Tell us your Tesla Supercharger experience

[LonePalmBJ]

I used a Supercharger for the first time this weekend. I didn't need a charge I just wanted to try everything out. It was pretty uneventful. Other than having to nose in until I was literally touching the charging pedestal in order to get the cord to reach it went smoothly. Started up with the app without issue, took on about 5 kWh in about five minutes at a peak of 106 KW (I was over 80% SOC with a cold battery), and drove off. Managed to do the entire thing without taking up more than one stall/charger.

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[cometguy]

I'm in Massachusetts (USA). After I'd been checking roughly every other day for a couple of weeks at the Porsche USA and the Suncoast websites for availability of the new Porsche NACS DC adapter -- to no avail ("sold out") -- I decided to just call the parts department of my closest Porsche dealership. They had them in stock! So I ran over to buy one immediately ($185 USD + tax). I then drove to the nearest Tesla supercharger station a couple of miles away, to test it out (Burlington mall). The EA DCFC station was full, as usual, but there were several empty spots at the Tesla site. I had 60% SoC so wasn't going to charge much -- just wanted to test out the new adapter. I already have had the Tesla app on my iPhone because I've been occasionally using Magic Docks at select locations; I went to my vehicle page, and saw that there's now an option to click for NACS adapter, and once I clicked that, the app showed the Burlington mall site (which previously was invisible to me on the Tesla app due to its not having Magic Docks cables).

I had to park at an angle as usual (see photo below), taking up two spots, but it wasn't a problem because (a) there were numerous open spots and (b) I wasn't staying long -- because the cable was too short for straight-in parking (as usual at Tesla stations for our Taycans). At the angle that I parked, it was an easy plug-in; I first put the NACS plug into the Porsche adapter after selecting the Burlington-mall Tesla site in the Tesla app, then plugged the adapter into my CCS port, then clicked on "start charging" in the app, and all worked fine. See other photo for what comes in the box with the Porsche adapter. The instructions say to do what I did: NACS plug into adapter first, then adapter into car port, then start charging via app; after stopping, push the button on top of adapter to pull out from car, then push button under adapter to release NACS plug from adapter.

Nice to have this extra option, even though I'll use Tesla superchargers only in emergencies due to the short cables, the pain of using an adapter, and the slower charging speeds (I got 95 kW max at 60% SoC, which isn't bad with cold battery and battery-health feature turned on). I am guessing that dealerships have NACS adapters on hand because they are given out free with their new cars; I thought this news might be useful to some on this forum who might not have thought to contact their local Porsche dealership parts department.

 

[catpupu]

I have two EVs. I've successfully charged my Ioniq6 using A2Z adapter at our local Tesla superchargers several times.

However, no such luck with the Taycan. Someone suggested removing the Hyundai info. from the Tesla app. Good idea but it didn't help.

Yesterday I went to the only Tesla SC4 in the area and still no dice. Attached are photos of the Tesla app's screen after declining to charge the Taycan. Also a screenshot of the SC4's nice little monitor which reads "Unauthorized vehicle"

My guess is that Porsche support has not been turned on my local set of SuperChargers. I'm going to contact Tesla and Porsche just in case that is the case.

last night I went to two sc locations in Irvine, CA. Both are V3 with other non-Tesla vehicles charging. Tried 3 stalls in total and none of them worked for me. The Tesla app kept showing the unknown error. I start to think it’s my car.

I am going out of state for two weeks I’ll bring the car to Porsche once I’m back.

 

[slothinker]

last night I went to two sc locations in Irvine, CA. Both are V3 with other non-Tesla vehicles charging. Tried 3 stalls in total and none of them worked for me. The Tesla app kept showing the unknown error. I start to think it’s my car.

I am going out of state for two weeks I’ll bring the car to Porsche once I’m back.

last night I went to two sc locations in Irvine, CA. Both are V3 with other non-Tesla vehicles charging. Tried 3 stalls in total and none of them worked for me. The Tesla app kept showing the unknown error. I start to think it’s my car.

I am going out of state for two weeks I’ll bring the car to Porsche once I’m back.

I've sent a note to Tesla tech support suggesting that they double-check that Porsche EVs are authorized on all their California SuperCharger stations. Perhaps if others report this issue which has been reported by at least 3 folks on this topic it will be addressed.

 

[cometguy]

I've been exploring Tesla supercharging sites in New England via Plugshare and via the Tesla phone app. I have found that many Tesla supercharging locations in northern New England are not open to non-Teslas, even with adapters and supposed-open access to Tesla superchargers. On Plugshare, these stations actually say "TESLA ONLY" (often with comments by non-Tesla drivers who say that they can't charge there despite their cars, like Hyundai and GM and Ford and Volvo, being open to Tesla superchargers generally), and such stations don't appear at all for me on my Tesla app, which I've now upgraded for my Taycan with adapter. So beware when you plan road trips, especially to DCFC deserts where you might be thinking you can count on Tesla!

 

[slothinker]

I've been exploring Tesla supercharging sites in New England via Plugshare and via the Tesla phone app. I have found that many Tesla supercharging locations in northern New England are not open to non-Teslas, even with adapters and supposed-open access to Tesla superchargers. On Plugshare, these stations actually say "TESLA ONLY" (often with comments by non-Tesla drivers who say that they can't charge there despite their cars, like Hyundai and GM and Ford and Volvo, being open to Tesla superchargers generally), and such stations don't appear at all for me on my Tesla app, which I've now upgraded for my Taycan with adapter. So beware when you plan road trips, especially to DCFC deserts where you might be thinking you can count on Tesla!

Interesting. The Tesla map should indicate this. In my case, the stations are definitely open to non-Teslas but so far not to my Porsche. This is from Tesla's charger station U.S. map. The symbol by "Madonna Rd."

apparently indicates Tesla only whereas the other two symbols near Froom Ranch Rd. and Tank Farm Rd.

are marked for both Tesla's and approved makes with appropriate adapters.

 

[slothinker]

Interesting. The Tesla map should indicate this. In my case, the stations are definitely open to non-Teslas but so far not to my Porsche. This is from Tesla's charger station U.S. map. The symbol by "Madonna Rd."

apparently indicates Tesla only whereas the other two symbols near Froom Ranch Rd. and Tank Farm Rd.

are marked for both Tesla's and approved makes with appropriate adapters.

Here's a link to their map:

https://www.tesla.com/NACS

 

[Schroederhc]

I've been exploring Tesla supercharging sites in New England via Plugshare and via the Tesla phone app. I have found that many Tesla supercharging locations in northern New England are not open to non-Teslas, even with adapters and supposed-open access to Tesla superchargers. On Plugshare, these stations actually say "TESLA ONLY" (often with comments by non-Tesla drivers who say that they can't charge there despite their cars, like Hyundai and GM and Ford and Volvo, being open to Tesla superchargers generally), and such stations don't appear at all for me on my Tesla app, which I've now upgraded for my Taycan with adapter. So beware when you plan road trips, especially to DCFC deserts where you might be thinking you can count on Tesla!

V2 Superchargers only work with Tesla. 3, 3.5, and 4s work with adapters. If you tell the app what car you are driving and you have an adapter, it will identify compatible Superchargers only. Has nothing to do with counting on Tesla has everything to do with understanding your own EV

 

[Jonathan S.]

3, 3.5, and 4s work with adapters.

Not necessarily. Some V3 stations have remained exclusive to Tesla.

 

[Schroederhc]

I haven't had a problem using the Tesla phone app.

 

[John in LA]

last night I went to two sc locations in Irvine, CA. Both are V3 with other non-Tesla vehicles charging. Tried 3 stalls in total and none of them worked for me. The Tesla app kept showing the unknown error. I start to think it’s my car.

I am going out of state for two weeks I’ll bring the car to Porsche once I’m back.

That’s the same error message I received before understanding you have to use the Tesla app (other posters have said PlugShare app as well) to determine if non-Teslas (or maybe Porsches specifically) are supported at that particular Supercharger.
That experience is what prompted me to create my post on the first page of this thread.

 

[Zcd1]

Using anything other than the Tesla app to try to determine which Superchargers are open to your non-Tesla EV is a recipe for disappointment.

 

[Jonathan S.]

3, 3.5, and 4s work with adapters.

Although 3.5 and 4 work with adapters, they already have their own integrated Magic Dock adapters.

 

[slothinker]

That’s the same error message I received before understanding you have to use the Tesla app (other posters have said PlugShare app as well) to determine if non-Teslas (or maybe Porsches specifically) are supported at that particular Supercharger.
That experience is what prompted me to create my post on the first page of this thread.

In the case of the three stations I reported on, the Tesla app indicated compatibility for my non-Tesla vehicles.

 

[John in LA]

In the case of the three stations I reported on, the Tesla app indicated compatibility for my non-Tesla vehicles.

Sorry to hear of these glitches

In the case of the three stations I reported on, the Tesla app indicated compatibility for my non-Tesla vehicles.

Sorry to hear of the glitches. With the Tesla app, if the location isnt compatible it just doesnt appear on the map. So for SLO, only the 2 locations appear. However that doesn't seem to explain the issue at the Cabazon location, which does appear to be the 1 that is compatible..

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