Thank you for your insight into using a Tesla SuC for a non-Tesla EV. As a Tesla owner, I am impressed by your attitude toward not taking up two bays because the charge port is on the wrong side. There has been much debate and consternation within the ranks of Tesla owners, because of this … and it seems that a majority of non-Tesla EVs have the port in the wrong place for the SuC. The short cable that Tesla install in their SuCs isn’t only because of the reach, it also impacts the the power carrying ability of the cable itself. If Tesla increase the length of the cable, apart from increasing the trip hazard, they also have to produce heavier duty cable. I am encourage to hear you proposing not to use the SuCs for an EV that does not have the charge port in the right place (unless in emergency). It is going to make the SuCs an even busier place as well as causing frustration to Tesla owners when non-Teslas take up more than one bay to charge. Thank you for your consideration.
This is excellent news. I just checked my route in the e-tron 50 from Kent to Peterborough to pick up my son's first car (EV of course) next month and it's made nice and easy by the Trumpington Supercharger site in Cambridgeshire.
For those one off long distance journeys,this just gives us all extra charging options which are fast & reliable. Which helps to off-set the slightly high price. MM
Not the best analogy. I can go to my local Apple store and buy any of their products and take back to my home. There are no “deals” to be had at a Tesla dealer (as the prices are fixed central and non negotiable) but it is the place to have a look at the range,organise a test drive and get it serviced. But agreed, at this time, not the place to collect your brand new car. But you can still order one on the premises and the staff are eager to help you to do that and go through the online order form. MM
Tesla drivers have it even easier than this as not only are there so many SC sites all over the country, there is no need to get your credit card out to make a contactless payment, nor your smartphone to open an app. Just drive up and plug in. All the payment information is linked between the charger and the individual car. Other networks are promising to do something similar. But Tesla and their software reliability are years ahead. MM
@@markymarkreviews I wasn't aware of this so thanks for clarifying. Fingers crossed that other networks do bring this level of simplicity to the process.
Thank you so much for this really helpful charging of your wife's Peugeot e-208 at Cardiff Tesla. As I have just received my own Peugeot e-208 and I live in the Valleys, I may just pop down to Cardiff Tesla just to try it out. It is as you say, a bit pricey but for those who are on long journeys were charging will be necessary from stop to stop, Tesla Superchargers could fill the occasional void.
Thanks. And agreed, when they fully open up the network it will provide a nice failsafe backup on longer journeys away from home for all EV drivers. MM.
Correct. But Ionity (up to 350kW charge speeds) also provide water cooled (and heavy!) cabling but their hoist design is better so you can drag and extend the cable further as it is suspended in the air. They are my first choice charging network for the Hyundai as the contract is for 25p/kWh! And my car can take advantage of those speeds. Although limited to 240kW at present. MM
Hoping they open up some of their locations on or near motorways soon. The current motorway service station ‘incumbent’ could do with some competition.
We were in Kettlemen CA and the only fast chargers Cal Trans (2 of them) were broken. We were on empty. There were 40 Tesla chargers. Tesla had 1 slow charger we could use with our adapter. It was 90 degrees out.
When they fully open up the network (which Elon has said is the plan all along) then it will help in situations like this. Even if it is more expensive than other networks. MM
I wonder how some Tesla owners feel about it. Part of the promise and the allure for Tesla was an exclusive charging network. Now that exclusivity is gone.
Thank you for the video. I am new to EV's and would like to know if there are EV forums that you recommend joining to ask general questions. Some I have seen are predominantly US based, but I am looking for a UK site that is well populated with frequent content. Thanks.
Thank you so much for this excellent review of the opening up of Tesla's Super-Chargers to some of the other EVs. This is perfectly timed for me as I got a long awaited call from Peugeot at Bridgend today to say I can collect my Peugeot e-208 GT Premium on Wednesday. I may just pop into Tesla at Cardiff to try it out, on my way home to the Merthyr Valley. I must admit I was first tempted by the excellent Kia Niro but as soon as I discovered the Charge Port was the wrong way around for normal reversing into a Parking Space, it was a definite NO NO for me. I have always advised reversing into Parking Spaces for obvious reasons of safety and am baffled that so many EV Manufacturers put the Charging Port on the front, so forcing their drivers to drive in forward to Parking Spaces with the resulting danger, through poor visibility, when reversing out. So that was the deciding point for my purchase of the Peugeot e-208. Thanks again for an excellent review.
Thanks. Great to hear you will be an e-208 owner soon. The wait times for all EVs are very long at present. Hopefully you may get a special offer with BPPulse to sign up for cheap charging on their network, but unfortunately they are not the best. The Tesla SC network is excellent but they are quite expensive for non Tesla EVs at present. But they will provide an excellent fall back position when travelling away from home if needed, when they fully open up. MM
Had to explain to a VW driver yesterday that he couldn’t use the supercharger at Cribbs Causeway. He thought I was trying it on at first but I politely explained that this wasn’t one of the trial sites. He had no idea and thought they were all open, this will be the main issue for a while.
Good of you to help out. There will be plenty of trial & error over the next few weeks and months with non Tesla EV owners, with charge port locations and parking orientation etc. MM
Thanks and you are correct! I have test driven the 500 last year. An excellent little EV. Had not taken note or at least I had forgotten which side the charge port was but yes surprisingly, it is on the opposite side to the other group Stellantis cars. How odd ! And a car with that size of battery would benefit from an emergency stop at a Tesla SC as well. MM
Because it does not share it's platform with the 208 developped by then-PSA, but an in house platform developped by then-FCA. Future EVs will use a new platform, hopefully with the port on the left. It should be unveiled next year with the Peugeot e3008
We live 5 minutes walk from the Cardiff Tesla dealers - my son uses the chargers there for his model 3 when he visits..... Good that they've opened up to other cars - I'd have bought an EV6 by now, if you could get them!
Will be convenient for you when you do eventually get an EV. You can get a sneaky free charge up on their slower 7kW destination chargers which are opposite the super chargers at the dealership. MM
So if and when they fully open up,they are going to need the upgraded CCS connectors and the longer water cooled cables which are even faster charging (up to 350kW at present, but with Shell and other brands testing 500kW+) like all the competitors. Or maybe they will be left behind in the future? Tesla are still the market leaders at present though. MM
Other manufacturers should learn and put fast chargers in the dealership parking lots. Its fairly simple and constitutes a revenue stream as well as support EV infrastructure.
Yep the issue with the charge port being on the passenger side it could be an issue however my BMW i3 charges from 50 to 90% in approx. 25 mins so I have no issues being there less than 30 mins. However if the site was quite full I would wait until either the end charger came free which usually has a bay on the RHS or just wait until the site was less busy however for an emergency I would have to take up two bays. All Tesla has to do is re mark the bays so a car can park dead centre ? Or is the cable too short to feed from the rear and not the side?
I think as Tesla has confirmed they will eventually open most, if not all the SC network to all EVs, they will most likely introduce longer cables on newer chargers and eventually retrofit them on older chargers.
Been driving my Tesla Model S P85 125,000 UK miles since 2014. One of the main reasons I bought Tesla was they were the only manufacture prepared to put their hands in their pockets and provide a proper infrastructure, this was at a time they were strapped for cash and pleaded with manufactures to help and share the service but there were no takers. A guy at an Instavolt said to me I have a Tesla why am I bothering to use the Instavolt explaining that he thought it was unfair Tesla could use other peoples but only Teslas could use their own, I had to fill in the background that No car manufactures had paid out of their own pockets despite being given the opportunity and Tesla had to go it alone as a start up! Plus Tesla were opening up their own and we Tesla owners pretty much agreed its in the interests of all concerned.
Agreed overall. Admittedly the legacy car manufacturers saw Tesla as a tiny, irrelevant car manufacturer 10 years ago, fully expecting it to fail at some point. They did not realise that Tesla would force them, kicking and screaming, into the brave new EV world. I kind of understand why they did not want to help Tesla in investing in the charging infrastructure. But now they are on board, don’t be surprised if even Tesla and their fantastic SC network get overtaken by ICE backed companies such as Ionity who already produce faster, cheaper (if you own an Ionity EV shareholder car!) and rapidly expanding reliable network with long enough cables for all EVs.
For this bay design, I doubt it. Unless you park and use the adjoining bay cable when the site is mostly empty. Some of the newer Tesla sites would allow it as the bays are side on to the chargers. But will have to be trial & error and sharing of information amongst owners/forums to get the experiences for now, I guess. MM
Waits for Tesla to start selling extension cable for non Tesla cars 😄 I have seen a lot of empty Tesla stalls whilst looking for a charge ( usually later in the day / evening) in various places on my journeys. Better that they are making money
Exactly. The Tesla SC network is no longer the only game in town now. Although they have a head start and are widely spread over Europe, companies like GridServe in the UK, and especially Ionity in the UK and Europe now provide even faster charging up to 350kW, liquid cooled and longer cables for all types of EV! And now the old petrochemical companies coming on board such as Shell & BP as they can see the tide turning and there is money to be made! And as you say, an idle unused Tesla SC is not making Tesla any money. MM
@@markymarkreviews You should measure charging in miles/km per hour. I think you will find Tesla is at least as fast as any other in charging speed on a V3 supercharger. What ICE drivers forget is it can charge unsupervised so by you have stretched your legs, had a comfort break and purchased provisions an EV is often quicker than an ICE car.
Maybe “yank” was too forceful a term. And another Tesla owner came to show me how to do it as it did not seem to budge at all when I tried. But lifting it slightly seems to be the secret. Thanks. MM
As a Tesla owner and share holder I appreciate Elon’s vision. Tesla and Elon are the only manufacture totally in on EV’s. The other manufacture were dragged kicking and screaming. Oh and please don’t YANK on the cord. Just gently lift it out of its cradle.
Tesla is only opening up underused chargers. They plan to grow the network to keep pace with EV growth and as the network expands, we should see more chargers open. If Tesla keeps to their word, everyone including Tesla owners will be happy. Big issue will be when all chargers are busy and someone takes up two chargers as their cars port is on the wrong side. Hopefully, new Superchargers will either be positioned to prevent this problem or have longer cables.
@@phaedrus2k My sister runs a Renault Zoe via ONTO. She is very happy with the whole process. I think they have reduced the monthly mileage allowance from 1000 miles to 750 miles recently. We have had our e-208 from new since 12/20. Purchased via a dealer. 15,000 miles so far.
Charged my e2008 at Aberystwyth Supercharger a few weeks ago. Only issue I had was a handshake fail, changed charger and it worked no problem. Must have been an issue with the charger.
I suspect not as these cables are extremely high powered. Much much higher voltage/kW than your typical home charger which is typically only 7kW. These Tesla SC can provide over 200kW if your car can accept those amounts. High risk of a safety hazard if the extension connection failed over time. I know you can get adaptors for use at Tesla chargers eg-Chademo but these are very short distance. MM
Was it part of the Tesla SC that is part of the trial (open to non Tesla cars)? I have yet to try my Hyundai Ioniq 5 but have heard it can be problematic also. Some sort of communication error between charger and car. MM
@@markymarkreviews hmm. I can only see the Charging stadions on map thats available for non-tesla cars. Because there is one tesla superchArging that dosent show up on my map.
It looks like tesla in the UK/EU have ccs plug, I did not know that. Here in the US they have their own plug which means you need an adapter. A little annoying. (Also I am not sure if super charging is available to non tesla cars but i believelevel 2 is) I like the e208! I hope we get more small hatchback evs in the US, at the moment its all trucks, crossovers and SUV'S. Not everyone wants one of those! (Maybe I am the only one)
All Tesla SC in UK/ Europe have had the CCS (or both CCS and Tesla cables on older units) cables for about 4-5 years now. The V3 (3rd Gen) are CCS only and capable of speeds up to 250kW. The e-208 (50 kWh battery) is capable of speeds “up to” 100kW. Some Tesla owners worry then that these slower charging EVs may congest the busy SC network even more. I am like you- I prefer smaller cars but EV battery tech is not quite there yet in providing the 250-300mile real world ranges in one go,that would enable greater sales of smaller EVs. MM
Not to mention Hyundai/Kia’s, BMWs, Audi & Porsche and may be even cars with the port on the nose like the Renault Zoe or MGs. Depends on the length of the charge cable and the SC position, as each Tesla site is slightly different. MM
I think the implication from Tesla, by opening up to all, is that there's no 'right' or 'wrong' bay to park in any more. As long as you don't park in two bays, you use whichever charger reaches your car. No priority for Teslas (or other cars with front right/ rear left charge ports). Maybe they'll repaint the lines and lengthen cables if it becomes a big problem.
@@richardalderton1047 Agreed. The issue arises when it will be very busy and all bays are taken but you have a car like my Ioniq 5 is using the cable from the adjoining bay and a Tesla or other EV turns up for the last spare bay but cannot use it as I am using that bay’s cable! May lead to arguments. When an empty site with plenty of bays available will be no problem though. This network will still not be a first choice for me as still too expensive. Excellent as a back up network though. Fast & Reliable. MM
@@richardalderton1047 I guess so. I have seen the schematic of EV charge port positions/EV makes vs Tesla SC position doing the rounds. I think it is important that all customers are happy though. Tesla EV owners have in effect paid for the privilege for use of the SC network (definitely built in to the purchase price of the car) and so I still feel a Tesla driver should get priority. But I doubt in the real world that will happen. (I am neither a present or past Tesla EV owner). MM
To be fair,due to the energy price crisis, the cost of electricity has risen for everybody. These non Tesla EV prices are still competitive. InstaVolt presently charge 57p/kWh. Osprey 49p/kWh. Ionity 69p/kWh (unless you own one of their affiliated brands of EV such as Hyundai/Kia or VW/Audi etc, in which case the price is nearer 30p/kWh). This opens up the EV charge infrastructure in the UK. And allows Tesla to check reliability and their software with non Tesla’s, without being immediately overwhelmed. And gives you options for an emergency quick top up anywhere in the country or on one off trips travelling long distance. And these prices are still in effect cheaper than petrol & diesel. MM
I heard a speculation that Tesla would be charging all users by time on the charger rather than actual Kw used to charge. So if you only have an EV that can manage a fast charge maximum of 50KWh you will pay TWICE per Kw than someone with a car that can manage 100 KWh!
@@mpwaterhouse Will have to wait and see. But at present it is definitely pence per kWh irrespective of speed. I think all modern EVs will have a minimum of 100kW going forward although there are a few new EVs that still peak at 50-80kW which is disappointing. MM
@@markymarkreviews Good point, from a sheer numbers perspective mass market current UK EVs like the Renault Zoe and Nissan Leaf still have fairly paltry FC peak rates. Our Chevy Bolt in the US also tops out at 50Kwh as did the BMW i3 we had prior to that. Our 2013 Fiat 500e has no FC capability but equally not really enough range to justify one.
How did the charging station get a CCS Combo plug on the end? Did Tesla dedicate certain units for non-Tesla charging? Or is there an adapter on the end?
All Tesla’s have been using the CCS standard for a few years. They used to use a very high speed capable Type 2 plug socket. Older SuperChargers have both cables so older models like the original Model S can still use them. But all modern Tesla’s (Model S,3,X & Y) now all use CCS in the UK & Europe. MM
I think because building a charging network that is only for 1 brand of car was seen as restrictive and unfair so various countries were going to restrict or not allow them to build new sites eventually. Especially now that sales of petrol/diesel cars are going to be banned within the next few years and there is a huge rush to EV driving. Every other EV charge network (GridServe, Ionity, InstaVolt, MFG, Shell, BP, etc) can be used by any car brand (including Tesla!) already. MM
@@markymarkreviews it does not make sense from my point of view, if they are the one investigating in this locations and many many ppl buy Tesla because of their charging network I would not like to do that as Tesla company owner, all other company’s are older than Tesla they should invest in their charger network even better they can all join and build even more than Tesla have. I remember a lot of critics when they were building out at the beginning some even call Tesla crazy. I definitely don’t agree with this is a good thing it does not depend on me.
@@markymarkreviews defo the Tesla app. All the bumph about which car you can buy but no “charge no Tesla” until a full device restart then it miraculously appeared. Thanks for responding.
@@michaelbruton3537 When registering on the app, you have to enter your payment details. I used my credit card details. You can see how much you have to pay in real time as you are charging, via the app. And then I paid my credit card bill at the end of the month. The Tesla charge amount was on my cc statement. I guess if you use your debit card card details, payment will be taken immediately. MM
nice of the other manufacturers and politicians to publicly thank Tesla for doing this. it's huge news for EV adoption so where's the praise for a man who they are all too keen to vilify?
Fair point. But I think that Elon realises that the Tesla SC network is not the only charging game in town any more. In Europe Ionity and Fastned provide high speed reliable chargers and they are also rapidly expanding. And the old fossil fuel companies like BP & Shell are starting to get their act together as they now realise there is money to be made from the explosive growth of EVs. And although the Tesla network can be busy, there are many stalls that are empty or quiet a lot of the time, or under utilised, and thus not earning as much money as they could do. MM
@@markymarkreviews I wonder just how much money there really is in charging. In any case Tesla should be recognised for opening it up. Instead they'll just avoid being accused of building a walled garden.
Firstly, as long as it is CCS enabled. Early Leafs we’re Chademo. As the charge port is on the front of the Leaf, I think you will have to check at your nearest Tesla SC site, as the Tesla cable may not reach. Or you may be able to position your car in the bay so that the nose of the car is as close to the charger as possible. MM
When my Ioniq5 finally arrives (probably mid Jan 😭) I can’t see me using the SC network very often, but it’s great to know that if I am caught short somewhere they are available now. It is a huge leap forward for EV adoption. I think there has been a lot of hype (along with doom and gloom) from some Tesla owners who were perhaps not aware of Elon’s long term strategy, but with the execution of a few particularly busy locations I don’t see it being a huge issue. Most non Tesla owners won’t bother either because of charge port location and etiquette or because of the high price per kWh. If you can accept 175KW+ then there are other options and if you do long journeys regularly then an Ionity subscription or similar would work out much cheaper. I just hope the promise of investment in more chargers with the extra revenue happens, especially with slightly longer cables/better design to allow other cars better access. Great video, thanks.
Agree. Won’t be a first choice for us either. The Ionity contract I have with my Hyundai is cheaper and their chargers even faster. But as a back up or emergency or just for a quick top up, when far from home, this will be great for all EV drivers. Thanks for your kind comments. MM
@@logitech4873 When Tesla solves FSD (and it will) every other car becomes functionally redundant - whether it's powered by petrol, diesel, hydrogen, nuclear fusion, fairy dust or elephant urine. FSD heralds era of robotaxis - and the need to own a car evaporates. We will buy what cars DO (ie: move us and stuff), and not what cars ARE. Tesla owners will have the OPTION to tap into the robotaxi network, and earn back the purchase price of their cars within 2 or 3 years. Robotaxis will be transport on demand - and at around 1/5 of the current cost of owning a car. When the majority of urban dwellers can get around MUCH cheaper than it is currently costing, people will vote through their wallets. Cars that cannot offer FSD simply won't be purchased. While there are lots of stupid people on the planet (around 90% of us) when it comes to money, people tend to use common sense.
@@brunosmith6925 mate, if I don't want to DRIVE, I take a bike or a train. I don't want stupid robotaxis that make no sense in the country side and will not help traffic in cities. Cars do not belong in cities. The solution is public transport, not stupid autonomous car that are a technical and legal nightmare. And IF you really want to take a car, but not drive it : just take a normal taxi or Uber (oh non but it is so less "cool"). And if you just don't want the burden of car owner sheep, just use a fleet carsharing app.
@@arthemis1039 Nobody cares what YOU want... the same as nobody cares what I want. The market dictates... and usually votes with their wallets. As can be seen from how Uber & Lyft have upset the taxi industries all over the world, the majority of urban dwellers will gladly use a cheaper, easier and more convenient form of Uber, and this will arrive when FSD enables it. Industries are disrupted when factors like ease, convenience and low cost are introduced. I have a perfecly functional mini-VHS camcorder... It works... and I WANT TO USE IT... but the cassette tapes are no longer made. It's now easier, cheaper, more convenient, and faster to film on my smartphone and send the movie to anyone anywhere in the world, or store it on my cloud account. The market dictates - not you or me.
I have a Corsa e (ie basically the same car as your wife's ) I wont be using the Tesla chargers unless I'm desperate, Imagine all those snooty Tesla owners looking down on my Vauxhall Corsa then there is the price.
Agree with you on both points. Since being an EV driver for the last 6+ years, it is worth noting that Tesla owners have been using every other charging network going, as I have invariably had to wait for one to finish charging on an InstaVolt, a GridServe, an Osprey ,an Ionity (my preferred network as I get cheap rate), and even the free PodPoints at my local Tescos! Basically, they use every network available and have still had their own closed off to others, exclusive network to use! Think of this as (and I dread using this phrase..) “Levelling Up!”😀. It is something for both EV parties to get used to. Is only fair though. MM
I have a model 3 with no means of charging at home except my granny cable and nearest SuC is approximately 55 miles away , so of course I'm going to use other chargers, yes including free Tesco ones.
Here in the UK for an ICE car we use the term Accelerator Pedal. In an EV we use the term Accelerator Pedal. In the US it seems you describe "Go" pedals in a very strange way for all vehicles. Filling up with gas when you are pumping a liquid makes no sense. Gasoline has not been used to make gas for gas lights for around one hundred years yet the term persists.
