GreenLawn wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 5:54 pm
I'm not interested in buying a Tesla and I've heard that non-Tesla charging stations can be unreliable or unavailable when needed, specifically driving across country on vacation.
I've read several articles by journalists reporting their frustration at not being able to access reliable and plentiful non-Tesla charging stations.
Can anyone share their experience driving around the country in a non-Tesla EV and what they've encountered when needing a charge?
Also, is Tesla planning on opening up their charging network to non-Tesla owners, and if so, any idea what impact that will have on wait times for charging if many non-Tesla EVs converge on those charging stations?
I have no doubt EV will be the way to go in 10 years. I'm fine with EV vehicle technology, it's the current state of the charging network I question. Is it go Tesla or go home?
I’ve driven fairly extensively around Colorado, OR, WA, California, New England, and mid-Atlantic states. Some of those were with a Tesla, others with a polestar, ID.4, or Leaf. While the Tesla network is more extensive and easier to use because it’s integrated into the car, I find the non-Tesla charging to be just fine. The Electrify America network is pretty good. Sometimes 1 or 2 of the 4 chargers are out of order. But I haven’t ever had to wait to charge. That depends a bit on timing.
When I’m traveling in an unfamiliar area I usually have a plan b and plan c in case my plan a charger is down. I haven’t ever had trouble finding a charging location to serve as a plan c. (ETA: but to be clear, my plan a has always worked).
There are ample fast chargers in most of the populated states and it’s very easy to find lodging with level 2 chargers, or near one. Most of the hotels I’ve used in cities, charging is part of the valet parking service or there are chargers in the lot.
There are places like WV that don’t have great charging networks but I don’t drive in most of those places.
There’s definitely room for improvement, and there will be more and more chargers as infrastructure funds are spent on this (I think starting this winter). But I think most highly traveled corridors are pretty decent right now. Tesla is likely opening their network this winter as well and that’ll add options. Right now I’m seeing a lot of Teslas at EA stations, likely doing some sort of price arbitrage.
Unless I was on the road all the time I wouldn’t avoid a non-Tesla EV just because of the charging networks.