Real-time Supercharger availability data is a feature Model S owners have been asking Tesla to implement for a while now. It’s something we know to be possible since the automaker already displays the data of each charger stalls of its most popular Supercharger locations in real-time on the ‘Supercharger Dashboard’ located in its design studio in Hawthorne (see above), but the feature is not available in Tesla vehicles.
We never knew exactly why it was never implemented, but at least now we know it’s coming.
There’s always at least one available stall at most Supercharger stations, but at stations located on popular routes and during peak traffic or holidays, it’s another game.
The feature would be very useful even if it’s just for that one time it can notify you so that you can try to find an alternative and save some travel time.
Model S owners have reported over an hour and half of wait time at the Tejon Ranch Supercharger after last Christmas via Reddit:
In his latest Tweetstorm over the weekend, Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the feature is coming:
[tweet https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/716778890744598528 align=’center’]
Unfortunately, he didn’t offer a timeframe for the update, but Tesla is expected to update the Model S as soon as this month.
Featured Image: ‘Supercharger Dashboard’ at Tesla’s design studio in Hawthorne via Reddit
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FYI the Supercharger Dashboard is no longer at the Design Studio in Hawthorne. I was there last weekend, it’s been gone for a while, replaced with power walls.
Interesting. Thanks for the heads up.
you’re welcome Fred.
Maybe some places like the mentioned one, and others will get the Valet Service? In relation to that, based on the charging rate graphic on Tesla’s Superchargers web page, it woul make sense to add HPWC’s equal in number to Supercharger heads, so once a car reached 80%, it could be moved to the L2 charging station to fully charge, if needed or desired, instead of sitting in the same spot, charging on the Supercharger at a rate that is not much faster, if at all at that point!
Of course, many would likely prefer just adding more Supercharger stalls, but I think it would be wiser to add a Valet Service plus L2 HPWC’s at 80 amps equal in number to the Supercharger stalls, effectively doubling the potental throughput for much less money!
So if a station had 8 Supercharger stalls, adding 8 Destinatoon Chargers each fead by 240V service at 100 Amp Breakers, could service 16 cars at once, or cycle cats through the Superchargers almost twice as fast! Even if they added 4 more Supercharging Stalls, they should also add then 4 more Destination Chargers!
Another idea option could be some different styled Tesla Quick Chargers, that offered just 60 kW, for people that are planning say, a 2 hour long stop! They could be placed close to, but not exactly at, Supercharger sites, where there are more interesting attractions, or shopping, where it is more likely that longer stops would be taken, and they would then not be using, and blocking Supercharger spots! A charger timer could be displayed at the charging head, showing how long a car has been plugged in for, and when the driver expects to leave!
Better yet, build a new Supercharger with two Tesla charging cables on it. Internally, there is one fast DC charger and two 80A AC feeds. A set of contactors route the DC and AC to the two cars as needed. No one has to move a car or change a connector at all to charge to 100%.
Apart from having the data from the chargers, I would also place an induction coil on the floor of every slot just to detect it there is a car (of any type) on it.
Also it would be great if the car can send a notification via Tesla app when the car has reached 80%, 90%, 100%….