Tesla’s Superchargers are certainly faster than most public EV stations, but they’re still far slower than you might hope for. When it can take about 40 minutes to get an 80 percent charge, you can’t exactly grab and go like you would at a gas pump. Relief is in sight, however: Elon Musk has teased third-generation Superchargers that could supply much, much more power than the maximum 150kW per car you see today. Even the 350kW floated as a guess by Electrek ‘s Fred Lambert is like a “children’s toy, ” according to Musk. Musk isn’t diving into specifics, to no one’s surprise, so it’s not clear just how quickly the new system would charge, when it arrives or whether it will be compatible with existing Tesla cars. As our Autoblog compatriots point out , though, Geneva is planning to deploy buses that use 600kW “flash-charging” to keep running without significantly interrupting their schedules. Even a longer recharge at the end of the line should take 4-5 minutes. If Tesla can approach that level of power delivery, it could speed up charging to the point where you can visit a Supercharger when you’re pressed for time (say, on the way to work). Any dramatic improvement would go a long way toward making EVs more acceptable to a public used to refilling their cars almost on impulse, instead of planning their trips around it. However, it could also make financial sense for Musk and company. The shorter your charging stop, the sooner you free up a given space for the next driver. Whatever Tesla spends to upgrade stations could be offset by taking more customers (many of whom will be paying ) and reducing the need for additional stations to keep up with demand. Also, Musk notes that both these “V3” stations and Powerwall 2 will be key to a wide rollout of solar-powered Superchargers that are kinder to both Tesla’s energy costs and the environment. @FredericLambert There are some installed already, but full rollout really needs Supercharger V3 and Powerpack V2, plus SolarCity. Pieces now in place. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 24, 2016 @FredericLambert A mere 350 kW … what are you referring to, a children’s toy? — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 24, 2016 Via: Autoblog Source: Elon Musk (Twitter 1) , (2)
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Tesla’s next-generation Superchargers should be much faster
It’s no secret that Mercedes-Benz eventually wants to compete with Tesla , not just partner with it , and you won’t have to wait much longer to see how that rivalry shakes out. The company’s David McCarthy tells Motoring.com.au that you should see a concept version of Merc’s Tesla-beating electric sedan in September, or shortly before the Paris Motor Show. Its exact specs are a mystery (even McCarthy hasn’t seen it; you’re looking at the IAA Concept ), but it should sit in the Model S’ price bracket and offer similar driving range when it launches, most likely in 2018. There were previously teases that it would be “dangerously fast, ” in case there was any doubt that it would be a performance-minded ride. The automaker’s ace in the hole might not be anything design-related, however. Rather, it could be production: McCarthy notes that Tesla faces a “challenge” in making so many cars on time and within budget. That shouldn’t be a problem for an industry veteran like Mercedes, he argues. And while he’s unsure that the car is built to be a “Tesla killer, ” he admits that Elon Musk and crew will “probably have good reason” to worry about it. In that sense, Tesla may be shifting focus to the more affordable Model 3 at just the right time. Although Mercedes (or rather, Daimler) technically has low-cost electric cars like the Smart Fortwo Electric, they’re not exactly mainstream. Tesla will be targeting an audience that Mercedes has largely left untapped, so it won’t have to worry all that much if its higher-end car sales take a hit. Via: Autoblog Source: Motoring.com.au 