Tesla’s new charging queue!?

[ATXABE]

Will we be allowed to use the queue? I’m only in week 4 of ownership and only used a SC a couple of times but wondering how this will affect non Tesla owners…?

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[Mellowyellow]

The Tesla queue may only apply to stations that are Tesla only. The stations open to all car manufacturers don't have any way to sign up for a queue. At least that is what I'm thinking...

 

[GRC]

I hope they consider non teslas as well as they build out this new feature

 

[Tim-in-CA]

The Tesla queue may only apply to stations that are Tesla only. The stations open to all car manufacturers don't have any way to sign up for a queue. At least that is what I'm thinking...

I'd assume that you'd have to download and use the Tesla app to use the queue, but who knows until it is implemented. For Tesla, this would help them drive customers to use their Charging Plan vs using OEM Plug and Charge billing.

I suggested this feature LONG ago when I had a Model S. At some locations, there is no convenient and orderly way to line up to use the chargers which can arise to confusion and evidently fist fights which happened a week ago at a Tesla SC location.

https://electrek.co/2025/02/20/tesl...upercharger-wait-queue-after-fight-broke-out/

 

[NeverFollow]

I wonder if anyone used the ChargePoint waitlist to reserve a charging station.?

How to use the ChargePoint app's waitlist feature

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Wait and see. What good is there to speculate? has no affect on outcome.

 

[hgpayne]

I have used Tesla superchargers about a thousand times over the years and have only had to queue less than a dozen of those times. It just doesn't happen that often -- where I charge anyway.

Still, I've always thought the app or in car nav should have a queing system. If it were for Tesla only the in car nav system should handle the queing. Since they are saying it will be an app feature this leads me to believe it will be available for non-Tesla vehicles. You probably won't need a Tesla $12.99/month subscription but will need the app with an account and your car registered in the app.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

EVgo allows you to reserve chargers on the higher tier plan. This will become standard across the industry IMO. If someone tries to cut the line they will not be able to charge.

 

[SANZC02]

EVgo allows you to reserve chargers on the higher tier plan. This will become standard across the industry IMO. If someone tries to cut the line they will not be able to charge.

Not a fan of this type of program.

Just curious, have you used it? I have so many questions.

This is just my take.

What happens to people charging if you pull up with a reservation and nothing is open?

How long before you get there for a reservation do they block the charger?

How long does it hold your reservation if you are running late?

How does it queue people up who are waiting?

Been using Superchargers in SoCal for 9 years. This is one of the busiest areas in the country and until recently when several new locations opened rarely did you pull into a location where people were not waiting. You would just look around at who was there and take a charger when your turn came up.

These programs sound like a solution that would cause a problem and potentially lower the throughput more than it would increase efficiency.

 

[brancky3]

EVgo allows you to reserve chargers on the higher tier plan. This will become standard across the industry IMO. If someone tries to cut the line they will not be able to charge.

How does that help anyone though? Chances are the reservation will have a time out feature (eg if you don’t start within 30 minutes it goes to the next reservation) so what would stop someone from just sitting in the parking space?

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Not a fan of this type of program.

Just curious, have you used it? I have so many questions.

This is just my take.

What happens to people charging if you pull up with a reservation and nothing is open?

How long before you get there for a reservation do they block the charger?

How long does it hold your reservation if you are running late?

How does it queue people up who are waiting?

Been using Superchargers in SoCal for 9 years. This is one of the busiest areas in the country and until recently when several new locations opened rarely did you pull into a location where people were not waiting. You would just look around at who was there and take a charger when your turn came up.

These programs sound like a solution that would cause a problem and potentially lower the throughput more than it would increase efficiency.

How does that help anyone though? Chances are the reservation will have a time out feature (eg if you don’t start within 30 minutes it goes to the next reservation) so what would stop someone from just sitting in the parking space?

I have not used it. IIRC you had to reserve at least 20 minutes ahead of time.

Let me correct my statement above and say that I believe a queue system will be industry standard and not a reservation.

This is going to sound crazy but just look at Chick-Fil-A. It could operate in one of two ways.

1) Your only allowed to get in line once your GPS says your at the charger
2) Your allowed to tell the app your on the way and the app automatically puts you in the queue once you arrive.

Reserving ahead of time has issues that you laid out above. But having a queue on site allows the app or Tesla in this case to tell you when and where you can charge. So it will pop up on your app when its your turn that you can charge at post 1A. If someone else tries to cut the line they will not be able to activate 1A...only your Tesla account can activate the charger or cancel your place in line.

The honor system worked for a while and still does to some extent but as we get busier chargers and even more adoption we need someone else managing the queue to prevent unhealthy/unsafe interactions at chargers.

 

[SANZC02]

I have not used it. IIRC you had to reserve at least 20 minutes ahead of time.

Let me correct my statement above and say that I believe a queue system will be industry standard and not a reservation.

This is going to sound crazy but just look at Chick-Fil-A. It could operate in one of two ways.

1) Your only allowed to get in line once your GPS says your at the charger
2) Your allowed to tell the app your on the way and the app automatically puts you in the queue once you arrive.

Reserving ahead of time has issues that you laid out above. But having a queue on site allows the app or Tesla in this case to tell you when and where you can charge. So it will pop up on your app when its your turn that you can charge at post 1A. If someone else tries to cut the line they will not be able to activate 1A...only your Tesla account can activate the charger or cancel your place in line.

The honor system worked for a while and still does to some extent but as we get busier chargers and even more adoption we need someone else managing the queue to prevent unhealthy/unsafe interactions at chargers.

I’ve alway thought the best solution would be to do it like some Costco and Sam’s Clubs do at their fuel stations where there is only one way in and it generates a line as you queue up.

To be honest though, at the rate the prices are increasing that may solve any congestion issues. That and get manufacturers to stop offering free charging. It would be much better to just discount the vehicles instead of offering the free charging. I’m sure most people perceive the free charging as a better deal as a consumer not realizing it is not really free just pre-paid in the cost of the vehicle. Would be interesting as well to see if the dealers save money where a certain percentage of people do not use a lot of free charging.

 

[HaveBlue]

That's going to be tough at non Tesla only posts where someone blocks a second post. Centered parking is even more critical there.

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

That's going to be tough at non Tesla only posts where someone blocks a second post. Centered parking is even more critical there.

Good point...folk aren't going to like it...but...if its a really busy station and it isn't pull through...then EVs that require two spots should be limited to the end posts. Eventually, this will be a non issue though as Tesla upgrades their stations.

 

[SANZC02]

Good point...folk aren't going to like it...but...if its a really busy station and it isn't pull through...then EVs that require two spots should be limited to the end posts. Eventually, this will be a non issue though as Tesla upgrades their stations.

Simpler, cheaper, and quicker resolution, just re-stripe the stations putting the charger in the center. Works for any vehicle with a port on a corner, doesn’t help when the port is on the side.

This one in Destin, FL works great for a Rivian.

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