Tesla Drivers: Prepare Before Thanksgiving!
Tesla has just unveiled a new Supercharger congestion charge at various sites around the US. This penalty is costlier than other idling fees, and acts as a stimulus for Tesla vehicle owners to be more cognizant when plugging in their cars, such as the Model S series.
The congestion payment plan switches out the inactivity charges, declared in 2016, at selected Supercharger spots. These fees become applicable when two specifications are met: the Supercharger site is overflowing with activity and the car’s battery charge has hit 90%.
The Tesla app will notify users of the approaching end to their Supercharging session, granting them a five-minute window to unplug and exit before any penalties for overcrowding are inflicted.
Users who experience congestion charges will be charged $1 per minute for as long as their vehicle remains connected, with no ceiling implemented to promote appropriate charging patterns and optimize the operation of Supercharger sites. As a result, taking an extensive break could potentially lead to a $40 fee.
No matter if there is an available spot or not, Tesla has said that drivers should not charge their vehicles at busy Supercharger locations. The automaker has yet to define what “busy” really means, so there is some ambiguity there. Additionally, it is unknown if the Supercharger stations that have Magic Dock, allowing non-Tesla cars to charge, are included in this rule.
In contrast with idle fees levied in locations outside the United States, there will be just half a dollar charged per minute if spots are unoccupied or when the Supercharger station has been utilised up till fifty percent. When completely filled, the rates would increase to a maximum of one dollar.
Significantly, congestion and idling fees are not interlinked – when congestion charges apply, the idling cost does not, and similarly, these two don’t coexist in the opposite scenario. This system applies to any Tesla automobile, including those capable of free Supercharging or with Supercharging credits.
It is suggested that users examine if they have sustained congestion costs with the Tesla mobile app; this gives them in-depth particulars about their Supercharger experience. By doing this, they will be able to determine if they are liable for any idle fees.
Tesla recently brought in new charges for congested areas, though they haven’t clarified if this is a temporary or permanent provision. This could not have come at a more inconvenient moment, as the Thanksgiving holidays had already begun – when many families were either on vacation or about to embark on a road-trip. It’s a relief that the destination charging stations are excluded from this policy.
