So there's been some media stuff about Tesla chargers going down or getting long lines in this extreme cold we're having.
The factors there are complicated and mostly this is impacting people without charging at-home. As it happens, I'm now making a daily commute - just started in fact! And I'd like to report that my car is having no issues at all in this weather, and I haven't even plugged it in to charge in a few days.
This evening I'll make a quick little Connextras video about this, I think. What exactly the issue is with the Tesla chargers is unclear, though I'm seeing reports that charge handles are plugging with ice - which seems reasonable. The worst aspect of Tesla's charger design is how poorly they retain the handle - it falls out easily and can end up face-down in snow. That needs improvement, and perhaps a heated connector makes sense in this climate.
Growing pains are real, but this is mostly FUD*
*I apologize for using that term but it's true.
More AC charging everywhere is what we need - relying on DC chargers for your daily needs is just not good for lots of reasons.
That said, they need to be designed better so that this isn't an issue.
@sheogorath @TechConnectify
No. DC rapid charging and AC "fast" charging (but slower than DC) arguably have two different use cases.
TechConnectify has argued for a long time that AC chargers will suffice for 90% of situations, but people seem to feel the need that they have to have the fastest charge possible wherever they go. If you're spending 4 hours at a location, there is no need to charge in 15 mins. 3 hours is fine, and the infrastructure is much cheaper and simpler to install.
@TechConnectify a couple of weeks ago a big highway in southern Sweden was backed up for 30km. Some bevs and ice vehicles failed miserably but that was not because of the propulsion but lack of fuel.
If you have a short drive home you might not fuel up before doing that and let’s be honest, who plans on being stuck and snowed in for 24 hours.
Spoiler alert, some fud-spreading people say bevs are crap because of this
@paultiarks Yes, a surprising number of folks are doing this. I frankly don't understand it but at the same time, it's a way to make demand happen for more charging in more places I guess.
I essentially don't use public charging at all unless I have a surprise need to make a longer trip. That has happened three times in two years for me - otherwise I'm only ever plugging in at home.
@paultiarks I'm still firmly in the camp of "more basic L2 AC charging in more places" but it's also true that for folks like myself, I just... never need that.
It's mainly renters and folks who use street parking who need it, which presents quite the chicken-and-egg problem. So honestly, good on the folks making it work without at-home charging. I just hope they understood the experience they're signing up for and don't become loudly upset.
For what's it's worth I take Lyft about once a week and in the last year or so I've seen way more BEVs than ever before. And these are new cars. According to the drivers I've talked to, if they drive full time, or nearly full time, then they make more money because of gas prices.
Next time I'll ask how they charge their cars. I'm in Southern California so lots of public charging.
@TechConnectify agree, I manage to charge 37kWh in 8 hours on 240V 12A (at home)
during off peak which costs next to nothing
@TechConnectify The NACS plug does both, but high-power charging isn’t necessary for most people, especially if we can make public chargers so ubiquitous you can charge a bit as you run errands (or charge at work). Fast charging isn’t great for batteries anyway.
As I write this, I think governments should do much more to encourage workplace charging. That has to be easier and cheaper to set up than individual home charging, particularly for renters.
@TechConnectify You're so right here. Getting a L2 charger installed at home made things so much easier when I only had a plugin hybrid -- with an actual EV it's been phenomenal, and I think I've charged away from home for three trips total in the past year (one of those on L2 AC even!) and I suspect that rate will hold steady for years.
DC fast charging is nice, I guess, but tbh for trip I'm actually going to need to charge for (and drive, rather than fly) AC on the other end would be fine.
@bigelow Yeah, it seems like the only retention mechanism is friction? Which... WTF.
Honestly there's a lot about their charger design to not like. The connector itself? Great!
The way the dispenser holds it? The location of where it holds it? The cable length? All bad.
@TechConnectify I don't think the issue is with the chargers, it's with the batteries. Batteries discharge more quickly (well less efficiently) in the cold, and they recharge more slowly in the cold. The theory is you can precondition the battery, to warm it up to make charging more efficient, but that requires further discharge which may be difficult if you're already on a low battery.
https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/16/tesla_owners_in_deep_freeze
@TechConnectify such evolution is natural as part of learning about the real world use cases.
How long did it take ATMs to have people remove their card before despising cash lest they forget the card?
@TechConnectify good news: the v4 pedestals, and the magic dock equipped v3 ones, add positive retention on the pillars.
Now we just need to work on the users who don’t put them back.
@thibaultmol @TechConnectify correct me if I'm wrong but I think YouTube removed this feature.
Which is a shame because it was a nice place to see creators' other channels or creators they like/recommend :(
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