Seabrook--> Sunday 31 December 2023

Today I will head East, rather than North, to visit the supercharging station in Seabrook, NH.

From the app:  150kW, 8 superchargers, with food, wi-fi, shopping, restrooms, and coffee.

This will actually be my first ever visit to a v2 150kW charger.  My understanding is that these chargers are indeed somewhat slower than the newer v3 250kW chargers, but more importantly, you must share a charge with the stall next to you.  If that happens, it is *considerably* slower, basically reducing the charger even further to the equivalent of a 75kW charger.  As of this writing, at the end of 2023, it seems like there are more 250kW stations than the older 150kW, and this should only get better over time, as any new stations being built are using the 250kW chargers.

Nice drive this morning, I used the FSD and as usual, needed to take control a few times.  One thing I wish it did was move out of the fast lane more often, as it seems to hang out in the passing lane, forcing cars behind me to pass on the right.  This happens even if there are no cars in the middle lane so I could have easily moved over.  (Update, as of March 2025, Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) has been vastly improved, using artificial intelligence, and now it rarely needs intervention.)

But this blog is about NH superchargers, and I like this one in Seabrook, at least with respect to amenities.  The station is closest to a Panera bread, but this is in a Walmart plaza, with all sorts of dining alternatives within sight.  I noticed McDonalds, Outback, a burger joint, Jersey Mikes, and Subway.  Then the Walmart and a Dicks Sporting Goods could be useful for travelers heading north, to Maine, on I-95.

As noted above, the only downside is that these are 150kW chargers.  I left my house at 30%, so arrived nice and low, 9%, to this station.  It was not busy, so I did not have to split a charge.  I have to say that in this situation, with a thirsty Sparky and no splitting, I was generally impressed with how quickly the car charged.  I was there for about 20-25 minutes, and I got up to 60%.  I realize it would be frustrating to hit a busy 150kW station on a road trip, as if you need to get a good charge, but have to split the charge, it would knock you off whatever schedule you are hoping to make for the day.  However, it is good to know that under the right circumstances, the charging is reasonably fast.

I don’t often find myself in Seabrook, but this is the one and only NH supercharger for people heading in to Maine along the primary route, I-95.  Trivia question:  How many states border the state of Maine?  Only one, NH, but Massachusetts is only about 20 miles away, and I-95 just clips NH for these 20 miles on the way to Vacationland.  There are stations south, in MA, and north, in ME, but only this one for the short stretch in NH.  If uncrowded, it is a pleasant stop.