See How Non-Tesla EVs Block Tesla Superchargers Now

Only some non-Tesla EVs are compatible due to the specific layout and short cables.

Non-Tesla Supercharging - layout issues

Mark Kane

By: Mark Kane

Nov 4, 2021 at 11:25am ET

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The fact that the opening of the Tesla Supercharging stations to other EVs will cause issues related to the station layout and short cables (designed for a specific location of charging port on Tesla cars - in the left rear corner) was known for a long time.

Since Tesla opened 10 stations in the Netherlands under the Non-Tesla Supercharger Pilot, we saw multiple examples of what might go wrong.

Despite the company saying that its ambition is to offer fast-charging to all EVs, the "geometry" problem actually will significantly limit the access only to some models. At least until Tesla switches to a drive-thru layout or provides longer charging cables (like most other fast chargers do).

Tesla Model Y charging at a Supercharging station

The Tesla Superchargers fit Tesla cars with the charging inlet on the driver-side rear corner, but because the cable is very short, it requires parking in reverse.

It means that only cars with the same charging port location (and cars with the charging port on the passenger-side front when parking forwards), will get access to the Supercharger designated for a particular parking spot.

Other EVs, which happens to be in the majority, will have to either cross the lines of a single parking spot (in various ways) or take a charger from another spot (blocking two chargers as a result).

According to the images, shared by Michael Hsu, only a few brands produce EVs with the charging port location the same as Tesla:

FCA's (currently Stellantis): Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, DS
Polestar
Volvo
outgoing Hyundai IONIQ Electric

When parking forwards, other compatible cars could include:

Porsche Taycan/Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo
Audi e-tron GT
potentially upcoming Renault Megane,
a few smaller EVs: Renault ZOE, Dacia Spring, Honda e, MG ZS (if the cable will reach it)
Nissan LEAF has a CHAdeMO inlet so it's not compatible anyway

The issue is illustrated by Fabian Laasch:

Only some Superchargers are installed in a way to be able to handle other types of EVs.

Blocking of a stall is a serious issue not only for users, but also for the company. Tesla's CEO Elon Musk pointed out once that the increase of charging power translates into faster charging and a lower number of new chargers that have to be installed (lower overall costs). If a stall is blocked (or charges at low power), then the profitability would be affected.

In other words, the company will see minor gains in revenues, but will potentially upset many of its customers. Serious investments and a new Supercharging layout appear to be the only cure if the network were to be open for all.

Let's take a look at the examples:

Audi e-tron - perpendicular parking and Tesla user asks to remove the access for Audi drivers:

Audi e-tron can't charge any other way than by taking a Supercharger from the next spot:

Ford Mustang Mach-E sticks out:

Volkswagen ID.3 takes a Supercharger from the next spot:

Central-front charging port position appears to be reachable:

The Polestar 2 can charge just like Tesla Model 3 (the same charging port location):

Hyundai IONIQ Electric has no problem, while the Porsche Taycan barely fits in the charging spot:

Here is an example with various EV models:

The Peugeot e-208 in theory should be fine (charging inlet location), but one of the users reports that charging does not start (and it's a problem also in the Kia Niro EV):

What do you think?

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Comments

We guess that there might be some compatibility problems with some EVs, despite the use of the CCS Combo 2 connectors without any adapters.

In North America, on top of all of the above, we would have to add one more dimension of complexity - a necessity to use a CCS Combo 1 adapter.