Yes, you may use a Tesla charging station to recharge your BMW electric vehicle. It can have some restrictions, though, and you might need to purchase other components like an adaptor. BMW electric cars and other non-Tesla vehicles may use any of the numerous Tesla charging stations located throughout the US thanks to a few available Tesla adapters.
I’m Scott, a huge fan of BMWs and a long-time owner of these incredible vehicles. I’m here to chronicle my encounters with BMWs over the years and, hopefully, to be of use to others.
In This Article...
Tesla chargers can be used, but you’ll need to buy an adapter.
Yes, there are restrictions and you must first buy an adaptor before using a non-Tesla charging station to charge your electric car. We go over what you’ll need, what you should be aware of, and a selection of available equipment in the video up above.
1) Using Tesla high-speed Superchargers is not the topic here. Superchargers can only be used by Tesla vehicles, and there are no adapters that would let you use a Supercharger if your EV isn’t a Tesla. There have been reports that Tesla may let other electric vehicles to utilize its Supercharger network, but as of now, these are only hearsay.
2) In this video, we’re focusing primarily on the North American market. Tesla’s vehicles use separate connectors and operate under different charging standards in Europe. The charging process is actually extremely different from what we have in North America because not all Tesla vehicles sold in Europe use Tesla’s proprietary connector any longer.
Now, other electric vehicles can use Tesla Superchargers: Here’s How It Works
Other electric vehicle owners are now able to recharge their batteries at Tesla’s Supercharger facilities.
Although now merely a tiny pilot project, Tesla and the electric vehicle industry as a whole will benefit from the Supercharger network’s unlocking. Exclusive access to the Supercharger network has long been one of the biggest advantages of owning a Tesla, even if public charging networks from companies like Ionity and Electrify America are improving.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has long talked about opening up the network and has previously said that other manufacturers have been given the opportunity to use it, but none have. Currently, that is about to alter.
The trial initiative, which is described in a blog post by Tesla that was published today (November 1), would make 10 Supercharger stations in the Netherlands accessible to other EVs. These vehicles’ drivers must utilize the Tesla mobile app. To begin, they select the brand-new “Charge Your Non-Tesla” option and enter a payment method.
Tesla drivers can continue to use the chargers as usual, however the trial project is only open to Dutch residents who own EVs. EV owners from other countries are not yet eligible. Additionally, Tesla owners who own additional EVs can charge those vehicles using the same Tesla app.
All Superchargers that work with non-Tesla vehicles have the CCS connection, which is currently standard on all fast-charging electric vehicles sold in Europe.
The fee for other EV drivers to access Superchargers is not yet known by Tesla. Instead, the business claims: “Pricing for non-Tesla drivers accounts for additional expenses paid to support charging a wide range of vehicles and modifications made to our sites to serve these vehicles. The Tesla app allows you to view charging prices, which change depending on the location. A charging membership can reduce the cost of charging per kWh.”
Uber App
At the foot of each Supercharger post is a label with a special identification number. Simply choose post 4A in the Tesla app to start charging if you are taking the wire from post 4A. Please be aware that your session will time out and you will need to restart it if you don’t plug in within two minutes of choosing a post.
Will Supercharging for Non-Tesla Vehicles be available in the app for Tesla drivers to use so they can charge other EVs and access their Tesla products from a single account?
Yes. The Tesla app provides access to all Tesla goods and services. Tesla owners are able to charge non-Tesla vehicles using their current account.
Can you use a Tesla charger to charge a BMW i3?
They are not employed by Tesla’s Superchargers. This adaptor isn’t particularly useful unless you frequently stay at B&Bs or motels that only provide Tesla “Destination” chargers or have a Tesla and home charger in your garage.
Can a Tesla charger be used with a BMW 530e?
Tesla drivers may, however, use the level 1 (120v) and level 2 (240v) chargers that BMW and all other manufacturers of electric vehicles use because each car comes with an adapter.
Can Mercedes charge at Tesla?
Many plugs will work with Mercedes electric automobiles, which will please owners of electric vehicles already. For example, Tesla launched a non-proprietary wall charger designed to be interoperable with non-Tesla EVs.
With the use of an adapter, the J1772 Gen 2 Wall Connector will function with Tesla, enabling the charging of both a Tesla and a Mercedes EV with the same wall unit.
Commercial charging stations utilize DC current to provide a faster charge while a Level 2 at-home or at-work charger often uses AC current. Both charging methods work with Mercedes EVs, and charging stations will only use the highest power that your vehicle can tolerate.
Can a Tesla supercharger be used to recharge a BMW i4?
The lengthy response is that we have compiled an A-Z list of electric vehicles with CCS so all you have to do is search to see if your vehicle is listed because the many types of chargers can be confusing.
Notably, vehicles using CHADEMO, like as the Nissan LEAF, won’t be able to utilize the Supercharger network.
*This list will be updated as new electric vehicles become available; it is not exhaustive.
BMW is able to use Tesla Superchargers.
With a pilot project in the Netherlands, Tesla, one of the most prestigious automakers in the world, opened its charging network to other electric vehicles. The business declared that non-Tesla vehicle owners would be able to access superchargers at ten different locations throughout the Netherlands via the Tesla app. This indicates that you can use a Tesla charging station to charge your non-Tesla EV. There are a few things you should keep in mind, though.
Tesla’s high-speed superchargers can only be utilized by Tesla vehicles, despite there being charging stations for non-Tesla drivers. Therefore, it is not possible to utilize a Supercharger with a BMW electric vehicle because to the lack of suitable adapters. The truth is that Tesla has thought about allowing other electric vehicles access to its Supercharger network. However, nothing has been officially confirmed by the company, so these are still just rumors.
Tesla’s automobiles need various connectors because European charging standards are different from American ones. Due to the fact that not all Tesla vehicles sold in Europe utilize Tesla’s specialized connector, the charging process is very different from that of other markets, like as North America.
Tesla uses the CCS standard in Europe so that a variety of vehicles can charge at locations without an adapter with a similar plug. Tesla claims that non-Tesla drivers using its charging stations could result in the business spending more money to support a variety of vehicles and make site modifications to accommodate these vehicles. This, it claims, advances Tesla’s objective of accelerating the global switch to sustainable energy.
As rival automakers seek to launch new electric vehicles, Tesla has more than 25,000 Superchargers installed across the world while they have formed alliances or invested in network firms. The Combined Charging System (CCS), which is utilized by BMW, Daimler, Ford, and the Volkswagen Group, which includes Audi and Porsche, allows for the usage of the Superchargers.
Will Tesla permit charging for other vehicles?
A White House letter states that Tesla intends to allow non-Tesla electric vehicles access to its Supercharger network in the US by the end of 2022.
As part of a small pilot program, the business has been letting owners of non-Tesla EVs use its Supercharger connectors in a number of European locations. However, the company has remained mum about when non-Tesla EV owners would be permitted to use charging stations in the US. According to a “information document” released on June 28 by the White House and discovered by InsideEVs, those EV owners may be allowed to use Superchargers as early as the end of this year.
The White House reports that “later this year, Tesla will start producing new Supercharger technology that will allow non-Tesla EV users in North America to utilize Tesla Superchargers.”
New Supercharger technology that will allow non-Tesla EV users in North America to use Tesla Superchargers will go into production by Tesla.
An email asking Tesla to confirm these plans received no response (Elon Musk shut down the company’s PR department in 2019). It’s unclear whether the White House intentionally ignored Tesla’s own project announcement. President Joe Biden has faced intense hostility from Musk, and Biden has made a point of avoiding mentioning Tesla when praising the auto industry’s plans for electrification.
Fast, dependable, and abundant, Tesla’s Supercharger network is frequently cited as the gold standard for EV charging infrastructure. However, Tesla’s network has long been restricted to Tesla owners, making it unavailable to anyone operating a plug-in Volkswagen, Ford, or Chevy.
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has long discussed making his Superchargers available to electric vehicles from other manufacturers. The business began doing this last year, initially in Norway before finally branching out to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Non-Tesla EV customers will need to download the most recent version of Tesla’s smartphone app in order to access the stations if the US version of the pilot program functions the same way as it does in Europe. The option to “Charge Your Non-Tesla” will be presented to them when they want to locate the nearest participating Supercharger location. Tesla owners are still welcome to utilize the stations as usual. Additionally, the business has stated that it will carefully watch each location for traffic and other issues.
Non-Tesla vehicles must require an adaptor to utilize the company’s Superchargers, of which there are over 6,798 plugs in the US, according to the Department of Energy, because Tesla employs a proprietary connector here. (According to the business, there are 35,000 Supercharger plugs worldwide.)
In the US, there are more than 100,000 outlets at about 41,000 public charging stations, including Superchargers. According to the Biden administration, $5 billion will be spent to increase that number to 500,000 chargers by 2030. Federal funds will only be made available to install charging connections that can be used by the greatest number of car owners, in accordance with new guidelines outlined by the White House.
Where can I find a BMW i3 charger?
The CCS charging standard, which has a combination AC and DC intake port, is used by the BMW i3 line of electric vehicles. The Type 2 connector, which is used while charging at home or at public slow and fast AC ports, fits into the top portion of the inlet. High power is transported via the upper and lower regions of the intake during rapid DC charging. The CCS charging inlet for the BMW i3 is located where you may anticipate seeing a gas flap on the off-side rear 3/4 panel.
Depending on the network and kind of charge unit, the BMW i3 can be charged at public points in a slow, fast, or quick manner. Fast charging often requires a Type 2-to-Type 2 cable, whereas slow charging typically calls for a 3-pin-to-Type 2. One of these cables is typically included with the vehicle. The vehicle employs a tethered CCS connector, which is a component of the charging unit, for quick charging.
When charging on AC or DC, the EV driver must insert the connections into the proper input. The car then communicates with the charging unit to verify that there is power available, that there are no problems, and that it is safe to begin charging. The vehicle then begins charging automatically if charging at a private home or business charge point.
An activation procedure is needed to start charging on a public charger. Depending on the network provider, this can call for the usage of an RFID card or smartphone app, frequently connected to a previously created account. On more recent devices, contactless pay-as-you-go units are also becoming increasingly prevalent. The devices will do additional connection and account checks after activation before they begin to charge the car.