Posted on 01/19/2019 10:58:22 PM PST by SunkenCiv
As we reported just the other day, Tesla quietly hiked rates for Supercharging in most states. Keep in mind that this impacts all Tesla Model 3 owners, as well as owners of new Tesla Model S and X vehicles who purchased their vehicles without utilizing a referral code.
Thanks to hardcore EV fans like Teslanomics’ Ben Sullins, we have an update on how states were affected by the new rate hike, as well as the actual percentage of increase.
As we explained the other day, states like Illinois have seen over a 60 percent increase, from .15/kWh to .25/kWh. States like California that already had higher rates weren’t hit so hard (.20/kWh to .26/kWh).
It turns out that some states saw an increase of over 100 percent, and several saw the 100 percent (doubling) increase.
The states facing the biggest percentage increase include Washington, Oregon, West Virginia, Idaho, and Utah. Washington took the biggest hit, with a 127 percent increase.
Last summer we visited family near Palm Springs. I witnessed a very amusing sight of one of those $100,000 Tesla’s driving in 120 degree weather with ALL THE WINDOWS down. I finally realized that they could not turn on the air conditioning and make it home. I laughed all the way to the gas station where I filled up my gas tank with renewable energy (it renews to 100% every time I fill up the tank).
“As we explained the other day, states like Illinois have seen over a 60 percent increase, from .15/kWh to .25/kWh. States like California that already had higher rates weren’t hit so hard (.20/kWh to .26/kWh).”
Interesting, as the prices push 25 cents per kwh, they’re driving the ‘fuel’ cost of operating the car close to the same level as operating a gasoline powered car.
By they way, here in Texas I’m now paying 7 cents per kwh.
The only reason for this rise in price is, Tesla is no longer going to eat the cost of electricity for customers, and that is related to the greatly increased sales, thanks to the intro of the Model 3. Tesla’s already dropping prices to offset the lower fed rebate amount.
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In the investment world, that’s called a company with pricing power.
On the flip side of the coin, Tesla is pushing ahead to lower the cost of the Model 3. That’s more to do with gaining economies of scale, though.
Interesting, as the prices push 25 cents per kwh, they’re driving the ‘fuel’ cost of operating the car close to the same level as operating a gasoline powered car.
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Superchargers are a convenience. Most owners charge at home.
I like doing the math on those picture. In this case, my estimate of peak power is about 70kW for all of those solar panels (which I estimate at 330 panels). With conversion and maybe some other losses, maybe 60 kW available to the actual cars, again at peak (with the sun near dead-center, overhead), roughly enough to charge 1 car in an hour.
Since the sun don’t shine every day, and certainly don’t stay directly overhead all day, the equivalent number of peak hours over the course of a year (after factoring non-peak, nighttime, bad weather, etc.) typically comes out to 13% to 25% of what would be peak power if the sun were overhead 24/7 (the variation is mostly due to climate). Another way to look at it, is that the equivalent full charging hours comes out to 3 to 6 hours per day (in most of the US, and actually less than 2 hours in some places), again mostly climate dependent.
So, all those panels combined can charge 3 to 6 cars per day (assuming each car wants 60 kwh, which might be slightly high) - this is actually quite a bit higher than I expected. The rest of the cars that show up have to be charged off the dreaded ‘grid’. There are 24 charging stations in direct view (more in background), if each one were to see 12 cars per day, and if the station is in the desert (best for solar power), then 6 cars would get charged by the panels, and the other 282 would have to charge off of the dreaded ‘grid’.
http://www.solardirect.com/outdoor-lighting/solar/street/area-light/solar-insolation-map.html
“A brake repair job costs $3,000. Which is too bad, because hybrids create a LOT less wear on the engines.”
Interesting, having done my own brakes for decades, I can typically replace the entire system (other than the anti-lock regulator) for several hundred dollars these days (pads, rotors, master cylinder, calipers, etc.), maybe $500 in some cases. What drives up the price on the Prius? The only other thing I can think of is the regenerative braking system, but those parts shouldn’t wear out like anything like traditional brake parts.
“Is the bad management at PG&E or Sacramento? After watching California slowly implode for several decades, I more than half suspect it is in Sacramento.”
My thought too, and I’m CONVINCED it comes down to Sacramento - since the state didn’t start burning down big-time, until just after the Democrats took over. What’s going on here is a VERY EFFECTIVE DIVERSION of blame.
It aint full until it runs over.
“That was when Jews were big Democrat donors. The Jews have since been surpassed by Arabs.”
I don’t think we’re close to that point yet, but check with me in 10 years, and I’ll probably agree with you!
You just flip the switch, silly.
There's an almost unlimited supply of child slaves in Africa to dig out the cadmium, though.
What's the problem?
“Last summer we visited family near Palm Springs. I witnessed a very amusing sight of one of those $100,000 Tesla’s driving in 120 degree weather with ALL THE WINDOWS down. I finally realized that they could not turn on the air conditioning and make it home. I laughed all the way to the gas station where I filled up my gas tank with renewable energy (it renews to 100% every time I fill up the tank).”
As bad as that is, try warming up an electric car after it was cold-soaked at 0F. While gasoline engines have always struggled to provide good fuel economy, they’ve NEVER struggled to provide heat. It’s a freebie for gasoline cars - they just re-direct engine heat into the cabin. But electric cars have to take their heat right out of their batteries, and if it’s really cold, that’s a lot of kwh’s (ask anyone who owns a house with electric heating in a cold climate - I once owned one in Houston, of all places, and we still got bit in winter, along with summer, of course).
As far as fossil fuels being renewable, pal, they have been in my lifetime. We now have about twice the amount of proven oil reserves that we had we had when I was born...so, as far as I’m concerned, the oil keeps renewing itself.
“Can one of those new fangled electronic cars get from KC to Denver on one set of batteries?”
Of course! It’s rare to change out a battery pack.
Those batteries WILL need to be recharged, though...
Maybe I can get a gubmnt subsidy to build one of those superchargers out here in the middle of plains. How you gonna spread the technology if you keep running low on power before you get to where there aint none?
We have four Tesla super chargers in my small Montana town and a few more chargers - non Tesla.
I Have seen at least 11 Teslas in my town, lot’s of S’s, a few X’s and now around four 3’s.
...so, as far as I’m concerned, the oil keeps renewing itself.
It has been discovered that fields under the Gulf of Mexico that were long since tapped out...are refilling.
Gold is pleased to hear that.
$3,000 for a brake repair?...you must have let it grind down on the rotors
Brake linings cost about $80
And Y-Tube videos show how to do it.
Just a thin 17mm wrench...and an adaptor to reset the back brake mechanism.
I get 50 MPG steady in my 2014 Prius (now at 200,000 miles) steady as a rock driving a thousand miles a week for Uber
Trick is to use ECO and BRAKE (B) mode..reduces wear on front brakes.
Can’t someone create a simple 2 car station and power it with solar?
You’re equating gold with oil? Why?
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