Fuck Tesla

[ZBB]

Originally Posted by JST

My guess is that the adding the ability to do cc transactions is costly and maintenance intensive, and they probably also want to loop you into whatever their ecosystem is.

I'm no expert in POS technologies, but it seems like if they have a contactless reader for fobs (which at least chargepoint stations do, or did) they should be able to add similar capability for credit cards.

But, yes, the plug and charge standard Ford and Porsche are adopting is the way it should be done.

I also think they want to avoid paying interchange fees. Those are typically around 3-5% and likely eat into the margin. Charging is so far not a high margin. For example, we plugged into a Chargepoint L2 charger in Albuquerque for 35-40 min the other day. The cost was 54 cents to add about 14 miles of range. That’s about 4 kWh of electricity, which probably cost about what we were charged (the national average is about 12 cents — so 48 cents…)

[robg]

Originally Posted by ZBB

I also think they want to avoid paying interchange fees. Those are typically around 3-5% and likely eat into the margin. Charging is so far not a high margin. For example, we plugged into a Chargepoint L2 charger in Albuquerque for 35-40 min the other day. The cost was 54 cents to add about 14 miles of range. That’s about 4 kWh of electricity, which probably cost about what we were charged (the national average is about 12 cents — so 48 cents…)

Ah maybe. Then again, I think gas is very low margin as well. Actually, maybe charging networks need to take a page from gas stations and open up conveneience stores or even restaurants near their locations to make additional money... after all they'd have a captive audience for 20-40 minutes each. I do wonder about whether the business model of offering fast charging as a standalone business really makes sense. EA only exists because VW was forced to do it...I'm not sure how much Chargpoint/Plugshare/etc actually make.

[robg]

Originally Posted by JST

I'm no expert in POS technologies, but it seems like if they have a contactless reader for fobs (which at least chargepoint stations do, or did) they should be able to add similar capability for credit cards.

Yep...and when you consider that even food trucks these days offer contactless credit card payments surely these charging netwroks can figure it out.

[ZBB]

I charged at an Electrify America station yesterday — was showing my mom how to use the CHAdeMO adapter (she needs it more than me, so I’m giving ours to her).

They have credit card readers…

Overall it worked and was slightly less clunky than other times I’ve used CHAdeMO. But still much more difficult than Tesla’s just plug-in and we’ll charge your cars automatically process…

[Nick M3]

https://twitter.com/aarjanistan/status/1420367500462657543

[JST]

Originally Posted by Nick M3

https://twitter.com/aarjanistan/status/1420367500462657543

Here is the original tweet.

https://twitter.com/deesix/status/1420172102326374402

I've read about "accidental upgrades" through the app, though I'm confused about where the $14,100 number comes from--on my older Model 3, without autopilot, it gives me upgrade prices of $3000 to add autopilot (which now comes with all new cars, I believe) and $10000 to add "Full Self Driving," which is Elon's bullshit vaporware thing.

I don't want either, obvs, but even together that isn't $14,100.

Whatever, car subscriptions and DLC are stupid and I hate them, with the exception of wireless connectivity and map upgrades, which are actual ongoing costs, so a subscription model makes sense.

But this seems to be a plague that is spreading across the industry. Did you see the story about how Mercedes will sell you a subscription for rear wheel steering?

[dan]

14100= 3000 + 10000 + 8.5% tax?

[JST]

Originally Posted by dan

14100= 3000 + 10000 + 8.5% tax?

Ah, maybe.

[robg]

Hmmm- as much as I believe that Tesla engages in shady business practices, I have a hard time believing this one. Isn't regular autopilot now standard with the only option being FSD?

[FC]

Originally Posted by JST

Did you see the story about how Mercedes will sell you a subscription for rear wheel steering?

What?

In other, but tangentially related news, I finally got off my ass and enabled Apple Carplay on the F80.

It's nice, and I'm happy to have it, but:

1) It's a shame I cannot dynamically get off Car Play and back to normal mode.
2) The icons are small and far a way on the F80, so I end up using the I-Drive wheel to control selections. Not bad, but not nearly as easy as having a proper screen nearby., like on the GTI.
3) It's absolutely not worth the $300/year subscription they used to charge.