Charging at Tesla

[Lee Chiacos]

What has been your experience charging at Tesla chargers?

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[herlom940]

I recently did a roadtrip in my Gen1 R1S. (Around 1,200 total miles over 6 days).

I signed up for the Tesla Charging Membership ($12.99 per month; signed up using the Tesla app) just before the trip and cancelled it again after the trip, since I knew I'd need to use the Superchargers just for this trip.

The Tesla membership discounts the cost per kWh when using the Tesla Supercharger as a non-Tesla vehicle.
For example, in CA, the non-membership price is $0.60/kWh, while with membership is $0.47/kWh depending on the location.

To make the membership cost worth it, I needed to charge for more than 100 kWh at the Tesla Superchargers. And I easily exceed that on this trip, even though I used the RAN chargers when available.

If you want to use your membership pricing, you MUST start your charging session via the Tesla app BEFORE you plug in. If you don't, you get charged the non-membership price.

Not all Telsa Superchargers are compatible with non-Tesla vehicles. So use the in-vehicle navigation to find a compatible Tesla Superchargers.

If you follow the above, and have an approved NACS DC adapter, it all works perfectly.

 

[daveo4EV]

What has been your experience charging at Tesla chargers?

In North America…

TEsla supercharger are not yet generally "open" to vW/Audi/Porsche vehicle's - you can only use:

• TEsla Destination Chargers (4 kw - 11 kW) - hotels, businesses, malls, golf courses, wineries etc…
  • you may require a TeslaTap or similar to use a Tesla Destination charger. (some Tesla destination chargers are Universal charges and have their own J-1772 adapter)
• MagicDock Tesla Supercharger site (v3 and v4 sites can host CCS1 vehicles if they are authorized/approved vendor) - a minority of the Tesla sites "open" to non-Tesla's
  • you will 100% require a NACS/CCS1 adapter to use the Supercharger network
  • Porsche has the owners manual for this item available in the myPorsche app - but it is not yet for sale…
    • it is very very likely to simply be a Porsche branded version of this existing NACS/CCS1 adapter from Lectron ($194.99)

https://ev-lectron.com/products/lec...0a-1-000v-compatible-with-tesla-superchargers

the "general" Tesla Supercharger network is not available to VW/Audi/Porsche vehicle's unless I missed a press release.

one site near me is a Magicdock site in Scotts Valley, CA - I have charged both my 2020 Taycan there and my 2024 Macan EV - both vehicle's achieves a 130-140 kW charge rate and it worked well and easily.

I also recently charged my Macan EV at another MagicDock site in Forks, WA - and again I got a 130-140 kW charge rate and it worked well and easily.

this thread is pretty up to date on the progress of the Tesla network coming to VW/Audi/Porsche vehicles in North America

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...percharger-access-sometime-this-decade.23349/

there is no announced date for when VW/Audi/Porsche vehicle's will have general access to the North American supercharger network - stay tuned - but that day is not today.

the list of current "approve/authorized" vehicles is here - note VW/Audi/Porsche are in the coming "soon" section and last on the list…

https://www.tesla.com/NACS

YMMV

 

[anonymouse]

This may not apply in the US, but in Europe a J1 Taycan needs to have been specified with the 150kW/400V option, otherwise it will only charge on a Tesla supercharger at 50kW which is (a) tedious; and (b) likely to annoy other users.

Many of the J1 Taycans in Europewere sold without this option because the dealer didn't understand it.

Same will happen at any 400V charger, but good luck working out which ones are 400V vs 800V as it's not shown on most maps.

It's gone from the option list of the J1.2. A post on this forum suggested this is because the new battery architecture splits the battery into two 400V subcomponents therefore the upconverter is no longer needed.

 

[ovonrein]

Is there a way to tell whether the car has the 150kW/400V option? In the UK, I understood the Tesla network to be covered under the Porsche Charging Service, so no Tesla membership required? But I need to bring along some adaptor? Thanks. (I have not been brave enough to try a Tesla charger.)

 

[daveo4EV]

Is there a way to tell whether the car has the 150kW/400V option? In the UK, I understood the Tesla network to be covered under the Porsche Charging Service, so no Tesla membership required? But I need to bring along some adaptor? Thanks. (I have not been brave enough to try a Tesla charger.)

europe required no adapter - if you do not have the 400v/150 kw option you will be limited to 50 kw max charging g speed at Tesla’s 400v superchargers

so it will function but charging speed is limited to 50 kw

 

[daveo4EV]

It's gone from the option list of the J1.2. A post on this forum suggested this is because the new battery architecture splits the battery into two 400V subcomponents therefore the upconverter is no longer needed.

the new Taycan and Macan no longer require the 400v/150kw option - 400v charging at 150 kw is natively supported by the battery architecture in both of these vehicle models

 

[anonymouse]

Is there a way to tell whether the car has the 150kW/400V option?

Not as far as I know (other than trying it). Call your OPC and they can almost certainly see by looking up the car.

 

[daveo4EV]

Not as far as I know (other than trying it). Call your OPC and they can almost certainly see by looking up the car.

download the window sticker via the myPorsche app - and there might be a vin lookup on the porsche website - dealer service can certainly call up the factory options list for your vehicle.

 

[tophamn]

Is there a way to tell whether the car has the 150kW/400V option? In the UK, I understood the Tesla network to be covered under the Porsche Charging Service, so no Tesla membership required? But I need to bring along some adaptor? Thanks. (I have not been brave enough to try a Tesla charger.)

Look at your car spec in the My Porsche app: click the 'car-in-garage' icon link in the top/right then "more details" under your car, "technical details" , then "included options". I see it listed as "150kW on-board DC-DC converter" under E-Mobility part-way down the page.

 

[ovonrein]

You the man! Awesome. Turns out I have rear axle steering. Can't say I noticed. (And I have the 150kW option.)

 

[Flying ace]

We should all relax, it'll be this decade when Porsche gains access. Given HPC rollouts with other CPOs, you're more likely to find faster charging at the new Ionna and Pilot Flying J locations (+ Mercedes and Walmart locations if you're in the south).

OP last time I checked, California Tesla SC locations currently open to all cars (not in the list), is sparse and located in areas where is ample HPCs.

If road tripping in rural (Eastern/Coastal) California where HPCs options are rare, I would actually check Rivian which just opened up 10 sites along 395 and 101. (I-5 and 99 halls good coverage)

https://www.taycanforum.com/forum/t...rivian-ccs-enabled-vehicles.22938/post-434260

 

[tophamn]

Turns out I have rear axle steering. Can't say I noticed.

This made me smile - I'm always amazed at how many people on the forum say rear axle steering is essential, and how much easier the car is to manoeuvre with it when Porsche's own figures show there's actually little difference in turning circle.

[ The chassis: Committed to driving dynamics - Porsche Newsroom : The steering angle depends on the driving speed and is a maximum of 2.8 degrees. This virtual shortening of the wheelbase results in a more dynamic steering response when cornering. At the same time, manoeuvring is easier as the turning circle has been reduced by around 60 centimetres to 11.2 metres.]

 

[ovonrein]

Gee, thanks. You are making me feel better. I was about to visit the optician because I cannot say that I have ever noticed the rear wheels stepping out. And my wife performs some amazing pirouettes with the car. But I shall look extra hard next time.

 

[Flying ace]

Gee, thanks. You are making me feel better. I was about to visit the optician because I cannot say that I have ever noticed the rear wheels stepping out. And my wife performs some amazing pirouettes with the car. But I shall look extra hard next time.

When viewing from the outside, you can barely tell, unless staring at the wheel as it's turning at full lock.

One cool way to see rear axle steering is when car is stationary, turn your wheels full lock left and right, look in the rear view mirror and you'll see the rear end rotate.

In doing so, I learned the Taycan's angle on RAS seems lesser than the GT3 (short wheelbase on the 911 may be the reason why it's more pronounced.)

But anyways, yeah this decade is when we can get the luxury to eat overpriced diner food and get a whooping 130 kw charging while double parked next to a Cyber truck hoping he doesn't drive over the Taycan monster truck style. Can't wait.

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