Idle fee hate

[mkhuffman]

Dollars to donuts a good majority of "those are the rules, deal with its" don't readily admit to speeding if pulled over. "Yes, officer, I was speeding and well aware that a fine is applicable so go ahead and write my ticket". Or, perhaps those folks never do speed?

That is exactly what I do when I get pulled over. I think it is disrespectful to the officer to lie, and besides, taking responsibility for my actions sometimes results in a warning and no ticket. Liars rarely get warnings.

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[Seano]

That is exactly what I do when I get pulled over. I think it is disrespectful to the officer to lie, and besides, taking responsibility for my actions sometimes results in a warning and no ticket. Liars rarely get warnings.

Exactly my point.

Your not getting a ticket is a bit like OP not getting idle fees (subjective interpretation of the rules based on set of reasonable circumstances)

If you take responsibility for your actions, you'd pay the fine, because you were speeding and you knew the rules, not because someone did/did not ticket you.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Exactly my point.

Your not getting a ticket is a bit like OP not getting idle fees (subjective interpretation of the rules based on set of reasonable circumstances)

If you take responsibility for your actions, you'd pay the fine, because you were speeding and you knew the rules, not because someone did/did not ticket you.

Hello, this is me.

So why can't the OP take responsibility for his actions?

 

[Seano]

Hello, this is me.

So why can't the OP take responsibility for his actions?

Actually not - you mentioned "That is exactly what I do when I get pulled over." - which means you speed (break the rules)

and you also said "sometimes results in a warning and no ticket." - you are saying you actually do pay the fines anyway, despite given warnings? I guess its possible, but I find that a bit hard to believe.

According to most of this thread, you break the rules, you pay the fine. No exceptions.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Actually not - you mentioned "That is exactly what I do when I get pulled over." - which means you speed (break the rules)

and you also said "sometimes results in a warning and no ticket." - you are saying you actually do pay the fines anyway, despite given warnings? I guess its possible, but I find that a bit hard to believe.

According to most of this thread, you break the rules, you pay the fine. No exceptions.

What a weird strawman argument.

 

[Seano]

Specific situation (OP) vs your stated situation - I didn't exaggerate anything. I didn't compare your situation to OP - you did - I just pointed out you seemingly accept concessions or non-enforcement of the rules/laws you break. This entire thread is piling on a guy who lamented NOT having concession or subjective interpretation of the rule he broke.

 

[docwhiz]

If I'm on a charger with idle fees, I set charging limit to 100%

I used to do this on Tesla Chargers as a way to delay the end of charging.
However, just yesterday I was charging at a Tesla station and discovered that they have changed their "idle fee" policy to start idle fees as soon as you are charging over 80%!
So, this trick will no longer work.

 

[zymolysis]

I got hit by a $30.50 idle fee in Hays Kansas at a RAN Charger when I was the only user at a 6 charger site. I even went out in the middle of the night to avoid it. I was expecting the idle fee to be $0.50 per minute starting at an hour but it charged retroactively the whole hour.
....

As others have already explained, you have misunderstood how the idle fees work. You can email to customer service, and plead your case - they might give you a pass, this one time.
However, you can view it a learning experience for you - classes can be expensive. As others have also said, set your limit to 100% when there are idle fees, to give you time to disconnect, before idle fees start. Better to be paying high rates for more energy than you need, than paying high rates for sitting idle.
For reference, I got hit with idle fees while plugged in at a RAN after midnight. I was the only car there, and I fell asleep while waiting for it to charge. That's when I realized that I should have set it to 100% limit, and maybe set a timer, as well. I understand your frustration at getting charged idle fees when there was no other car there. But now you know how to avoid it in the future.

 

[docwhiz]

There is an easy fix.. just set your charge limit higher, into the 'slow' range.. then you have ample time to get to the vehicle. If I'm going to be leaving my vehicle to eat.. or some quick shopping, I set the charger limit to 85% or higher. Then if I am late getting back, when it hits 80%, it slows down and I don't have to rush to get back. I never have idle time charges. *but* you should always be monitoring your vehicle via the app to know the current charge status.

Tesla chargers now start charging "idle fees" when charging above 80%

 

[SwampNut]

Rivian's policy is dumb and abusive, adding more reasons to only charge at Tesla.

Tesla’s idle fee starts after a 5‑minute grace period once charging completes and only applies when the site is at least 50% occupied, doubling at 100% occupancy; Rivian’s idle fee starts after a 10‑minute grace period once charging completes and applies regardless of site occupancy, with no doubling mechanism disclosed.

Core differences

• Grace period: Tesla allows 5 minutes; Rivian allows 10 minutes before fees begin after a session ends.
• Occupancy trigger: Tesla charges only if the site is ≥50% occupied, with fees doubling at 100%; Rivian applies idle fees even when stalls are empty and does not vary fees with occupancy.
• Typical fee level: Tesla lists $0.50/minute, doubling to $1.00/minute at 100% occupancy; Rivian reports $0.50/minute after the grace period, with no doubling tier noted.
• Special case: Tesla may use a congestion fee in place of idle fees at busy sites, with the same 5‑minute grace period and a typical per‑minute rate shown per country; Rivian has not published a comparable congestion‑mode policy.

Tesla policy details

• Idle fees begin after 5 minutes if the vehicle remains connected post‑charge and the site is ≥50% occupied; fees double at 100% occupancy.
• Tesla shows a published per‑minute schedule by country and can replace idle fees with a congestion fee at certain busy sites, also with a 5‑minute grace period.
• Notifications are sent via the vehicle and app near completion and at end of charge to prompt timely unplugging.

Rivian policy details

• Idle fee commonly reported as $0.50/minute after a 10‑minute grace period once the charging session finishes on the Rivian Adventure Network.
• Community reports indicate idle fees apply regardless of how many stalls are open, including overnight scenarios at otherwise empty sites.
• Rivian’s charging terms and support pages provide overall charging guidance, but published, centralized idle‑fee rate tables are less visible than Tesla’s; rates may surface on-charger or via session summaries.

 

[docwhiz]

Rivian's policy is dumb and abusive, adding more reasons to only charge at Tesla.

Tesla’s idle fee starts after a 5‑minute grace period once charging completes and only applies when the site is at least 50% occupied, doubling at 100% occupancy; Rivian’s idle fee starts after a 10‑minute grace period once charging completes and applies regardless of site occupancy, with no doubling mechanism disclosed.

Core differences

• Grace period: Tesla allows 5 minutes; Rivian allows 10 minutes before fees begin after a session ends.
• Occupancy trigger: Tesla charges only if the site is ≥50% occupied, with fees doubling at 100%; Rivian applies idle fees even when stalls are empty and does not vary fees with occupancy.
• Typical fee level: Tesla lists $0.50/minute, doubling to $1.00/minute at 100% occupancy; Rivian reports $0.50/minute after the grace period, with no doubling tier noted.
• Special case: Tesla may use a congestion fee in place of idle fees at busy sites, with the same 5‑minute grace period and a typical per‑minute rate shown per country; Rivian has not published a comparable congestion‑mode policy.

Tesla policy details

• Idle fees begin after 5 minutes if the vehicle remains connected post‑charge and the site is ≥50% occupied; fees double at 100% occupancy.
• Tesla shows a published per‑minute schedule by country and can replace idle fees with a congestion fee at certain busy sites, also with a 5‑minute grace period.
• Notifications are sent via the vehicle and app near completion and at end of charge to prompt timely unplugging.

Rivian policy details

• Idle fee commonly reported as $0.50/minute after a 10‑minute grace period once the charging session finishes on the Rivian Adventure Network.
• Community reports indicate idle fees apply regardless of how many stalls are open, including overnight scenarios at otherwise empty sites.
• Rivian’s charging terms and support pages provide overall charging guidance, but published, centralized idle‑fee rate tables are less visible than Tesla’s; rates may surface on-charger or via session summaries.

Not quite right.
Tesla seems to charge idle fees at all stations regardless of how many stations are occupied.
(Just yesterday I visited several stations with low occupancy and idle fees were in effect.)
Tesla charges idle fees as soon as you try to charge above 80%.

 

[SwampNut]

Not quite right.
Tesla seems to charge idle fees at all stations regardless of how many stations are occupied.
(Just yesterday I visited several stations with low occupancy and idle fees were in effect.)
Tesla charges idle fees as soon as you try to charge above 80%.

You should go read the policy yourself instead of spreading misinformation.


Supercharger Congestion Fee
At certain Supercharging locations, congestion fees will replace idle fees. Congestion fee is a fee you pay only when a Supercharger site is busy and one of the following applies:

• Your vehicle’s battery is already at or above the congestion fee level of 80% battery charge; or
• Your charging session has ended

The congestion fee encourages drivers to charge only as much as is needed for their trip, rather than all the way to 100%. This increases the availability of Superchargers so that everyone has access when they need it.
If you meet the criteria for a congestion fee during your Supercharging session, you will be notified on the vehicle touchscreen and from the Tesla app that congestion fees apply. You can see the battery charge level where congestion fees apply on the vehicle touchscreen and the Tesla app. You will have a five-minute grace period to disconnect your vehicle and leave before congestion fees apply. After the grace period, you will be charged a fee for each minute you remain connected to the Supercharger.

 

[COdogman]

Rivian's policy is dumb and abusive, adding more reasons to only charge at Tesla.

Tesla’s idle fee starts after a 5‑minute grace period once charging completes and only applies when the site is at least 50% occupied, doubling at 100% occupancy; Rivian’s idle fee starts after a 10‑minute grace period once charging completes and applies regardless of site occupancy, with no doubling mechanism disclosed.

Core differences

• Grace period: Tesla allows 5 minutes; Rivian allows 10 minutes before fees begin after a session ends.
• Occupancy trigger: Tesla charges only if the site is ≥50% occupied, with fees doubling at 100%; Rivian applies idle fees even when stalls are empty and does not vary fees with occupancy.
• Typical fee level: Tesla lists $0.50/minute, doubling to $1.00/minute at 100% occupancy; Rivian reports $0.50/minute after the grace period, with no doubling tier noted.
• Special case: Tesla may use a congestion fee in place of idle fees at busy sites, with the same 5‑minute grace period and a typical per‑minute rate shown per country; Rivian has not published a comparable congestion‑mode policy.

Tesla policy details

• Idle fees begin after 5 minutes if the vehicle remains connected post‑charge and the site is ≥50% occupied; fees double at 100% occupancy.
• Tesla shows a published per‑minute schedule by country and can replace idle fees with a congestion fee at certain busy sites, also with a 5‑minute grace period.
• Notifications are sent via the vehicle and app near completion and at end of charge to prompt timely unplugging.

Rivian policy details

• Idle fee commonly reported as $0.50/minute after a 10‑minute grace period once the charging session finishes on the Rivian Adventure Network.
• Community reports indicate idle fees apply regardless of how many stalls are open, including overnight scenarios at otherwise empty sites.
• Rivian’s charging terms and support pages provide overall charging guidance, but published, centralized idle‑fee rate tables are less visible than Tesla’s; rates may surface on-charger or via session summaries.

"abusive"?

 

[SwampNut]

Yes.

 

[Dark-Fx]

You should go read the policy yourself instead of spreading misinformation.


Supercharger Congestion Fee
At certain Supercharging locations, congestion fees will replace idle fees. Congestion fee is a fee you pay only when a Supercharger site is busy and one of the following applies:

• Your vehicle’s battery is already at or above the congestion fee level of 80% battery charge; or
• Your charging session has ended

The congestion fee encourages drivers to charge only as much as is needed for their trip, rather than all the way to 100%. This increases the availability of Superchargers so that everyone has access when they need it.
If you meet the criteria for a congestion fee during your Supercharging session, you will be notified on the vehicle touchscreen and from the Tesla app that congestion fees apply. You can see the battery charge level where congestion fees apply on the vehicle touchscreen and the Tesla app. You will have a five-minute grace period to disconnect your vehicle and leave before congestion fees apply. After the grace period, you will be charged a fee for each minute you remain connected to the Supercharger.

Does the congestion fee kick on 5 minutes after you've hit 80%? what if the supercharger station is mostly empty when you get there, you leave, but it fills up past 50%, does it then kick the station into congestion mode?

Personally I think a station that changes behavior after you plug in is the stupid policy. You're welcome to try to argue otherwise, but you won't convince me. Earlier in the year when we were traveling with the camper, we charged to 100% at a RAN station and arrived at the next DC charger with 4% left, in our Sierra EV. We were the only car there when I arrived. When I stopped back in at ~90%, the station was half full, who knows for how long, since the other drivers weren't present. It was down to us and one other person by the time I left. Would the congestion fee drop off if it's suddenly under 50% utilized?

There's no great options on the route between the two places, and we camped overnight, hoping to recover enough to make the next stop a non-issue. Power went out for several hours at the campground in the middle of the night due to storms, and a road under construction that hadn't been when I originally planned the trip. Almost didn't make it.

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