Tesla is a giant in the clean energy sector. Their innovative technology has made them one of the most popular EV providers in the world, and their growing network of charging points makes them an even more convenient option for drivers.
With a network of over 30,000 Tesla Superchargers, you may be wondering if you can charge your non-tesla EV with a Tesla brand public charger. Read on to find out what’s possible.
What Are Tesla Charging Points?
Tesla has a large network of chargers and superchargers for their cars. They pride themselves on making driving and powering their EVs convenient and simple by having superchargers on all major routes and ‘destination chargers’ at locations such as hotels and restaurants.
Tesla Superchargers can charge a Tesla car up to 200 miles in only 15 minutes. They range in power from 150 kWh to 250 kWh, making them high-powered rapid chargers. They’re designed to get Tesla drivers back on the road in the shortest time possible, but what about other EVs?
Can I Charge My EV With A Tesla Charger?
Recently, Tesla has rolled out a pilot plan to make their superchargers accessible to non-tesla EVs. It is called the ‘Non-Tesla Supercharger Pilot’ and is currently available in multiple countries, including the UK.
Tesla superchargers have cables built-in, so you can’t use your own as you would with other chargers. Your car, therefore, must be CCS adaptable and able to reach the assigned Tesla cable.
Drivers on non-Tesla’s will need to download the Tesla smartphone app to make payments and use the Tesla superchargers. Once on the app, you select the ‘Charge Your Non-Tesla’ option and can go ahead and use the supercharger.
Tesla has noted that due to this being a pilot project, non-Tesla drivers will incur excess fees when charging their EVs to support the costs of modifying the structure of their charging ports to accommodate non-tesla EVs. ‘Idle Fees’ will also be applicable to non-Tesla drivers using Superchargers.
Issues With Charging A Non-Tesla With A Tesla Charger
One of the main issues drivers may run into when trying to charge their non-Tesla at a Tesla charging port is that most superchargers are still made specifically to accommodate the Tesla brand vehicles.
Other EVs have their charge port placed in a completely different location to the Tesla, making it more awkward to get the built-in cable in. This could result in having to park in a road-blocking position in order to get charged.
Tesla has cited this as an issue with the pilot programme, as if ports are blocked, it may upset their existing Tesla customer base and affect profitability.
What Are The Benefits Of Using A Tesla Supercharger With A Non-Tesla EV?
The main benefit to using a Tesla Supercharger is its power. Superchargers can charge your EV in a matter of minutes, making it really easy to get back on the road as soon as possible.
Their massive network of Superchargers also makes it convenient to find a charge wherever you are. Once the full network is opened to non-Tesla drivers, there will be over 35,000 accessible charging stations worldwide.
Should I Only Use Tesla Superchargers For My EV?
If you don’t have a Tesla, relying solely on Tesla superchargers is probably not the best idea.
Though they offer a quick-fix for energy, they still aren’t accommodating to all EVs due to their small cable, and their inflated price for non-Tesla drivers could make them an unsustainable option for regular charging.
Though you may want to try the Tesla Supercharger now and again. Until the pilot programme rolls out into a full scheme, you’ll want to keep your charging options open.
Here at Smartly, we sell a range of high-quality cables to make the vast majority of public chargers accessible for your electric vehicle. Our premium-grade cables are made to last and give your car the best charging experience possible.
We also have a fantastic range of charging points, so you can save even more time and money by charging your EV at home!