What's the deal with all these hotel destination chargers showing on my nav?

[deonb]

Why does it matter? You should appreciate inclusion of the additional charging options. Glass half full, remember? And if you don't like it, just turn it off by touching the lightning bolt button. If you need a charge at one of those locations, then call ahead. The phone number is right there for you. Or is that too much trouble?

It's not a logical tie-in. How many people drive somewhere and not know beforehand where they're going to stay at night?

And when you are planning up front, are you really sitting in your car in your garage browsing through the list of hotels with destination chargers, see which ones look good, then go back to your desk, Yelping it, and if you don't like it, go back to the car, get the next hotel with a charger, ... etc.

The workflow just doesn't work.


What the screen need to show is destinations chargers which do NOT require hotel stays. I don't need to see the hotel I'm staying on there - it's going to be my final destination in the GPS anyway.

 

[jerry33]

It's not a logical tie-in. How many people drive somewhere and not know beforehand where they're going to stay at night?

And when you are planning up front, are you really sitting in your car in your garage browsing through the list of hotels with destination chargers, see which ones look good, then go back to your desk, Yelping it, and if you don't like it, go back to the car, get the next hotel with a charger, ... etc.

The workflow just doesn't work.


What the screen need to show is destinations chargers which do NOT require hotel stays. I don't need to see the hotel I'm staying on there - it's going to be my final destination in the GPS anyway.

Right. It makes sense on the website because you are at your computer planning your trip, but in the car your trip is likely already planned.

 

[S4WRXTTCS]

The issue I have with the destination charging options is not only do they tend to be in ritzy hotels, but they're also in the busiest places of the city.

Then when actually do get to them they'll ask you if you're on some kind of list. If you're not on that list they won't bother plugging you in even if you're staying the night, and paying for valet parking. At least that was my first experience with trying to use destination charging. They didn't seem at all motivated to shuffle around Tesla's that would have liked to charge. I even told him I didn't need much of a charge.

Sure I bought a Tesla, but that doesn't mean I want to spend $50 to $100 more to spend a night at a hotel that has destination charging versus a decent hotel that is in a more stressfree location.

So instead my plan is to use plugshare and Chademo. I'm still in the process of finding the cheapest, most stressfree place to charge in Portland that as close to I5 as possible.

The destination charging might work well for wineries, dinner places, and small B&B's.

 

[Larry Chanin]

And when you tap the icon, it should give you this, right? (you shouldn't need to call):

View attachment 86046

When you tap the icon you get some of that information and a button that dials the destination through the car's blue tooth connection to your phone. The conditions regarding the availability of the HPWCs are abbreviated, they aren't intended to describe every permutation. For example, many hotels require you to be a patron to charge, but they don't specify whether being a patron at their restaurant is sufficient or whether you need to be an overnight guest. As was stated, in many cases being a restaurant patron is sufficient.

To me pushing the call button to verify availability is a great feature, not an inconvience.

Larry

 

[deonb]

The destination charging might work well for wineries, dinner places, and small B&B's.

And casinos, zoos, theme parks, museums, libraries... pretty much anything you can think of EXCEPT for hotels.


But it's really not the Hotel site that's the problem, it's the exclusivity. Or more - it's the fact that hotels can get a free charger from Tesla, and then make it unusable for the majority of people.

Tesla should have made a rule that if Tesla is paying for the charger, the host has to allow anybody from the public to charge there for a nominal fee (e.g. max $25), while allowing the host to discount any of their own customers.

 

[mknox]

It's not a logical tie-in. How many people drive somewhere and not know beforehand where they're going to stay at night?

Quite a bit, I'd say. Been on a number of road trips over the years and would just start looking for motels in the late afternoon. Once I can remember stopping at every exit for many miles finding "No Vacancy" signs on and started noticing the same cars coming on and off the Interstate obviously doing the same thing as me. Eventually you'll find a place.

 

[Larry Chanin]

The issue I have with the destination charging options is not only do they tend to be in ritzy hotels, but they're also in the busiest places of the city.

Then when actually do get to them they'll ask you if you're on some kind of list. If you're not on that list they won't bother plugging you in even if you're staying the night, and paying for valet parking. At least that was my first experience with trying to use destination charging. They didn't seem at all motivated to shuffle around Tesla's that would have liked to charge. I even told him I didn't need much of a charge.

Sure I bought a Tesla, but that doesn't mean I want to spend $50 to $100 more to spend a night at a hotel that has destination charging versus a decent hotel that is in a more stressfree location.

So instead my plan is to use plugshare and Chademo. I'm still in the process of finding the cheapest, most stressfree place to charge in Portland that as close to I5 as possible.

The destination charging might work well for wineries, dinner places, and small B&B's.

It is only logical that Tesla would start its Destination Charging Program with those hotels and resorts that value the demographic represented by Model S owners. While I appreciate your points, it is highly likely that many Model S owners would be staying at these types of hotels even before they purchased their Tesla.

I believe that you are over-generalizing your first Tesla destination charging experience to all Tesla charging partners. Here's a description my my first Tesla destination charging experience:

The Epicurean Hotel in Tampa is a unique experience.

Last night Bern's Fine Wines & Spirits and the Epicurean Hotel treated our club to a wine tasting. Wow!!

This is the first time I have been to the Epicurean, it is really a unique experience.
When you drive in the valet greets you, immediately recognizes that you are driving a Tesla and offers to charge your car. I say, "Well I want to keep the High Power Wall Connectors free for those folks who might really need it to get home." He says, "No problem, we're here 24/7 and we will swap out your car when it finishes charging to free it up."

As my wife and I get out of the car we are then greeted by two cute girls who offer to carry our bags. They escort us to the lobby where we are immediately given cool glasses of great tasting wine. Expecting to have to go to a registration desk the girls instead direct us to the elevator and escort us to our room. They describe the amenities and only then do they ask for my credit card where it is swiped into the iPad and in literally seconds the entire registration process is done.

After drinking great wine at Bern's Fine Wines located in the lobby of the hotel, we buy a few bottles and take them to the Élevage Restaurant. The service is very good, the food is fantastic and for this special club event our corkage fees (which normally would have been $75) are waived.

Afterwards my wife and I go to the stylish rooftop cocktail lounge, Edge. Very nice and the weather was perfect. I'm not sure how the Epicurean pulled that off. :wink:

It was a great overall experience and I highly recommend it if you are looking for a place to stay in Tampa. Across the street is the famous Bern's Steakhouse which has great steaks and the world's largest fine wine collection.

For folks coming from out of town in their Model Ss, the Brandon Supercharger station is less than 14 miles away, and the hotel has two on-site HPWCs. The Epicurean is part of Tesla's Destination Charging Program. It's location is already programmed into your navigation systems. Just select the "Places" tab and then the "Destination Chargers" tap and scroll to the Epicurean to select it from the list.

Since the Superchargers are so close, if possible I will see if I can arrange for a more extended club event there and invite all club regions.

Larry

This is just the beginning of Tesla's Destination Charging Program. When the Model 3s hit the roads in the hundreds of thousands all types of hotels in all price ranges will be clamoring for HPWCs.

Larry

 

[TexasEV]

And casinos, zoos, theme parks, museums, libraries... pretty much anything you can think of EXCEPT for hotels.


But it's really not the Hotel site that's the problem, it's the exclusivity. Or more - it's the fact that hotels can get a free charger from Tesla, and then make it unusable for the majority of people.

Tesla should have made a rule that if Tesla is paying for the charger, the host has to allow anybody from the public to charge there for a nominal fee (e.g. max $25), while allowing the host to discount any of their own customers.

I disagree. It's hard enough to get places to install the charging stations (even free ones) without putting requirements on them. If they're doing it to attract guests they probably wouldn't want to be bothered with others stopping and collecting small amounts from them. Hotels are in the business of renting rooms, not selling electricity.

When I travel I'm going to first look for hotels or B&Bs on the Tesla destination charging map. In fact when we drive from Austin to Destin this summer we're staying overnight at a Best Western in Louisiana because it has HPWCs. On the way back we will be staying at a B&B in Mobile that I told about the destination charging program and they were interested and will be installing one. I think that's the intent of the program and why it's a win/win for the hotels and Tesla owners. They get a guest, we get an easy overnight charge.

 

[jerry33]

I disagree. It's hard enough to get places to install the charging stations (even free ones) without putting requirements on them. If they're doing it to attract guests they probably wouldn't want to be bothered with others stopping and collecting small amounts from them. Hotels are in the business of renting rooms, not selling electricity.

I don't have a problem with businesses reserving the destination chargers for customers. The hotels are only problematical because a great many of them are way above my price range. It would be nice to be able to exclude hotels on the screen.

 

[snellenr]

I disagree. It's hard enough to get places to install the charging stations (even free ones) without putting requirements on them. If they're doing it to attract guests they probably wouldn't want to be bothered with others stopping and collecting small amounts from them. Hotels are in the business of renting rooms, not selling electricity.

When I travel I'm going to first look for hotels or B&Bs on the Tesla destination charging map. In fact when we drive from Austin to Destin this summer we're staying overnight at a Best Western in Louisiana because it has HPWCs. I think that's the intent of the program and why it's a win/win for the hotels and Tesla owners. They get a guest, we get an easy overnight charge.

Agreed. More options are always good, and if the cut-rate motels see this they may want to get on board as well.

Besides -- I figure I'll be saving gas, airfare, and car rental (depending on the scenario) -- staying at an up-scale place to take advantage of one of these chargers (if I need to) is going to be a wash or better, cost-wise.

 

[TexasEV]

I would hardly consider Best Western to be upscale, and that's who is in the Tesla destination charging program in Louisiana (3 of them).

 

[Miousic]

It's not a logical tie-in. How many people drive somewhere and not know beforehand where they're going to stay at night?

And when you are planning up front, are you really sitting in your car in your garage browsing through the list of hotels with destination chargers, see which ones look good, then go back to your desk, Yelping it, and if you don't like it, go back to the car, get the next hotel with a charger, ... etc.

The workflow just doesn't work.


What the screen need to show is destinations chargers which do NOT require hotel stays. I don't need to see the hotel I'm staying on there - it's going to be my final destination in the GPS anyway.

If one day you make a trip longer than 1 day, you will find this useful ! After crossing the US last month, i'd loved to have this feature instead of always looking for hotels with chargers on my phone.

 

[SW2Fiddler]

Why does Tesla suggest all these hotel zoned chargers to me?

I'll address this to everybody. Here's the "deal":

We all would like to have more charging locations than just hotels, right? The program is what, mere months old?

Don't come here and tell us what's lacking in the selections on the map Right Now.
Do pick a better destination. Now, "tesla up." Show the owner/manager your car and describe the Destination Chargers as places where Tesla owners will be stopped for half an hour to a couple of hours. If they get a little interested, as they should, use the Tesla Destination Charging web page to make the love connection.
Destination Charging | Tesla Motors
Repeat.

We will all benefit.

 

[AmpedRealtor]

Potential phone call: Hello, Four Seasons. I'm staying across the street at the Motel 6. Mind if I charge my car at your place?

Potential phone call: Hello, Four Seasons. I'm staying across the street at the Motel 6. But if I eat at your fine establishment, would it be possible to charge my car?

It's all about the approach.

- - - Updated - - -

What the screen need to show is destinations chargers which do NOT require hotel stays. I don't need to see the hotel I'm staying on there - it's going to be my final destination in the GPS anyway.

Many destination chargers say "for patrons only" but certainly don't require a hotel stay. Most will let you charge if you eat in one of their restaurants.

- - - Updated - - -

I would hardly consider Best Western to be upscale, and that's who is in the Tesla destination charging program in Louisiana (3 of them).

It's probably upscale for Louisiana lol

 

[Jim MacInnes]

I am a part of that program with 2 HPWC's listed on the site for clients only, but if you call me and I am in town, I will allow charging at no Fee (Free). Tesla did not put any stipulations on the owners when they were given for Destination Charging.

That is the way we handle it.

 

[deonb]

If one day you make a trip longer than 1 day, you will find this useful ! After crossing the US last month, i'd loved to have this feature instead of always looking for hotels with chargers on my phone.

I do all the time, but I still don't find it useful, because it's a very narrow search using a single criteria.

e.g. I want to have it only show Pet Friendly hotels that are Marriott-affiliated. However to do that, they'd have to basically rebuild an TripAdvisor/Travelocity like interface, which is not their core business.

It would be of tremendous more value, if Tesla were to contact the major travel websites, and convince them to add vehicle charging as a filterable amenity - none of the sites have that as far as I know.

 

[W0QR]

Itsa spiff!

This is a GOOD deal. Let's say your traveling..want to have a nice dinner and maybe want to top off too. May as well stop where there's a charger.
And if you have to stay overnight, may as well do a gentle charge while you're at it.

This is just good for everybody. But you don't have to use them.

And in an emergency, they'd be lifesavers.

You might want to call them and ask if there are any restrictions..but worth doing. Enjoy!

 

[SW2Fiddler]

It would be of tremendous more value, if Tesla were to contact the major travel websites, and convince them to add vehicle charging as a filterable amenity - none of the sites have that as far as I know.

Good suggestion but OMG.
This reminded me of a TripAdvisor member who was flamed at 365 degrees by other members (well, two in particular were barking the most and the loudest) for daring to ask for car charging to be added as a filter. "That's the HOTEL'S job to put it on THEIR website, you elite, smug, nattering nabob you!!!1!"
I bring it up there, regularly, and also at AAA whenever I get a counter rep to whom I haven't already preached. We will probably get farther than a Tesla representative will, for now.

 

[EVSteve]

What I'd like to know is why there's still no option for homeowners with exterior accessible HPWC who wish to have their charger listed for use by any other Tesla owner who needs a charge. My house is not a hotel but does provide a solar powered location at which at least 35 or so different Model-S cars have come by over the past year thanks to Plugshare having a designation for Model-S. I bought the charger despite not owning a Tesla after several cars had come by to use my 6-50 and construction of a nearby Supercharger location fell through. The higher charge rate helps tremendously.

There is a small B&B on the other side of town that also has a HPWC however they charge $12 per session regardless of actual power consumed unless you are staying at the inn. The destination charge listing for this Inn has no mention whatsoever of that fee. Considering Tesla paid for their connector and covered the installation costs that $12 fee is, in my opinion, outrageous. Current utility rates in this area are in the $0.14/kWh range for residential.

I would love to have the ability to list our HPWC and the two j1772 connectors on the site. Currently we have the service to charge 1 Tesla at 20kW and two additional cars at up to 7.2kW each at the same time. The depressing part is this output is the highest power and concentration of EV plugs in the entire Lehigh Valley all FREE and powered by the sun. Get it together Tesla.

 

[TexasEV]

What I'd like to know is why there's still no option for homeowners with exterior accessible HPWC who wish to have their charger listed for use by any other Tesla owner who needs a charge. My house is not a hotel but does provide a solar powered location at which at least 35 or so different Model-S cars have come by over the past year thanks to Plugshare having a designation for Model-S. I bought the charger despite not owning a Tesla after several cars had come by to use my 6-50 and construction of a nearby Supercharger location fell through. The higher charge rate helps tremendously.

There is a small B&B on the other side of town that also has a HPWC however they charge $12 per session regardless of actual power consumed unless you are staying at the inn. The destination charge listing for this Inn has no mention whatsoever of that fee. Considering Tesla paid for their connector and covered the installation costs that $12 fee is, in my opinion, outrageous. Current utility rates in this area are in the $0.14/kWh range for residential.

I would love to have the ability to list our HPWC and the two j1772 connectors on the site. Currently we have the service to charge 1 Tesla at 20kW and two additional cars at up to 7.2kW each at the same time. The depressing part is this output is the highest power and concentration of EV plugs in the entire Lehigh Valley all FREE and powered by the sun. Get it together Tesla.

Thank you for your generosity. You're on Plugshare, which is the appropriate place for someone looking to charge at someone's home. I don't think private homes should be listed in Tesla's destination charging, even if the owner wants it.