Today marks a monumental day for electric vehicle (EV) charging in the US. Tesla has officially enabled other EV makes to charge on its Supercharger network, allowing drivers to access the same type of fast charging experience that Tesla owners have enjoyed for years. We decided to take our Chevy Bolt to one of the 10 Superchargers enabled for non-Tesla vehicles to see how it went.
The station in Brewster was about 30 miles from our house and we arrived with close to 80% charge on the Bolt. We were the only non-Tesla car there, so we didn’t feel bad about taking up two spots. The Chevy Bolt has its charger port on the front driver side, while the Tesla has it at the rear driver’s side, so we had to pull into the spot forward.
Before initiating a charge, we made sure the cable was long enough to reach the Bolt charger and it did with relative ease. We then opened the Tesla app and found a new tab called “Charge your Non-Tesla” which showed us a map of nearby chargers. Once we were at the charger, we entered the stall number and were ready to charge.
Plugging in was a bit tricky due to some residual snow from a snowstorm, but after some finagling, we got the charge initiated. Since we were already at 80% charge on the Bolt, we only got about 24kW of charging speed. We were charged $1.47 for 3kWh of power.
This is a huge step forward for EV charging in the US. With the flip of a switch, Tesla has now enabled almost every EV to get the type of charging experience they deserve. Hopefully more and more stations come online soon. This small step of Supercharger power for our Chevy Bolt is a giant leap for EV adoption.
FAQ
Q1. When will electric cars be available in the UK?
A1. Electric cars are already available in the UK and can be purchased from a variety of dealerships.
Q2. Where can I find electric car charging stations near me?
A2. You can find electric car charging stations near you by using online maps or apps such as PlugShare or ChargePoint.
Q3. Which electric car is the best?
A3. The best electric car depends on your individual needs and preferences. Some popular models include the Tesla Model 3, Nissan Leaf, and Chevrolet Bolt EV.
