All electric car drivers should start using Tesla Superchargers
More than half of Tesla Superchargers, including all the latest V4 units, are open to any electric car with a CCS connection – which is most of them. You can find them via Zap-Maps or Tesla's own site, but it's clear that this is still not common knowledge.
With concerns over the availability of public chargers such a huge issue for plenty of buyers considering converting to EVs, this could be a massive help that many people aren't aware of. The newest V4 units are even contactless, so you don't need an app to sort payment, unlike earlier V3 chargers. Advertisement - Article continues below
And here's even more public service information...! We've previously been scathing about how prohibitively costly public charging is, and how too many chargers don't have any pricing transparency. If you can top up at home for the vast majority of miles, then the numbers really stack up for an electric vehicle. However, if public charging is a regular fallback, then the cost is a lot less favourable versus petrol or diesel. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below
Predictably, and probably fair enough, Tesla charges owners of other brands' cars more than it does its own army of loyal drivers, but the units, generally 250kW ones – so, super-fast – are significantly below the apparent current norm of 85p-plus per kWh you find at most service stations or highway chargers. Admittedly, with Tesla you do have to watch out for steep overstay charges designed to make sure you vacate the spot as soon as the car hits the required level. Don't dwell too long over that coffee or comfort break, then.
I genuinely don't want to sound like a walking Tesla advert – the company's cars are generally great, but then so are a lot of other EVs, and those models don't come with any baggage around the firm's figurehead, if that sort of thing bothers you. But making life easier for the growing number of electric vehicle drivers is really important, and hopefully this column will act as a sneaky hack to help Auto Express readers get ahead in any public charging chaos during the summer getaway!
Did you know you can sell your car through Auto Express ? We'll help you get a great price and find a great deal on a new car, too .
Find a car with the experts New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
New Xiaomi YU7 2025 review: a world-beating new EV to worry the establishment
BMW or Mercedes would do anything to keep the new Xiaomi YU7 from sale in the UK and Europe, and this is why The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail
The Electric Car Grant is here: Government's new £3,750 EV discount in detail
The government has set out its plan to help reduce the cost of affordable EVs by introducing a new £3,750 Electric Car Grant for new EVs sold under £3… New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
New MG IM5 has the Tesla Model 3 beaten on price and range
The all-electric IM5 brings new technology and design to the MG line-up
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