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.
@[email protected] this perplexed me too and initially I thought these people stuck at chargers had their battery unexpectedly depleted while at work or something. But apparently owning an EV without a place to charge at home is a thing some people are doing?
@[email protected] 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.
@[email protected] I’m going EV in March and yeah, the “full tank every day” is like…a huge draw to making the switch. If I couldn’t charge at home I wouldn’t even consider it
@[email protected] @[email protected]
Think about it from the standpoint of someone coming from exclusively ICE cars. Needing to refuel away from home is what they’re used to, so not being able to charge at home is normal for them. They may find the wider range of places that offer chargers- many employers have dedicated EV charging spaces now, for instance- to be nice, even if they don’t have the full convenience of charging at home.
@[email protected] 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.
@[email protected] @[email protected] A very large segment of Tesla drivers are Rideshare, who probably don’t have the means to install a Level 2 charger where they live.
I don’t own an EV yet, but it seems likely I will in the near future. My ability to use it for trips depends on charging infrastructure.