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- Tesla intends to offer 3,500 fast-charging plugs for owners of any Tesla vehicle by 2024.
- Tesla owners used to have the reliable, extensive Supercharger network.
- Tesla owners are concerned that the move could cause long waiting times at charging stations.
Nelson Jackson said that a major reason for purchasing a Tesla Model S was its extensive charging network. This eliminates some of the hassles of being an early adopter of electric-vehicle technology.
Jackson said that he feels betrayed by Elon Musk's decision to open some of his Superchargers up to other EV drivers. Jackson paid a premium to buy a Tesla because its roadside fast-chargers are more reliable, widely available, and more convenient than other EV owners.
He now fears that this crucial advantage will disappear and he will have to wait to take the lead in all manner of Fords, Kias and Chevrolets.
He said, "It's just an disaster on so many level." "I don’t believe they thought this through."
Tesa didn't respond to my request for comment.
In February, the White House announced that Tesla would make 3,500 existing and new Superchargers available for public use as part of Joe Biden’s plan to strengthen the nation’s charging infrastructure. All 18,000 Superchargers across the US had previously used Tesla's charging plug. This gave Tesla owners the peace of mind they sought when driving on roads.
Jackson, a Tesla fanatic, is wondering how long this enviable position can last.
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Jackson has already seen lines at Supercharger stations during holiday travel periods. He claims that having more vehicles charging at the station will slow down fueling times. He worries that Supercharging could become too difficult to handle with the influx of non-Tesla vehicles, since charging takes longer than getting gas.
He adds that there is also the issue of non-Teslas blocking multiple charging stalls. Because their charging ports don't sit in the same spot on a Tesla, they have had to park creatively at Supercharger stations which have opened access.
Eric Hosmer is a Maryland dump truck driver who has driven well over 200,000 miles in his 2013 Model S. He shares some of these fears. He believes that Tesla's charging experience is so superior to the rest, that Tesla owners will flock in large numbers.
Helen Matthews, a Model Y owner from Philadelphia, stated that she was initially upset by the news due to the high demand for Supercharger stalls. She believes that Tesla's ability to make it more affordable to drive a clean car is a good thing for the planet. She is concerned about the impact on her family's travels if she makes the switch.
Insider spoke to other Tesla owners who don't see major problems and are happy for a move that could increase EV adoption. Day Veerlapati is an IT executive and owner of a Model 3 as well as a Model Y. He hopes that increased competition will force other charging networks to improve their quality.
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Brent Gruber, JD Power's executive director for the EV practice, said that it is not yet clear how Tesla drivers will be affected. He said that the charging infrastructure is not up to EV sales and Tesla's decision could cause congestion at its stations.
He stated that adoption and demand are growing twice as fast than the growth of public charger installations in the United States. "There's an imbalance here to begin with."
This will enable Tesla to apply for $7.5 billion of funding from the Biden Administration for improving EV charging. These funds can be used by any vehicle.
EVAdoption CEO Loren McDonald said that although non-Tesla owners might experience inconveniences while charging up, he doesn’t anticipate widespread hiccups. Tesla collects so many data from its charging stations and vehicles that it can deploy smart public-use plugs.
They won't be stupid and add them where there is already a wait time. He said that they would place them at underutilized locations.
Jackson might get rid of his Tesla if the Supercharging experience is significantly deteriorated. Jackson may even return to gas.
He said, "I'm not going to ride around on a $100,000 Model S if it's too expensive."
Do you have a Tesla owner or another EV owner who has a story to tell about charging? This reporter can be reached at tlevin@insider.com
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By: tlevin@insider.com (Tim Levin)
Title: Tesla opening its exclusive Superchargers to rivals leaves some owners worried about waiting in line behind Fords and Kias
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/tesla-supercharger-open-access-frustrates-owners-charging-2023-3
Published Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2023 17:49:28 +0000
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