As Auto Makers Seek To Match Tesla Charging Network, Problems Loom

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Tesla Model S

Tesla Inc has a convincing recharging set up in the U.S. and Europe, but the successful development of electric cars generally could be jeopardized by the refuelling speed and density of the network, with the biggest question concerning the availability of enough electricity.

Some critics say the only sensible solution is to concede that battery electric vehicles make sense only in short-range urban driving, while long-distances should be the preserve of plug in hybrid vehicles for the foreseeable future.

Otherwise, long-distance driving will become intolerable as the recharging infrastructure won’t be capable of refuelling electric vehicles at peak or vacation times because of the cost of providing adequate fast chargers, the inadequacy of the technology to dispense the stuff fast enough, not to mention the strain on electric generation this implies.

A Tesla recharges at a charging station in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)

I recently drove a Tesla Model S 100D to examine the actual range and the adequacy of the recharging here in Southern England. This was designed by Tesla to show off its claim in the best possible light, but given those limitations, the test was positive.

The recharging network isn’t ubiquitous in this part of southern England, south of London towards the Sussex coast, but there is an increasing number of charging stations across the rest of the country. Tesla claims the range on the 100 Kw Model S 100D is up to 393 miles (NEDC - New European Driving Cycle). But that is frankly ridiculous and only obtainable in the most perfect of circumstances. But the range indicated after it was plugged into a Tesla charging station at the Stoke Park Spa hotel near London’s Heathrow airport for more than 16 hours was 316 miles. (Stoke Park provides electric car charging facilities, including 2 for Teslas. It paid for my overnight stay). These regular chargers can raise range to more than 300 miles in 10 hours.  Tesla claims that its Supercharging network will fill 50% of the battery in 20 minutes, 80% in 40 minutes and 100% in 75 minutes.

That’s impressive, but there were some negatives too.

Porsche Mission E will soon be challenging Tesla  (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

I found that if, for instance, the range remaining was indicated at 292 miles and the car was driven 50 miles, it would actually subtract 63 miles from the total because perhaps some of the route was over highways and speeds of up to 80 mph were hit. That is 10 mph over the legal speed limit in England, but mirrors the actual speed that most vehicles cruise at. On three separate occasions, the amount of mileage consumed ranged from 20% to 30% more than that indicated by the car as available. Tesla says this wouldn’t be a problem for an owner because the car is designed to build up data on the driver’s habits and would adjust its reading to reflect that.

According to Frost & Sullivan analyst, Paris-based Nicolas Meilhan, when driving on highways at 130 km/h (80 mph), driving range is only 50 to 60% of the official NEDC range. This is a potential problem for Tesla because it is competing against other conventional thoroughbreds from BMW, Mercedes and Audi. It can match them in the performance stakes, but will lag behind in long distance ability.

This problem was underlined in an article in Automotive News Europe magazine. Green Party environment minister in the German state of North Rhein-Westphalia Johannes Remmel wanted to test an electric car for his daily use. Remmel chose a Tesla Model S, but the claimed range of 311 miles was impossible to achieve, according to the magazine. Even 250 miles wasn't possible which meant in practice he could only travel about 100 miles before turning back. The recharging network was too slow, so he gave the car back.

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Picture from the company

Tesla Model S

Tesla Inc has a convincing recharging set up in the U.S. and Europe, but the successful development of electric cars generally could be jeopardized by the refuelling speed and density of the network, with the biggest question concerning the availability of enough electricity.

Some critics say the only sensible solution is to concede that battery electric vehicles make sense only in short-range urban driving, while long-distances should be the preserve of plug in hybrid vehicles for the foreseeable future.

Otherwise, long-distance driving will become intolerable as the recharging infrastructure won’t be capable of refuelling electric vehicles at peak or vacation times because of the cost of providing adequate fast chargers, the inadequacy of the technology to dispense the stuff fast enough, not to mention the strain on electric generation this implies.

A Tesla recharges at a charging station in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)

I recently drove a Tesla Model S 100D to examine the actual range and the adequacy of the recharging here in Southern England. This was designed by Tesla to show off its claim in the best possible light, but given those limitations, the test was positive.

The recharging network isn’t ubiquitous in this part of southern England, south of London towards the Sussex coast, but there is an increasing number of charging stations across the rest of the country. Tesla claims the range on the 100 Kw Model S 100D is up to 393 miles (NEDC - New European Driving Cycle). But that is frankly ridiculous and only obtainable in the most perfect of circumstances. But the range indicated after it was plugged into a Tesla charging station at the Stoke Park Spa hotel near London’s Heathrow airport for more than 16 hours was 316 miles. (Stoke Park provides electric car charging facilities, including 2 for Teslas. It paid for my overnight stay). These regular chargers can raise range to more than 300 miles in 10 hours.  Tesla claims that its Supercharging network will fill 50% of the battery in 20 minutes, 80% in 40 minutes and 100% in 75 minutes.

That’s impressive, but there were some negatives too.

Porsche Mission E will soon be challenging Tesla  (AP Photo/Jens Meyer)

I found that if, for instance, the range remaining was indicated at 292 miles and the car was driven 50 miles, it would actually subtract 63 miles from the total because perhaps some of the route was over highways and speeds of up to 80 mph were hit. That is 10 mph over the legal speed limit in England, but mirrors the actual speed that most vehicles cruise at. On three separate occasions, the amount of mileage consumed ranged from 20% to 30% more than that indicated by the car as available. Tesla says this wouldn’t be a problem for an owner because the car is designed to build up data on the driver’s habits and would adjust its reading to reflect that.

According to Frost & Sullivan analyst, Paris-based Nicolas Meilhan, when driving on highways at 130 km/h (80 mph), driving range is only 50 to 60% of the official NEDC range. This is a potential problem for Tesla because it is competing against other conventional thoroughbreds from BMW, Mercedes and Audi. It can match them in the performance stakes, but will lag behind in long distance ability.

This problem was underlined in an article in Automotive News Europe magazine. Green Party environment minister in the German state of North Rhein-Westphalia Johannes Remmel wanted to test an electric car for his daily use. Remmel chose a Tesla Model S, but the claimed range of 311 miles was impossible to achieve, according to the magazine. Even 250 miles wasn't possible which meant in practice he could only travel about 100 miles before turning back. The recharging network was too slow, so he gave the car back.

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Read Again https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilwinton/2017/11/05/as-auto-makers-seek-to-match-tesla-charging-network-problems-loom/

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