BMW, Mazda Keen To Meet With Tesla About Charging Technology

PC Magazine reports that following Elon Musk's announcement that Tesla would be freeing for other electric car makers to use the various patents that the company has amassed, at least two companies — Mazda and BMW — are said to be interested in meeting with Tesla, for a very good reason: According to undisclosed sources speaking to the Financial Times, both Nissan and BMW would be interested in working with Tesla to craft up some universal vehicle charging standards. To quote unnamed official: "It is obviously clear that everyone would benefit if there was a far more simple way for everyone to charge their cars."

nissan or mazda?

[Mishotaki]

i'm confused.... is it Nissan or Mazda that is interested?

It's Nissan

[Anonymous Coward]

For everybody who's confused by the title like me, it's Nissan (not Mazda) in TFA.

I wonder why no american companies are interested in cooperating?

Re:nissan or mazda?

[ShadowRangerRIT]

Nissan doesn't have problems with charge times (at least, no more than Tesla). The base model takes 8 hours to charge from empty, but they offer a 4 hour charge option (that runs off the same Level 2 charging stations) and a Quick Charge option that gets an 80% charge in 30 minutes. Pretty similar to Tesla.

Thanks for straightening that out!

[Two99Point80]

Now I'll be sure to remember how impractical my LEAF is as I drive to a morning meeting, then the mall for some mallwalking, then the free charging station near the gym for half a "tank" while I work out, then... Silly me, driving 2300+ around-town miles over the past three months for a total fuel cost of $9 (because one of my city's free charging stations is inside a parking deck) without ONCE realizing how impractical it was! :-)

Re:nissan or mazda?

[Anonymous Coward]

The fast-charge thing was added to the leaf in the 3rd model year.
BTW, that's pretty amazing all on its own, nissan has been selling electric cars for nearly 4 years now.

Re:nissan or mazda?

[Anonymous Coward]

Negative. Fast charging (CHADEMO) was in the Nissan Leaf since the very first model (2011 if i remember OK).

And BTW, the charging on Tesla models is more than twice faster than the Nissan's simply because battery packs on any Tesla is at least twice as big ( 24khw Nissan vs 60/85Kwh on the Model S).

So, no, the problem is not with the technology itself, but the the limited 24 kwh or less batteriy packs offered by other manufacturers of electrical vehicles. The bigger the battery is, the longer it will take you, the longer it will last in year, the faster it will be able to recharge.

Some maths:

24kwh pack at 2C charging =~ 50kw charging capability (CHADEMO).
85kwh pack at LESS THAN 2C charging =~ more than 100kw charging capability (Tesla own's).

Yo see, Tesla's approach is even more conservative

Re: nissan or mazda?

[red_dragon]

The i-MIEV is made by Mitsubishi.

Re:nissan or mazda?

[Anonymous Coward]

Except that 80% of 85 miles is a far cry from 80% of 265 miles.

A local Nissan salescritter mentioned to me last week that Nissan will be offering
a range-extender battery, to boost the Leaf's range to 150 miles.

In that case, it makes sense that Nissan might be interested in a more powerful
Level 3 charging system.

Sunny Guy