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The floodgates have opened! And it's about damned time.
(apologies for the paywall link)
![Font Material property Parallel Number Screenshot]()
(apologies for the paywall link)
The Tesla Supercharger Network has been Breached! (for the better)
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Right. And as Ariya enthusiasts, we are battle-hardened for patience!
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🤣 Well, there is that!
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Not sure why this is a big deal for non-Tesla owners? Are there areas in the US that are currently underserved by the existing EvGo, Electrify America, Chargepoint, etc for DC fastcharge and L2 charge options? Is it just the fact that this will add more charge options in more geographic locations?
I hope people don't expect that this is going to improve the overall charging experience for non-Tesla EV's. The reason the Tesla Supercharger network is heralded, is because it's completely integrated into the onboard route-planning and battery conditioning algorithms of each Tesla, payment/authentication is automatic, and most importantly every Tesla is capable of taking advantage of the 250kw/hr charge network.
We've already heard complaints here from new Ariya owners about problems getting DC fastcharge to run even close to the 130kw/hr max charge rate designed into the Ariya. Keep in mind that I'm not singling out the Ariya here; most non-Tesla EV's have this problem - and again it's because there's no optimizations in these third party charge networks (which is what all Tesla owners just take for granted). There's a new article here discussing this:
I don't think most new EV owners understand that fundamental things like battery conditioning in cold climate charging scenarios is all automatic on Teslas because they control the car, the battery, the charge network, and the route planning all as one seamlessly integrated package. This is what makes the Tesla charging experience superior, it's not simply the charger itself. It's disappointing to see that the Ariya battery conditioning is not only a completely manual process, the control is apparently hidden in a submenu.
I am still waiting for my Platinum+, but I'm fully aware of these issues because I'm a self-described EV enthusiast. Unfortunately I think alot of EV buyers don't really 'get' this very important consideration...
...but even so, I'm consciously choosing to not buy a Tesla, even though I know it's probably about 5 years ahead of the rest of the EV world; which is a very bitter pill to swallow as a Leaf early-adopter, knowing that Nissan once was 5 years ahead of Telsa.
I hope people don't expect that this is going to improve the overall charging experience for non-Tesla EV's. The reason the Tesla Supercharger network is heralded, is because it's completely integrated into the onboard route-planning and battery conditioning algorithms of each Tesla, payment/authentication is automatic, and most importantly every Tesla is capable of taking advantage of the 250kw/hr charge network.
We've already heard complaints here from new Ariya owners about problems getting DC fastcharge to run even close to the 130kw/hr max charge rate designed into the Ariya. Keep in mind that I'm not singling out the Ariya here; most non-Tesla EV's have this problem - and again it's because there's no optimizations in these third party charge networks (which is what all Tesla owners just take for granted). There's a new article here discussing this:
I don't think most new EV owners understand that fundamental things like battery conditioning in cold climate charging scenarios is all automatic on Teslas because they control the car, the battery, the charge network, and the route planning all as one seamlessly integrated package. This is what makes the Tesla charging experience superior, it's not simply the charger itself. It's disappointing to see that the Ariya battery conditioning is not only a completely manual process, the control is apparently hidden in a submenu.
I am still waiting for my Platinum+, but I'm fully aware of these issues because I'm a self-described EV enthusiast. Unfortunately I think alot of EV buyers don't really 'get' this very important consideration...
...but even so, I'm consciously choosing to not buy a Tesla, even though I know it's probably about 5 years ahead of the rest of the EV world; which is a very bitter pill to swallow as a Leaf early-adopter, knowing that Nissan once was 5 years ahead of Telsa.
My one year free unlimited charging with EVGO ends on Jan 31, 2024. Plus, we have $500 charging credit.
So if we need to wait till the end of 2024 for Tesla SC network, I'm all for it!
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True. Completely forgot about that. I can wait 😊
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Yes, in parts of the country Tesla's network is FAR better. It's not just the route planning. To see this, limit to CCS sites with more than one charger, greater than 50kW. Plan a route from Detroit to Richmond, VA. The natural route is through WV, which is pretty much a charging wasteland right now. But even skipping WV's weirdness, just look at any of the North-South routes in Ohio. I-75, I-77, and I-71. Between Toledo and Cincinnati there's only one CCS station with greater than 50kW (an EA station along I-70 at Huber Heights). It's similar between Cleveland and Marietta, with just a single EA station along I-70 at Cambridge. The East-West routes are decent (I-70 and I-80/90) but the North-South routes are very poor. Tesla has those routes filled in nicely, by the way.
It's not just Ohio and WV. Indiana's North-South routes are the same way. Another example: Plan a route from Minneapolis to Seattle, using only CCS. EA is working on filling this one in, but just six months ago (and this may still be true, since I don't know if EA has finished construction yet) this trip had to be done by going either way south or through Canada. Tesla has these holes filled (including WV).
The city I live closest to, Dayton, OH, has a single > 50kW CCS station. It's the aforementioned EA station in Huber Heights along I-70. EA just announced a second one along 675, but that won't come until later in the year. There are two supercharger stations, so opening those up will more than triple availability here.
Yes, opening up Tesla chargers really is a big deal in some parts of the country.
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Absolutely this. Another example: here in Texas there are loooong stretches of distance where the only option is Tesla Superchargers or broken/unreliable EA/EVgo, etc. Hell, Lubbock, TX has no EA or EVgo stations, and only a single 24kW Chargepoint port. But it has a Tesla Supercharger station with four 250kW ports.
This is huge for the non-Tesla owners.
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Another random anecdotal example: in my hometown, where I regularly go to visit my parents, there is exactly one non-Tesla DC Fast charger, which is frequently in use and caps out at 50kw. On the other hand, at one of our local grocery stores, there is a Tesla supercharger with I think about 16 chargers, which I have only occasionally seen full or close to it on busier holiday weekends. So if that's one they added CCS connectivity to, it would be a hugely convenient option for non-Tesla owners.
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Ah cool then that is good news. Maybe I haven't noticed since I can only use ChADemo if I need to fast charge my Leaf and that's usually at EvGo. I'm sure once I have the Ariya I'll appreciate more CSS options even out here on the West coast where it's pretty well filled in.
I thought the $500 charging credit is history for reservationists and is no longer possible with the new program.
I thought I heard differently? If so, oh well. Home charging it is!
Yeah unless there is a way already shown how to get the credit. it has been replaced with one year of EVGO free charging.
2010 Nissan GT-R, 1999 GT-R Spec V, 1990 GT-R Nismo, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2017 Armada
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Just chiming in with another example of why the Supercharger network opening up would be a big deal. Where I live in Yuma, Arizona it's a 200 mile drive to Phoenix eastward and the same to San Diego westward. We have both Superchargers and Electrify America here in the city but past city limits it's a desert - literally and in terms of EV charging.
About halfway between here and Phoenix is the town of Gila Bend - it's the natural stopping place because there's little in between and it's at roughly the midpoint of that route. Gila Bend has Superchargers but no other fast chargers. There's an Electrify America station at around the 70 mile mark in Dateland but that's it until the vicinity of Phoenix already so basically for over a hundred miles of highway there's no other fast charging option besides Tesla. Just opening up that one Supercharger station for non-Tesla EV's in Gila Bend would add immensely more flexibility on that 200 mile route.
Maybe in highly urbanized areas on the coasts there's so many chargers from EA, EVGo, Chargepoint, Volta, etc that adding the Superchargers would make only a slight difference but out here in wide-open Southwest we need all the chargers we can get.
About halfway between here and Phoenix is the town of Gila Bend - it's the natural stopping place because there's little in between and it's at roughly the midpoint of that route. Gila Bend has Superchargers but no other fast chargers. There's an Electrify America station at around the 70 mile mark in Dateland but that's it until the vicinity of Phoenix already so basically for over a hundred miles of highway there's no other fast charging option besides Tesla. Just opening up that one Supercharger station for non-Tesla EV's in Gila Bend would add immensely more flexibility on that 200 mile route.
Maybe in highly urbanized areas on the coasts there's so many chargers from EA, EVGo, Chargepoint, Volta, etc that adding the Superchargers would make only a slight difference but out here in wide-open Southwest we need all the chargers we can get.
Tesla is doing this mainly for PR reason and to get the Fed $s. By end of 2024 with the billions allocated there will be a tremendous surge of fast chargers from EA, EVGO, Chargepoint and others. In MA for example already there have been numerous chargers that have come online in highway rest areas. If Tesla/Musk had any inclination of retaining competitive advantage they would have done so. They don't and hence this non concession concession to gain PR and keep getting the fed $s.
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