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Oct 21, 2024

How To Charge Your Chevrolet EV At A Tesla Supercharger

Not just for Teslas anymore! (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images). Congrats Chevy EV owners! You no longer have to hope and pray that the charging station you're driving to is actually

Not just for Teslas anymore! (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images).

Congrats Chevy EV owners! You no longer have to hope and pray that the charging station you're driving to is actually working (I'm looking at you Chargepoint). Tesla has opened up their vast supercharging network to Chevrolet EVs.

The Bolt and Bolt EUV (2019 and 2020 models may need a dealer-installed software update), plus the EV versions of the Equinox, Silverado, and Blazer can all take advantage of the one consistent bright light in the Tesla universe—their well kept, reliable chargers. Having been around longer and not needing to broker deals for co-ownership and maintenance with third parties, Tesla has created a charging network model that other companies would be wise to emulate.

But it's not as easy as driving up and plugging in. Chevy EV owners have to get hardware and software to make this merging of EV ecosystems work.

To start, you’ll need to have either the MyChevrolet or Tesla app on your phone.

Chevrolet would prefer that you use the MyChevrolet app, but the caveat here is that you have to have an OnStar subscription or a new vehicle that has the EV Access plan. Otherwise the necessary options won't be available to you. If you don’t have OnStar or EV Access, skip to the Tesla app section.

The MyChevrolet app is serviceable but a little fiddly.

In the MyChevrolet app (which, as a Chevy EV owner, you should have already), start by selecting Charge Management. Choose the Settings tab and select Public Charging. You'll see Tesla Supercharger under Supported Networks, with whatever other EV charging accounts you've linked to the app listed underneath.

Activate Tesla charging by adding a payment method. This is what Tesla will use when you connect to their network (unless you have a subscription plan, more on that in a sec). Then head back to the previous screen and select the link to order the official adapter.

Tesla's app is easier to use by far.

Tesla’s app is much less restrictive and more straightforward. Simply add your non-Tesla vehicle, add a form of payment or sign-up for a subscription for $12.99 a month to unlock the cheaper charging rates that are otherwise only available to Tesla vehicles. If you plan on charging at superchargers frequently and have multiple EVs, the membership is worth it since it lets you use it for all the EVs you own. Once payment is squared away, you’ll use the app to find compatible superchargers (not every Tesla charger is available to non-Tesla vehicles). There’s no option to buy an adapter in the Tesla app, they assume that you’ll be bringing your own.

I prefer using the Tesla app not only because it’s more straightforward but because it shows you how many stalls are available and what the current charging rate is.

While GM is going to adopt Tesla's NACS charging plugs in future vehicles, their current EV lineup uses CCS1 charging ports. So you'll need to buy an adapter.

Official NACS to CCS1 apapter

There is one official GM adapter—it's $225 and only available via the link in the MyChevrolet app. The price is frustrating, given that Ford offers a similar adapter to their EV owners for $.01. The other issue is that the adapter has been in and out of stock. Depending on when you try to buy it, it may be backordered. Luckily, there's a less expensive third-party option!

A2Z Typhoon Pro Plug

A2Z's Typhoon Pro Plug is a chunky, satisfyingly heavy piece of hardware that works with Chevrolet, Ford, and Rivian vehicles. It's metal so you don't have to worry about high heat from fast charging wreaking havoc. It also has two built-in temperature sensors to derate the charge or halt it altogether if the temps get too high. I appreciate that the back end of the adapter is tapered, providing a handle. It's available right now on the A2Z website for $189 (pro tip, use the coupon code GMC to knock 10% off).

With the app set up and charging adapter in hand, use the MyChevrolet or Tesla app to get directions to a compatible supercharger (not every location is available to non-Tesla vehicles). When you get there, choose your spot carefully. Tesla charging cables are just long enough to reach the back corner of backed-in Teslas. You'll need to park one space over or behind the charger, if possible.

If you end up parking in the stall of another supercharger to use the one next to it, be considerate and ready to move if a Tesla comes to use the same charger you're using. To them it will appear as if that charger is open. A2Z has a DC charging cable extender coming soon that will eliminate this problem but it's a very pricey $296 option. However, if you plan to routinely use the Tesla supercharging network to charge your Chevrolet EV, it'll save you considerable frustration in the long run.

Ready to cross the streams!

For the A2Z adapter, plug it into your charging port first. It should click in securely. Then unhook and plug in the Tesla charging cable. For the Chevrolet charger, you first plug the NACS charger into the adapter, then plug the adapter into your vehicle.

Once you're set up, return to the app, select your current location and click Charge Here, then choose the supercharger station you're at and click Start Charging to begin the session.

Dogs and cats! Living together!

To end the session with the A2Z Typhoon Pro Pug, press the top button unhook the CCS1 adapter, remove it from your vehicle, then press all the way down on the button to unlatch the NACS plug. It can take a bit of practice to get it right. You can also end the current session by pressing the button on the Typhoon Pro Plug without unhooking the adapter.

For the Chevrolet adapter, press the button on top to unlatch the adapter from your vehicle, then use the latch on the NACS side of the adapter to release the Tesla cable.

Charging to 80% with DC fast charging is the recommendation.

Tesla charges the current non-Tesla vehicle rate or the subscription rate to your card on file. You can get a summary of your charge session in the app where you initiated charging and will receive an email once your session is complete.

It takes a bit of preparation but once you've put in the work, you'll have a plethora of charging options available to you. It provides a nice bit of extra peace of mind when you're out of town or on a road trip, since Tesla supercharger locations are plentiful.

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