EV charging at Tesla-session taken over by Rivian

[nellbarr]

Based on this it sounds like the session is not initiating with the Tesla app before plugging in the truck. The truck cannot initiate a session with a Tesla (via Rivian) charger if you have already initiated it successfully in the Tesla app.

you will know when it’s been successfully initiated by the Tesla app because the Tesla app will tell you to then plug it in.

here is a video of how to initiate the session on a Tesla charger.

Tesla SuperCharger Membership - How To Get Lower Rates For Other EVs

It was initiated by Tesla. I did plug in and start the charge with the Tesla app. The last time it happened-TESLA app quit working when I was at around 65% point. I then noticed it was still showing actively charging. I called Tesla while it was happening and the Tesla app showed the post I was at was available. They advised I call Rivian. I did not want to stop it on Rivian so it would not be billed by Rivian but evidently it is what you need to do to and then restart the Tesla app and session.

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[Electrified Outdoors]

It was initiated by Tesla. I did plug in and start the charge with the Tesla app. The last time it happened-TESLA app quit working when I was at around 65% point. I then noticed it was still showing actively charging. I called Tesla while it was happening and the Tesla app showed the post I was at was available. They advised I call Rivian. I did not want to stop it on Rivian so it would not be billed by Rivian but evidently it is what you need to do to and then restart the Tesla app and session.

OK, what it sounds like is happening is your charging session is stopping and then its being initiated again automatically with plug and charge. I have had this happen to me once. If you touch the release on the plug and then don't unplug from the vehicle it will initiate another session via plug and charge through Rivian. If your not doing that then it sounds like there is an issue with either the charger, adapter, or the charge port.

Its possible there might be an issue with your NACS adapter. Are you using the Rivian provided NACS or one of the 3rd party units?

If you remove your CC info from the Rivian app, that will help in troubleshooting when the charging stops. Is this happening at multiple Tesla chargers? Have to troubleshoot and try to narrow down where the issue is unfortunately...I know its frustrating.

 

[hammick]

Any chance you are exceeding the membership limits? It only allows 5 charges a day at membership pricing.

Are you sure that is correct? On 1-2-25 we charged at six different SCs. I just checked my history/invoices and all appear to be at membership pricing. This was in our '22 Lightning.

EDIT: Just read the fine print. It's 5 per day at the same SC. Keeps the Uber and Lyft drivers from hogging the chargers.

 

[SANZC02]

Are you sure that is correct? On 1-2-25 we charged at six different SCs. I just checked my history/invoices and all appear to be at membership pricing. This was in our '22 Lightning.

EDIT: Just read the fine print. It's 5 per day at the same SC. Keeps the Uber and Lyft drivers from hogging the chargers.

Thanks, I did not read that as at a single SC site, good to know it is as when I travel I definitely charge more than 5 times in a 24 hour period.

Edit;

I just read the terms on the Tesla Site, it is different than what the App says and seems to be how I originally read it.

What it does not say is what a day is. Not sure if it is midnight to midnight or a 24 hour period from the initial charge that day.

Here is the text from the terms on the Supercharger site;

”Tesla offers an optional Supercharger membership that allows non-Tesla vehicles to charge at lower pay per use billing rates than would otherwise apply. A separate membership is needed for each Tesla Account, and each membership is limited to a maximum of five Supercharger charge sessions per day. Membership renews automatically on a monthly basis for a fee charged at the start of each month. Membership pricing and signup details are available in the Tesla app.”

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

If it were the membership limit wouldn’t Tesla just bill the charge session at the normal retail rate vs terminating the session?

if it’s being initiated through the app and the charging session starts successfully, and if the OP can see the billing in the Tesla app, then the only explanation would be the session is terminating and then being billed through plug-in charge.

The OP might want to also verify their billing information in the Tesla app to make sure there’s not a billing issue. Check with your credit card company and see if Tesla is successfully authorizing their credit card. I believe Tesla does a pre-authorization for either $20 or $25 When you attempt to initiate the session.

 

[lawyerneering]

This happened to me yesterday for the first time. Initiated thru Tesla app. Never opened Rivian app. Only charge session of the day. And get this - Tesla session never stopped. Ended up being charged $0.47 by Rivian instead of $0.33. If Rivian is going to swoop in and intercept a transaction it should at least match the price we have contracted for with Tesla. This is BS.

 

[mritt]

I tried again at the same supercharger yesterday. I made sure to not even open the Rivian app. Everything went through Tesla this time and I was charged the correct rate.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

This happened to me yesterday for the first time. Initiated thru Tesla app. Never opened Rivian app. Only charge session of the day. And get this - Tesla session never stopped. Ended up being charged $0.47 by Rivian instead of $0.33. If Rivian is going to swoop in and intercept a transaction it should at least match the price we have contracted for with Tesla. This is BS.

Willing to bet it's another instance of user error. Why?

The only time this happened to me—and I also, on the spot, incorrectly assumed Rivian's plug-and-charge intercepted and took over—was when:

1. I inserted the adapter + plug into the charge port as soon as the Tesla app told me so
2. But immediately after insertion, thinking I didn't feel or hear the latch click, I second guessed myself and wiggled the plug and/or adapter. And that was just enough to break connection or interrupt handshaking.
3. Subsequently, the Supercharger and/or vehicle registered the second successful connection as brand new session... not initiated through the Tesla app. Hence, Rivian plug-and-charge.—and billed accordingly. I didn't realize what had happened until I received an email receipt from Rivian at the end of that session. It's only when I recounted what I did, as I drove away, I realized it was my second guessing that lead to the session being plug-and-charge.

So the takeaway is:

1. If initiating session through Tesla app, ALWAYS wait for the app to instruct you to plug in. And ALWAYS wait a few seconds after you first see that prompt before plugging in.
2. On plugging in, ALWAYS do it like you mean it with one swift, very intentional, motion. Not with brute force. Not gingerly either. Push through slightly after everything stops moving to ensure plug and adapter are fully seated and latched. Then let go and leave it be. You will hear a high pitched whirling sound and in seconds the port will turn green from white.
3. Don't assume it's Rivian's fault. Sometimes it's your fault because you are human and humans make mistakes (from which to learn from and avoid repeating).

 

[suprteck]

Hasn’t happen to me. But the way I can verify I’m being charged the membership rate is if I see a dollar amount on my front dash it is the Rivian rate.

 

[nellbarr]

Willing to bet it's another instance of user error. Why?

The only time this happened to me—and I also, on the spot, incorrectly assumed Rivian's plug-and-charge intercepted and took over—was when:

1. I inserted the adapter + plug into the charge port as soon as the Tesla app told me so
2. But immediately after insertion, thinking I didn't feel or hear the latch click, I second guessed myself and wiggled the plug and/or adapter. And that was just enough to break connection or interrupt handshaking.
3. Subsequently, the Supercharger and/or vehicle registered the second successful connection as brand new session... not initiated through the Tesla app. Hence, Rivian plug-and-charge.—and billed accordingly. I didn't realize what had happened until I received an email receipt from Rivian at the end of that session. It's only when I recounted what I did, as I drove away, I realized it was my second guessing that lead to the session being plug-and-charge.

So the takeaway is:

1. If initiating session through Tesla app, ALWAYS wait for the app to instruct you to plug in. And ALWAYS wait a few seconds after you first see that prompt before plugging in.
2. On plugging in, ALWAYS do it like you mean it with one swift, very intentional, motion. Not with brute force. Not gingerly either. Push through slightly after everything stops moving to ensure plug and adapter are fully seated and latched. Then let go and leave it be. You will hear a high pitched whirling sound and in seconds the port will turn green from white.
3. Don't assume it's Rivian's fault. Sometimes it's your fault because you are human and humans make mistakes (from which to learn from and avoid repeating).

I don’t believe it’s a user error. It seems to have happened to me at the Falls station and is most likely a brief interruption of the internet signal. The tesla app closes and the Rivian continues the charge under their rate.

 

[SANZC02]

I don’t believe it’s a user error. It seems to have happened to me at the Falls station and is most likely a brief interruption of the internet signal. The tesla app closes and the Rivian continues the charge under their rate.

I’m not sure it is a network issue, I think a station issue. On my current trip I used SC several times. They all worked fine except the one in Ozona, TX. I noticed the price on my dash, canceled the session. Unplugged and started over, both session the Tesla app said no vehicle attached but Rivian charged both times. I just let the second one go through Rivian. Not sure why this particular unit was not communicating with the vehicle. In retrospect I should have tried a different bank of chargers to see if it was a charger or location issue.

The price differences are crazy, with the membership I’ve been paying 1/2 or less of the other networks. For instance Destin FL with membership right now is .25 per kWh. All of the membership charges this trip have been pretty cheap, Tucson was .42, Quartzite was.38, everything else was .31 or less. Even Ozona without the membership price kicking in was only .42.

Two Rivian sessions were .50 and .61
Two EA sessions were .48 and .42 with membership pricing.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

@nellbarr you need to follow troubleshooting steps to narrow down the issue.

1) First thing is to remove the credit card from your Rivian account so that a plug and charge session can't be initiated automatically.

2) Is your card being charged by Tesla when you initiate the charge session through the Tesla app? They should pre-authorize $25 on your credit card when the session starts (check with your card issuer to verify this is going through). If your not seeing a pre-auth from Tesla it could be a problem with your billing info in the Tesla app. If that is the case, then it will charge through Rivian account because Tesla can't bill your card. Verify your credit card and billing info is correct in the Tesla app.

Others have given you good advice.

3) Try a different station (to rule out a problem with the station)

4) try swapping the adapter if that's possible (to rule out a problem with the NACS adapter). Someone in your area might be willing to help you.

Unfortunately, Its going to be hard to figure out where the problem lies if we can't narrow down the possible causes of the issue. We do this by a process of elimination. Once the cause is determined we can help you move on to the resolution and get you charging properly.

If all above causes are ruled out, then it could be a problem with the vehicle in which case you will be able to submit a service request to Rivian and will have already ruled out external causes.

 

[nellbarr]

@nellbarr you need to follow troubleshooting steps to narrow down the issue.

1) First thing is to remove the credit card from your Rivian account so that a plug and charge session can't be initiated automatically.

2) Is your card being charged by Tesla when you initiate the charge session through the Tesla app? They should pre-authorize $25 on your credit card when the session starts (check with your card issuer to verify this is going through). If your not seeing a pre-auth from Tesla it could be a problem with your billing info in the Tesla app. If that is the case, then it will charge through Rivian account because Tesla can't bill your card. Verify your credit card and billing info is correct in the Tesla app.

Others have given you good advice.

3) Try a different station (to rule out a problem with the station)

4) try swapping the adapter if that's possible (to rule out a problem with the NACS adapter). Someone in your area might be willing to help you.

Unfortunately, Its going to be hard to figure out where the problem lies if we can't narrow down the possible causes of the issue. We do this by a process of elimination. Once the cause is determined we can help you move on to the resolution and get you charging properly.

If all above causes are ruled out, then it could be a problem with the vehicle in which case you will be able to submit a service request to Rivian and will have already ruled out external causes.

I also think it is a particular station that has this issue and that is where it has happened. Also, I did remove the card from Rivian-future result was despite having a card on file with Tesla, I found not charge with the Tesla app. I had to add a card back on to Rivian.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

I also think it is a particular station that has this issue and that is where it has happened. Also, I did remove the card from Rivian-future result was despite having a card on file with Tesla, I found not charge with the Tesla app. I had to add a card back on to Rivian.

Ok so it sounds like there is a billing issue in the Tesla app.

try a different card with Tesla app, double check your billing address in Tesla app as well and make sure it matches the billing address on file with your CC issuer.

Eventually I think Rivian & Tesla will integrate the membership pricing with plug and charge but we aren’t there yet unfortunately ?

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