Eclipse + Superchargers + Rivian = Chaos

[jplblue]

On our way back from viewing the eclipse, we witnessed this scene:

There were 7-8 Telsas in line to charge, with another nearby with its emergency blinkers on. 4 of the 8 Superchargers (Magic Docks) were down.

Luckily for our Rivian and an F-150, the adjacent CCS chargers were open for use.

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[emoore]

But I was told the supercharger network was bullet proof and was the only network needed for EVs. /s

 

[jjswan33]

But I was told the supercharger network was bullet proof and was the only network needed for EVs. /s

Yeah was thinking the same. If this was about an EA station then 90% of replies would be that EA is so unreliable and I can't wait until we have Tesla access.. My adapter can't get here fast enough... etc etc etc

Stuff breaks, events happen and infrastructure gets overloaded. Sounds like bad timing that both happened at the same time.

 

[jplblue]

But I was told the supercharger network was bullet proof and was the only network needed for EVs. /s

Funny enough, before we arrived, my wife asked if we should check the status of the chargers. I told her that we'd be fine since there were Tesla stalls with Magic Dock if the CCS chargers weren't working. Little did I know...

 

[Dark-Fx]

I suspect stations that don't typically fill up end up having problems the one time they do

 

[ukyank]

Precisely why I keep one ICE vehicle. Had a completely fine eclipse travel experience without any range anxiety or worry about taking alternate routes.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

But I was told the supercharger network was bullet proof and was the only network needed for EVs. /s

Hyperbole and Tesla go hand-in-hand. Everything can fail. Including people who tell things.

Meanwhile, last night at 10 PM, and again, every EA I went to reported availability when in fact full with lines. Passed two TS sites that were 90% empty. More options = better.

 

[Marchin_MTB]

The cool thing is, like with gas stations, you had two options right next to each other. Hoping to see more of this kind of redundancy in the future.

 

[jeeden]

Even the ICE vehicles are susceptible to this activity though. It's no different than a hurricane evacuation or Memorial Day weekend vacation rush:

https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/solar-eclipse-tourists-caught-in-traffic-jams-for-hours/

https://www.kxan.com/weather/eclipse/expert-concerned-about-fuel-supply-issues-during-eclipse/

I think the strategy is to make sure you charge (or fuel) up when you got there so you have enough to get well away from the area after the eclipse before needing to do so again.

 

[emoore]

Hyperbole and Tesla go hand-in-hand. Everything can fail. Including people who tell things.

Meanwhile, last night at 10 PM, and again, every EA I went to reported availability when in fact full with lines. Passed two TS sites that were 90% empty. More options = better.

100% agree that more options are better. There are some who think we only need superchargers and nothing else.

 

[virgnia_rivian]

This looks like a typical lineup of Tesla's at some of the Super Chargers in the NoVA/DC area. And that was before Ford and Rivian gained access.

Tesla owners are going to come to hate other EV's and Tesla for opening their network up.

 

[jwanderson88]

Off topic: When I saw this picture, I thought "Why are charging stations so ugly?" A row of metal pylons, a shed in the back. All charging stations are ugly. Are EV users second class citizens? We have to spend a lot of time there. How about some living things like some plants and less cement?

 

[seatosummit]

They are not all ugly.

This was taken mid eclipse, but in sunny central CA, far away from totality.

 

[Yellow R1T]

I had an eclipse trip where I charged up with magic docks night before and about noon when I was 200 miles south at a Rivian supercharger station I had not seen before in Bowling green, OH. Both worked flawlessly but I went late evening to Tesla one and noon to the Rivian to avoid rush times.

Eclipse was wonderful and traffic not too bad on way back North.

 

[jplblue]

Off topic: When I saw this picture, I thought "Why are charging stations so ugly?" A row of metal pylons, a shed in the back. All charging stations are ugly. Are EV users second class citizens? We have to spend a lot of time there. How about some living things like some plants and less cement?

To make it worse, the nearby McDonald's (don't @ me, food snobs) was only open for drive-thru, so we were deprived of McNuggets!

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