▲The second from the left is Zhang Lina
1. The goal this year is to optimize the site layout
Tesla has been deploying super-charging stations in China since 2014. Currently, it has deployed more than 1,200 super-charging stations in China, with a total of nearly 9,000 charging piles. Among them, about 60% of the V3 charging piles with a maximum charging power of 250kW are V2 charging piles with a maximum charging power of 120kW.
In addition, Tesla has more than 700 destination charging stations (slow charging) and more than 1,800 destination charging piles in China.
In terms of charging network planning, Zhang Lina said that the main achievements in the past 8 years are the completion of the construction of the charging network framework, and starting this year, the development planning of its charging network will focus on optimizing the layout.
Specifically, on the one hand, the site density will be optimized within the existing framework, and on the other hand, the charging piles in a specific charging station will be upgraded (such as increasing the number), with the ultimate goal of improving charging efficiency.
“The current domestic vehicle pile ratio has changed from 6:1 in the past to 3:1. How to improve the operational efficiency of charging facilities is a challenge and problem for the entire industry, including Tesla.” Zhang Lina said.
Tesla’s supercharging stations are still mainly urban, and there are relatively few high-speed service areas. Regarding the layout of charging stations on the highway, Zhang Lina said that Tesla will follow the development strategy of the Chinese government.
The “Action Plan for Accelerating the Construction of Charging Infrastructure along Highways” recently issued by the Ministry of Transport and other departments mentioned that by the end of 2022, the expressway service areas in areas other than alpine and high altitudes across the country can provide basic charging services; by the end of 2023 Previously, qualified general national and provincial trunk highway service areas (stations) were able to provide basic charging services.
“We are in close communication with government departments and industry companies to explore the possibility of deploying charging networks on expressways,” said Zhang Lina.
2. Preparing for the opening of the supercharger station
At this stage, NIO and other car companies that have built their own charging stations have opened their own charging stations to allow third-party vehicles to charge.
Regarding the open question, Zhang Lina said that Tesla has already opened charging networks in 13 European countries and has taken this step.
There are also plans for opening up in China. Currently, the compatibility and adaptation of the charging network and third-party vehicles is being carried out, and it will be opened at an appropriate time.
3. In the future, I hope to build a website based on big data
Tesla’s backend can read information such as the location and driving trajectory of each car. In theory, it is possible to determine the location of the station based on these data, so as to achieve better service effects.
So does Tesla use this data?
Zhang Lina said that Tesla has strict data usage regulations and will strictly abide by relevant national laws and regulations. Therefore, even if I have the ability to collect data, I have not been engaged in building a website based on data in the past few years.
In the future, if possible, Tesla’s ultimate goal is to build and optimize the operational efficiency of the charging network through big data.