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Tesla Introduces Fee For Owners Who Leave Their Cars At Supercharger Stations (techcrunch.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the nickel-and-dime dept.

Tesla announced today that it will start charging owners a fee of $0.40 per minute if they fail to move their vehicles at a Supercharger station. If drivers don't move their cars within 5 minutes of the car hitting 100 percent, the fee will begin to assess. TechCrunch reports: "One would never leave a car parked at a gas station right at the pump and the same rule applies with Superchargers," read Tesla's announcement. How will one know that it's done and you need to scoot? Why, one will get an alert on one's phone, of course, via the Tesla app. One already does, in fact. So one never had any excuse. "To be clear, this change is purely about increasing customer happiness and we hope to never make any money from it," the announcement also reads.

35 of 304 comments (clear)

  1. It might be an issue in the future by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    There's a Starbucks within walking distance of a Tesla station in Tifton, GA -it's actually right behind the Starbucks. Folks plug their cars in and go for coffee or something. I mean, those cars take a while to charge - it's not like gas where it takes just a minute or two to fill up. And people do leave their cars at the pump and go in to buy other shit.

    And unlike gas stations, the Tesla station is pretty empty. Maybe in the future when there are more Tesla's on the road it could be an issue.

    1. Re:It might be an issue in the future by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      There's a Starbucks within walking distance of a Tesla station in Tifton, GA -it's actually right behind the Starbucks. Folks plug their cars in and go for coffee or something.

      Yep and when their cars are full they should go move them or pay a fee for preventing the charging point being available to others. Just like when you go to a highway service centre you fill up, you go in and pay, then you move the car, and go to sit down and eat.

    2. Re:It might be an issue in the future by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 2

      But wouldn't it be better if you could actually do something during that 15 min? one can't even have that luxury after paying $90K for a car? Seems like more chargers is the better solution, let users pay for them too. If it takes 15 min to charge and I'you have to wait 10 or more for the guy in front of me anyhow, you are burning up a big chunk of time.

    3. Re:It might be an issue in the future by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

      LOL, you think it takes 10-15 minutes to fill your car with gas. How strong is the tesla reality distortion field.

      EPA limits gas pumps to 10 Gal/min for cars and 40 Gal/min for trucks. I have an 18 gal tank so even if it were set to 5 gal/min that would be 4 minutes + lets say 1 minute to swipe you card.

      10-15 minutes no way.

      All electric cars + high energy density charges might be great, but let's not pretend that it's comparable. Also tesla is doing this to themselves, placing charges next to starbucks or malls or whatever, where are gas stations located... on street corners or off exit ramps of highways not next to things you want to go and spend a lot of time around, that's why people don't park at the pump and go shopping. This is going to be the issue with high speed charging if all electric cars become any more than a novelty and actually become practical for the masses. If filling time is 2-5x longer than it is now you're going to need a lot more charging stations that you currently have gas pumps especially in population dense areas.

    4. Re:It might be an issue in the future by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      It doesn't take 15 minutes. For a start, it depends on the size of your battery, which ranges from 60 to 100kW. Then it depends on the charge rate, which depends on battery temperature and if anyone else is using the charger that shares the total 150kW available per two cars. Charging shows as the car nears 100% too.

      You could easily wait an hour to go from 25% to 100%. While charging people who linger is a good idea, 5 minutes grace is a bit harsh. 20 minutes would allow you to get the notification (bad signal), return to the car from the nearby shops and move.

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    5. Re:It might be an issue in the future by Zocalo · · Score: 2

      Now there's a common courtesy mentality that could have done with catching on more quickly in the UK. The major supermarket chains finally caught on to the possiblity of co-locating a small store with a forecourt a few years ago, so instead of the typical "motoring essentials" you used to be able to pickup in the garage you can now plausibly do a full grocery shop... and people do. Often without moving their car from the damn pump first. The "solution" to this seems to be a lot of CCTV with ANPR and pumps that have a built-in credit card payment systems to try and encourage people to fill-up, pay, then re-park before they shop - all expensive items that will no doubt have their costs passed on to the consumer - along with a reduction in required staff headcount due to fuel-only transactions that are now automated, naturally.

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    6. Re:It might be an issue in the future by naughtynaughty · · Score: 4, Informative

      Your Tesla tells you when you car will finish charging, if you think you need 20 minutes grace period I'd suggest you are a perfect candidate for Tesla's fee so you can have the pain modify your insensitivity towards your fellow Tesla owners.

    7. Re: It might be an issue in the future by r1348 · · Score: 2

      Dude, you live in Switzerland.

    8. Re:It might be an issue in the future by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I took your advice and did so: 2 minutes and 47 seconds to fill up a little over 11 gallons. I even had time to turn off the annoying blaring audio advertisement and decline an up sell car wash. I'm with the first poster: 15 minutes to charge your Tesla is pretty fast, but it's not comparable.

    9. Re:It might be an issue in the future by drinkypoo · · Score: 2

      Chill, dude. You're way too stressed if someone cleaning their windshield at a gas pump is bothering you.

      If they don't start cleaning them while the fuel is flowing, they can fuck right off and clean their windows at home. There's only a couple of filling stations I'm willing to use in my town given the prices and the condition of their equipment. I'll return the favor, and get the hell out of their way.

      While I'm ranting about behavior at the filling station, my #1 peeve is people who drive gas vehicles who pull up to the pumps with diesel on them when they have a choice of another pump. Then they want to get angry when you ask them to move to another pump (before they start filling) when they shouldn't have used that one to begin with. Leave it for people who need it, asshole.

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    10. Re:It might be an issue in the future by DarkVader · · Score: 2

      Well, they're working on a robot supercharger, so I'm sure they're already thinking of that.

    11. Re: It might be an issue in the future by JoeMerchant · · Score: 2

      AC troll much? Cars don't cost more in Switzerland, just real-estate.

    12. Re:It might be an issue in the future by ColdWetDog · · Score: 2

      Y'all aren't real Americans are you?

      Us guys (Americans are always guys) have pickup trucks with 100 gallon strap tanks. Cuz Zombies.

      They take a while to fill up. So we needs sustenance. Just chill out and have a beer.

      That's the big problem with Tesla - putting charging stations near fucking Starbucks. Now if they put them in front of liquor stores like God suggested nobody would give a shit.

      Of course, if you all manned up an used real cars and trucks you wouldn't have this problem, would you?

      --
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    13. Re:It might be an issue in the future by EvilSS · · Score: 2

      While I'm ranting about behavior at the filling station, my #1 peeve is people who drive gas vehicles who pull up to the pumps with diesel on them when they have a choice of another pump. Then they want to get angry when you ask them to move to another pump (before they start filling) when they shouldn't have used that one to begin with. Leave it for people who need it, asshole.

      Huh. Never thought about that before. I think I'll start doing this since it seems to really enrage you and others like you.

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    14. Re:It might be an issue in the future by smooth+wombat · · Score: 3, Informative

      Time it.

      5 minutes. Yesterday I added 9.253 gallons (I check my mileage) to my tank. From the time it took to hand over my money (I pay cash), fill the tank, get my change and drive away was about 5 minutes. 6 at the outmost and that was because the guy in front of me, who I thought was going to drive away, continued to sit in his car with the engine running until I drove around him.

      I you're taking 10 - 15 minutes to fill your tank and pay for it, you're doing something wrong.

      --
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    15. Re:It might be an issue in the future by EvilSS · · Score: 3, Funny

      In the USA, diesel is unpopular for passenger cars because we had some crappy diesels in the 80s and then we got crappy emissions laws that unfairly penalized diesels even though gasoline vehicles pollute more, and their pollution is more hazardous.

      Found the VW emissions engineer!

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    16. Re: It might be an issue in the future by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Actually this might backfire on Tesla psychologically.

      There was that study they did at daycare centers where parents would pick their kids up late repeatedly like 40 minutes late. They tried to stop it by imposing fines of like $20 an hour of being late. Parents picking their kids up late skyrocketed because they felt it was now completely okay to pick up their kids late because now their was a cost attached to it.

    17. Re:It might be an issue in the future by SvnLyrBrto · · Score: 2

      They used to encourage exactly that. In fact, if you pop over to tesla.com and pull up the superchargers map, the listings do still include the businesses that you are encouraged to patronize while supercharging. And that includes everything from the Starbucks for the free wifi, to the Harris Ranch Steakhouse, if a 24 ounce RibEye is more your thing.

      So, this move is more interesting because it marks a reversal from Tesla's original messaging. And one has to wonder why the change and what elst is in the pipeline?

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    18. Re: It might be an issue in the future by im_thatoneguy · · Score: 2

      It would also be great if people read the post which explicitly quotes Musk citing that feature already existing.

    19. Re: It might be an issue in the future by Scarletdown · · Score: 2

      The poster is an idiot. Most places either have a diesel only pump, or all the pumps have a diesel option.

      If you're in Oregon, it doesn't matter anyhow since it's illegal to pump your own gas. So you spend at least a half an hour waiting for the kid to finish smoking his joint before spilling gas all over the side of your car.

      That has changed somewhat. Now, at gas stations that allow it, you can pump your own between 6:00 in the evening and 6:00 in the morning.

      Also, stations on reservations (like the Arrowhead Plaza outside of Pendleton) are self serve all the time, not subject to Oregon's restrictions (and previous ban) on self serve.

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  2. AKA by rmdingler · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The selfish jerk rule

    --
    Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

    Ernest Hemingway

    1. Re:AKA by rmdingler · · Score: 2

      I'm not familiar with the App, but presumably Tesla owners also get some kind of indication through the App of when charging is expected to reach 100%...

      If there's not an App like this, someone should get to work monetizing it.

      Better yet, many fueling stations of a more traditional type already sell fuel as a loss leader to entice customers into a small store with large markups. Perhaps the charging stations could monetize these 15-20 minute waits?

      --
      Happiness in intelligent people is the rarest thing I know.

      Ernest Hemingway

  3. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  4. Re: phone by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 5, Funny

    So who can afford a Tesla but not a phone?

    This is 100% fair.

    What if your phone is charging?

  5. Two comments by cellocgw · · Score: 2

    First, if you're really interested in this issue, read the FB Tesla Owner's page for a while. The non-flame comments from actual Tesla owners are worth reading thru.

    Second, my humble contribution: the fine should only apply if all the slots at a given charging station are full. If there's open slots, leave things as-is.

    --
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  6. Re: phone by Ichijo · · Score: 2

    Then you should take away its credit card.

    --
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  7. A better way... by markdavis · · Score: 2

    There is an easier and better solution to this. The chargers talk to each other. There should be no need to move your car if there are still several available chargers. If they are down to just one (or two) free charger left, THEN notify the others they have to move in 5 min and assess the fees.

    Charging can take a long time, and if you are dining or shopping, stopping to run and move your car will be a pain. What if you are in a checkout line? What if you haven't paid for lunch? The method I describes can make more people happy, no?

  8. One by mwvdlee · · Score: 2

    One has an obsessive compulsive disorder, one thinks.

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  9. car needs to be smarter by John_Sauter · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If these cars are smart enough to drive themselves on the highway, why can't they drive themselves away from the charger when they are full, and park themselves? Even better, drop you at the shopping center, go get charged up, then park until you are done shopping and summon them.

    1. Re:car needs to be smarter by crow · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yes, they've already said that's the long-term plan. The problem is that older cars won't ever be able to drive away, and the Superchargers can't unplug themselves yet.

  10. One would never leave a car parked at a gas pump by EmagGeek · · Score: 2

    Hah, bullshit. I see people pump gas, leave their car at the pump, and go inside and do 30 minutes of shopping for beer, ho-hos, beef jerky, and lottery tickets (which they insist on scratching off right there at the counter before they walk away).

  11. Hope by jgullstr · · Score: 3, Funny

    we hope to never make any money from it

    Imagine their disappointment should their hopes shatter.

    1. Re:Hope by SeaFox · · Score: 2

      He should have said the fees would be donated to a charity as part of the announcement.

  12. Tesla employees not pleb enough... by Khyber · · Score: 2

    "One would never leave a car parked at a gas station right at the pump"

    Guess they've never been so middle-class as to have to use a combo gas station/chain restaurant before. 76+Subway, anyone?

    Just goes even further to show that Tesla is sorely out of touch with societal reality.

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  13. Oh this sounds so friendly by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 2

    Tesla Introduces Fee For Owners...

    Oh this sounds so friendly....

    Tesla: "Hi, we're Tesla, and we'd like to introduce you to our new fee. Well, it's not really a "fee", that's such a harsh word, ha ha. We're just going to charge you by the minute for not immediately moving your car. We like to think of it as a 'getting to know you and your wallet' kinda thing. And of course if you don't pay us, we'll turn off your car. Gosh, we hope that doesn't happen while you're zooming down the highway!"

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