3d Party fast DC chargers: Revel and EVgo

bwilson4web

bwilson4web

Well-Known Member
Subscriber
The details appear to be 'vague' but both Revel and EVgo claim to have Tesla charging capabilities. But I'm wondering if they got some Tesla plugs and are just emulating a CHAdeMO protocol?

This would likely limit the charge rate to 50 kW, right?

Bob Wilson
 
bwilson4web said:
This would likely limit the charge rate to 50 kW, right?
Click to expand...
The ones around here are 50 KW chargers. Not all of the 50 KW chargers have a Tesla connector.

But I'm wondering if they got some Tesla plugs and are just emulating a CHAdeMO protocol? Could it be as simple as just internalizing a CHAdeMO to Tesla plug, similar to what you can buy today?

The 100KW CHAdeMO chargers are partnered with GM and Nissan and don't have Tesla connectors here in the Seattle area. We don't know if there is some kind of agreement that prevents Tesla connectors on the 100 KW ones or if the connector/Tesla setup itself is the cause. This seems like something the journalists at InsideEVs should be bird dogging.
 
Last edited:
I got this e-mail reply from Revel:

The Revel Superhub in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn has 25 Level 3 DC fast chargers.

We have:

23 chargers capable of charging any Tesla at 50kW.

23 chargers capable of charging any vehicle with a CCS outlet at 75kW (Chevy, Ford, Volvo, Volkswagen, Kia, Hyundai, Audi, Polestar, BMW, etc.)

2 chargers capable of charging any car with a CHAdeMO outlet at 50kW (Nissan, Mitsubishi). ​

Now we know.

Bob Wilson
 
marshall said:
What exactly do we know?
Are you saying that Tesla is limiting non-Tesla Superchargers to 50 KW at this time?
Click to expand...
Revel support responded that the charging limit of their unit to a Tesla is 50 kW. So I suspected they were emulating a CHAdeMO adapter like the one Tesla sells (out of stock today.)
1036392-10-C_0.jpg

Tesla sells a CHAdeMO adapter, $400, and I tested one with a VW, Electrify America station in Manchester TN and later, Nashville, TN. I found:
  • maximum rate 50 kW
  • heavy enough to require a strap to offload stress on the connectors
  • too expensive, $400, for the 50 kW performance
I am not surprised Revel has a similar, 50 kW limit. As for who is responsible for the limit, it appears to exist regardless of whose CHAdeMO hardware and protocol is in use. Sad to say, this 50 kW limit not always documented.

So I'll stick with:
  • 170 kW peak rate SuperCharger
    • on 250 kW V3 unit
    • or 150 kW V2 unit
  • ~7.5 kW peak rate L2
Bob Wilson
 
Last edited:
bwilson4web said:
Tesla sells a CHAdeMO adapter, $400, and I tested one with a VW, Electrify America station in Manchester TN and later, Nashville, TN. I found:
  • maximum rate 50 kW
Click to expand...

Are all Electrify America CHAdeMO chargers 50 KW?

In the Tesla forums, have you seen where someone has tried used the adapter with a 100 KW CHAdeMO charger? If so, are they still limited to 50 KW?

It seems you are saying that Tesla limits the charging to 50 KW. So don't expect to see more than 50 KW on a 100 KW charger.
 
Last edited:
I have no interest in a 50 kW, DC charge rate. Given CHAdeMO is becoming an orphan … even less now.

Bob Wilson
 
bwilson4web said:
I have no interest in a 50 kW, DC charge rate. Given CHAdeMO is becoming an orphan … even less now.
Click to expand...

There are still areas of the country that are not well covered by any charging network, so a 50kW in a remote area could still be a useful bridge. Kind of an edge case to be sure, but if the alternative is to to go way out of your way to avoid such an area, it could still be useful.
 
"There are still areas of the country that are not well covered by any charging network, so a 50kW in a remote area could still be a useful bridge. Kind of an edge case to be sure, but if the alternative is to to go way out of your way to avoid such an area, it could still be useful"

Convenience, is a good reason for using these 50 KW chargers.

I wonder what it will take for Tesla and EVgo to make 100 KW charging available.
 
FYI, I often find 110 VAC outlets at either end of motels. So plugging in my Tesla adds +30 miles while I sleep.

Bob Wilson
 
bwilson4web said:
FYI, I often find 110 VAC outlets at either end of motels. So plugging in my Tesla adds +30 miles while I sleep.
Click to expand...
That will work for a while, but as time goes on it won't.

These 50 KW chargers have their place in the urban area around here. If anything, they may charge too fast at some locations around here, depending on what folks are doing while waiting.

However, I will say that EVgo needs to lower their price for 50 KW charging.
 
From Wiki, "... urban Superchargers have a maximum power delivery of 72 kW." My understanding this is a solution for parking garages. I've seen a photo but never one in real life. But if I'm going cross country, I'll use a V2 or V3 to get on the road again.

Bob Wilson
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top