It’s Official: GM EVs Now Supported at Tesla Superchargers

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After an extended, very long time ready and plenty of rumors, it’s lastly official. GM’s electrical automobiles are lastly formally supported at Tesla Superchargers, supplied you may have a CCS adapter. I’ve already half lined this in an article that got here out hours earlier than the announcement, nevertheless it’s time so as to add data and replace now that the whole lot is official and never executed by pretending I personal an F-150 Lightning!

Sure, It Works

In my previous articleI defined that the net rumor mill was in overdrive (or, the EV equal) because the information was about to be introduced. Some individuals, who knew upfront concerning the announcement, have been taking GM EVs out to Supercharger stations to see in the event that they have been working, and so they have been. So, I did the identical factor. As of simply hours earlier than the announcement, my Bolt EUV was in a position to cost at a Supercharger, however the Tesla app didn’t formally help it. Both means, the car was allowed, however I needed to inform the app that I had an formally supported car.

One of the best information was that the expertise was boring. I simply plugged it in, advised the app to begin a cost, and it began charging. There have been no billing points, no issues with needing to plug it in twice, or the rest. It simply labored because it was alleged to.

About the one factor that might make the expertise much more boring (the nice form of boring) could be to allow Plug&Cost for the Bolt and EUV like EVgo does, however having the choice to make use of Tesla Superchargers remains to be nice, even when that final little little bit of luxurious comfort isn’t there.

Let’s Discuss About That $225 Adapter

Sadly, the rumor is true. GM isn’t doing what Ford and Rivian did. The corporate is NOT making a gift of adapters to foster good will. GM desires to not solely have you ever pay for it, however pay an additional $25 above what you can get a possible similar adapter for elsewhere.

Should you’re conversant in CCS-NACS adapters, you most likely acknowledge that GM is promoting a Lectron adapter, which you will get for $199. However, should you purchase the Lectron adapter, it doesn’t undergo GM’s clergymen, who give every one a proprietary blessing and exorcism earlier than it heads out the door. Should you purchase a heretical non-blessed adapter, GM threatens you with lack of guarantee (one thing they actually can’t do beneath U.S. warranty law except they will show that the adapter brought on injury — so, be sure you purchase one!).

However, critically, the massive distinction seems to be that GM’s sellers must make a couple of dollars, so that they’re making a couple of dollars.

I really feel that GM ought to have given away adapters. GM made the selection to modify away from the CCS commonplace to the NACS commonplace. Positive, Ford did it first, but when GM had caught to CCS, different automakers would have hesitated extra, leaving CCS as a viable commonplace long-term. There have been undoubtedly good causes to modify (which I’m positive you all will inform me about within the feedback—simply know that I agree with most of them). However GM selected CCS after which GM made the selection to modify away to NACS that diminished the worth of consumers’ automobiles. It ought to have been on them to make it proper, not the shoppers.

Software program Assist (Each GM & Third Events) Occurred Quick

One other factor I seen early within the morning on the day of the announcement is that software program modifications occurred quick.

First off, GM’s app up to date and added the Supercharger community to the record of networks within the myChevrolet app. What isn’t identified but is whether or not GM goes so as to add Plug&Cost for all automobiles, or simply newer Ultium automobiles. However, you can begin a cost from throughout the app.

The Tesla app additionally added help for GM automobiles rapidly. Now, as an alternative of getting to idiot the app into beginning a cost by telling it you may have one other car (one thing that didn’t work till lately), you will be sincere and get a cost. It provides you an inventory of appropriate stations (extra on this in a minute), and the whole lot.

Different third-party apps like PlugShare, A Higher Route Planner, and others rapidly up to date GM car capabilities. For instance, PlugShare enables you to see which NACS stations are appropriate with a GM car should you inform it you may have the NACS adapter. That is vital, as a result of many Superchargers don’t help non-Tesla EVs.

This Is Large Information, However Not As Large As Many Assume

Because the proprietor of a GM car, I’m glad to see this occur. It not solely provides an vital second possibility in lots of locations, however there are additionally locations the place Tesla Superchargers are actually the one factor round. This may undoubtedly assist me take journeys.

However, on the similar time, taking a look at PlugShare to see what all I’ve gained entry to is a bit disappointing. In New Mexico alongside I-10, there’s a pleasant station not removed from my home that this provides, and there are one other couple of good station choices this offers me in El Paso. However Deming’s Supercharger is V2, and thus doesn’t help the adapter. The identical is true additional down the street in Willcox, Arizona. Going up I-25, there’s a Supercharger in Socorro that helps NACS automobiles, however the station in Fact or Penalties is an older V2 and solely helps Tesla automobiles.

This case will change, in fact, as Tesla provides extra V3 and V4 stations, in addition to performs upgrades on some V2 stations. So, the usefulness of NACS charging goes to extend over time. Non-Tesla charging networks may also begin providing extra connectors, and certain finally exchange CCS or CHAdeMO connectors over time.

Whereas I do know there are CCS drivers who’re going to cost at Superchargers virtually completely now away from dwelling and by no means look again on the networks that permit them down, I’m not going to try this. I need to see a various and resilient EV charging community, and monopolies haven’t traditionally supplied good service in the long term.

So, for me a minimum of, Superchargers are going to be extra of a backup possibility except I do know there are not any different suppliers or the others aren’t going to work (overcrowded, damaged, and so forth.). This could not solely assist maintain different suppliers going, but in addition give them incentive to be higher, not get unhealthy evaluations on apps like PlugShare, and maintain drivers coming for a cost.

No matter your alternative is on this (preferring Superchargers or preferring different suppliers), we’re all going to win right here.

Pictures by Jennifer Sensiba.