Observations from 1st road trip so to speak

[RLXXI]

Decided to head out to the nearest Tesla supercharger 37 miles one way, just to get the feel for the experience. Headed out with enough juice for the round trip just in case, and it's a good thing I did because the damned cord was way too short to reach, needed to be at least another 3'

Sure I could have triple parked and I would have had I been out on the road, wasn't but 2 vehicles charging at the time amongst 8 chargers. I decided to just head back.

Other observation has to do with blue cruise 1.4, all the way there and back it worked flawlessly, I decided to see how it would react if I blipped the turn lever for a lane change while hands free and another vehicle next to me, it started flashing for a lane change and waited until the other vehicle was past me then made the lane change perfectly.

Last observation has to do with navigation, more specifically Android Auto nav while using it, it does indeed populate the center cluster with direction changes and such just like the built in nav does, woohoo, party, bonus, (someone here posted it didn't) It fills up the space center screen when approaching a direction change then changes back to whatever was on screen before, in this case the trip meter front and center and after the direction change it populates the small area between the two temp gauges top center with the next turn or direction change coming up.

In closing, if I have to make a road trip, I will NOT rely on ANY Tesla charges anywhere. What the hell good are they in saying they're open to other vehicles then purposely shorten the cords under the guise of vandals/thieves thus making them useless to other brands or at least this brand and model.

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[B177y]

Decided to head out to the nearest Tesla supercharger 37 miles one way, just to get the feel for the experience. Headed out with enough juice for the round trip just in case, and it's a good thing I did because the damned cord was way too short to reach, needed to be at least another 3'

Sure I could have triple parked and I would have had I been out on the road, wasn't but 2 vehicles charging at the time amongst 8 chargers. I decided to just head back.

This is why both Tesla and Ford say to use the furthest right charger or to take the space on the right of the charger that is open. If there was only two other chargers occupied, there should have been plenty of space for you to do this. I have used many Tesla chargers with the short cords in this fashion on many road trips. There are also lots of new and old Tesla stations that have a pull through spot where the short cord also reaches fine on the Lightning.

 

[RLXXI]

This is why both Tesla and Ford say to use the furthest right charger or to take the space on the right of the charger that is open. If there was only two other chargers occupied, there should have been plenty of space for you to do this. I have used many Tesla chargers with the short cords in this fashion on many road trips. There are also lots of new and old Tesla stations that have a pull through spot where the short cord also reaches fine on the Lightning.

At this particular site, the chargers are not on ground level, it was up on the curb level centered between the lines of a space, I tried parking to the far right and nosed the front end up as close as I could without hitting the charger and the cable was still too short by at least a foot. The only way I could have charged is by parking completely across 3 spaces.

We have a supercharger closer in with about 20 of them and they are mounted on parking lot ground level between the parking spaces that I can use if they were open to other vehicles, they are not.

 

[CD4TNF]

Practice makes for a better planned experience. Glad you did the test run.


Remember. The charging layout for Superchargers are because of a certain someone complaining about charging in their McMansion.

https://electrek.co/2025/01/31/tesl...e-to-elon-musks-garage-layout-says-lucid-ceo/


I'm looking forward to trying out one of the Ionna Rechargery stations. Not having to use an app is going to be wonderful. Plug n Charge works pretty well on the EVGo chargers in my experience. Speaking of EVGo, those Pilot FlyingJ chargers are nice. The ones I went to this summer had pull thru locations.

 

[RLXXI]

Practice makes for a better planned experience. Glad you did the test run.


Remember. The charging layout for Superchargers are because of a certain someone complaining about charging in their McMansion.

https://electrek.co/2025/01/31/tesl...e-to-elon-musks-garage-layout-says-lucid-ceo/


I'm looking forward to trying out one of the Ionna Rechargery stations. Not having to use an app is going to be wonderful. Plug n Charge works pretty well on the EVGo chargers in my experience. Speaking of EVGo, those Pilot FlyingJ chargers are nice. The ones I went to this summer had pull thru locations.

That figures, eg: charging port location for the omnipotent McMusk. This station I went to was a Pilot Flying J station. I didn't drive around it to see if it had any other type of charger as the Tesla units were up in the very front.

 

[RickLightning]

As a new EV owner, you may want to spend some time perusing the forum and reading threads. All of what you're experiencing has been discussed many times.

When using Tesla Superchargers, you can take the far right one as noted. You put the charger on the left fender, and pull in all the way, usually with the bumper extending over the curb. Or, you nose between two chargers, many locations have removed bollards. The curb usually is not too high, but not always.

If that doesn't work, there often is a trailer spot on the far left, with the charger 1/2 way in the parking space on the left side.

If none of those work, examine the area to see if you could simply drive up on the other side of the chargers (see pic below). Note this is a parking lot, so I am not out in the street on the passenger side, just in a parking lot.

Lastly, pull in the far right, parking sideways, takes 2 spaces.

 

[abcut973]

Generally if the far right stall is not available I park in between 2 spots and pull up all the way where my front bumper will be over the curb. And it is usually enough to plug.
V4 stations are way nicer with a longer cable. But we do not have those in Lousiana yet!

 

[RLXXI]

pull in the far right, parking sideways, takes 2 spaces.

That is exactly how I would have had to have parked in order for it to reach if I could have pulled up on that side of the chargers, that space was occupied with huge electrical transformers, business signs and a telephone pole not to mention a ditch.

This was a trial run before heading out on an adventure for reasons just like this. This websites search feature is about as useful as tits on a boar hog just like most other websites.

 

[K6CCC]

What the hell good are they in saying they're open to other vehicles then purposely shorten the cords under the guise of vandals/thieves thus making them useless to other brands or at least this brand and model.

That is an incorrect assumption. Early Tesla SuperChargers were designed only for Tesla vehicles. All Tesla vehicles have the charge port on the drivers side rear corner. That means if a Tesla backs into the spot, the charge port is on the right side (as viewed as you approach the spot). That means that the chargers are positioned to favor that location and do not need a long cable to reach. When Tesla opened their chargers to other vehicles, it was quickly found to be a problem for many other vehicles that put the charge port in different locations. Our Lightnings are one of the worst in this regard. By the time Tesla designed the V4 chargers, other vehicles were considered and the cables are longer. I have charged several times at V4 chargers and the cable is long enough to reach when parked in the correct parking spot for a particular charger.

Sure I could have triple parked and I would have had I been out on the road, wasn't but 2 vehicles charging at the time amongst 8 chargers.

You don't need to triple park - you only need to find two adjacent parking spots. Head into the right hand position and use the charger for the empty spot to the left. Also some locations have the charger between the parking spaces which results in the charger almost immediately to the left of our charge port. I have used that arrangement a couple times. I have also twice been able to grab the empty parking space to the right of the right most charger which made the cable reach. Of course does require that the far right space not being used by another vehicle.

So far, I have only one time NOT been able to charge at a SuperCharger, and I knew I did not need a charge at that time. Also so far, I have charged at a DCFC that was not a Tesla only one time. That was in Baker, Calif. where the SuperCharger is Tesla only, so I used the Electrify America right next door. Of course I knew that in advance. Tomorrow I am going to try out a brand new BP Pulse station that is right on my way to work. I don't need the charge as I could charge tonight at home, but with rave reviews, I wanted to give it a try - and before 0600 (I get to work just after 0600) it is not all that much more costly then at home.

 

[K6CCC]

One more thing, do a little research. PlugShare.com almost always has photos of the chargers and will give you a good idea what the facilities allow. Google Earth can sometimes help and if Street View has new enough photos that also will often help scope out the potential location. Lastly when you have a choice pick locations that are generally not as busy. Check a location on FordPass or the Tesla app to get an idea how busy it will likely be at the time of day you want to use it.

 

[Scorpio3d]

A Tesla was on the far right of course.

 

[Vulnox]

I am surprised by all the sideways or angled charging pics. I've done SuperChargers in the MME and Lightning, I was always able to get close enough just pulling straight ahead, but offset (so taking up two spots generally as mentioned). You just have to get stupid close. If a site had metal/concrete bollards that would be a problem though for sure.

The worst trouble I had was a Meijer where they had a line of SCs, but you were meant to park on both sides of them with how they were oriented. This was a good/bad because the orientation of the SCs meant I was able to pull into a single spot and charge, but I was on the opposite side of where you were meant to park for that SC. Unfortunately there was a model S just... sitting there... not charging in the far right spot on the other side I could have used. I don't know what he was doing as he just sat in his car the entire charging stop and never plugged in, and every spot was taken so someone else could have sure used it.

Anyway, a couple Teslas showed up and tried to back into the spot to use the charger I had to use until they realized it was in use. I felt bad since again all other spots were taken. Finally a Rivian R1T pulled into that spot and he was able to use the SC in front of the Model S that wasn't even charging and it reached fine.

I love having the SuperCharger network available, but the orientation and cable length makes for some awkward situations.

 

[RLXXI]

That is an incorrect assumption. Early Tesla SuperChargers were designed only for Tesla vehicles. All Tesla vehicles have the charge port on the drivers side rear corner. That means if a Tesla backs into the spot, the charge port is on the right side (as viewed as you approach the spot). That means that the chargers are positioned to favor that location and do not need a long cable to reach. When Tesla opened their chargers to other vehicles, it was quickly found to be a problem for many other vehicles that put the charge port in different locations. Our Lightnings are one of the worst in this regard. By the time Tesla designed the V4 chargers, other vehicles were considered and the cables are longer. I have charged several times at V4 chargers and the cable is long enough to reach when parked in the correct parking spot for a particular charger.

Not an assumption, I wish I had the article to share but it stated one of the main reasons they shortened the cables was due to vandals. Was the article true or fake news?

You don't need to triple park - you only need to find two adjacent parking spots. Head into the right hand position and use the charger for the empty spot to the left. Also some locations have the charger between the parking spaces which results in the charger almost immediately to the left of our charge port. I have used that arrangement a couple times. I have also twice been able to grab the empty parking space to the right of the right most charger which made the cable reach. Of course does require that the far right space not being used by another vehicle.

That might have worked.

 

[Scorpio3d]

Not an assumption, I wish I had the article to share but it stated one of the main reasons they shortened the cables was due to vandals. Was the article true or fake news?



That might have worked.

The V4’s have longer cables and the magic dock built in (I know some V3 have the magic dock as well) so we don’t have to take up extra spaces or block the other chargers

this one is sideways, so it’s closer, but you can see how much slack there is in the cable!

 

[hturnerfamily]

I can't empathize with you, as since their opening to Ford, I've used Tesla Superchargers of all sorts of V3 or V4, with or without the 'magic box' adapter, or with my own adapter, and have never had a single issue... in many , many times of charging all thru the SouthEast, with and without our Camper, too... and either using my Ford Pass App, or just by plugging the Tesla NACS into my adapter, and charge port, to start Activation.

I find them actually even EASIER to use, and certainly more reliable and predictable...

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