Improving functionality

[malcolm]

Damn! Almost forgot.

It would be really useful if you can recharge Tesla cars by connecting two together via the (updated?) mobile charger- so called Vehicle To Vehicle or V2V.

Obviously this is only going to be available initially for those lucky enough to purchase two Teslas, and as the numbers of EVs grow then presumably we'll have to go through the EV equivalent of the BluRay/HD format war. But then, that's going to happen with any centralised battery-swap or commercial fast recharge stations anyway.

Still it would be a useful feature if Model S and the Roadster can recharge each other in an emergency.

[Chris H.]

Malcolm,

that's a really good idea, and, to be honest, it's one that had not occurred to me before. I suppose it would also be a good idea for tow trucks to carry some kind of charger and ESS as EVs become more common on the roads.

All the best,

Chris H.

[malcolm]

Yeah and it makes a good case for selling more Tesla EVs rather than waiting for some brave/foolhardy soul to bite the supermarket recharge station or battery swap outlet bullet.

What happens if I run out of charge? Phone your partner to drive your other Tesla out to rescue you. Or maybe it could be an aspect of the Owners Club - assuming members live fairly close to each other.

[Brent]

Yeah and it makes a good case for selling more Tesla EVs rather than waiting for some brave/foolhardy soul to bite the supermarket recharge station or battery swap outlet bullet.

What happens if I run out of charge? Phone your partner to drive your other Tesla out to rescue you. Or maybe it could be an aspect of the Owners Club - assuming members live fairly close to each other.

It's a great idea to have the option, although I might opt for roadside service if it had something similar. Why bother my friends when I can bother the car company?

[TEG]

What happens if I run out of charge?

Someone can tow over a generator if you don't want to have the car towed to a charging station.

[vfx]

"It would be really useful if you can recharge Tesla cars by connecting two together via the (updated?) mobile charger- so called Vehicle To Vehicle or V2V."

Neat idea but wouldn't you end up with two cars with an equal amount of energy?

It seems the max "fill up" would be half of what the charging vehicle battery has to offer.

[doug]

"It would be really useful if you can recharge Tesla cars by connecting two together via the (updated?) mobile charger- so called Vehicle To Vehicle or V2V."

Neat idea but wouldn't you end up with two cars with an equal amount of energy?

It seems the max "fill up" would be half of what the charging vehicle battery has to offer.

With some electronics in between (e.g. a transformer), you can "fill" one while "emptying" the other.

[TEG]

It would be really useful if you can recharge Tesla cars by connecting two together via the (updated?) mobile charger- so called Vehicle To Vehicle or V2V.

Blast from the past

# Malcolm Wilson wrote on February 6th, 2008 at 8:34 am
## Also can any single Tesla be used as an emergency mobile charger for another Tesla? Is V2V allowed.
TEG wrote on February 6th, 2008 at 9:31 am
Good point! I was always thinking of someone towing a generator out to the stranded vehicle, but if you could share your power that would be even better.
The Tesla emergency roadside service vehicle could be another Tesla!
On the surface, it would seem like this would be technically feasible.
ICE vehicles give each other “jump starts” all the time with you offering “jumper cables” to hook your battery to someone in need.
Why not do that with the traction pack as well?

[vfx]

With some electronics in between (e.g. a transformer), you can "fill" one while "emptying" the other.

Transformer = heavy

[malcolm]

Blast from the past

Damn. My secret's out! I don't have anything new to say, I just recycle the same comments every six months or so.

Yes vfx is quite right, two cars can only share a bit of charge (say 20% max?). But with moderate driving at 50 mph the Roadster can go ~40 miles on 10kWh.

This is really only suitable for a recovery situation. Towing around a portable ICE-driven generator is obviously a better way to deliver more charge - either in an emergency or for a really long journey where you need to cover several hundred miles in a day (Elon's 1% of journeys).

I just like the simplicity of Tesla not needing to invest in helping develop a battery swap system or commercial recharging stations. Their focus is the cars - so the best mobile recharger is (for their business) another car.

Tesla really shouldn't get involved with charging/swapping infrastructure stuff. Stick with the cars guys.