[w1ntermute]

> I can't see how Tesla can expect to afford free supercharger stations forever though.

Because they sell more power back into the grid than they use up. I'm guessing they'll just add more solar panels (a fixed cost) as the number of charging stations at a given Supercharger goes up.

[brk]

Because they sell more power back into the grid than they use up.

That doesn't make sense. The breakeven point for a solar panel is around 10 years (assuming you're using it solely for your own power generation purposes, that is how long it takes for the panel to "pay for itself" in offset electricity costs).

The charging stations are there to charge vehicles. To keep them breakeven on power (forget about land/rent/taxes/maintenance) they would need a field of solar panels.

Hardly seems like a logical approach.

My guess is more that they will sell "upgrades" to the vehicles, they mentioned the large touchscreen and upgradability in the article. Perhaps certain future software enhancements will be paid, in order to generate some residual revenues.

[w1ntermute]

Musk has a startup (SolarCity) that specifically deals with solar panels and is providing the panels for the Tesla supercharging stations, so he has deep knowledge of the field. He's clearly managed to make the numbers work out, or he wouldn't have made it free to charge.

[gknoy]

There are more ways to generate solar power than with solar panels. Presumably, they could invest in solar power plants. Heck, the highly illuminated towers of a solar power plant can be seen for miles, and could even be used for publicity: "Free power beacons on the road for Tesla cars..."

[sbierwagen]

Solar concentrating thermal plants only work in direct sunlight, and their mirrors don't like to be dirty. They're not terribly commercially attractive outside the Mojave.

[3825]

This might be impractical but I'd love to see standardization across different car companies so all the different electric cars from different auto manufacturers can share the same / similar charging facilities.

Sort of like if I have a smart phone and I go to a friend's house it would be nice to be able to charge my phone on their charger. Phone chargers are cheap. Car chargers are not so much.

[thesis]

There's a standard in North America: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_J1772

[mbreese]

I'm fairly certain that is for standard charging. The super chargers probably push too much current for this standard. I don't know if it can use the same "plug" format though...

[amalag]

This can happen in 2 ways, they are forced to or they do it out of the kindness of their hearts (monetary incentive). So the smart play is to do this because it will increase sales for all the electric car companies. Then a Tesla would have to figure out a way to limit the supercharger or charge non tesla cars.