4 ms·

Tesla opens its new Supercharger factory

18 points by reddotX 6y ago

Sohcahtoa82 6y ago
Tesla's supercharging network is a very under-advertised feature of a Tesla. So many people think that a road trip in a Tesla means frequent 1+ hour stops to charge, when in reality its closer to a 15-30 minute charge every ~2-3 hours. Supercharging stations are typically spaced close enough on the US Interstate system that you'll usually drive to around 20% battery and then charge to 80%, a range which optimizes charging speed. Sure, for some people, this is still not acceptable. I won't deny that an ICE is still going to be faster and more convenient.
- flemhans 6y ago
  Some people have to Urinate that often, Anyway. My wife would have to make a stop every 2-3 hours. How are the facilities at the charging stations? Are they typically located alongside a regular gas station, or perhaps a diner?
  - xxpor 6y ago
    It varies, but I've never been to a supercharger with nothing (unless it's the middle of the night). In Washington, a lot of superchargers are at Fred Meyer stores (think walmart supercenters). Ones that aren't are usually next to a hotel or diner. The one in Wenatchee is next to Starbucks. I've never had an issue finding a bathroom near one, which is really my biggest thing.
  - cptskippy 6y ago
    In my experience the facilities vary. A lot of stations are in hotel parking lots and the hotel lobby has sort of a convenience store setup and let you use the restroom. There's a station outside of Chattanooga that's in a paid airport parking lot with no amenities. I stopped there numerous times and the charging time was always short enough to not have to pay a parking fee but sufficient to get me to Atlanta. A lot of station are in the back of mall parking lots not really near to anything useful. We went out to dinner in Asheville for while visiting family and needed to charge. We had to hitch a ride over to the restaurant because the charging station was out of the way.
  - Sohcahtoa82 6y ago
    I've only been to 3 superchargers: - North Eugene, OR (https://goo.gl/maps/y7Jt1S3D1o86h1uF6 https://goo.gl/maps/y7Jt1S3D1o86h1uF6) - Back corner of a hotel parking lot. Has several restaurants within a 3-minute walk. - Lincoln City, OR (https://goo.gl/maps/2cJa4ofK6CHWuHGR9 https://goo.gl/maps/2cJa4ofK6CHWuHGR9) - Located behind an outlet mall. Plenty of shopping to do to kill time, plus a couple places to eat, but probably not going to be a common spot for road trippers unless you're doing the scenic US-101 west coast trip. I charge there when I visit my wife's parents. - Tumwater, WA (https://goo.gl/maps/92dmuHmtNcSHF2eW9 https://goo.gl/maps/92dmuHmtNcSHF2eW9) - This is a Pilot Travel Center, which of course means you have a couple fast food options, large selection of snack foods and drinks, and a restroom. Though apparently, the owner of this specific location is upset about how long Teslas are parked there because it's a small parking lot and during busy days, there's not enough parking. They've shut off the chargers here and they'll likely be taken out. Luckily, just about 10 miles north, there's another supercharging station that just opened (https://goo.gl/maps/ExQEx5waA3CoTPb18 https://goo.gl/maps/ExQEx5waA3CoTPb18) that's at a large shopping center with plenty of food options. That said, I've planned a road trip from my home in Portland, OR to San Diego and back, about 2500 miles total, and checked out all the charging stops I would do. All of them having dining either in the same parking lot or within a 3 minute walk.
- cptskippy 6y ago
  We moved cross country from GA to CA last summer and that's how we did it. I drove a diesel box truck and my partner drove the Model 3. We took the same route but didn't explicitly stick together. We ended up pacing each other the entire way though because stops rarely include just filling up and going.
  - Sohcahtoa82 6y ago
    > I drove a diesel box truck and my partner drove the Model 3. We took the same route but didn't explicitly stick together. Probably could have extended the range of the Model 3 considerably by driving it behind the box truck and drafting.
    - jfengel 6y ago
      And if you set the following distance, you could just grab a nap.
      - Sohcahtoa82 6y ago
        There's always a following distance set when AP is on. Though I don't trust AP in the right lane on the highway. When an extra lane forms (such as to become an exit lane), as the current lane widens, the car meanders a bit as it tries to stay between the widening lines. Then when the new dashed line appears in the middle, it will either lurch to one side, or in some cases beep at me to take control. Neither are something I can nap through. Left lane though? Could definitely nap there, unless you enter a construction zone or there's a rare left exit. You'd upset some people for camping the left lane, which is illegal in some states.

18 points by reddotX 6y ago

Tesla's supercharging network is a very under-advertised feature of a Tesla. So many people think that a road trip in a Tesla means frequent 1+ hour stops to charge, when in reality its closer to a 15-30 minute charge every ~2-3 hours. Supercharging stations are typically spaced close enough on the US Interstate system that you'll usually drive to around 20% battery and then charge to 80%, a range which optimizes charging speed. Sure, for some people, this is still not acceptable. I won't deny that an ICE is still going to be faster and more convenient.

flemhans 6y ago
Some people have to Urinate that often, Anyway. My wife would have to make a stop every 2-3 hours. How are the facilities at the charging stations? Are they typically located alongside a regular gas station, or perhaps a diner?
- xxpor 6y ago
  It varies, but I've never been to a supercharger with nothing (unless it's the middle of the night). In Washington, a lot of superchargers are at Fred Meyer stores (think walmart supercenters). Ones that aren't are usually next to a hotel or diner. The one in Wenatchee is next to Starbucks. I've never had an issue finding a bathroom near one, which is really my biggest thing.
- cptskippy 6y ago
  In my experience the facilities vary. A lot of stations are in hotel parking lots and the hotel lobby has sort of a convenience store setup and let you use the restroom. There's a station outside of Chattanooga that's in a paid airport parking lot with no amenities. I stopped there numerous times and the charging time was always short enough to not have to pay a parking fee but sufficient to get me to Atlanta. A lot of station are in the back of mall parking lots not really near to anything useful. We went out to dinner in Asheville for while visiting family and needed to charge. We had to hitch a ride over to the restaurant because the charging station was out of the way.
- Sohcahtoa82 6y ago
  I've only been to 3 superchargers: - North Eugene, OR (https://goo.gl/maps/y7Jt1S3D1o86h1uF6 https://goo.gl/maps/y7Jt1S3D1o86h1uF6) - Back corner of a hotel parking lot. Has several restaurants within a 3-minute walk. - Lincoln City, OR (https://goo.gl/maps/2cJa4ofK6CHWuHGR9 https://goo.gl/maps/2cJa4ofK6CHWuHGR9) - Located behind an outlet mall. Plenty of shopping to do to kill time, plus a couple places to eat, but probably not going to be a common spot for road trippers unless you're doing the scenic US-101 west coast trip. I charge there when I visit my wife's parents. - Tumwater, WA (https://goo.gl/maps/92dmuHmtNcSHF2eW9 https://goo.gl/maps/92dmuHmtNcSHF2eW9) - This is a Pilot Travel Center, which of course means you have a couple fast food options, large selection of snack foods and drinks, and a restroom. Though apparently, the owner of this specific location is upset about how long Teslas are parked there because it's a small parking lot and during busy days, there's not enough parking. They've shut off the chargers here and they'll likely be taken out. Luckily, just about 10 miles north, there's another supercharging station that just opened (https://goo.gl/maps/ExQEx5waA3CoTPb18 https://goo.gl/maps/ExQEx5waA3CoTPb18) that's at a large shopping center with plenty of food options. That said, I've planned a road trip from my home in Portland, OR to San Diego and back, about 2500 miles total, and checked out all the charging stops I would do. All of them having dining either in the same parking lot or within a 3 minute walk.
cptskippy 6y ago
We moved cross country from GA to CA last summer and that's how we did it. I drove a diesel box truck and my partner drove the Model 3. We took the same route but didn't explicitly stick together. We ended up pacing each other the entire way though because stops rarely include just filling up and going.
- Sohcahtoa82 6y ago
  > I drove a diesel box truck and my partner drove the Model 3. We took the same route but didn't explicitly stick together. Probably could have extended the range of the Model 3 considerably by driving it behind the box truck and drafting.
  - jfengel 6y ago
    And if you set the following distance, you could just grab a nap.
    - Sohcahtoa82 6y ago
      There's always a following distance set when AP is on. Though I don't trust AP in the right lane on the highway. When an extra lane forms (such as to become an exit lane), as the current lane widens, the car meanders a bit as it tries to stay between the widening lines. Then when the new dashed line appears in the middle, it will either lurch to one side, or in some cases beep at me to take control. Neither are something I can nap through. Left lane though? Could definitely nap there, unless you enter a construction zone or there's a rare left exit. You'd upset some people for camping the left lane, which is illegal in some states.