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Musk Will Open Up Tesla Supercharger Patents To Spur Development

Posted by samzenpus on from the here-you-go dept.

redletterdave (2493036) writes "Elon Musk has said repeatedly he wants to 'do something controversial' with Tesla's collection of electric car patents, but he finally offered specifics at the UK launch of his Tesla Model S on Sunday. The Tesla Motors CEO said he would like to open up the designs for his Supercharger systems — the free fast-charging stations designed to quickly refuel Tesla's electric cars — to create a standard for other car makers to use. Musk previously said he didn't want Superchargers to become a 'walled garden.'"

12 of 230 comments (clear)

  1. He continues to show himself to be ... by c0d3g33k · · Score: 5, Informative

    ... a very smart man.

    1. Re:He continues to show himself to be ... by Andrio · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I want to be like Elon Musk when I grow up.

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    2. Re:He continues to show himself to be ... by amiga3D · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It may be smart in other ways. If it becomes the standard then it means that he doesn't eventually get stuck using someone else's standards (maybe one of the big automakers) and have to pay fee's to use their patented design. Once electric cars catch on these stations will be everywhere.

    3. Re:He continues to show himself to be ... by OldHawk777 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I am a small Tesla stock holder. This is good business from this stock holder's perspective. Make the market move and be the market leader.

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    4. Re:He continues to show himself to be ... by gbjbaanb · · Score: 4, Insightful

      not necessarily - its like Microsoft giving away IE ... it makes sense because it encourages other manufacturers to use your charging kit, and so your cars have access to other's chargers - and so they become more convenient to own, and that lets you be more mainstream and that lets you sell more of them.

      Generally protectionism just hurts everyone.

    5. Re:He continues to show himself to be ... by mwvdlee · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Are the superchargers a unique selling point of their products or are they an enabling infrastructure?
      Tesla is not just fighting other car makers, they are fighting public perception of electric cars.
      Growing the entire entire electric car market is more profitable than merely taking a larger chunk of a small electric car market.

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    6. Re:He continues to show himself to be ... by jodycwilliams · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Pro society? Not really. This is a brilliant move in terms of getting his infrastructure built for him. The stations he's been putting up all over the country will drive him bankrupt pretty fast at the pace he's trying to keep. Spreading the load around to other potential electric vehicle manufacturers just means he's getting free gas stations. It is brilliant, I won't deny that.

    7. Re:He continues to show himself to be ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      From a stock holder perspective. it's a very dumb move.

      Yeah, and the boards of Blackberry, Nokia, and HP all said, "Google is giving away their mobile OS? What idiots!"

  2. Makes prescient business sense for Tesla. by OldHawk777 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Elon Musk wants more quick refuel infrastructure on the interstates and local roads/cities, which will advance Tesla's and others electric cars. This is not controversial but does provide probable wider support for Tesla's collection of electric car products, patents, and parts. Open up the designs for Tesla Supercharger systems — the free fast-charging stations designed to quickly refuel electric cars — creating an ISO/OASIS standard for other car makers to use makes prescient business sense.

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  3. What a great idea! by bennomatic · · Score: 5, Insightful

    1. Build an electric car that's heads and shoulders above the competition.
    2. Build an innovative charging infrastructure to allow for long distance driving.
    3. Open up the technology for that charging infrastructure so that gas stations and the like can start getting in on the action and making some profit.
    4. With charging infrastructure becoming ubiquitous, that takes away many people's concerns about buying your car.
    5. Also, with charging infrastructure becoming ubiquitous, that may encourage other auto manufacturers to move past compliance cars and actually start selling quality vehicles.
    6. Tout competition's success as your own success, as it's built on your platform. Competition isn't only good PR in this context, but it carries with it the subtext that electric cars are a product category that is here to stay.

    To some degree, I still like the idea of plug-in hybrids for the time being. But if this "open supercharger" thing is as successful as I think it's going to be, there could be a sea change in the consumer automotive market.

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  4. Re:Stations will be everywhere? by Agent0013 · · Score: 4, Informative

    Just because the recharging stations will be everywhere and be compatible, does not mean they will all be free to use.

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  5. Re:Interesting, but... by AaronW · · Score: 5, Informative

    Tesla's superchargers use the same signalling standard as the J1772 combo plug. The car tells the charger what voltage and current to put into the battery so the charger is not tied to any one type of battery.

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