Tesla Motors Inc Facing Challenges Installing Chargers In China

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Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is facing many challenges installing chargers in China in order to provide adequate infrastructure for selling its cars. According to sources, the process is facing resistance from skeptics like property managers, workers and so forth. The Tesla China team faced a real situation recently while installing a charger, says a report from the Australian.

Hard work for Tesla team

Huang Weiguo is heading a team of contractors hired to install charging stations at the homes of new Tesla owners in Beijing. Weiguo, who is a technical expert along with a diplomat, is facing issues in dealing with restless garage workers, baffled security guards and hesitant building managers, while laying the groundwork for Tesla in China.

Recently, Weiguo was caught into a real situation while installing a charger for a new customer in front of a white-faced commercial and residential complex. After three hours of grueling work, the property manager appeared on the spot and asked the officials to remove the charger.

Weiguo tried to convince the manager saying that the tea shop owner has just bought a Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), and has approved installation of a six-foot tall charging and its mesh of wires. He even tried to cool off the situation by offering a cold bottle of water to the manager. However, manager did not buy Weiguo’s argument, and said he  decides what to install and not to install in the building.

Multi-family houses are more challenging

In China, the concern of Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is that nearly 74% of all urban housing is low rise multi-family housing, according to a 2007 estimate by consulting firm Chreod Ltd., unlike in the United States where there are many single family homes. This suggests that in China people rarely have family garages, and they share facilities or park on the street. This does not work well with the prerequisites of Tesla home chargers that are required to keep cars in action. Also, neighbors and building managers often do not appreciate installing such chargers.

Shawn Gao, the supervisor of Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) installation across the country, acknowledged the challenges in the installation for chargers across the country, and says, “the technical part is not the big issue. Getting approval from property-management companies is.” For example, Jacky Tan, a Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) Model S owner, got into a tough situation when the apartment residents and a manager raised objections over the charger.

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