Twin Chargers: Why?

[brianman]

With over 10,000 Model S's sold, I think it's time to hear from owners about all those times they needed the twin chargers.

Every single time I use less than 70A, I'm annoyed. Every. Single. Time. Not as annoyed as 110V, but annoyed nonetheless.

Note that this annoyance includes dialing back my HPWC to 60A.

If "need" was the only criteria, I'd ride the bus constantly and be hating life. So that's not my criteria for purchase decisions.

 

[Lloyd]

What would be really annoying is being in a hurry and having 80 amps available to charge with, and only being able to use 40 because you did not have the 2nd charger onboard.

 

[Odenator]

I bought my car originally with the single charger thinking that would be all that I need. After putting 18,000 miles on the car and taking frequent day trips to Portland I learned that I needed a second charger and ponied up the $3600 for it. I bought the car thinking about the magical numbers of 265 miles of range and 31 miles per hour charge. In my naivety I failed to appreciate that my speed and cold weather would drop my expected 265 mile range to 220 miles and the recharge time would be 18-24 miles per hour instead of 31 due to commercial connectors being 208V and the cold reducing charge rates. I expected my necessary charge times at Washington square to be 2-3 hours when in fact I needed almost 5 hours on a single charger to get home. That got old very quickly, especially when my wife wanted to leave and I had tell her we needed another hour of charge to get home. The supercharger in Centralia might make this a moot issue for most but I'm still glad I got the second charger even though it cost me 140% more to do it as an add-on.

 

[smorgasbord]

the recharge time would be 18-24 miles per hour instead of 31 due to commercial connectors being 208V and the cold reducing charge rates.

How does the second charger help this?

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If "need" was the only criteria,

You guys, collectively, need to stop focusing on that word (pun intended). For myself, the need word incorporates any convenience benefit you might get. I'd post my criteria yet again, but a few times seems enough.

 

[dsm363]

How does the second charger help this?

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You guys, collectively, need to stop focusing on that word (pun intended). For myself, the need word incorporates any convenience benefit you might get. I'd post my criteria yet again, but a few times seems enough.

I guess I don't understand your objections. I agree that probably 90+% of people don't need twin chargers and 70A EVSEs in the wild are basically nonexistent. But if people want them and a few need them and Tesla makes good money off of providing the option then is it a problem? I agree explaining to people that it probably isn't really a useful option for most people is fine but if they want it even if only because it makes them feel better about having the ability to charge quicker on rare occasions I think that is fine.

 

[wycolo]

I figured it would come in handy maybe just a few times but, gee golly, being able to leave the Mall at midnight fully charged was sure a whole lot better than being captive until 3am.

What clinched it was simply not wanting to downgrade from the Roadster's stock 20kw charger.
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[smorgasbord]

I agree explaining to people that it probably isn't really a useful option for most people is fine but if they want it even if only because it makes them feel better about having the ability to charge quicker on rare occasions I think that is fine.

That's absolutely fine, as long as they understand the costs and actual rarity of occassions.

I guess I don't understand your objections.

I object to people misfocusing on the "need" word. Convenience == Need for this thread.

I object to people thinking it'll save them more money on TOU periods than it costs, raise significant money on resale, be useful because of so many new high power L2 public stations are coming, help get more high power L2 stations installed in the US, get more power from a 40 amp station in the cold, and failing to realize that many of the actual benefits only come with the $1900 HPWC as well. That's $3400 plus tax and higher install costs.

BTW, walk into any Tesla store and ask the Product Specialists if you should get the Twin Charger. See what they say.

 

[kilpatds]

When I was in the store for my test drive, the only mention on twin-charging was that it likely wasn't needed. So ... still not sure what you're trying to say.

 

[brianman]

You guys, collectively, need to stop focusing on that word (pun intended). For myself, the need word incorporates any convenience benefit you might get. I'd post my criteria yet again, but a few times seems enough.

If you don't mean the word "need" then don't use the word need.

What you're saying is equivalent to "Do you need gravity to drive a Model S?" and then asking me to interpret gravity such that the answers are actually interesting.


Do you need to have more than 1 radio station [technically you don't even need 1]? Do you need to have more than 2 fan speeds (off and on) [technically you often don't even need 1 as long as the windows work and you live in a sane climate]?

If you want people to answer a different question, then ask a different question.

 

[scaesare]

I object to people misfocusing on the "need" word. Convenience == Need for this thread.

If that's your criteria, than I assume you also object to:

• The Tech package
• Leather option
• Pano Roof
• 21" wheels
• The Perfomance package
• The Parcel Shelf
• etc...

And since you are being pedantic about words, I'll point out that you stated in your initial post:

So, why get the Twin Chargers? This is reason alone for me to not upgrade to a Signature model (don't want to pay for options I won't ever use).

So you've defined what you see to be a need. Fine. Others definitions will vary.

Oh, and by your own wording, if you "EVER" use twin chargers (even once), then it's an option worth paying for.

(As an aside, your original post is also incorrect regarding power requirements to drive twin chargers: it's 80A charging on a 100A circuit, not "something like 90amp delivery, which means over 100amp circuit" which would be less common)

 

[bond]

I used the online tool at tesla to determine if i should order the twin chargers and based on my driving habits it suggested i should, so i did. Based on this forum and particularly this thread, im not so sure it was the best decision.. otoh better 1500 now vs 3600 later. Its my first EV so I'm allowed to make a newbie decision!

Time will tell. Of course if i ever save even one hour with my wife on a roadtrip then it s well worth the 1500...im the guy who replaced parts that worked in a nearly vintage car to reduce failure potential!

 

[brianman]

if i ever save even one hour with my wife on a roadtrip then it s well worth the 1500...

If this is your mindset (and a smart one IMO), then you definitely made the right choice buying the twin charger option.

 

[bond]

If this is your mindset (and a smart one IMO), then you definitely made the right choice buying the twin charger option.

Yup, it is. Dont get me wrong, she is great...but its my job to make things happen in the background that make our lives together focused on things like sunsets and champagne..not charging anxiety. At least thats how i operate!

Thanks!

 

[efusco]

That's absolutely fine, as long as they understand the costs and actual rarity of occassions.

Do you have ANY idea how conceited that sounds?? Do you really think the majority of people buying a $90k car are not smart enough to decide if spending the extra $1500 is a good choice or not without your criteria?

I think your good intentions of pointing out to people who are uncertain the limited utility of twin chargers has morphed into an ugly and somewhat hostile and self-rightous antagonism of what may be the only true functional option available on the car. The ability to, potentially, half charging times is HUGE and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize that.

 

[brianman]

Yup, it is. Dont get me wrong, she is great...but its my job to make things happen in the background that make our lives together focused on things like sunsets and champagne..not charging anxiety. At least thats how i operate!

Thanks!

You're both very lucky.

 

[smorgasbord]

Do you have ANY idea how conceited that sounds??

These personal attacks are getting out of hand.

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your original post is also incorrect regarding power requirements...

Yeah, well, look at the date on that - 2011. I was working with info available at that time.

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If you don't mean the word "need" then don't use the word need.

OK, since it takes one more time:

The criteria is that you charged at more than 10kW and because of that something was better or more convenient than if you had been restricted to 10kW.

At least, that's my criteria. Clearly, others are much more lax in their rationales.

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The ability to, potentially, half charging times is HUGE and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize that.

Half is good, but most of the time you can't get that halving when you want it, and Superchargers give you way better than half more of the time.

 

[brianman]

OK, since it takes one more time:

At least a dozen times at Bellevue mall. Ellensburg Roadster HPC.

Another dozen expected on the round-trip to TesLive at various Roadster HPCs.

Is that what you had in mind?

 

[dsm363]

I would almost never need 80A at home but it has come in handy visiting the Tesla store and also at the service center where I was able to get enough charge to make it home in half the time. Could I have stuck around longer? Sure but I I didn't have to because of the twin chargers. I could also have found a 30A EVSE but 80A much nicer.

 

[Lloyd]

That's absolutely fine, as long as they understand the costs and actual rarity of occassions.


.

I have 4 within 5 miles of my house.

Tesla had a glitch with the HPWC's, deployment was delayed, and I believe that they will be more prevalent as time goes on. To take advantage of the power available with the HPWC's twin chargers will be necessary.

If I (I have twin chargers) was traveling and had a choice of having dinner at a restaurant with a 30 amp EVSE, or and 80 amp HPWC or 70 amp J1772, which one should I choose?

 

[brianman]

If I (I have twin chargers) was traveling and had a choice of having dinner at a restaurant with a 30 amp EVSE, or and 80 amp HPWC or 70 amp J1772, which one should I choose?

The bus driver's name is Jim.