Tesla Vehicle Charging Only ? Destination charger policing

[Pjlightning]

If you get to a hotel that has free Tesla chargers out front for guests, and the signs read:
“Tesla Vehicle Charging Only”
Does that mean it’s bad etiquette to park a Lightning there and charge up (using an adapter) ?

I know there’s sensitivity around Tesla chargers , but would this sort of sign be set by Tesla policy when they installed them,
Or is it up to the hotel to decide if a non Tesla can use the chargers?

I suppose these sorts of signs could just be identifying the spots as compatible only to Tesla type charge ports?

As a first time EV owner, I’m not sure how long these adapters have been around that allow for non Teslas to plug into these chargers. Maybe these signs pre-dated the adapters.

Nonetheless, I wouldn’t want to risk ticking off a Tesla owner by taking up one of “their” spots for charging, unless that’s an antiquated concept these days?
(I’d like to keep my new Truck free of Key- scratches if at all possible ).

Just curious if anyone is up on the latest protocols on this sort of thing?

 

[RickLightning]

I wouldn't hesitate to use it. Clearly old signs.

To answer your question, the owner of the chargers can of course decide who can, or cannot, charge there. I'd tell them they need to change their signs.

 

[Blainestang]

It’s up to the hotel. Probably they would be fine with you charging your Lightning. The point of the sign is probably so that anything that can’t charge there doesn’t block it.

Would some Tesla owners complain? Sure. But it’s the hotel’s charger, not theirs.

 

[metroshot]

I wouldn't worry about it.
The signs were made when Teslas were the only game in town.

Nowadays, there are so many other non Teslas out there.

I use one of 6 free / no cost L2 Tesla destination charger w/ J1772 plug alongside 8 fee pay Tesla SC.

No one has said a thing.

 

[chillaban]

I would personally ask. At one point the Tesla Destination Charging program involved Tesla paying for both the chargers and their installation so it was indeed intended for Tesla usage. But many other Tesla wall chargers were paid for by the properties themselves.

FWIW the newest Tesla wall chargers do support enforcing they’ll only charge Teslas if configured to do so, so don’t be surprised if the adapter doesn’t always work.

 

[F-150 Prius]

I've been leaving my Tesla key with the valet for years because there's another EV plugged into the Tesla HPWCs (and two others waiting in line ahead of me.) If there's a few cars waiting, they "ration" the charger time and I get maybe 2hrs of charging overnight (which might add 5-10 miles' range) so it's basically useless when traveling. I just set a reminder for 10:00pm and go to the Supercharger to sit for 30 minutes and read these forum sites … : ) … or get up early and pretend to be a "morning person" …

 

[Tony Burgh]

I read that sign as Tesla (stop) EV charging only.
No non-charging parking.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

If you get to a hotel that has free Tesla chargers out front for guests, and the signs read:
“Tesla Vehicle Charging Only”
Does that mean it’s bad etiquette to park a Lightning there and charge up (using an adapter) ?

I know there’s sensitivity around Tesla chargers , but would this sort of sign be set by Tesla policy when they installed them,
Or is it up to the hotel to decide if a non Tesla can use the chargers?

I suppose these sorts of signs could just be identifying the spots as compatible only to Tesla type charge ports?

As a first time EV owner, I’m not sure how long these adapters have been around that allow for non Teslas to plug into these chargers. Maybe these signs pre-dated the adapters.

Nonetheless, I wouldn’t want to risk ticking off a Tesla owner by taking up one of “their” spots for charging, unless that’s an antiquated concept these days?
(I’d like to keep my new Truck free of Key- scratches if at all possible ).

Just curious if anyone is up on the latest protocols on this sort of thing?

As a Tesla owner, I only mind if a vehicle is taking up the spot and not charging. If it’s getting juice, I don’t care.

That said, I park non-Teslas one spot over and plug in. Not using the spot..just the charger.

 

[F150ROD]

I think those signs were made because of the different plus Teslas use. It was just to avoid confusion by other EV drivers on why it would t plug in. Now we have adapters and all is well.

 

[Yellow Buddy]

I think those signs were made because of the different plus Teslas use. It was just to avoid confusion by other EV drivers on why it would t plug in. Now we have adapters and all is well.

I've seen J1772 destination chargers that have the signs as well. It's not a perfect world but in the beginning Tesla covered the costs of the chargers. So I can understand if they only wanted to support their brand.

Also at hotels particularly I frequently see Tesla designation chargers with Tesla plugs available (free of charge) sitting next to some other brand of non-Tesla J1772 L2 chargers that aren't free and require payment. My best guess is because those were covered by Tesla for hardware and installation. In those cases I'll opt to borrow the Tesla ones with a Lectron adapter but I do end up feeling bad if I come back and see a Tesla waiting for one.

 

[Pjlightning]

Thanks for the feedback. Asking this front desk person, they didn’t seem to care who used the spaces, so long as you were actively charging. They said they hadn’t heard about any upset Tesla drivers complaining about non-Tesla usage, but of course said “ya never know on a busy weekend” (which this isn’t).

I’ll take my chances and hope I don’t ruffle any feathers.

 

[Lime Green]

I've installed Tesla level 2 chargers at some of my commercial properties for my tenants and their customers/visitors to use. These are just the Gen 1 or 2 wall chargers. The Gen 2 had more programs from Tesla like package deals for multiple chargers and G2 were designed to run multiple on a circuit. As for the signs, back in the early days a lot of us were using those exact same Tesla charging only signs. They were readily available from a few sources, not actually from Tesla. That said, just plug in and charge. No one is going to care if you're charging a Lightning or other EV besides a Tesla. Just don't block/use the space if you're not going to charge and move when you're done.

 

[Kev12345]

who's going to stop you? the charging police?

 

[Pjlightning]

I've installed Tesla level 2 chargers at some of my commercial properties for my tenants and their customers/visitors to use. These are just the Gen 1 or 2 wall chargers. The Gen 2 had more programs from Tesla like package deals for multiple chargers and G2 were designed to run multiple on a circuit. As for the signs, back in the early days a lot of us were using those exact same Tesla charging only signs. They were readily available from a few sources, not actually from Tesla. That said, just plug in and charge. No one is going to care if you're charging a Lightning or other EV besides a Tesla. Just don't block/use the space if you're not going to charge and move when you're done.

Really appreciate the history here, it’s all new to me, and fascinating to see how we got here - I feel like both a naive late to the game EV owner, carefully looking to play by the rules, but also an early adopter in the Ford Lightning- which is cool, but lots of people ahead of us from Tesla forged the way here - so I totally respect that (and wish we had that charging network! ).
In a few years, hopefully this will all seem like comical hand wringing, when we have more adoption and a far stronger infrastructure to handle it.

 

[Pjlightning]

who's going to stop you? the charging police?

it’s more about trying to be respectful to the ethos of it all. I’m not trying to tick anyone off (or have my truck get vandalized by an annoyed, sensitive Tesla zealot - which I hear there are more than a few).
I can play by the rules no problem, once I understand them, and the brand new truck frankly costs too much to risk accidentally running afoul of unwritten rules that might invite retribution. I just don’t need any of that.

Sponsored