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G. David Felt Alternative Fuels & Propulsion writer www.CheersandGears.com Tesla Model S Has YOU COVERED! REALLY? Tesla sent out the following email this week about how they have you covered with electric charging stations all over North America. Yet while the Email touts their Range assurance and Trip Planner to have a successful pure EV road trip, I was asking myself is this really true? Tesla Email The Tesla has you Covered web page tends to state the following numbers. 90% of owners are within 175 miles of a supercharger station. 96% of owners within 175 miles of a supercharger or destination charger. Tesla states that while most cars do not improve over time, their auto's actually do by getting faster, smarter and better due to Tesla's over the air software updates. While I will take no issue with the updates adding features, improving the over all performance of their electric system, or even their new applications that all Tesla Owners received on the pushed update being Range Assurance which works in the back ground while you drive communicating with the Supercharger and destination chargers and keep you aware of which ones are available as well as which ones are in heavy use or inactive so that you do not drive out of range and have no charge. Tesla says this is how they take care of their customers through innovation and intelligence. Tesla states the following: Over the next 12 months, all of Europe and North America (excluding northern Alaska) will be covered, as well as China (apart from low population areas far inland), the Japan main islands and southern Australia. They believe it is their responsibility to guide you to the closest available charging station relative to your trip route which is where their new Trip Planner comes in telling you the best route to take to make sure you have charging capability even if it is not the most direct or fastest route. Tesla does go onto state that Supercharger stations take 20 to 30 min to full charge which goes well when you have driven 3 to 4 hrs and want to use the restroom, get a bite to eat or take a break and stretch your legs. Destination chargers take 4 to 12 hrs depending on type. Yet I found when reviewing their live map that many of the so called charging stations are either private slow chargers for customers only or expected future chargers by states or fed programs. This brings up how far do we let a company push their marketing agenda to sells auto's over reality of what is really available? Should Tesla also state which ones are a charge for fee versus just stating a charging system is available? Seems some resorts and businesses will let you charge for free while others you have to pay. Another question I have is people willing to go to small places they would usually not stop at only due to not having a charging system in a major city? Example of this is that Spokane Washington and Coeur d'Alene Idaho have charging systems in place at resorts for guests only and yet if you want a charge you have to stop in Ritzville to charge first before you make your Spokane destination if you are not staying at the lone single resort that has a charging system. A stop that is 61 miles before Spokane clearly reducing your EV Range or 93 miles before reaching Coeur d'Alene Idaho giving you about 50% battery left and very much minimizing the ability to sight see. What are your thoughts? Is Tesla right in marketing a charging map with various degrees of accuracy?
