18000 DCFC fast chargers in N America unlocked!

[woodgeek]

It finally happened! The Tesla Supercharger network got opened to all GM EVs last Wednesday. I ordered an adapter (A2Z Typhoon Pro, $167 w/discount code) and got it Thursday. This Saturday I tried it out at the local IKEA and grabbed a (vegan) meatball lunch, w/lingonberries.




The whole process was completely uneventful with my '22 Bolt EV 2LT. Charging was started using the free Tesla app (which was very seamless) and bought 16 kWh for about $7, or 43 cents/kWh. The cord is a bit short, so I had to park funny with the driver side wheel pointed at the charger.

The backstory is more interesting. Tesla announced that it would open to other makes early in the year. Ford and Rivian quickly announced they would send their owners a free adapter, and did so in a month or two. GM made a similar announcement, being cagey about the price of the adapter. A listing for a GM adapter went live back in the spring, with a $30 price tag and a bunch of folks placed orders. GM then said that the link was a mistake, and no adapters were available, and the price was not correct. After a big stink, GM promised to honor the $30 price, but only for folks that ordered it in the spring 'by mistake'.

And we all waited. And waited. Until this week.

GM is selling an OEM adapter for $225. You can only order it within the myChevy (or myGMC) app. It turns out that if you don't pay $40/mo for OnStar, then the purchase link does not show up! So this is another way for them to squeeze money out of you (through OnStar).

Turns out that the OEM adapter they sell is backordered indefinitely. And is clearly identical to a 3rd party adapter (Lectron) with the GM logo slapped on it (made in China). You can buy a third party adapter for <$200, including one that is identical to the GM one, but GM really doesn't want you to. They imply that using a 3rd party adapter will void you vehicle and battery warranty.

Bwahahahaha!

I am convinced that the ENTIRE 6 mos delay getting GM unlocked was GM trying to figure out how to monetize us for using Tesla DCFCs. So forcing us to use OEM chargers, and thus OnStar, is the best they could come up with. With an obv illegal threat to void all vehicle warranties.

Here is a map of GM open locations.

The other thing I find interesting is that only US makers have been unlocked so far... Ford, Rivian, GM.

I think this is a 'conspiracy' between Tesla (Elon) and the Feds (Joe). Elon is happy to take Fed money to unlock superchargers, but reserves the right to leave some stations locked. These turn out to be in high Tesla traffic areas... so Tesla is taking care of their customers. They also don't want to open to everyone, but ofc the Feds (Biden admin) isn't going to fight to get Volkswagons and Kias onto the Tesla network (they DO want to give the US legacy makers a boost).

I won't hold my breath waiting for non-US makers to show up on the Tesla network.

But for me, driving a non-Tesla EV for more than 10 years now, it is a new day. I can now drive away from the I-95 corridor if I want, and don't have to worry (much) about lines at DCFC during my holiday trips. And if Elon and Joe have a deal to keep ID4s and EV5s from choking up my Tesla spots (like they do my EA spots) then right on!

 

[begreen]

The network is now also open to new Hyundais and soon will include Kias. New Ioniq5s and next quarter, new EV6s & EV9s will have the NACS port. The short charger cord is an issue for many vehicles causing some drivers to have to straddle 2 spaces in order to charge. I see a market in NACS extension cords happening as a result.

For cars with an 800v battery system, it's a slower charge compared to a 350kW fast DC charger, but the large number of charging stations in the Tesla network greatly expands options along a route. If this takes a bit of pressure off of the EA and EVGo chargers and frees up spots at them, all the better.

 

[woodgeek]

After I parked and got out of my Bolt, and before I could even plug in, a helpful Tesla driver sitting two spots over rolled down her window to tell me that I was at the wrong charger, and needed to go to an EA or EVGO station. I thanked her for the information, but showed her my new adapter.

 

[begreen]

That scenario is likely to repeat a lot now.

 

[begreen]

Looks like KIA will be sending us an NACS adapter soon. Their EVs will be eligible for charging on the Tesla network by Jan 15h, 2025.

 

[woodgeek]

Lot's of recent reports of GM playing shenanigans. When people use the myChevy app to start charging at a Tesla station, their CC number gets shared with OnStar and they get autoenrolled in OnStar!

Given the effort GM made to build customers for EVs, they seem eager to throw it all away. $40/mo for a buggy app (and routing software) that doesn't work reliably, reporting drivers data to insurance companies without permission (for moeny), forcing (or trying to force) OnStar to use NACS adapters. Bleh.

 

[begreen]

Hmm, I can see the concern. I would only use the Tesla app for charging. Likewise, for Electrify America I would only use their app, not the Kia Connect app which is a subscription service too.

 

[EbS-P]

Welcome to 2014 Tesla owners experience kidding aside it’s a really big deal.

I read it’s only available on V3 Tesla chargers. It really going to hurt Tesla sales. My V1 150kw station won’t get any more crowded.

That and Elon I’m predicting a huge over supply of new Teslas in the next 12 months.

 

[woodgeek]

Welcome to 2014 Tesla owners experience kidding aside it’s a really big deal.

I read it’s only available on V3 Tesla chargers. It really going to hurt Tesla sales. My V1 150kw station won’t get any more crowded.

That and Elon I’m predicting a huge over supply of new Teslas in the next 12 months.

I can use V3 or V4 stations, I believe. I am happy with the fraction that are open.... its >3X the number of EA stalls in my area. Several times I have been waiting in line at an EA station, with many open Tesla SCs within view.

I'd bet that Tesla is keeping out CCS vehicles from stations with lots of congestion. Why not?