First look at Tesla’s next-generation Supercharger V3 in action

Simon Alvarez

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Posted on March 7, 2019

The first videos of Tesla’s next-generation Supercharger V3 have been shared online, providing an initial glimpse at how the next-generation charging solution works, and the benefits it carries.

Tesla’s Supercharger V3 was unveiled on a rainy night at a private event in Fremont, California on Wednesday. The next-generation charging station looks identical to the company’s existing Supercharger V2 stations, save for thinner, liquid-cooled cables on the newer units. Supercharger V3 supports peak rates of up to 250 kW per vehicle, allowing a car like the Long Range Model 3 to replenish 75 miles of its range in just 5 minutes. In comparison, Tesla’s V2 Superchargers have peak rates of ~120 kW per vehicle. Tesla estimates that V3’s upgrades will reduce typical charging times to around 15 minutes.

While the Supercharger V3 stations are currently optimized for the Model 3, owners of the electric sedan will have to make sure that their vehicle is updated to version 2019.7.11 to get access to the next-generation charger. Tesla specifically mentions this in 2019.7.11’s release notes.

“Your Model 3 is now able to charge at V3 Superchargers at up to 250 kW peak rates. Supercharger stations with V3 hardware are designed to enable any owner to charge at the full power their battery can take – no more splitting power with another vehicle connected to your cabinet. This combination of higher peak power and dedicated vehicle power allocation across the site enables you to charge in half the time,” Tesla wrote.

For now, only the Model 3, which is equipped with 2170 cells, appears to be capable of accessing Supercharger V3. It remains to be seen when the Model S and Model X, which are equipped with 18650 cells, will be able to tap into the next-generation charging network.

Tesla owner-enthusiast Tesla Raj mentions in his Supercharger V3 YouTube video that the company will not be retrofitting its existing Supercharger V2 stations to V3 hardware. Instead, the new chargers will simply begin their rollout moving forward. This does not mean to say that there will be no improvements to the company’s existing Supercharger network, as Tesla indicated in a recent blog post on its official website that it would be unlocking 145kW charge rates for over 12,000 V2 Superchargers across the globe in the coming weeks.

Watch Tesla’s 250 kW Supercharger V3 in action in the video below.

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First look at Tesla’s next-generation Supercharger V3 in action

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Tesla’s Gigafactory 3 in China on track for May completion: Shanghai official

Simon Alvarez

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Posted on March 6, 2019

A Chinese government official has stated that Tesla’s Gigafactory 3 in Shanghai is expected to be completed this coming May. Electric car assembly lines are also on track to be set up by the end of the year.

The Gigafactory update was related by Shanghai official Chen Mingbo, who currently serves as the head of the city’s economic and information technology commission, during the annual parliamentary meeting in Beijing on Wednesday. This timeframe is in line with Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s estimates for the project’s completion, which point to Gigafactory 3 producing its first Model 3 on the China facility before the year ends.

China is known for quick buildouts, but even according to the country’s standards, the timetable for Gigafactory 3 is incredibly ambitious. A full-fledged auto factory can take around two years to build in the country, but thanks to the support that Tesla has been receiving from the Shanghai government, the project’s timeline appears to be more than feasible. These signs of support include initiatives that helped the company acquire low-interest loans from local banks for the facility’s construction, as well as the involvement of a government-owned construction firm in Gigafactory 3’s buildout.

Gigafactory 3 represents an integral part of Tesla’s plan to saturate the worldwide auto industry. China is the world’s largest market for electric cars, but the country also places heavy taxes on vehicles coming from foreign manufacturers. Tesla’s Model S and Model X have significantly been affected by these economic headwinds, as acknowledged by Tesla in its Q3 2018 production and deliveries report.

Producing vehicles at Gigafactory 3 will allow Tesla to compete against local electric car makers without being weighed down by extra tariffs. This is key strategy for Tesla in China, as the upcoming facility is specifically tasked to produce affordable versions of the Model 3 sedan and the Model Y SUV. Tesla has already managed to bring the price of the Model 3 down to $35,000 in the United States. Thus, Tesla appears to be well on track to produce its lower-cost vehicles in China by the end of the year.

Progress in Gigafactory 3’s 864,885-square meter site at the Lingang Industrial Zone has been notable. Drone flyovers and footage taken of the site in February point to a flurry of construction activity in the area. Pile drivers have been spotted in sections of the site, suggesting that preparations are underway to start constructing the foundations of a structure. A two-story modular structure also appeared to be in the process of being completed.

Watch a recent flyover of the Gigafactory 3 site in the video below.

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Tesla’s Gigafactory 3 in China on track for May completion: Shanghai official

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Tesla Model 3 dominates sales in California, capturing 30% of alternative fuel cars sold

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Posted on March 5, 2019

According to a report issued by the California New Car Dealers Association (CNCDA), Tesla was the number one selling alternative powertrain brand in 2018, representing 29.3% of the total market share. That number includes hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fuel cell vehicles. When the numbers are limited to battery electric-only vehicle sales, the Model 3 then claims 55% of sales – 51,300 of the total 92,447 sold in 2018. Impressively, the Model 3 sales numbers alone represent more cars sold than the entirety of EV sales in California for 2017 which represents part of an overall increase of about 81% of total EVs sold. CNCDA’s report is good news for the green vehicle industry as a whole and numerically demonstrates Tesla’s leadership in the arena.

Second place for alternative powertrain vehicles in California went to Toyota for the Prius hybrid at 19,366 cars sold; 13,415 for the Prius plug-in hybrid. Chevy’s Volt plug-in hybrid came in 4th at 10,749, and Tesla’s Model S sold 10,120, capping the top 5 vehicle sales with Tesla bookends. Notably, hybrid vehicle sales went down about 20% while plug-in hybrids increased by nearly 40%. Total hybrid sales dropped about half a percent. From these numbers, it certainly seems the consumer market is pointing in the Tesla-type rechargeable direction.

California Green Vehicle Report 2018. | Credit: CNCDA

California Green Vehicle Report 2018. | Credit: CNCDA

California Green Vehicle Report 2018. | Credit: CNCDA

Although the nearly-doubled increase in EV sales from 2017-2018 in California is significant, ICE vehicles still made up around 82% of all California vehicles sold in 2018. Several reasons could factor in the continued consumer preference for gasoline-powered purchases. “California has a long way to go to overcome challenges, support the needs of zero-emission vehicles, and get consumer buy-in for this advanced technology. Factors like charging infrastructure, convenience, range and affordability all come into play when consumers purchase a vehicle,” Chairperson Ted Nicholas said in a statement released by CNCDA with their report. Tesla’s business model obviously has factored in all of these considerations with its Supercharger network, over-the-air updates, owner app offerings, and now, its $35k Standard Range Model 3.

California has set a goal of putting 5 million EVs on its roads by 2030 due to 40% of the state’s greenhouse emissions coming from its transportation industry. Supporting the increase in zero-emission vehicle sales is an obvious part of that goal, meaning that while Tesla’s sales are impressive and market-changing, the state still has a long way to go. “While we continue to see progress on this front, the pace of change is relatively slow, especially in regions of the state that are outside of the San Francisco Bay Area,” Nichols further commented in the report’s release. With new EV offerings coming from a variety of manufacturers over the next two years, including the Model Y and Tesla pickup truck, perhaps the market will speak for the merits and desirability of EVs for itself.

Tesla Model 3 dominates sales in California, capturing 30% of alternative fuel cars sold

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