Tesla owners and CCS chargers.... They are invading.... and Rude!

[HuntingPudel]

Tesla is following the old saying:"If you can't beat them, join them". So if they started with a propietary charging connector to compete against the SAE J1772 standard, and cannot beat them, then they are joining with an adapter. I see Tesla giving up to use the SAE CCS standard in all future Tesla Models. Just like Apple gave up to the Lightning plug, and now all Mac books and iPads use the USB type C plug to connect and charge. Soon all iPhones will follow.

To be fair, MacBooks were among the first computers to use the Type C USB connector outlined under the hardware specification of USB 3.1. They never used the Lightning connector. There was a lot of backlash around the Type C connector at the time Apple switched on their laptops and their consumer-grade desktops. It took a while for them to redesign their pro-line machines. iPads switched because of the power requirement of the Pro line. iPhones will switch because the EU is demanding it and it makes no sense for Apple to have two different mechanical specifications (although it’s about time). ??

That said, Brand T has only (currently) switched to the CCS-2 connector in the EU due to EU directives. It didn’t make sense for them to switch US/North American cars since they had such a huge build-out of SuperChargers and NA cars use a different connector standard (CCS-1) anyhow. The CCS-1 adapter along with software updates for legacy cars is the first logical step in Brand T switching from their proprietary set-up to the North American standard. Next steps would be implementing CCS in their charging stations and a model by model changeover of charging receptacles on their cars. They are probably 4-7 years from completion, depending on their refresh cycle. ??

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[Zer0t]

So if Tesla, as rumored, opens the SC network to other brands folks won’t charge there? Of course we will, it will be a game changer for road tripping.

 

[mkhuffman]

I agree it isn't just Tesla drivers who are a-holes, but there are a lot of Tesla drivers out there. In any case, this is why free charging sucks. If a business wants to offer free charging, then time limit with a huge idle fee is the only way to go (as others have posted). It cannot be unlimited free, or it will encourage the a-holes to continue be a-holes.

I have made various versions of a flyer I put on windshields of cars parked by a-holes who think the charging space is their property because they got there first. Here is one example:

I started putting the license plate number on the flyers because the a-holes would throw them on the ground, or put them on other cars. Once I started writing their plate number down, for some reason they stopped littering. Hmmm.

Edit: I have put about 20 of these on cars over the last few months, about half of them Telsas.

 

[generaltso]

If a business wants to offer free charging, then time limit with a huge idle fee is the only way to go (as others have posted). It cannot be unlimited free, or it will encourage the a-holes to continue be a-holes.

My office has a free 2-plug commercial ChargePoint station that was installed in 2016 and has always been free. Until recently, this wasn't an issue. But over the past year, the charger was always clogged up with cars plugged in all day every day. I had a sneaking suspicion that most of these cars weren't even employees and just brought their cars there for the free juice. So I took matters into my own hands and took over the administration of our ChargePoint account. The first thing I did was limit access so that only employees could charge during business hours. As it turns out, there are only 7 employees with EVs, so the 2 plugs are plenty for us to share. Non-employees can still get a free charge, but now they have to do it at night or on weekends. This made all the difference in the world.

 

[mkhuffman]

My office has a free 2-plug commercial ChargePoint station that was installed in 2016 and has always been free. Until recently, this wasn't an issue. But over the past year, the charger was always clogged up with cars plugged in all day every day. I had a sneaking suspicion that most of these cars weren't even employees and just brought their cars there for the free juice. So I took matters into my own hands and took over the administration of our ChargePoint account. The first thing I did was limit access so that only employees could charge during business hours. As it turns out, there are only 7 employees with EVs, so the 2 plugs are plenty for us to share. Non-employees can still get a free charge, but now they have to do it at night or on weekends. This made all the difference in the world.

Excellent.

I used a ChargePoint this week that has a 4 hour limit until you have to start paying. Depending on the 4+ hour fee, it should really help increase availability.

 

[generaltso]

Excellent.

I used a ChargePoint this week that has a 4 hour limit until you have to start paying. Depending on the 4+ hour fee, it should really help increase availability.

Yeah, that was going to be my next step if it was still a problem, but employees have been pretty good about moving their cars when they're done charging. I also enabled the waitlist function, which is pretty slick.

 

[ChasingCoral]

You go to the Taycan forums, they are laughing at stupid Mach E owners who plugs in at the only 350kwh port and think their car will charge faster, I've seen those rants as well, it's usually not the car's fault, it's the persons fault.

Every time I've compared, My Mach E and my Lightning both will charge a bit faster on 350s than it does on 150s.

Both vehicles get an initial peak over 150 (160+ for Mach E and 170+ for Lightning)
Both vehicles have an second charge plateau around 140 on 350 kW chargers, lower on 150s

However, I will agree the overall charge time difference between 150s and 350s is only a few minutes.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Every time I've compared, My Mach E and my Lightning both will charge a bit faster on 350s than it does on 150s.

Both vehicles get an initial peak over 150 (160+ for Mach E and 170+ for Lightning)
Both vehicles have an second charge plateau around 140 on 350 kW chargers, lower on 150s

However, I will agree the overall charge time difference between 150s and 350s is only a few minutes.

This is what I have experienced with my MME. No Lightning experience. From 20-80% a 350 will get there about 3-4 minutes faster. Not a lot, but it is still faster. ?‍?

I have not used an L3 charger since May, so I have not seen the “more visible” signage on the EA machines. Back in May I plugged into more 350s than 150s simply because I couldn’t tell them apart until I read the tiny print on the manufacturer’s plate on the side. At that point, I am already in the space so I am using that charger since some of the parking lots were too busy to keep moving the car. ??

 

[theo1000]

So if Tesla, as rumored, opens the SC network to other brands folks won’t charge there? Of course we will, it will be a game changer for road tripping.

Well CCS is open right now so what's the hold up. Could do it tomorrow. I did'nt think so....

tldr, JMT TSLA will never open its network in a usable form.

 

[theo1000]

Every time I've compared, My Mach E and my Lightning both will charge a bit faster on 350s than it does on 150s.

Agree. Have noticed the same on my ER. I always put it down to better cooling, esp of cables on the 350's.

 

[moparguy]

Every time I've compared, My Mach E and my Lightning both will charge a bit faster on 350s than it does on 150s.

Both vehicles get an initial peak over 150 (160+ for Mach E and 170+ for Lightning)
Both vehicles have an second charge plateau around 140 on 350 kW chargers, lower on 150s

However, I will agree the overall charge time difference between 150s and 350s is only a few minutes.

The time needed to charge Mach E select at 350 kwh is probably enough for 3 Taycans to charge and go, or two Kias/Hyundais, I never use those ports unless it's the only available. On my GT, it will charge at 160-170 for couple of minutes then throttle down to 135 anyway, not worth it.

 

[mkhuffman]

The time needed to charge Mach E select at 350 kwh is probably enough for 3 Taycans to charge and go, or two Kias/Hyundais, I never use those ports unless it's the only available. On my GT, it will charge at 160-170 for couple of minutes then throttle down to 135 anyway, not worth it.

I always go to the 150 charger first, because I would rather leave the 350s for cars that significantly benefit. That said, if the 150s are blocked or being used, I will pull into a 350, no problem.

 

[tfitzgex]

I always go to the 150 charger first, because I would rather leave the 350s for cars that significantly benefit. That said, if the 150s are blocked or being used, I will pull into a 350, no problem.

I've seen some Ioniq 5 users have no clue. the 350s were available (and actually working... looking at you EA) but they plugged in to a 150. I tried to explain it to him but the guy seemed completely uninterested.

 

[OON7]

If gas stations were smart, they'd find a way to start installing chargers. Especially the big chain ones that have convenience stores attached to them like Circle K, Wawa, Sheets, etc. This way, they're ahead of the curve.

Best charging stop I've had while traveling was at a Sheetz. There are some that have them!

 

[Bobbyg813]

Something like this isn't cheap when you consider the cost of the service and panel upgrades in addition to the EVSE, but it's a capital improvement to your property (assuming you own it), that you'd recoup a significant percentage of when you sell.

Over time it would pay for itself by you not having to spend your time finding public places to charge.

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