Originally published on CleanTechnica.
It must be a holiday — Tesla CEO Elon Musk is having fun on Twitter and teasing product updates.
One thing readers have been asking about for years is when exactly Tesla’s Supercharger network will be solar powered, and, similarly, how many Tesla Superchargers currently include solar panels.
Early on, Elon highlighted that Tesla Superchargers would largely allow for Tesla drivers to drive on sunlight, but you’d be hard pressed to find a solar-powered Supercharger today.
Naturally, with Tesla’s recent acquisition of SolarCity, the time seems to be ideal for a solar Supercharging update.
Seeing that Elon was having some fun on Twitter, Frederic Lambert popped a question about this. Here’s Elon’s first response:
There are some installed already, but full rollout really needs Supercharger V3 and Powerpack V2, plus SolarCity. Pieces now in place.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 24, 2016
Hmm, what a tease! Supercharger V3? Apparently, these high-power chargers aim to go where no charger has gone before:
A mere 350 kW … what are you referring to, a children's toy?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 24, 2016
For some context, Tesla’s website currently puts Supercharging at 120 kW; normal EV “fast charging” for other brands is basically 50 kW; there’s a 350 kW CCS standard in place and a charging network somewhat in the works in Europe (but nothing really in the ground yet and no production cars that can charge at that rate); and the first 350 kW superfast charging station is under construction in the US as of 9 days ago (but it’s not clear what non-Tesla models could charge above 100 kW).
Lastly (for this tweetstorm), the question arises, does solar + storage = off-grid Superchargers? In some places, that could be the case:
Yes, grid won't be needed for moderate use Superchargers in non-snowy regions
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 24, 2016
Fun stuff.
Thanks to Elon for yet another fun tweetstorm! 😀
→ Related: 1st Non-Tesla High-Power EV Charging Station In USA!! Thanks, EVgo
It’s going to need a lot of batteries.
Fortunately…
But what would happen to the Energy not used? What about days when only 1 car stops vs 20 or 30 in a day. Balancing an Off GRID home is hard enought let alone a variable use charging spot.
That’s as GREEN as it gets, but it is not an attempt to supply all the energy needed to accommodate every Tesla that needs to be charged. It will act as a supplement and most important as an educational tool for the un and miss informed. I’ve established a Public DCFC with small wind, soon adding solar to our pilot program.
https://cleantechnica.com/2015/08/08/wind-orchard-energy-chasing-wind-for-electric-cars/