Plug and Charge issues at Tesla chargers

[wolfethomas]

If you're planning a trip where you'll need to charge at a Tesla charger more than once you really should have a Tesla membership. It's $12.99/month and you can cancel at any time. It will save you between $0.10 and $0.15 per KWH and will pay for itself as soon as you buy 80-100KWH.

Or you can just download the app. It gives you access to many Tesla chargers and no membership fee. I've made several trips with my R1T and never had to use a Tesla charger due to the numerous other options, so why pay for a membership when they are making money when you charge. I don't like being taken advantage of.

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[slillie]

Or you can just download the app. It gives you access to many Tesla chargers and no membership fee. I've made several trips with my R1T and never had to use a Tesla charger due to the numerous other options, so why pay for a membership when they are making money when you charge. I don't like being taken advantage of.

You pay the membership to save 25%. It pays for itself with a single charge.

 

[KBabione]

Or you can just download the app. It gives you access to many Tesla chargers and no membership fee. I've made several trips with my R1T and never had to use a Tesla charger due to the numerous other options, so why pay for a membership when they are making money when you charge. I don't like being taken advantage of.

I guess it depends on your focus - You can use the app without paying for a monthly membership, but the price per KW/H will be higher (but still usually lower than the other CCS1 chargers you'll find like EA) than the price with a membership. One charge per month at a Tesla SC usually covers my membership fee - and I typically charge 4-6 times per month so I come out way ahead, probably $40-$50 each month if not more.

Have you looked at the price per KW/H you're paying when you use a L3 charger while traveling? The next time you're charging and you see that you're paying $0.58/KWH, pull up the Tesla app and see what they're charging nearby AND THEN subtract $0.10-$0.15 from that to get to the membership rate and compare it to what you're paying. I think you'll find, as I did, that you're being taken advantage of by NOT using the Tesla membership.

 

[badger4149]

I use Tesla chargers exclusively when on the road and have never had any problems.

Do you initiate through the Rivian app, or Tesla? I do the same on the road, but charge through Tesla because I buy a monthly membership when doing a road trip.

 

[Aubie559]

Do you initiate through the Rivian app, or Tesla? I do the same on the road, but charge through Tesla because I buy a monthly membership when doing a road trip.

I have a Tesla and a Rivian, but when I charge the Rivian, I initiate through the Rivian app.

 

[slillie]

Do you initiate through the Rivian app, or Tesla? I do the same on the road, but charge through Tesla because I buy a monthly membership when doing a road trip.

Always initiate through the Tesla app if you are a member and want the discount.

 

[Ed Hartouni]

The "plug-and-charge" protocols that Rivian has implemented need to be revised. There is a "race" condition while trying to charge using another charging account (so Tesla, Electrify America, EVGo, etc) and initiating with the Rivian account. If the Rivian wins you are paying full price through your Rivian account.

The "work around" generally, as stated up thread (and suggested by any other provider's support line), is to initiate charging with your phone app from the charging provider including "start charging" BEFORE plugging the Rivian in. This is supposed to give the advantage to the charging provider's app. It almost works, the problem is in areas of poor cell coverage, the communication between your phone app and the charger often lags long enough that the Rivian account wins the race.

Usually you become aware of this only by paying attention to the price per kWh you are paying.

It's really hit and miss if the work around succeeds.

In my opinion, this could be fixed if Rivian ASKED YOU at a charging session if you want to use your Rivian account BEFORE it initiated the connection. Presumably it could be setup up as an option "Do you want Rivian to ask you before initiating a charging session?"

By being able to control what app is initiating the charge for your car I suspect all the "plug-and-charge" problems would be alleviated with no cooperation required between Rivian and "third party" charging providers.

I recently cancelled my EA Plus+ account because I could not get the "work around" to work at a remote-ish station I often use on my way into Yosemite National Park from the Bay Area. Sitting on the phone with the EA representative takes time, starting and stopping the session multiple times to see if EA could "win the race." It would be trivial if my Rivian just asked me what I wanted to do.

 

[BTOR]

I'll second this - but know with a membership you have to initiate the charge in the app (pick the charger) BEFORE you plug in. If you don't, you'll be billed by Rivian at a higher rate than you get with the membership.

Yes, it’s a bit tricky. I have had a few charge sessions that did this (none recent however). It was still P&C but it went on my Rivian account. Once you get the sequence dialed in, it seems to work just fine.

 

[KBabione]

Yes, it’s a bit tricky. I have had a few charge sessions that did this (none recent however). It was still P&C but it went on my Rivian account. Once you get the sequence dialed in, it seems to work just fine.

We've not had any issues at all...Here's our process:

• Pull in front of the Tesla charger (hopefully the right-most one so we're not blocking two), noting the charger number
• Open the app, click "Find a charger" and select the charger number we're going to use
• Grab my adapter, get out of the Rivian, and plug in - the Tesla app is telling me to plug in at this point

It's always worked and we've only once been billed by Rivian because I plugged in before my wife initiated the charge in the Tesla app. The Tesla app will also tell you immediately. Instead of tracking your charge, it will tell you that the charger is unavailable - in that case you're being billed by Rivian. That's when I knew to stop the session, unplug, and do it in the correct order.

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