Charging at a Tesla Super charger

moritzes

Well-Known Member
First Name
Stewart
Joined
Aug 28, 2025
Threads
23
Messages
163
Reaction score
429
Location
OH
Vehicles
'25 Mach-E | '25 F-150 PowerBoost
You can also download the Tesla app and save about 25% per charge if you use their paid tier, for me the breakeven was less than 2 sessions, so if you're planning to use them multiple times it's worthwhile. Setup is easy, the app works well, the membership is good for one month, and you can cancel anytime and it'll be active until the end of the month. Just make sure to start the session in the Tesla app before plugging in, otherwise Ford app will start and charge you the higher price.
This is important if it is a long drive. In my experience it has paid for itself in about 250 miles. (YMMV, depends on the pricing structure in your area.) Certainly, if you are going even 400 miles choose this route.

If you do, you MUST start the charge from the Tesla app, not the Ford Plug and Charge. Ford P&P doesn't recognize the "Tesla membership" rate, and you will be charged the full rate (along, of course, with the cost of the membership you have now not used!). Ask me how I know... So, if this becomes your plan, turn OFF Plug and Charge to make sure that you aren't using it. You can always toggle it back on if you need to. And Google Maps has all the Tesla superchargers, so you don't need that feature of P&P.

Most of all, enjoy your trip!
 

Fremont Kid

Well-Known Member
First Name
Steve
Joined
Oct 8, 2022
Threads
12
Messages
773
Reaction score
667
Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Vehicles
2022 Mustang Mach e Premium AWD
Occupation
Retired IT
Country flag
Practicing is worthwhile. Note that Tesla chargers do not have displays showing charging rate, % charge, etc. You will need to monitor charging progress either from your app or inside the MME.
 

david_quick

Well-Known Member
First Name
David
Joined
Sep 10, 2023
Threads
54
Messages
643
Reaction score
487
Location
Bremerton WA
Vehicles
2023 Mach E GT
Occupation
Retired
Country flag
So of these chargers require the app to unlock the cable. Ran into this with a Tesla charger white labeled by Francis energy. There were clear signs near by so wasn’t to bad.
The only time this is true is if you are at a version 4 station and want to use the built in adapter. Otherwise you just unhook it put your adapter on and plug in. It will start automatically if you have set up plug n charge with Ford.

if you want to use the Tesla membership rate you need to use the Tesla app to start the charger.
 


Maui

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 14, 2024
Threads
2
Messages
471
Reaction score
507
Location
Austin, TX
Vehicles
2024 Mach-E Premium
Occupation
Software
The only time this is true is if you are at a version 4 station and want to use the built in adapter. Otherwise you just unhook it put your adapter on and plug in. It will start automatically if you have set up plug n charge with Ford.

if you want to use the Tesla membership rate you need to use the Tesla app to start the charger.
Maybe I didn’t pull hard enough, though not sure how that works, but it wouldn’t come out.
 

kens

Well-Known Member
First Name
Ken
Joined
Jan 27, 2025
Threads
8
Messages
419
Reaction score
432
Location
IL, USA
Vehicles
2022 GT
Maybe I didn’t pull hard enough, though not sure how that works, but it wouldn’t come out.
I've found them very finicky; sometimes they just don't work, sometimes it takes several tries, sometimes it's just right.
 

Makiato

Active Member
First Name
Just bob
Joined
Jul 13, 2025
Threads
2
Messages
44
Reaction score
38
Location
Anacortes Wa
Vehicles
2021 LR AWD
Occupation
Travel Cargo, Guitar Storer, Architect
You don't need any extra apps to charge with Tesla - Tesla and 20 other networks are right in the Ford app. And Tesla, along with Electrify America, Ford Charge, IONNA, and some BP Pulse chargers supports Plug & Charge - just plug in and your payment is handled automatically with your BlueOval Charge Network account.

https://www.ford.com/support/how-to...ork/what-is-the-ford-blueoval-charge-network/
Yes and No. In my limited experience, I have pulled in, plugged in & NOT been able to use the FORD app, BUT COULD use the Tesla app. It was unusual, but that did happen to me.
 

Makiato

Active Member
First Name
Just bob
Joined
Jul 13, 2025
Threads
2
Messages
44
Reaction score
38
Location
Anacortes Wa
Vehicles
2021 LR AWD
Occupation
Travel Cargo, Guitar Storer, Architect
I've found them very finicky; sometimes they just don't work, sometimes it takes several tries, sometimes it's just right.
Yeah.. Me Too. Like they are a computer or something......
 

Makiato

Active Member
First Name
Just bob
Joined
Jul 13, 2025
Threads
2
Messages
44
Reaction score
38
Location
Anacortes Wa
Vehicles
2021 LR AWD
Occupation
Travel Cargo, Guitar Storer, Architect
We are going on a long drive this weekend and I may end up using a Tesla charger for the first time. Anything I should be aware of? I've got a Tesla adapter and I've downloaded the app. From what I've read Tesla charging cables are short for the MME. Do you have to pull into the space to the right of the one you want to use? Seems kinda anti-social if its busy. Any advice or tips would be most welcome.
Our second or 3rd 3000 mile roadtrip over 4 years, so some (not lots) experience.
There are Tesla charge spots where Mach e will not charge. they are usually noted in Plugshare as TESLA ONLY or WILL NOT WORK WITH CCS. We got the "will not work" message & figured that they just didn't know about our adapter.
Pulled in. Cable was quite short. Had to drive over the curb stop to get it to reach (that was exciting) plugged in & got an ERROR message. will not charge was correct. we noticed this at other locations - usually ones that had been in place for a long time.- early versions of the Tesla charge system. Other charge stops didn't show up in ABRP & Plugshare, but worked fine. Rivian Network is becoming a good stop as well.
We've also found that parking as far to the right as possible in the stall will help with the cable length. West Coast.
 

RickMachE

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2021
Threads
267
Messages
17,970
Reaction score
28,044
Location
SE MI
Vehicles
2022 Mach-E Premium 4X, 2022 Lightning Lariat ER
Country flag
Maybe I didn’t pull hard enough, though not sure how that works, but it wouldn’t come out.
You PUSH, and hold for a few seconds, then pull, and the adapter comes out.
 

SonicBlue

Well-Known Member
First Name
Karim
Joined
Jun 30, 2024
Threads
31
Messages
1,165
Reaction score
2,117
Location
Chicago
Vehicles
2021 Mach E
Country flag
  1. Most but not all SuperChargers are compatible with non-Teslas. Check PlugShare along your route to be sure.
  2. If you’ve got an adapter, you don’t need to find SCs with Magic Dock. Any only Magic Dock requires the Tesla app to unlock.
  3. Make sure you’ve got Plug & Charge activated and linked to a credit card.
If you’ve done the steps above, you just pull in, attach adapter, plug in, and marvel at how much faster the SC is to activate and start charging. It works so much better than CCS. I’ve never had a problem with cables being too short to reach a Mach E. This can be a much bigger problem for Lightning.
 

RickMachE

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2021
Threads
267
Messages
17,970
Reaction score
28,044
Location
SE MI
Vehicles
2022 Mach-E Premium 4X, 2022 Lightning Lariat ER
Country flag
  1. Most but not all SuperChargers are compatible with non-Teslas. Check PlugShare along your route to be sure.
  2. If you’ve got an adapter, you don’t need to find SCs with Magic Dock. Any only Magic Dock requires the Tesla app to unlock.
  3. Make sure you’ve got Plug & Charge activated and linked to a credit card.
If you’ve done the steps above, you just pull in, attach adapter, plug in, and marvel at how much faster the SC is to activate and start charging. It works so much better than CCS. I’ve never had a problem with cables being too short to reach a Mach E. This can be a much bigger problem for Lightning.
Just charged 41 times at a SuperCharger with my Lightning. One had a too high curb. Otherwise, zero issues. Easier than Mach-E.
 

music_cities

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 7, 2023
Threads
53
Messages
676
Reaction score
684
Location
Calgary, Canada
Vehicles
Mach E 2022 GT
Country flag
Our second or 3rd 3000 mile roadtrip over 4 years, so some (not lots) experience.
There are Tesla charge spots where Mach e will not charge. they are usually noted in Plugshare as TESLA ONLY or WILL NOT WORK WITH CCS. We got the "will not work" message & figured that they just didn't know about our adapter.
Pulled in. Cable was quite short. Had to drive over the curb stop to get it to reach (that was exciting) plugged in & got an ERROR message. will not charge was correct. we noticed this at other locations - usually ones that had been in place for a long time.- early versions of the Tesla charge system. Other charge stops didn't show up in ABRP & Plugshare, but worked fine. Rivian Network is becoming a good stop as well.
We've also found that parking as far to the right as possible in the stall will help with the cable length. West Coast.
I don’t know how I ended up at a Tesla Only supercharger one time without knowing. It was frustrating. And then the nearby Electrify Canada charger took six tries! It was one of two frustrating charging days so far in 2.5 years of ownership.
 

Maquis

Well-Known Member
First Name
Dave
Joined
Dec 21, 2020
Threads
34
Messages
5,699
Reaction score
8,088
Location
Illinois
Vehicles
2021 Mach E4X, 2023 Lightning Lariat ER
Country flag
Just charged 41 times at a SuperCharger with my Lightning. One had a too high curb. Otherwise, zero issues. Easier than Mach-E.
Agree. Much easier in the Lightning. I don’t have to worry about scraping the curb. I haven’t encountered one yet with such a high curb. 🤞
Sponsored

 
 







Top