Tesla begins testing Virtual Queue at superchargers this week

[Old Spice]

Tesla Will Begin Virtual Supercharger Lines This Week

https://insideevs.com/news/764194/tesla-supercharger-queueing-pilot-starts/

Tesla's director of charging, Max De Zegher, confirmed on X that the rollout of the pilot will begin this week at select charging sites. The Supercharging team used last week as a last-minute "pressure test" on the system with internal groups before opening up the pilot to the public.

De Zegher says that last week's test was all about figuring out how to handle "corner cases and bad actors." This is essentially Tesla's way to iron out all of its wrinkles before making the program live to actual EV drivers. We presume that means figuring out how to deal with line cutters, spot hogs, and the occasional EV owner who racks up idle fees.

For a Tesla, this seems easy. Use the proprietary in-car software to inform the user when it's their time to plug in. Kind of like a virtual "take a number" system to avoid throwing hands at Supercharger Stall No. 4.

It's probably fair to anticipate that Tesla's engineers are even considering taking into account Tesla being the mothership for all of its cars' data, meaning that it can easily tap into key metrics like navigation and traffic data to easily predict how to prioritize Supercharger access to a Tesla-branded car routing to a charger at any given time.

Now, there's no guaranteeing that's how Tesla will actually prioritize queuing, but it makes sense. And those non-Tesla owners with access to the Tesla app can presumably be notified when it's their turn to charge. But it's unclear if they would be able to start their place in line before they arrive or not.

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[CyberGus]

"NOTE: Tesla has detected that you have cut the line at this Supercharger station. As your time is far more valuable than everyone else's, you will be charged $4.20 per kWh and $0.69 per second idle fee. Proceed? [y/n]"

 

[REM]

It's about time they started addressing this.

Now, Tesla, on to figuring out how to keep people from taking up the charging stall for folks hauling/pulling things behind them. Nearly every time I have been to a supercharger, idiots are taking up these stations while others are empty.

It's infuriating.

 

[Ivessm]

All, I have been one of those end users with a trailer and the CT does block 2 chargers when I'm able to pull sideways with the trailer still attached. The 2nd Pedestal in from the end is blocked by the front of the CT and the 1st Pedestal in is the one that gets plugged into the CT.

I do monitor the Supercharger fill/open stalls and I have never gotten into a situation where there hasn't been an available slot for someone to pull into. If I was in such a situation I would get out and talk to the new charger person and tell them I'm sorry but I only have x # of minutes left and I'm gone. Luckily, I have not had to do that yet.

At least I'm better than some of the Brand X guys charging and could care less about blocking 2 or 3 slots.

 

[Edphonse]

It's about time they started addressing this.

Now, Tesla, on to figuring out how to keep people from taking up the charging stall for folks hauling/pulling things behind them. Nearly every time I have been to a supercharger, idiots are taking up these stations while others are empty.

It's infuriating.

Last time I towed, I was going from Washington state to Nebraska. I very specifically remember pulling up to a charger location and every stall was full. I dropped my trailer and one spot opened up in the 3 min it took to drop my trailer. Pulled in, started charging. Less than 10 min later I was literally one of 2 people left at an 8 stall location. Sometimes people end up in the end stall as a last resort, sometimes they end up there because they are trying to avoid "sharing power with a nearby stall."

It's inevitable that people will just get an end stall.

My favorite charging experience while towing had the stalls at the back of a gas station with the power supplies not immediately next to the stalls. Behind the stalls was empty dirt. I was able to pull along the back side of the stalls (in the dirt) and pick the pedestal I wanted.

 

[getsometom]

I'm curious how this is going to work for other EV brands that require two parking spots when charging due to their port location.

 

[REM]

All, I have been one of those end users with a trailer and the CT does block 2 chargers when I'm able to pull sideways with the trailer still attached. The 2nd Pedestal in from the end is blocked by the front of the CT and the 1st Pedestal in is the one that gets plugged into the CT.

I do monitor the Supercharger fill/open stalls and I have never gotten into a situation where there hasn't been an available slot for someone to pull into. If I was in such a situation I would get out and talk to the new charger person and tell them I'm sorry but I only have x # of minutes left and I'm gone. Luckily, I have not had to do that yet.

At least I'm better than some of the Brand X guys charging and could care less about blocking 2 or 3 slots.

All I expect is best effort from folks; and when a Model 3 is taking the stall meant for hauling, that is definitely not their best effort lol.

 

[REM]

I'm curious how this is going to work for other EV brands that require two parking spots when charging due to their port location.

I really wish Tesla would not open the charging network to OEMs that utterly refuse to place the charge port in the correct location.

 

[vandytom]

I'm curious how this is going to work for other EV brands that require two parking spots when charging due to their port location.

They get last spot ?. Hope they prioritize Tesla and also consider bigger battery like our CyberTruck.

 

[Macgreiner]

Looking forward to a good solution for this. It will only become more of an issue as both the Tesla and other EV groups grow larger.

 

[CyberGus]

Now, Tesla, on to figuring out how to keep people from taking up the charging stall for folks hauling/pulling things behind them.

The pull-thru stalls should refuse to connect to a vehicle that is not in Tow Mode (unless there are no other free stalls)

 

[REM]

The pull-thru stalls should refused to connect to a vehicle that is not in Tow Mode (unless there are no other free stalls)

Fully agreed.

 

[Sjohnson20]

I really wish Tesla would not open the charging network to OEMs that utterly refuse to place the charge port in the correct location.

or only let them use the v4s with the longer cables. I guess if Tesla eventually upgrades most of the locations to v4 it won’t matter.

 

[HaulingAss]

Looking forward to a good solution for this. It will only become more of an issue as both the Tesla and other EV groups grow larger.

You are worried about nothing. I've never had to wait for a stall in over 7 years. One time I thought they were all full, but then a car left. I've spent more time waiting for a pump at Costco. There simply aren't enough non-Tesla EVs in North America to matter (in terms of overwhelming the ever growing Supercharger Network).

 

[Gigahorse]

I'm curious how this is going to work for other EV brands that require two parking spots when charging due to their port location.

Que, what que. Zips in with Ford lightning grabbing two recently opened stalls.

Tesla needs to accelerate the number of chargers being put in significantly, the charge speed/curve of the CT is WAYYYY slower than it should be, and waiting 20mins to be able to charge is nuts.


Still waiting for 500kw of charging

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