Tesla Wall Connector Chargeback

[pae1andonly]

I've got two things going:

1) Working with an HOA to install a bunch of Wall Connectors in a 540 unit, 1200 parking space complex.
If this goes through (HOA is as HOA does) the HOA will get the all but the 3 cents of every kW and set the payment rate.

2) If 1. doesn't work out - or is working too slowly - I'll get a Wall Connector of my own installed.

Problem is, it'll be in a shared lot. Certainly others will want to use it as this location is in the middle of 45-mile Supercharger free zone. Wouldn't mind letting others charge ... but think they should pay for their kilowatts. But Tesla doesn't seem to want to enable the charge function unless you set up corporate. I could do an LLC, but that seems like overkill.

Suggestions? Or perhaps more accurately, what do I misunderstand?

Anyone with experience using the Wall Connector Chargeback feature?

Thank you.

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[DaBagBoy]

yeah - wish we could figure out a way to do this, we were wanting to put a charge station in at our office but even Chargepoint gets $15,000 for "access control" vs. $500 for a regular home charge, LMKL if anyone has a solution.

 

[EMoeller]

Why not simply put a lock on the charger?

 

[mongo]

Why not simply put a lock on the charger?

They want to allow others to use it, but not get stuck paying for other's use.
Otherwise, they would just software lock it to their VIN.

 

[pae1andonly]

I asked a Tesla rep: can either be free and locked to a list of 10 VINs, or open and charging users at one rate only (not free for me and charge all others) ... and Tesla adds a 3 cent /kwh surcharge. So it would cost me 3 cents /kwh for my charging to leave it open to the world when I'm not hooked up. Plus whatever it costs me to register as a business to get T to turn on chargeback.

 

[hemiarch]

Time to buy one of those superchargers for businesses the YouTubers have been creaming their pants over?
On that topic, anyone know how Tesla plans to handle people with free supercharging at those given that they are saying proceeds are going to go to the purchasing business?

 

[Gaximus]

I asked a Tesla rep: can either be free and locked to a list of 10 VINs, or open and charging users at one rate only (not free for me and charge all others) ... and Tesla adds a 3 cent /kwh surcharge. So it would cost me 3 cents /kwh for my charging to leave it open to the world when I'm not hooked up. Plus whatever it costs me to register as a business to get T to turn on chargeback.

Can you charge more as a business? Say 4 cents? Then you register your LLC, then all costs of equipment and installation will be tax deductible. You could also take the 3 cents loss you pay for others as a tax deduction for your company. There would be a lo of benefits to starting your LLC to only make a few cents per kWh. You company will need a new computer to set up billing, a phone to talk to clients, all tax deductible and able to use personally as well.

 

[pae1andonly]

I believe you set your own price per kwh. My cost is about 20 cents, Tesla adds 3 cents so I might charge 30 cents. I wouldn't be seeking business so much as not rejecting it. It's 20 to 30 miles to a charger around here. If I get too much business I'll raise my rate so as to not be an attractive nuisance. If I get no business, I'll just stop the chargback and restrict access to me alone.

That's my thinking at the moment. No doubt I'll learn as I go along.

 

[pae1andonly]

Time to buy one of those superchargers for businesses the YouTubers have been creaming their pants over?
On that topic, anyone know how Tesla plans to handle people with free supercharging at those given that they are saying proceeds are going to go to the purchasing business?

I'm not sure i understand your question.

I'm not looking at superchargers by which i mean Level 3 DC fast chargers, but rather Level 2s generally. I'll see how much the HOA is willing to spend - guessing not much - but don't see installing more than dual pole 100 amp circuits at most. Prob multiple Tesla Wall Connectors on individual or shared 60 amp dual pole circuits. But you never know what committees are going to go for.

Could you restate your free versus chargeback question please?

 

[hemiarch]

I'm not sure i understand your question.

I'm not looking at superchargers by which i mean Level 3 DC fast chargers, but rather Level 2s generally. I'll see how much the HOA is willing to spend - guessing not much - but don't see installing more than dual pole 100 amp circuits at most. Prob multiple Tesla Wall Connectors on individual or shared 60 amp dual pole circuits. But you never know what committees are going to go for.

Could you restate your free versus chargeback question please?

I apologize. I was making a joke about an unrelated issue. The internet has been flooded the last few days with people talking about Tesla’s new policy of being willing to sell businesses dc fast chargers as outlined in this thread and also allowing them to keep the proceeds from said chargers.
https://www.cybertruckownersclub.com/forum/threads/businesses-can-now-buy-their-own-superchargers-.47822/?_appload=1
Your issue is an important but unrelated one. You could potentially lock the charger and then require that everyone who wants to use it at your office or apartment complex contribute a monthly fee which you could then adjust to match the average cost incurred by the charger monthly but I feel like Tesla should be able to provide a more elegant solution than this.

 

[pae1andonly]

I apologize. I was making a joke about an unrelated issue. The internet has been flooded the last few days with people talking about Tesla’s new policy of being willing to sell businesses dc fast chargers as outlined in this thread and also allowing them to keep the proceeds from said chargers.
https://www.cybertruckownersclub.com/forum/threads/businesses-can-now-buy-their-own-superchargers-.47822/?_appload=1
Your issue is an important but unrelated one. You could potentially lock the charger and then require that everyone who wants to use it at your office or apartment complex contribute a monthly fee which you could then adjust to match the average cost incurred by the charger monthly but I feel like Tesla should be able to provide a more elegant solution than this.

Ah, didn't make the connection. Once I learned a Supercharger goes for approx $40k/stall I stopped paying attention. Would need a LOT of kwh's sold to pay that down.

Regarding the Tesla Wall Connector: my current understanding is that
a) once Tesla has approved a business account for you,
b) the certified electrician has used the Tesla One app to provision your Wall Connector appropriately and hook it up to WIFI,
c) you can
1. make it open to anyone w/o charges -or-
2. restrict it to a list of up to 10 VINs -or-
3. allow anyone with a credit card registered to a VIN on the Tesla app (can include non-Tesla EVs) to pay a per kwh fee that you set.
4. If you went with 3, Tesla will take an extra 3 cents per kwh. So set your price to at least your kwh cost plus $0.03. Proceeds (minus 3 cents/kwh) get deposited in the account associated with your Tesla business account.
5. WIFI is required for chargeback and software updates.

L2 chargers other than Tesla's, for example ChargePoint or Blink, offer far more sophisticated chargeback options. Also far more "sophisticated" upfront and monthly costs. And possibly admin overhead to get all valid residents registered.

 

[mongo]

Ah, didn't make the connection. Once I learned a Supercharger goes for approx $40k/stall I stopped paying attention. Would need a LOT of kwh's sold to pay that down.

Regarding the Tesla Wall Connector: my current understanding is that
a) once Tesla has approved a business account for you,
b) the certified electrician has used the Tesla One app to provision your Wall Connector appropriately and hook it up to WIFI,
c) you can
1. make it open to anyone w/o charges -or-
2. restrict it to a list of up to 10 VINs -or-
3. allow anyone with a credit card registered to a VIN on the Tesla app (can include non-Tesla EVs) to pay a per kwh fee that you set.
4. If you went with 3, Tesla will take an extra 3 cents per kwh. So set your price to at least your kwh cost plus $0.03. Proceeds (minus 3 cents/kwh) get deposited in the account associated with your Tesla business account.
5. WIFI is required for chargeback and software updates.

L2 chargers other than Tesla's, for example ChargePoint or Blink, offer far more sophisticated chargeback options. Also far more "sophisticated" upfront and monthly costs. And possibly admin overhead to get all valid residents registered.

You can log into the Tesla One app using your normal credentials and implement numbers 1 and 2 yourself.

 

[pae1andonly]

You can log into the Tesla One app using your normal credentials and implement numbers 1 and 2 yourself.

Good to know. Thank you.

Deducing you haven't gone for the business account, and thus have not explored 3. etc. yourself.

 

[mongo]

Good to know. Thank you.

Deducing you haven't gone for the business account, and thus have not explored 3. etc. yourself.

Indeed, though the Supercharger purchase does stir some interest in a purely self-serving, not actually worth it, way.

 

[pae1andonly]

Indeed, though the Supercharger purchase does stir some interest in a purely self-serving, not actually worth it, way.

Apologize if I missed memos, but wouldn't sufficient powerwall units provide the needed DC push? Would that make some version of L3 more do-able in a powerwall environment? Wonder if retired V2 and V3 Supercharger units would be a cost-efficient match for that.

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