GM EVs Now Working At Tesla Superchargers!

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Phrase on the road is that GM is about to announce that the Tesla Supercharger community is open to the corporate’s EVs. The rumored worth for the adapter is $225 from some sources and $26 from others, so we’ll have to attend for an official announcement earlier than we move judgment. Pricing apart, the people who find themselves saying it’s about to open up did give us a rumor we are able to take a look at for ourselves: that the automobiles are actually working.

So, that’s precisely what I did. Lengthy story brief: it really works!

Not Formally Open But

As of this writing (which might be outdated inside mere hours), GM has not formally introduced that the community is open. Tesla’s app additionally doesn’t present V3 and V4 stations working for GM automobiles until the station has Magic Dock functionality. So, to see if a GM automobile can cost at a Supercharger, you must trick the Tesla app by telling it that you’ve a Ford or a Rivian. This enables the session to begin for now whereas we’re ready for an replace to the app that lists stations open to GM automobiles.

Official GM adapters are additionally not obtainable but, and even as soon as they announce, they in all probability gained’t be fast to get. However high quality adapters from firms like A2Z and Lectron, in addition to adapters offered for Ford and Rivian automobiles, ought to all work the identical. The adapters aren’t “sensible” and solely bodily join totally different pins collectively. NACS charging classes all use the CCS protocol CCS automobiles are used to, so so long as the adapter is made effectively, it makes no distinction.

It Was Type Of Boring (& That’s A Good Factor!)

Right here’s the factor: I’ve had plenty of fascinating tales from charging stations. Generally they’re flaky. Generally you must plug them in 2+ instances for the charging session to begin. Different instances there’s a billing error, the charging is slower than it must be, or worst of all, you’ll be able to’t get a cost in any respect. Are these issues fascinating? Undoubtedly. Is it the form of fascinating we need to see with charging? Completely not!

After I arrived on the Supercharger, I bought my adapters out, plugged certainly one of them into the tip of the Supercharger’s cable, after which plugged it into the automobile. Simply the identical as at CCS stations, the Bolt EUV’s charging gentle on the dashboard turned orange. I then bought into the Tesla app, chosen the situation, picked a charger quantity, after which informed it to begin charging. And it did precisely that: began charging.

About the one approach it may be much less fascinating is that if GM allows some type of Plug&Cost with Tesla. For instance, my Bolt can merely plug in at an EVgo station and it begins up charging after a brief delay. I don’t know if Tesla’s software program or GM’s app are able to doing one thing like that, however that will be about the one method to make the method seamless and totally painless.

My Two Adapters

Whereas I used to be ready for GM and Tesla to allow charging at Tesla stations, I had two firms ship me CCS-to-Supercharger adapters for evaluation. Sadly, I’ve been unable to evaluation them, as a result of I don’t personal a appropriate automobile. It appeared like my lowly Bolt would get charging fairly shortly after Ford did, however that merely hasn’t been the case. I did take a look at them for mechanical match, however I couldn’t actually make sure they labored.

The primary one I attempted was the A2Z adapter. It’s the smaller of the 2, however comes with the quirk of needing to push a change on the underside of the unit to safe it to the Supercharger cable. However, if you understand to do this, it’s an excellent adapter. It doesn’t stick out very far, it’s compact, and it doesn’t weigh lots. It additionally is available in a pleasant little carrying case that protects it from dings, scratches, and drops. This makes it simpler to only drop in a trunk or frunk and never fear about.

The Lectron unit, however, is constructed like a tank. It’s large. It’s cumbersome. However, it’s additionally powerful. You’ll be able to really feel the load of it in your fingers and it’s apparent that it’s not going to be simple to interrupt. Not that the A2Z adapter isn’t powerful (I’m certain it’s), however the Lectron is only a heavy responsibility piece of kit. However, it’s powerful in one other approach as effectively: powerful to take away. The Supercharger deal with matches very tightly into the adapter, and it’s simpler to take away in the event you unplug it whereas the adapter remains to be plugged into the automobile.

Remaining Questions

Relating to charging GM EVs at Supercharger stations, there are a number of large open questions remaining that ought to hopefully be answered within the coming days.

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First off, we haven’t heard from GM on adapters but. Some sources are saying the adapters might be obtainable at GM sellers for $26. Others are saying that the adapter might be over $200. There are ups and downs to every, however I’ll say that if the adapter is simply too costly or if it takes too lengthy to get, EV drivers shouldn’t hesitate to go along with a high-quality third occasion adapter or purchase one from Ford, Rivian, or anybody else who’s promoting an official adapter. The one factor to keep away from is junky import adapters. At all times learn opinions.

The following query is software program. I used to be ready to make use of the Tesla app to provoke a cost, however solely by mendacity to it and telling it I had an F-150 Lightning. This didn’t work earlier this yr, so Tesla is clearly permitting GM automobiles on the community now, however it’s not official and within the open (at the least as of this writing). GM is prone to permit some type of charging activation within the GM-branded apps, like myChevrolet, and this would possibly embrace some type of Plug&Cost ultimately.

Lastly, we don’t but know whether or not the rollout goes to occur slowly. The unofficial entry might finish earlier than coming again, because it might be in some type of testing proper now.

Limitations

Personally, I see the Supercharger community as being an excellent backup and an effective way to get entry to a couple extra locations. I do know there are non-Tesla EV house owners who will begin utilizing Superchargers solely and by no means look again, and I completely get that. However I’d wish to encourage extra firms to remain within the sport and grow to be higher. Nonetheless, if I can’t cost with another person for no matter motive, I’m undoubtedly glad to have the choice to Supercharge.

No matter the way you’re going to make use of it, it’s essential to take into account that solely V3 and V4 Superchargers help CCS automobiles. These are simple to determine on charging maps as a result of they’ve 250+ kW speeds. Some apps, like PlugShare, additionally filter out stations that gained’t work to your automobile. Simply don’t assume that the numerous V2 chargers are going to work until you’ve gotten a Tesla!

All photographs by Jennifer Sensiba.