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Seconding this. Recently took a few long-ish trips in the EU, non-Tesla chargers are utter garbage. None of them just accept a credit/debit (EC) card, there ar

Seconding this. Recently took a few long-ish trips in the EU, non-Tesla chargers are utter garbage. None of them just accept a credit/debit (EC) card, there are 20 different networks and you need to create an account with each of them, assuming of course their signup system isn't down today, or just the entire network. Having to randomly re-log because they kick you out of the app when they encounter any unexpected server reply or timeout, etc. And this is just the app+payment garbage. The charger themselves.... 30% of them don't work, 10% don't exist at all, 10% are inaccessible (inside a private garage, inside private premises, etc), the rest are understandably crowded and you end up waiting a lot. The Aldi and Lidl (supermarket chains) chargers are actually the least bad, and once they stopped being free the crazy overcrowding also stopped. I just avoid all others at this point.

darkwater 4y ago
Just 20 networks? :D And then you have the apps that let you use more networks at once that overcharge you an abusive surplus (Bonnet being the only exception I'm aware of)
vel0city 4y ago
> None of them just accept a credit/debit (EC) card So, do Tesla chargers in Europe have a card reader on them? Or do they also not "just accept a credit/debit (EC) card"? Could someone just go to a Tesla charger without having any kind of Tesla account and start charging? Sounds like Tesla is a lot like those other charging networks, huh.
kybernetikos 4y ago
Just used a bunch of non-tesla fast chargers in the Netherlands. Multiple fast chargers along all major routes, never had to wait for a charger (the Netherlands has incredibly high number of chargers per sq mile, and we drove past a bunch being built too), all the chargers we used were tap with credit/debit card to pay. They had solar canopies, 100% green energy and were clear and straightforward to use, with a cord system that could go over the car if you were parked on the wrong side. In fact, the only negative part of the experience was the fact that often the facilities around them were sparse, so it was a pleasant 20 minute walk in the woods rather than the fast food we'd been expecting to get. It's definitely not like that everywhere in Europe, but there are countries that seem to be getting it right.

darkwater 4y ago

Just 20 networks? :D And then you have the apps that let you use more networks at once that overcharge you an abusive surplus (Bonnet being the only exception I'm aware of)

vel0city 4y ago

> None of them just accept a credit/debit (EC) card So, do Tesla chargers in Europe have a card reader on them? Or do they also not "just accept a credit/debit (EC) card"? Could someone just go to a Tesla charger without having any kind of Tesla account and start charging? Sounds like Tesla is a lot like those other charging networks, huh.

kybernetikos 4y ago

Just used a bunch of non-tesla fast chargers in the Netherlands. Multiple fast chargers along all major routes, never had to wait for a charger (the Netherlands has incredibly high number of chargers per sq mile, and we drove past a bunch being built too), all the chargers we used were tap with credit/debit card to pay. They had solar canopies, 100% green energy and were clear and straightforward to use, with a cord system that could go over the car if you were parked on the wrong side. In fact, the only negative part of the experience was the fact that often the facilities around them were sparse, so it was a pleasant 20 minute walk in the woods rather than the fast food we'd been expecting to get. It's definitely not like that everywhere in Europe, but there are countries that seem to be getting it right.