Tesla Should Truly Open The U.S. Supercharger Network – CleanTechnica

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One of the big EV stories of 2023 and 2024 was the opening of the Tesla Supercharger network in the United States. As of now, most non-Tesla EVs either already have access or will soon get it. So, it’s easy to assume that the problem is solved. Everyone has access to the most reliable network, and there’s a unified charging standard for all that’s in the process of being implemented.

It might surprise you to learn, however, that there are EV owners who have been left out in the cold. Worse, there’s no plan to get them onto the Supercharger network in the future. To really achieve the dream of a unified charging standard, Tesla needs to serve these last drivers by truly opening the network.

Older and Cheaper EVs

The most common people left out of the opening of the Supercharger network are people who own the oldest and cheapest modern EVs. Nobody expects a 1916 Detroit Electric or Francis Ford Coppola’s EV1 to charge at a Supercharger, but you’d think that anything made after 2013 or so would be included in Supercharger deals. Sadly, that’s not true.

The most common vehicle left out is the Nissan LEAF. It’s pretty clear why Tesla refused this, as the LEAF’s charging performance leaves a lot to be desired. In theory, most of them can charge at only 50 kW, just like the Chevy Bolts that got included. But, in practice, LEAFs tend to charge at slower rates, especially on road trips in the summer. The lack of a liquid cooling system might’ve saved Nissan a few bucks, but it lets the batteries overheat and charge as low as 12 kilowatts! But there are a great many LEAF owners who can only charge at CHAdeMO stations, and maybe a CCS station with a very expensive adapter.

Another vehicle that’s left out is the Chevy Spark EV. These vehicles predate the Bolt, but had 50 kW CCS charging just the same. Like an older LEAF, these can be had for dirt cheap, often well under $10,000. While the limited range means few would need to fast charge, the Spark EV would spend very little time there charging its small battery were CCS adapters supported.

Excluding these vehicles and others like them means that high school and college students, the poor, and people looking for a sweet deal on a commuter car are basically second class citizens in the EV charging world.

EV Conversions (Even With Tesla Parts!)

Another set of people left out in the cold are people with EV conversions. Most conversions don’t yet support DC fast charging, making this a moot point, but that’s changing. There are now kits for EV conversions to use CCS charging. Some of these are for expensive new components, but others enable fast charging for people using used Tesla drive units, charging hardware, and battery packs.

Because these vehicles didn’t come from a manufacturer who shelled out the cash to get access to the Supercharger network, people keeping classic cars alive with electric power can’t pull up to a Supercharger and fill up.

This disincentivizes one of the greenest EV options on the road. Unlike building a new car, taking used EV parts (often from a wrecked EV) and putting them in an older vehicle means almost zero manufacturing emissions. 

Refurbished Teslas (Salvage Titles)

Another eco-friendly EV that’s not getting access is rebuilt Teslas. If Tesla becomes aware that a Tesla vehicle has a salvage title, has been in a salvage auction, or somehow else gets on their radar as rebuilt, the company disables charging for that vehicle. Tesla says this is for safety, and it can re-allow a vehicle on the network after an expensive inspection. But, salvage vehicles from other brands that have arranged Supercharger access don’t get blocked from the network because gathering that intelligence would be difficult to impossible.

A truly open network wouldn’t exclude any salvage car, but that doesn’t mean that Tesla can’t have some safety standards. If a vehicle from any brand behaves too unusually at a Supercharger station, it should be possible to send a warning or (assuming it’s a dangerous enough malfunction) exclude the vehicle from the network until it’s repaired and made safe again. 

Other Odd Cases

There are also some people being left out that most of us wouldn’t think of.

One class of vehicles being left out is construction equipment. These aren’t terribly common yet, but I’ve personally seen loaders, backhoes, and excavators from various manufacturers on jobsites with a big battery and a CCS charging port. Because these companies haven’t struck a deal for charging up trailered equipment at Supercharger stations, it’s not possible to stop by for a few and charge them up for work.

Another oddball use case for charging is to simply charge large battery banks that don’t power a vehicle. This might seem pointless, but keep in mind that there are still people who live off-grid. Being able to pull a trailer into town, charge up a battery pack on the trailer, and then take that power to a homestead of some kind can mean a big quality of life improvement. Other users of large battery packs on wheels could include RV owners, motorized trailers, emergency personnel, and more.

Finally, there’s the issue of non-standard imports. There are EVs made outside of the United States that aren’t sold here. Importing them is usually almost impossible, but in a few years, the 25-year rule will allow people to pick up a Chinese or European EV that wasn’t sold in the United States. There are also military personnel and other exceptions that apply today without waiting the 25-year clock out. Because these vehicles aren’t covered by Supercharger agreements, they’re out.

I’m sure there are other odd cases that readers can think of. Be sure to share them in the comments or on social media.

This Wouldn’t Affect Tesla Much

Because just about every manufacturer has paid the toll, there’s really no new money to collect. Keeping all of these old or different vehicles off the Supercharger network doesn’t benefit Tesla in most cases. So, it really makes sense to go ahead and take this next step, if for nothing else than accelerating the transition to clean energy.

Featured image: a Classic Ford Bronco, converted to an EV. Image by Jennifer Sensiba.