Conflict at the Supercharger

[zymolysis]

Instead, Rivian tried to be cute and put their charge port in the worst possible location, making them incompatible not only with Super Chargers and existing Tesla home chargers, but also street side charging.

Rivian wasn't trying to "be cute." There was no reason to try to make Rivians compatible with Tesla Super Chargers, when they were designed.

Sponsored

 

[VSG]

remember, we're the guest here

Absolutely not. That's the whole problem with this situation - Tesla owners feel that the superchargers belong to them, and some Rivian owners feel they need to kowtow to those "owners".

Tesla superchargers are commercial establishments. They're not private clubs open to only the "right sort" of people. ALL CUSTOMERS ARE EQUAL. I am not someone's "guest" - in fact since I am being charged MORE then I feel that *I* should be the one who gets special treatment. Rivian owners are more like "first class" customers.

Regardless, just like we've always done at CCS chargers, we should all try to shuffle around to make best use of the space and to be fair to anyone waiting by communicating about who is next in line. As a Rivian owner, I am entitled to my turn, and I will take my turn.

 

[zymolysis]

I am on a long road trip from PHX to Blaine WA. Great RAN charging for much of the way. Kingman Az, Barstow CA, Buttonwillow CA, Santa Nella CA.
I stopped in Davis CA to visit family. Surprisingly, although Davis is a very envoronmentally conscious city, it is a void for EV charging. Lots of level 2 destination chargers, a Tesla supercharger that is not open to Rivian, 4 EA's of which only 3 work, 2 EvGo's one functional. So needing something a bit faster than what my hotel trickle charger could give me, I ventured 9 miles to Woodland to a Tesla Supercharger that was open to Rivians. It is an 8 station location across the street from a Costco. I went on a Saturday. When I got there there were 3 stations open. The layout required that I block 2 to use one. This is going to cause a lot of problems as the adapters reach the market. BTW, I bought an A2Z just for this trip and it has functioned flawlessly the 3 times I used.

Back to the Supercharger. After I plugged in there was only one station left. A Tesla pulled up next to me and I apologized and explained that the layout required me to use the cable from his charger. He said no problem and moved to the vacant station. Next guy pulls in a few minutes later. I apologize, tell him I will only be 10-15 more minutes and he says no problem and pulls out to wait for the next station. Right away a Model S with lots of flashy trim add ons pulls in. I apologize and explain the situation to the young man in the muscle shirt with his girl friend beside him. He immediately goes into a testosterone fueled rant about me having no right to be there, it's for Teslas, it's worng for me to take two chargers. I say I am sorry, can't be helped and I will be done in 10 minutes. He tells me it can be helped by getting my non Tesla POS out of there. He continues to rant at me and my non Tesla and that I have no right to do this. I politely explain that I do have a right. That Elon sold the right for me to be here charging knowing that it would take 2 stations. I say you need to complain to Elon because he's the one who sold out your exclusive use. He continues on then moves his car in a sulk. A few minutes later my 10 minutes is done and I unhook and leave, although by this time I was considering passive aggressively continue to charge way past 70%! Anyway as I pull away He continues to yell while impressing his GF.

I can certainly see how if these stations are not retrofitted with longer cables or dual side access a situation like this could escalate. A little more testosterone in the Model S and a lot more in the Rivian (I am 77) and it could well have gotten out of hand.

Might want to memorize (or print out) this statement from Tesla:
"Most Supercharger cables at NACS Supercharger sites should be able to reach your EV charge port, however, in some cases you might have to park over the line in order to charge comfortably. Avoid parking diagonally to reach the cable and try to obstruct as few charge posts as possible."
https://www.tesla.com/support/supercharging-other-evs#cable

 

[SwampNut]

I enjoy trolling idiots and see it as a fun diversion. I plan to try this.

This is the new cyber truck and I’m elons personal driver. I could just have your car disabled.

 

[zymolysis]

Does anyone know if a notice went out to Telsa Owners from Tesla, maybe through their app to their owners, to expect to start seeing Fords and Rivians at authorized stations. ”They are now allowed”.

This seems like very poor communication from Tesla to their Owners. They could easily inform Owners through an email, etc.

No, but this is on the Tesla website:
"Does the Supercharger cable reach all EVs:
Most Supercharger cables at NACS Supercharger sites should be able to reach your EV charge port, however, in some cases you might have to park over the line in order to charge comfortably. Avoid parking diagonally to reach the cable and try to obstruct as few charge posts as possible."
Maybe we need to print this out to show uninformed Tesla owners that Rivians are using Superchargers as intended by Tesla.

 

[jayazusa]

Something like this!

 

[Plazman]

I take your point, but "guest" or not, it's never okay to take up two charging spots when people are waiting. Even for us "first class" Rivian owners. IMO.

 

[emoore]

I take your point, but "guest" or not, it's never okay to take up two charging spots when people are waiting. Even for us "first class" Rivian owners. IMO.

Don't agree. It is ok, Tesla even states so.

 

[Cycliste]

Something like this!

I want a magnetic sticker that I can put on the Tesla Supercharger, and then remove after charging. "Oh, this is a special charger Rivians and Fords can use.” Maybe with a graphic showing a vehicle taking up two spots. Is the bottom area on Superchargers plastic?

 

[Dark-Fx]

Rivian wasn't trying to "be cute." There was no reason to try to make them compatible with Tesla Super Chargers, when they were designed.

Feeling cute, might change port location later. -Rivian

 

[COdogman]

I take your point, but "guest" or not, it's never okay to take up two charging spots when people are waiting. Even for us "first class" Rivian owners. IMO.

I would try to park on the far right spot or even on the backside of the charger if it were possible to not block additional spots, and I would certainly not sit there and charge to 100% if others were waiting, but IMO those Tesla owners who are upset could also go to one of the many stations that are still Tesla only if they don't like the current situation. We actually only have access to like 15,000 out of 50,000 chargers.

This came directly from Tesla after the network was opened to Ford/ Rivian.

 

[sub]

I take your point, but "guest" or not, it's never okay to take up two charging spots when people are waiting. Even for us "first class" Rivian owners. IMO.

I agree, you shouldn't take up 2 spots. But just because a Tesla can't use the spot next to you does not mean you are taking up 2 spots. The spot next to you is available for any Ford/Rivian to use.

Every Tesla that plugs in is taking up 2 stalls from a Rivian/Ford driver's perspective. Every Rivian/Ford that plugs in is taking up 2 stalls from the Tesla driver's perspective.

Who is correct? Neither.

The company that owns the chargers sets the rules for how they are used. And they now say that you should/can use the charger on either side of your stall. According to Tesla, you are only taking up 2 stalls if you park diagonally across 2 stalls. And Tesla owns the chargers so they get to make the rules.

However by this same logic, anyone using a 3rd party adapter is not following Tesla's rules and does not have much ground to stand on when claiming that they have equal right to use the stall.

 

[Trandall]

I've driven a Tesla for the last 11 years (and continue to do so), while also adding a Rivian R1S to the mix recently. So I see both sides of this situation. I personally, would NEVER take up two spots at a Supercharger that doesn't have any available spots left. That's me, and I'm not saying you shouldn't have, but remember, we're the guest here. Taking up two charging spots is not okay when there are people waiting. IMO.

Disagree. Tesla chose to open the SC network to some other manufactures. I'm not privy to the terms that were agreed to and it doesn't matter. It is open to Ford and Rivian to the same degree it is open to Tesla. We are all equal customers at this point Tesla ended their charge network exclusivity any thinking to the contrary old thinking at this point.

 

[BrianR1S]

I’ve had a Tesla since 2015 and friction at super chargers is nothing new. Hopefully this simmers down or gets resolved like previous flair up points.
1. People parking next to you(when other stalls are open) and reducing your charge rate when they plug in V1 superchargers. The chargers then shared the load.
2. People plugging in and then going in to the gym, restaurant, theater (this led to idle fees)
3. Douche bags blocking chargers (see photo from Oxnard where the guy got towed). His wife was standing there flipping the bird and cussing at all of us while we watched And laughed.

This is fantastic!!

 

[misterturbo]

Absolutely not. That's the whole problem with this situation - Tesla owners feel that the superchargers belong to them, and some Rivian owners feel they need to kowtow to those "owners".

Tesla superchargers are commercial establishments. They're not private clubs open to only the "right sort" of people. ALL CUSTOMERS ARE EQUAL. I am not someone's "guest" - in fact since I am being charged MORE then I feel that *I* should be the one who gets special treatment. Rivian owners are more like "first class" customers.

Regardless, just like we've always done at CCS chargers, we should all try to shuffle around to make best use of the space and to be fair to anyone waiting by communicating about who is next in line. As a Rivian owner, I am entitled to my turn, and I will take my turn.

Amen brother.

Sponsored