Redmond Chad's Comments RSS Syndication from SeekingAlpha.com http://seekingalpha.com/user/1022643/comments http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/341510-mad-hedge-fund-trader/616351-oregon-becomes-the-first-all-electric-state?source=feed#comment-5466271 5466271
Minor historical correction: this is indeed the first public, DC-fast-charge state-wide highway (TN already has some units, but I don't think all the way across the state). However, a private high-speed AC (level 2) network of charging stations from Canada to Mexico was finished in 2010. Only Tesla Roadsters could use those 240V 70A charging stations at first, but now many of the adapters have been changed to J1772.

Minor opinion difference: more and faster charging stations are great--they help convince fence-sitters to buy a BEV; and they help BEV owners to drive the BEV on longer trips where they might have otherwise taken the gas car. But they aren't needed for PHEVs. And in fact, they aren't really "needed" for BEVs either. My wife has driven a 100-mile BEV for over 3 years with no charging infrastructure; she just charges in our garage. On the rare day when she needs to go farther than the car will take her, we swap cars. This is not inconvenient; in fact it's more common for us to swap cars because I need to carry more people or cargo than my small 2-seater can handle. I welcome the charging stations; I just want people to be clear that they are not needed for EVs to be adopted.

Minor future note: Tesla's official plans are to keep offering its private interface on future cars, like the Model X. They have said they will offer an adapter for SAE chargers, if any are ever installed (there are none today; CA is the only place I know of that has formal plans to install some). But Tesla has not committed to making a CHAdeMO adapter, and the OR stations are all CHAdeMO units. Tesla also has not committed to installing their own private stations in OR (they have said it's likely, but given no time frame). So there is not yet a guarantee that a Model X owner will be able to charge anywhere other than CA. Tesla does say they'll have a charging announcement in July, so that may change. I'm a big Tesla fan; but just want to be clear that their DC charging plans are not firm enough to count on yet.]]> Tue, 15 May 2012 15:24:11 -0400
Minor historical correction: this is indeed the first public, DC-fast-charge state-wide highway (TN already has some units, but I don't think all the way across the state). However, a private high-speed AC (level 2) network of charging stations from Canada to Mexico was finished in 2010. Only Tesla Roadsters could use those 240V 70A charging stations at first, but now many of the adapters have been changed to J1772.

Minor opinion difference: more and faster charging stations are great--they help convince fence-sitters to buy a BEV; and they help BEV owners to drive the BEV on longer trips where they might have otherwise taken the gas car. But they aren't needed for PHEVs. And in fact, they aren't really "needed" for BEVs either. My wife has driven a 100-mile BEV for over 3 years with no charging infrastructure; she just charges in our garage. On the rare day when she needs to go farther than the car will take her, we swap cars. This is not inconvenient; in fact it's more common for us to swap cars because I need to carry more people or cargo than my small 2-seater can handle. I welcome the charging stations; I just want people to be clear that they are not needed for EVs to be adopted.

Minor future note: Tesla's official plans are to keep offering its private interface on future cars, like the Model X. They have said they will offer an adapter for SAE chargers, if any are ever installed (there are none today; CA is the only place I know of that has formal plans to install some). But Tesla has not committed to making a CHAdeMO adapter, and the OR stations are all CHAdeMO units. Tesla also has not committed to installing their own private stations in OR (they have said it's likely, but given no time frame). So there is not yet a guarantee that a Model X owner will be able to charge anywhere other than CA. Tesla does say they'll have a charging announcement in July, so that may change. I'm a big Tesla fan; but just want to be clear that their DC charging plans are not firm enough to count on yet.]]> http://seekingalpha.com/article/293323/comments?source=feed#comment-1905348 1905348
That said, I'm not that bullish on the stock. It already seems kind of high to me and this is the auto industry, after all. But after this article, maybe I'm more bullish on the stock. This article is way off the mark on all sorts of obvious points about the cars, the company, and the sector they are in.]]> Tue, 13 Sep 2011 22:19:29 -0400
That said, I'm not that bullish on the stock. It already seems kind of high to me and this is the auto industry, after all. But after this article, maybe I'm more bullish on the stock. This article is way off the mark on all sorts of obvious points about the cars, the company, and the sector they are in.]]>