Lately I've been reading a number of posts from people configuring their Model S, and this being their first EV, are exhibiting what I'm calling "Charging Anxiety," or CA.
That's the fear of not being able to charge quickly enough.
As a result of CA, people are configuring their Model S's with twin chargers and even getting the HPC for home. As myself and several Roadsters have recommended, the HPC at home is never needed and charging on the road at higher than 40 amps is almost never available. So, that $2700 is almost always better spent on something else.
I'm asking Roadster and early Model S owners to record in this thread the times when they've needed to and used more than 40 amps of charging. Here's my complete list for over 14 months and 14,000 miles of ownership:
#1 - Trip from SF Bay Area to Santa Barbara. Charged at 70 amp Rabbobank in Salinas & Atascadero both ways. Not my Roadster, btw.
#2 - Trip from SF Bay Area to Morro Bay. Charged at 70 amps at Rabbobank in Atascadero going there and in Salinas coming back.
#3 - Trip from SF Bay Area to Santa Barbara. Charged at 70 amp Rabbobank in Atascadero both ways. Watched movie during one of the charges.
That's it.
Now, I have used HPCs at other times, but it didn't save me any time. Even yesterday in Carmel Valley Tesla graciously put my Roadster on their HPC during the test drive I was a passenger for. However, if they had put me on the UMC at 40 amps, it would have been just fine, including driving home at very fast freeway speeds. I had over 80 miles of range left when I got home.
If the Rabbobanks along 101 did not already have 70 amp HPCs, I would not have ordered my Model S with Twin Chargers. Everything else on the road, except Tesla stores, is 40 amps or less, and I've never felt my charging at home wasn't fast enough, even with Roadster owner friends visiting. With the upcoming SuperCharger network, I don't believe we're going to be getting new HPCs on the road for the next few to several years. It's either going to be SuperChargers or 30ish amp J1772s on the road, with the occasional 40-amp RV park connection. The twin chargers don't help with any of those.
Save your money or buy something more useful is my advice. I'm hoping other Tesla owners will record their experiences here.
That's the fear of not being able to charge quickly enough.
As a result of CA, people are configuring their Model S's with twin chargers and even getting the HPC for home. As myself and several Roadsters have recommended, the HPC at home is never needed and charging on the road at higher than 40 amps is almost never available. So, that $2700 is almost always better spent on something else.
I'm asking Roadster and early Model S owners to record in this thread the times when they've needed to and used more than 40 amps of charging. Here's my complete list for over 14 months and 14,000 miles of ownership:
#1 - Trip from SF Bay Area to Santa Barbara. Charged at 70 amp Rabbobank in Salinas & Atascadero both ways. Not my Roadster, btw.
#2 - Trip from SF Bay Area to Morro Bay. Charged at 70 amps at Rabbobank in Atascadero going there and in Salinas coming back.
#3 - Trip from SF Bay Area to Santa Barbara. Charged at 70 amp Rabbobank in Atascadero both ways. Watched movie during one of the charges.
That's it.
Now, I have used HPCs at other times, but it didn't save me any time. Even yesterday in Carmel Valley Tesla graciously put my Roadster on their HPC during the test drive I was a passenger for. However, if they had put me on the UMC at 40 amps, it would have been just fine, including driving home at very fast freeway speeds. I had over 80 miles of range left when I got home.
If the Rabbobanks along 101 did not already have 70 amp HPCs, I would not have ordered my Model S with Twin Chargers. Everything else on the road, except Tesla stores, is 40 amps or less, and I've never felt my charging at home wasn't fast enough, even with Roadster owner friends visiting. With the upcoming SuperCharger network, I don't believe we're going to be getting new HPCs on the road for the next few to several years. It's either going to be SuperChargers or 30ish amp J1772s on the road, with the occasional 40-amp RV park connection. The twin chargers don't help with any of those.
Save your money or buy something more useful is my advice. I'm hoping other Tesla owners will record their experiences here.
Last edited: