My rating of this charging station should in no way reflect how I feel about Teslas, and Tesla charging stations overall...for both I would give 100 stars! I love Telsas, as well as the free Tesla charging stations that you get access to as a Tesla owner (I can't wait until I own one myself...until then I will continue to drive my sister's every time she is in town).
...but...
I HATE the location of this particular charging station. I can think of five other places along I-75 I would have rather seen this placed, than in Brandon near the worst mall traffic I have ever experienced! It is miserable and unrelenting, and it brings out the absolute WORST in the people who frequent this area. It takes 20 minutes to get in and out of this nightmare lot *on a good day, and the red camera light at the intersection of the entrance only adds to the unpleasant experience. The green and yellow light intervals are so short when entering and exiting this place, you could easily (and we often do) sit through three light rotations before actually getting past them.
Surprisingly, anyone driving a Tesla doesn't seem to be as phased, as they are here for the long haul. And this location does provide for a plethora of shopping and dining options while you wait for your vehicle to charge. There are eight stations, and I've never seen more than four vehicles parked/charging at one time, so plenty of "Tesla Only" parking.
And no, this place does not accept credit cards..it's FREE (with your paid vehicle)! Very few things in life are free anymore... read more