500+ people to even do the HIGH level bits of running a SC network isn't a lot.
Everyone (even the most strident Tesla haters) agrees that SC is the one thing Tesla does the best, hands down. I own a model Y and tried to use only non-Tesla charging on a long distance trip a few months ago, it was a disaster.
Telsa's charging network is a win on EVERY front:
1. Locations
2. Quantity of locations
3. Quality (high charging rates)
4. User experience / design of hardware - software
5. Realtime reporting and navigation
6. Uptime of network
The SC network is why a lot people consider Tesla who otherwise it would be a big fat no.
Tesla's engineering culture around the Supercharger is what makes it viable. They mass produce a custom-designed unit in groups of four, and then ship them from factory directly to job site. None of the other competitors are doing that yet, which is why Tesla has been both more profitable and more reliable. Maybe that culture will survive the layoffs, but it's a fast growing business with a ton of complicated engineering work to do.
Same, I'm a new used Model Y owner, and the supercharger infrastructure (existing, expected expansion, and maintenance) was part of the reason I bought it. It would be nice if Musk would provide some rationale of what's going on over there so we know what to expect...
Everyone (even the most strident Tesla haters) agrees that SC is the one thing Tesla does the best, hands down. I own a model Y and tried to use only non-Tesla charging on a long distance trip a few months ago, it was a disaster.
Telsa's charging network is a win on EVERY front:
1. Locations 2. Quantity of locations 3. Quality (high charging rates) 4. User experience / design of hardware - software 5. Realtime reporting and navigation 6. Uptime of network
The SC network is why a lot people consider Tesla who otherwise it would be a big fat no.