows up in Fort Worth.

While the number of dots have changed, the locations of the dots have not budged. Originally, I took this to mean that we would be on an Outlet Mall Tour of Texas (Corscicana SE Corner I45@287; Hillsboro NE Corner I35@171; San Marcos) with Columbus and Madisonville thrown in for good measure. Based on all of the various contractor and Tesla-employee sourced references to Waco and Huntsville, I suspect that the locations have changed but the dots were not moved other than deleting the Temple dot.

I am still holding out hope that "Waco" still referes to FAR NORTH Waco + 15 miles or so. A location at exit 353 in West on the East side of the freeway would be beyond an excellent choice. As sublimaze recently pointed out, Kolaches and Sonic drinks plus several other choices and a much more ideal distance to the San Marcos location for folks with 60kWh packs. I know Elon sent some equipment over from SpaceX after the ferilizer explosion, so there may be some goodwill with the permit-folks. Hopefully, the location is decided and construction is hapening in a yet undiscovered location, but if they have run into roadblocks and are still looking. . .

@RICEUGUY Jones '92 here; you?

Most of the Model S in Texas are in Houston and Austin. These Superchargers will be useful for those in Austin and Houston.

I have heard from the Dallas Service Center that Houston and Dallas have very similar sales numbers, and I can tell you that sales in North Texas are accelerating quickly. I would guess Austin wins in a per-capita race, but it is much smaller. I'm a native Houstonian who lives in DFW and has also lived in Austin. As a Houstonian growing up in the Cowboys/JR Ewing Era, I can relate to the sibling rivalry. Your statement was sure to rile folks up, though I'm not certain if that was your intention.

FWIW, here is my original overlay map:

View attachment 23098

 

[gnelson]

I have been looking at the latest map. On the map showing current Superchargers there is a red dot in San Marcos and a grey dot that appears to be around Huntsville. I am a native Oregonian, and I don't care about silly rivalries within the state of TX. I am fairly certain that Austin has the most Tesla Model S. From numbers I have heard Houston is second in owners in the state. If there are actual statistics that show different results, please post them.

 

[andystj]

I have been looking at the latest map. On the map showing current Superchargers there is a red dot in San Marcos and a grey dot that appears to be around Huntsville. I am a native Oregonian, and I don't care about silly rivalries within the state of TX. I am fairly certain that Austin has the most Tesla Model S. From numbers I have heard Houston is second in owners in the state. If there are actual statistics that show different results, please post them.

Do you have any data? "[F]airly certain that Austin has the most Tesla Model S" is a pretty bold statement. DFW has 6.5 million residents; Houston Area has 6.1 million, and Austin has 1.7 million.

List of Texas metropolitan areas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Your "from what I've heard Houston is second" matches what I have heard. The problem is Austin was not first.

Regarding maps: If you overlay the current Tesla "fuzzy maps" on google, you will see that the dot locations have not changed. Rather, as you note, the sequence has changed and Temple has been removed. The map certainly does indicate Madisonville/Huntsville is next, and I am anxious for that one as it will service the DFW owners' needs. (Obviously, it is of no use to Austinites.) Both Austin and DFW will benefit from the north I35 charger. Columbus is needed for Houston to San Antonio and it opens Houston Austin to 60kWh packs. (It also makes Houston to Austin much easier for the 85s.)

Andy

 

[gnelson]

Do you have any data? "[F]airly certain that Austin has the most Tesla Model S" is a pretty bold statement. DFW has 6.5 million residents; Houston Area has 6.1 million, and Austin has 1.7 million.

List of Texas metropolitan areas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Your "from what I've heard Houston is second" matches what I have heard. The problem is Austin was not first.

Andy

The issue isn't population. It is ownership of Tesla Model S. Austin has been a leader in acceptance of electric vehicles. They also have a Tesla Store as does Houston. I assume that when Dallas gets a Tesla store, the sales figures will greatly increase in Dallas. Tesla Stores are very successful in increasing sales. People can sit in a Model S and discuss the car (not the price). Many people don't know what a Tesla is. They walk by an attractive store and enter because their curiosity has been aroused. I ordered mine at 2 PM on a Saturday while in the store by talking to a Tesla Representative in Denver. At 2 PM I was the fifth person to place an order when I left the store. When I took delivery of My P85+ in June, I was the 6th person that took delivery from the Delivery Specialist that day. She had more Teslas at the Houston SC to deliver that week.

When you are talking about ~ 1000 Tesla Model S in Texas (network news recently reported ~700 Model S in TX), the ownership percentage is really low when there are millions of people in TX. The EV culture is a bigger driver than population density. The availability of charging options is also a driver. I have heard numbers of about 300 Model S in Houston. Houston was slow to accept EV but they are now becoming more progressive.

If the most Model S owners reside in Dallas, why was the first Supercharger opened in San Marcos?
.
We also need to consider San Antonio, which can benefit from a Supercharger in San Marcos and in Columbus.

 

[jerry33]

If the most Model S owners reside in Dallas, why was the first Supercharger opened in San Marcos?

My assumption is that the order is just how the permitting and construction worked out.

 

[purplewalt]

My assumption is that the order is just how the permitting and construction worked out.

And getting the initial Leases in place, establishing and developing partners that would want to affiliate with a start-up car company (huge unknown).
Every day is a new hurdle realized and then overcome.

TM's Primary Focus for Supercharger Stations will always be California because of the mandated clean air policy.
Next will be selected parts of upper East Coast.
Then West Coast.
Then Florida.
Normal Illinois because of the Mitsubishi tie-in.
Oh and finally Texas.
We have a way to go before we are really connected inside the state, and then finally get tied into the bigger loop.
Keep the Faith.
There HAD to be a first, San Marcos was the Lucky NUMBER ONE.

 

[gnelson]

Columbus is progressing!