Observations from 1st road trip so to speak

[K6CCC]

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?

SuperChargers have been short since day one. V4 SCs went with a longer cable.

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[RLXXI]

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...

Great for you man, my experience was exactly the opposite.

 

[RLXXI]

SuperChargers have been short since day one. V4 SCs went with a longer cable.

Figures it was fake news. I'm beginning to really hate MSM, bunch of lying asshats.

 

[FloridaMan655321]

If I had a car I would probably want it in the rear, but hopefully we will have a lot more 'normal' type chargers like gas stations in that you can just drive through. I can see how having a truck would be annoying if you wanted to charge and were towing a trailer if the charge port was in the rear (having to disconnect and back in vs just pulling in and leaving the trailer sticking out).
I'm glad the article mentioned the Leaf. I kind of wondered why they just don't put it in the front or rear where the license plate is. That would be annoying if you had a small fender bender.

 

[PJnc284]

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.

yeah I've only run into one at the Wawa in WIlliamsburg, VA that I couldn't nose in close enough and that was due to it having the parking stops on the ground. Luckily the below picture was on google maps so I knew I could get around the backside and not block anything. Not sure why they would put in the stops as they weren't there initially and looks like it was probably within the last year from the pics. Did used to have the red "tesla only" bollards that were removed before they added the stops.

 

[Scorpio3d]

yeah I've only run into one at the Wawa in WIlliamsburg, VA that I couldn't nose in close enough and that was due to it having the parking stops on the ground. Luckily the below picture was on google maps so I knew I could get around the backside and not block anything. Not sure why they would put in the stops as they weren't there initially and looks like it was probably within the last year from the pics. Did used to have the red "tesla only" bollards that were removed before they added the stops.

I have been in that situation as well and I just slowly went over the block, not much different than a speed bump in some areas
not something I would recommend as I’m sure if you crashed into them and had to replace them your insurance would probably drop you!

 

[PJnc284]

yeah might have chanced it if I had really needed the charge and couldn't get around the back. Shame they don't all have where you can get around it easily. Otherwise if a station is half full, you probably aren't to get a spot because they're going to be in every other spot. I like using supercharge.info since you can filter by V4 and stall count

 

[htobin]

I've noticed that the ones I've used have been remarked so that you can pull all the way up between the lines and the charging plug will just fit

 

[Perry]

I’d love to be able to try the Tesla chargers, but unfortunately, I cannot. When I bought my ‘25 Lariat in June, I confirmed with the salespeople that the Tesla adapter was included. Since then, I have found out from Ford that it is not, and the salespeople either didn’t know that or just lied about it. My wife spoke to the general manager at the dealership (Veterans Ford in Tampa), a guy named Lorenzo, who apologized but did nothing else. So if I ever want to use a Tesla Supercharger, I’m going to have to spring for the $200 adapter myself.

 

[PJnc284]

Believe it's included if you get the mobile power cord.

 

[Perry]

Believe it's included if you get the mobile power cord.

It was not.

 

[RickLightning]

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?

Fake news.

Tesla Supercharger cables are liquid cooled. They aren't short for Tesla drivers, it reaches right to the charge port on the rear of their vehicles. No non-Tesla was able to charge at them before February of 2024, when Ford's EVs got access. They have always been this way.

Assume you mean the Pearl River, LA location. If you look in PlugShare, the 2nd picture is of a Mach-E parked sideways in the last 2 spots. There is also a picture of a Lightning nosed over the curb. You'll find you need to roll in between the chargers, bumping your tires on the curb. It usually clears just fine. Many locations the Mach-E clears also, which has less ground clearance.

https://www.plugshare.com/location/588196

 

[jjupi91897]

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.

Actually, you can access any Tesla charger. Just drive slowly straddling the chargers until you hear the steady beep from the vehicle. That's the indication you have just enough distance to plug in the cable. Keep in mind you will be blocking two chargers. I have never had a problem, and I road trip all the time.

 

[RickLightning]

Actually, you can access any Tesla charger. Just drive slowly straddling the chargers until you hear the steady beep from the vehicle. That's the indication you have just enough distance to plug in the cable. Keep in mind you will be blocking two chargers. I have never had a problem, and I road trip all the time.

There are some locations with bollards between the chargers, preventing you from getting close enough. There are other locations with trash cans in between or other things blocking them.

 

[On the Road with Ralph]

I’ve charged my Lightning at DOZENS of different Supercharger locations from California to Florida, and have NEVER failed to get a charge because the cord was too short. Do I effectively need to take two stalls at v3 stations? Yes. Is the cable barely long enough? Yes. (side note: v4 stations are fine) It is not clear to me what unique geometry the OP encountered at this particular site that kept him from charging.

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