Want to race a Tesla semi around a test track?

fj12ryder wrote:
Are you saying you can't charge your electric car at these charging station unless it's Tesla? So not only do you have limited range, but you have to make sure you can charge your vehicle at the nearest station. Kind of like being able to only fill a Dodge vehicle at a Shell station, and you need a Exon for your GM product. Incredible.

So yes and no. Yes, only Teslas can charge at a Tesla supercharger...eg...there brand of DC fast chargers otherwise known as Level three chargers. A tesla however can charge at any non Tesla DC fast charger as long as they have the Chademo adapter (the most common Non Tesla level 3 chargers in North America are Chademos.

Teslas can also charge at any level 2 station (Tesla or non Tesla) as long as they have the adapter (they come with the car.) Level 2 is what is known as destination charging, malls, hotels, restaurants your garage at home if it has 240 volts etc etc. It uses what is known as the J1772 format. All level two EVSE manufacturers for all EVS use this format so there is universality between all EVS but only at the level 2 infrastructure.

So no, because I can not charge either of my cars at any Tesla fast charger because the car doesn't speak the language and doesn't have a Tesla Serial number. Level 3 charging for me consists of the Chademo fast charging network that although is expanding is no where near as good as the Tesla network. I am able to use Tesla level 2 chargepoints with an adapter at hotels, malls,restaurants etc etc but it is considered a little rude because many times the equipment has been furnished by Tesla. Tesla is actually pretty good about this though as they also usually furnish a standard non Tesla J1702 plug as well. So for example if they provide two Tesla J1702 EVSE's to a hotel (at little or no charge) they usually provide one standard J 1772 EVSE. I can use any of the three but only one without an adapter as although the standard is the same the connecter is different. If you go to a golf course and there are 8 level 2 charge stations, typically 6 will be tesla and two non Tesla although Tesla usually furnished them all. NO OTHER MANUFACTURER DOES THIS.
This is why so many tip their hats to Tesla as they look at the EV world as a community that needs to share resources.

They have offered to all the car Manufacturers to take part in the supercharger network but none of the other manufacturers have done so to date.

I hope that explains it better, Ask away it if doesn't.

John