Tesla has started a pilot program rolling out a virtual queue to use its most popular chargers. The company says it will start with the busiest locations and roll out the queue system to more chargers if feedback is positive.
The company didn’t explain how drivers would queue up, though the term “virtual queuing” suggests you’ll claim your place in line through an app.
They Invited Everyone In
The move comes as more and more non-Tesla owners begin using Tesla chargers.
Tesla operates the country’s largest electric vehicle (EV) charging network. That won’t be true forever, as its growth has slowed and more rivals have entered the charging business. But, for now, Tesla’s Supercharger network is America’s largest.
For years, it served only Tesla owners. Tesla had its own proprietary plug shape. Other EV builders used a different shape. That left EV owners searching for a public charger that fit their car, as if some gas pumps only fit Fords.
But last year, the auto industry came to its senses. Tesla offered to let other companies use its plug, and virtually the entire auto industry signed on. This year, a handful of non-Tesla models come with the Tesla port built-in. By next year, most will.
Tesla must reprogram the Supercharger network to accept each brand’s cars. That takes time. As of today, the company says Superchargers support cars from Ford, General Motors, Lucid, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Polestar, Rivian, Tesla, and Volvo.
That means more traffic at Superchargers than ever.
It’s causing at least some conflict. Electrek reports that Tesla announced the queue system only “after a fight broke out at a station between owners arguing about who is next to charge.”