So I had an interesting, and slightly concerning, conversation at the local Tesla store today. Several things came out of this conversation including a massive expansion of the Supercharger network to include McDonalds and Hilton Hotels. If that ends up being true, it will be an astounding benefit to the charging network and drastically expand the range of the Tesla.
But for every good, there is bad and Tesla is allegedly monitoring what they view as a problem of people who live local to the Supercharger stations charging there instead of at home. Specifically mentioned was Hawthorne, CA, Newark Delaware and the Northeast in general. This is VERY troubling to me, even though I don't live in an area where it would make sense to go to a SC station to save 5 bucks.
I COMPLETELY understand that folks traveling long distance would feel slighted having to wait for a local to charge up before he or she can move on with their family to their final destination. And the argument that the SC system isn't designed for throngs of locals isn't lost on me but neither is it lost on me that unlimited access to the SC network is advertised, and purchased without restriction. To restrict the usage of the SC network after the fact would be, in my opinion, a pr nightmare for a company that has prided itself in standing behind its word.
With any luck there will be an SC station at every McDonalds and this wont be an issue. To me that's the true answer to this "issue"... expanding the network of SC's and even HPWC's, not restricting owners. That said, I think we all have to work together to be cooperative at SC's and make sure we don't leave our vehicles in bays longer than necessary, keeping our contact info available in the windshield, and giving deference to travelers. We'd much rather police ourselves then force Tesla to do it for us.
Your thoughts?
But for every good, there is bad and Tesla is allegedly monitoring what they view as a problem of people who live local to the Supercharger stations charging there instead of at home. Specifically mentioned was Hawthorne, CA, Newark Delaware and the Northeast in general. This is VERY troubling to me, even though I don't live in an area where it would make sense to go to a SC station to save 5 bucks.
I COMPLETELY understand that folks traveling long distance would feel slighted having to wait for a local to charge up before he or she can move on with their family to their final destination. And the argument that the SC system isn't designed for throngs of locals isn't lost on me but neither is it lost on me that unlimited access to the SC network is advertised, and purchased without restriction. To restrict the usage of the SC network after the fact would be, in my opinion, a pr nightmare for a company that has prided itself in standing behind its word.
With any luck there will be an SC station at every McDonalds and this wont be an issue. To me that's the true answer to this "issue"... expanding the network of SC's and even HPWC's, not restricting owners. That said, I think we all have to work together to be cooperative at SC's and make sure we don't leave our vehicles in bays longer than necessary, keeping our contact info available in the windshield, and giving deference to travelers. We'd much rather police ourselves then force Tesla to do it for us.
Your thoughts?
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