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Tesla keeps expanding its supercharging network adding food, play area, lounge
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It's a good idea on their part to make the stations 'service/rest area' types of places. I'd be interested in knowing just how many people visit one of these stations in a given day/week/etc...
Needing a playground for a fueling station just demonstrates how NOT ready for prime time BEVs are. Taking an hour for what normally takes five minutes is why no one I know who owns a Model S ever takes it anywhere. Too much hassle. It would be tres more impressive if there wasn't food, a play area, or a lounge.
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I'm probably in the demographic where this makes sense. Wife and I are 65 (wife is retired) and I will be sometime next year so we have the time to take more leisurely road trips visiting family/friends and sights in the lower 48. Plus nature has decided we need to make pit stops every 3 hours or so anyway.
But I agree for the vast majority of American' s "time is money" which is why the Volt (aside from its size) is the perfect solution for us early adopters. Another reason a Bolt isn't anything more than a nice urban vehicle.
But I agree for the vast majority of American' s "time is money" which is why the Volt (aside from its size) is the perfect solution for us early adopters. Another reason a Bolt isn't anything more than a nice urban vehicle.
Total "refueling" time for BEVs is much less than for ICE vehicles. Compare the 30 sec. to plug in the charger at home to the 10-15 min. time of the ICE with every refuel. A 30-60 min stop on a long trip isn't that big a deal. Recharging takes some planning so most do it as a scheduled bathroom/rest/food break (which you're supposed to take every two-three hours anyway). The Tesla lounge looks like a great location for that.
My son's Tesla S is their preferred family trip vehicle over their Highlander Hybrid. My '13 Volt is not our preferred long-trip vehicle.
My son's Tesla S is their preferred family trip vehicle over their Highlander Hybrid. My '13 Volt is not our preferred long-trip vehicle.
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Just got back from a 1600+ mile road trip. The volt is the right car for that. I timed one of our gas stops, 4 min from entering to leaving the gas station. Ev's have a long way to go to get even close to that for recharge times.
Many people may find it ok if they stop a lot i.e. every 2-3 hrs for 30+ min, but that is a lot of wasted time to me.
Many people may find it ok if they stop a lot i.e. every 2-3 hrs for 30+ min, but that is a lot of wasted time to me.
lol, how silly can you get trying to jump the shark. it is one excuse and one contrivance after another.
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There are trade-offs with BEVs and long-distance driving, for sure. For example, if you regularly take long cross-country trips, the refueling time for a Tesla would add up. But *most* people don't travel those kinds of distances with any significant frequency.
I'm planning on getting a Model 3, and with my travel patterns (2-4 trips per year of 250-400 miles) I expect my total annual refueling time away from home to be comparable to my Volt, which I gas up about once a month.
Add in the facts that (1) I'd get the added benefit of not using *any* gas, and (2) my refueling stops would only occur after multiple hours of continuous driving, when I'd likely want to stop for a break anyway, it seems like a pretty good trade-off to me.
(Also, Teslas should be differentiated from other BEVs in this regard, as Tesla's investment in their Supercharger network puts them in a whole nother class as everyone else.)
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Kettleman City already is a 'service/rest area'. The "refreshments" part is superfluous with many popular establishments within walking distance.
Starbucks
Carl's Jr.
In-N-Out Burger
McDonald's
Jack in the Box
Taco Bell
Subway
Denny's
The Baker, CA site missed the mark on location. Similar establishments exist there too, but aren't as close by (save for a DQ). You can however walk over and visit a junk yard.
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Spoken by a person without young kids
Having to stop twice (there and back) with getting my kids out of the car, keeping them behaved, getting them fed, getting them back in the car, etc... is torture to begin with.When we take long trips (on the magnitude of 400 miles in each direction) in my Volt (or Journey), we stop once for a refuel/bathroom break. The main issue is with the current BEVs (any of them), that same trip would require two stops to recharge in each direction assuming driving at or slightly above posted speed limits.
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You might be saying that with tongue-in-cheek, but, truer words were never spoken. One hour of strenuous activity - the kind that makes you perspire - four or five times a week will add years to one's life. Also, eating a BIG breakfast (including vegetables) and tapering off to little more than a snack at night is waaaay better for you than the reverse (latest thinking). So, putting that wait time to good use by exercising is the way to go. Tesla...add that stepper machine or eliptical trainer!!!Most Americans could really benefit if would use that time "waiting for a charge" to do a little running in place or jogging to get their heart going. Maybe a little stepper or peddle device that could assist the charging process
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Here is a nice picture of another/different 40 stall Baker, CA one that came online last week:
Via OCRyan on TMC
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Out of curiosity, how much juice do the solar covers produce?Here is a nice picture of another/different 40 stall Baker, CA one that came online last week:
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4,890 Posts
Tesla will need to really expand the supercharger network...if the Semi needs 8 charging stations!!!
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