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The feed isn't an issue if Tesla doesn't want it to be. Tesla and others have been deploying stations with local battery reserves because getting a big enough u

The feed isn't an issue if Tesla doesn't want it to be. Tesla and others have been deploying stations with local battery reserves because getting a big enough utility feed is a deployment time problem in many, many locations or cost-prohibitive. Utilities are (not surprisingly) a bit pissy about where you drop a megawatt or few load. I'm guessing it is the result of site negotiation between Tesla and Ford, coupled with firmware/hardware/signage changes. Ford wants chargers where they think they'll be most likely to sell cars, and might have handed off a list to Tesla where market research showed they'd sell the most EVs and there is the worst charging infrastructure, for example. Tesla might be u an algorithm to pick stations they think that adding smelly Ford-driving plebs to will irritate the fewest Tesla customers but still meet their contraction obligations to Ford. There may also be agreements with the host site - malls and the like may have agreed to lease land for the chargers and spaces etc in exchange for the wealthy people the stations will bring to the area. Ford et al are crazy to do this, frankly. Musk is incredibly unstable, extremely self-serving, and while I think Musk ultimately wants to become the Mobil/Shell/BP of electric charging, they're still competitors.

bdamm 3y ago
If you look at the map of charging locations that are enabled for Ford as of today, you can tell that there is really very little limit being placed. The map is effectively most of the supercharging locations. The algorithm seems to be simply which stations can transition to NACS protocol. Malls are leasing land mostly for rent. Some are obviously more enthusiastic about it than others. Some chargers are off in the corner, out of the way. Some are front and center, placed so that the drivers can have easy access to the mall. Ford is brilliant to partner with Tesla, because the existing fleet of chargers suck, and Tesla's doesn't suck. They certainly have a contract with Tesla that assures a certain lenth of time for reliable service (e.g. Tesla won't cut off Ford drivers or do wild pricing to punish them). Tesla wants more customers - car or energy customers, doesn't matter. So seems like a win-win all around. Unclear why this is bad for Ford or Tesla. The loser here might be the Tesla drivers, who now need to compete for space with the Ford drivers, especially since the Ford cars don't charge quite as fast as the Teslas do, and there is some friction due to the position of the charge socket. But in the end, the increased revenue for Tesla will allow Tesla to build more chargers, which is what Tesla drivers have been enjoying anyway. So maybe ultimately it is better for everyone. Everyone, that is, except for the oil company executives.

bdamm 3y ago

If you look at the map of charging locations that are enabled for Ford as of today, you can tell that there is really very little limit being placed. The map is effectively most of the supercharging locations. The algorithm seems to be simply which stations can transition to NACS protocol. Malls are leasing land mostly for rent. Some are obviously more enthusiastic about it than others. Some chargers are off in the corner, out of the way. Some are front and center, placed so that the drivers can have easy access to the mall. Ford is brilliant to partner with Tesla, because the existing fleet of chargers suck, and Tesla's doesn't suck. They certainly have a contract with Tesla that assures a certain lenth of time for reliable service (e.g. Tesla won't cut off Ford drivers or do wild pricing to punish them). Tesla wants more customers - car or energy customers, doesn't matter. So seems like a win-win all around. Unclear why this is bad for Ford or Tesla. The loser here might be the Tesla drivers, who now need to compete for space with the Ford drivers, especially since the Ford cars don't charge quite as fast as the Teslas do, and there is some friction due to the position of the charge socket. But in the end, the increased revenue for Tesla will allow Tesla to build more chargers, which is what Tesla drivers have been enjoying anyway. So maybe ultimately it is better for everyone. Everyone, that is, except for the oil company executives.