Tesla Supercharger Charging

[orttauq]

I had my first road trip this week and knew I was going to need to use Tesla Supercharger Charging so I got the app, setup the account with CC and all that. Go to charge at the Supercharger and the session went through the Rivian app...just like it does at RAN. No fuss. CC shows that charge from Rivian too. Worked this way at the next 3 sessions.

So do we even need to have the Tesla App/Account?

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[CGriding]

I believe if you want the discount from subscribing to Tesla you need to initiate the charge from the Tesla app

 

[orttauq]

Ok, but when RAN is ~50 cents and Tesla is 32 that's a pretty good discount to start. (I do not have a Tesla subscription)

Also when I got to the SuperCharger I opened the Tesla app, got to the enter charger number, set my phone down, went out and plugged in and when I got back to the phone it had initiated the session in Rivian App, and Tesla app had an error like 'can't start session' or 'session already started'

 

[Joseph D]

Ok, but when RAN is ~50 cents and Tesla is 32 that's a pretty good discount to start. (I do not have a Tesla subscription)

Also when I got to the SuperCharger I opened the Tesla app, got to the enter charger number, set my phone down, went out and plugged in and when I got back to the phone it had initiated the session in Rivian App, and Tesla app had an error like 'can't start session' or 'session already started'

If you are not using the tesla subscription pricing there is no point to use the tesla app. But if you are charging multiple times a month on superchargers, then it is generally worth it to do so. Keep in mind there is a timeout on starting the session from the tesla app. I am not sure what that duration is. My order of operations when I am using the tesla subscription is to get out of the truck with the adapter and phone already open to the charging station --> choose the charger number on the phone --> hit start --> Plug in adapter and into truck. That has worked every time for me, the only times it has timed out is when I did not park close enough to the charger and had to move closer. You know when it activated through the tesla app because it gives you the session details on the tesla app.

 

[evcars4all]

Also when I got to the SuperCharger I opened the Tesla app, got to the enter charger number, set my phone down, went out and plugged in and when I got back to the phone it had initiated the session in Rivian App, and Tesla app had an error like 'can't start session' or 'session already started'

The app said ‘enter charger number’ so why did you plug it in before answering the question. The app’s instructions are pretty clear. Enter the charger number. When the app says plug in, then plug in the cable.

 

[orttauq]

I do not plan on using SuperChargers much at all until my free RAN charging expires. Had to use them for this trip because Washingtonian has only 4 RANs; and only 2 of those are in populated area.

I just think it's nice that it seamlessly works through Rivian.

 

[orttauq]

The app said ‘enter charger number’ so why did you plug it in before answering the question. The app’s instructions are pretty clear. Enter the charger number. When the app says plug in, then plug in the cable.

The app is -Choose location, -Choose Port number, -Start Charging. Not clear to Chose Port Number BEFORE plugging in.

But all that being said my point here is that the Tesla app is not required. Just plug and charge just like at RAN. That's nice.

 

[SANZC02]

The app is -Choose location, -Choose Port number, -Start Charging. Not clear to Chose Port Number BEFORE plugging in.

But all that being said my point here is that the Tesla app is not required. Just plug and charge just like at RAN. That's nice.

To Confirm, no need for the App unless you have the subscription.

The subscription is worth it on a trip, 12.99 for a month with no minimum, it offers close to a 25% discount (you get Tesla owners prices), so 100 kWh of charging pretty much covers the monthly cost.

I saved over $200 on a 7400 mile trip using the Tesla membership over the standard pricing and canceled the membership when I got home.

 

[orttauq]

To Confirm, no need for the App unless you have the subscription.

The subscription is worth it on a trip, 12.99 for a month with no minimum, it offers close to a 25% discount (you get Tesla owners prices), so 100 kWh of charging pretty much covers the monthly cost.

I saved over $200 on a 7400 mile trip using the Tesla membership over the standard pricing and canceled the membership when I got home.

Good to know! Thanks

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

I had my first road trip this week and knew I was going to need to use Tesla Supercharger Charging so I got the app, setup the account with CC and all that. Go to charge at the Supercharger and the session went through the Rivian app...just like it does at RAN. No fuss. CC shows that charge from Rivian too. Worked this way at the next 3 sessions.

So do we even need to have the Tesla App/Account?

You probably:

• Plugged in before you initiated session through Tesla app
• Or, failing to follow instructions from the Tesla app, you plugged in before the app told you it was time
• Or, upon plugging in you wiggled the plug just enough—to break and re-establish connection—that it registered as two attempts where the second went to the default plug-and-charge, which is billed through Rivian. Best to Insert with one swift and positive motion.

The only reasons to use the Tesla app:

• You charge enough at Supercharger each month to justify enrolling in their 30-day membership. With membership you pay ~20% less than what you'd be billed through Rivian. This higher rate is what Tesla charges all of their Non-Tesla NACS Partners. Rivian does not get a cut. To break even on the $13 (rounded up) 30-day membership, you need to use at least 100~150 kWh (some sites have time of day pricing, hence the spread).
• You have it as a back up, for when plug-and-charge fails. So you can see if it failed because the handshake failed between Tesla and Rivian, or the dispenser is just not working at all for you.

 

[orttauq]

You probably:

• Plugged in before you initiated session through Tesla app
• Or, failing to follow instructions from the Tesla app, you plugged in before the app told you it was time
• Or, upon plugging in you wiggled the plug just enough that it registered as two attempt where the second went to the default plug-and-charge, which is billed through Rivian.

The only reasons to use the Tesla app:

• You charge enough at Supercharger each month to justify enrolling in their 30-day membership. With membership you pay ~20% less than what you'd be billed through Rivian. This higher rate is what Tesla charges all of their Non-Tesla NACS Partners. Rivian does not get a cut. To break even on the $13 (rounded up) 30-day membership, you need to use at least 100~150 kWh (some sites have time of day pricing, hence the spread).
• You have it as a back up, for when plug-and-charge fails. So you can see if it failed because the handshake failed between Tesla and Rivian, or the dispenser is just not working at all for you.

Thanks for this info.

 

[EdwardM2005]

To Confirm, no need for the App unless you have the subscription.

The subscription is worth it on a trip, 12.99 for a month with no minimum, it offers close to a 25% discount (you get Tesla owners prices), so 100 kWh of charging pretty much covers the monthly cost.

I saved over $200 on a 7400 mile trip using the Tesla membership over the standard pricing and canceled the membership when I got home.

While it may seem to be a couple more steps, and take a minute or two more, the Tesla Subscription and Charging management through the Tesla app is a real money saving feature. In my area, Tesla is every day, less expensive and way more reliable than the ChargePoint or Electrify America charging posts. And more often, they are close to required amenities i.e., Restrooms.

Plug and Charge is cool but for $.10 to .15 /kWh more, I can use the Tesla Phone Application.

 

[JM.]

The Tesla app is useful for finding chargers and seeing their status, and then closely monitoring the progress. You can do some of that in the Rivian app or in-car display, I still use the Tesla app because sometimes it's better. Why not have every tool possible?

I've never found a reason for the subscription, but this will vary totally by your usage and your area. My trips have never involved a lot of SC stops so the best I'd do is about break even. Also I consistently see slightly faster charging from RAN over SC.

 

[NC-Rivian]

While it may seem to be a couple more steps, and take a minute or two more, the Tesla Subscription and Charging management through the Tesla app is a real money saving feature. In my area, Tesla is every day, less expensive and way more reliable than the ChargePoint or Electrify America charging posts. And more often, they are close to required amenities i.e., Restrooms.

Plug and Charge is cool but for $.10 to .15 /kWh more, I can use the Tesla Phone Application.

As mentioned above, break even is about 100kW. A fairly low threshold with just a couple of SC sessions.

 

[JM.]

Last time I did the math, it was 130k. The most SC I've used in a month has been 140k. It just depends on where you go and how you charge. Now that RAN prices are skyrocketing though, I may use much more SC.

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