malcolm

According to this site: 3 Phase Basics three phase conductors need only be 75% the size of conductors for single phase for the same power output, but charging the roadster's battery in an hour would need about three times as much power (assuming no extra for battery cooling) as the present 70A 240V fast charger.

So if Tesla do go with faster charging (which, according to Elon is only really necessary for 1% of trips) then even with three phase the charging cable will be bulkier/heavier than the present design.

They will have to design some sort of on-board, powered reel to store, dispense and retract the heavier charging cable - which will add even more weight alongside the fast-charge electronics.

Shouldn't they be trying to use three phase to help make future cars lighter?

dpeilow

Not sure where you arrive at 3 times as much power here - the same power is delivered by all three phases combined, not seperately, and it is 1.5 times more efficient too. In addition, the higher voltage means that a lower current can be used for a given power.

OK read it too fast - you mean 3 times more power to charge in one hour what presently takes 3. Yes true, but other efficiency comment still applies!

I'm not sure this automatic retractor is necessary. A simple pair of hooks from one side of the car to the other - like the old fashioned vacuum cleaners but horizontal - would be a simpler and neater solution.

W8MM

3-phase power is not really available in residential neighborhoods in most of the USA. 208v 3-phase is really 3 different 120v circuits that are 120 degrees different in phase from one another. 240v single phase is 2 different 120v circuits arranged 180 degrees in phase from each other.

180 degree phase difference is easy to get with a single transformer fed from a single high-tension primary distribution line. But, 3-phase requires 3 transformers and three high-tension primary lines to each site. 3-phase power is nearly three times as expensive to install and support as single phase and is not likely to spread beyond industrial power users any time soon.

Mike in Cincinnati

Cobos

But as you said 3-phase is the defacto standard in at least Norway and I believe most of Europe for higher power installations. Not many homes has it but mostly any commercial installation has it, so for faster-chargers in Europe it might make sense. Could be a difference between European and US model?

Cobos

malcolm

Yes it could be.

And then in my dream i could connect it to this

vfx

Ah,

my choice is from fr Eoltec Wind Turbines

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The world loves to be deceived.