Charging my MG4 at Tesla Superchargers in Exeter

[CuriousIslander]

I see from ZapMap that the open-to-all chargers at the Exeter Tesco Service Centre (EX2 8FN) support contactless payment. Do I also need an app to activate it? I would like just to roll up and use my credit card at the charger. I don't have a smartphone which is why I don't have the app.

Same question for the superchargers at Darts Farm (EX3 0QH) - but ZapMap is not clear whether these take contactless payment.

TIA

 

[Ian Key]

Most chargers now take contactless payments although I believe you need the Tesla app to use Tesla chargers. Someone on here will know better than I do.

You can apply for a free Electroverse card. You don't need to be an Octopus customer to get one. You can set up an account and link a payment method on your laptop and then use the card for contactless payments often with a discount.

Octopus Electroverse

One-tap access to 964,652 EV chargers across the UK & Europe

electroverse.octopus.energy

 

[dawson2099]

I used it last week - first time with just a credit card next time with the TESLA app - no waiting and FAST

 

[dawson2099]

Oh and only 51p/kWh or 39p if you have a monthly subscription at £8.99

 

[phil99]

Most chargers now take contactless payments

That’s a bold and vastly incorrect claim.

In my experience - MANY rapid chargers do, but definitely not most. And even if they do support it, there is no guarantee it will be working when you need it.

My suggestion - plan your route. Download the apps and create accounts in advance. Get an InstaVolt or Electroverse or something token that you can use in the worst case. It may not be the cheapest but it should work in the case of emergencies.

 

[fnegroni]

That’s a bold and vastly incorrect claim.

In my experience - MANY rapid chargers do, but definitely not most. And even if they do support it, there is no guarantee it will be working when you need it.

My suggestion - plan your route. Download the apps and create accounts in advance. Get an InstaVolt or Electroverse or something token that you can use in the worst case. It may not be the cheapest but it should work in the case of emergencies.

Haven’t seen a rapid charger that doesn’t take credit cards in ages.
The only ones I know that don’t are PodPoint and a few rare brands.
What chargers have you seen recently not taking credit cards?

 

[phil99]

Haven’t seen a rapid charger that doesn’t take credit cards in ages.
The only ones I know that don’t are PodPoint and a few rare brands.
What chargers have you seen recently not taking credit cards?

Tesla v2. Easy example. Loads of these around still.

Plenty of IONITY chargers don’t have card readers. Cobham services has a mix of some that do and some that don’t.

The InstaVolt near my home doesn’t take cards. It looks like it might be supposed to, but it doesn’t. Hasn’t done in about 6 months so I’m assuming it’s not going to anytime soon.

There are plenty out there.

 

[fnegroni]

Tesla v2. Easy example. Loads of these around still.

Plenty of IONITY chargers don’t have card readers. Cobham services has a mix of some that do and some that don’t.

The InstaVolt near my home doesn’t take cards. It looks like it might be supposed to, but it doesn’t. Hasn’t done in about 6 months so I’m assuming it’s not going to anytime soon.

There are plenty out there.

I’d say, proportionally, most take credit cards, but many still don’t.

 

[JonnyG]

........... And even if they do support it, there is no guarantee it will be working when you need it.

This is what I've found recently. A lot will take contactless credit/debit cards, but the facility to do so has been out of order. For a number of my last public charges I've had to resort to using the appropriate app (Electroverse / MFG / Gridserve etc.) and initaiting the charge from the app after identifying the exact charger number. The contactless pad has not worked at all for any card payment. The benefit is you also get an immediate receipt on the app which you can screenshot if needed

 

[CuriousIslander]

I see from ZapMap that the open-to-all chargers at the Exeter Tesco Service Centre (EX2 8FN) support contactless payment. Do I also need an app to activate it? I would like just to roll up and use my credit card at the charger. I don't have a smartphone which is why I don't have the app.

Same question for the superchargers at Darts Farm (EX3 0QH) - but ZapMap is not clear whether these take contactless payment.

TIA

It didn't work....... A very helpful member of staff and I tried 3 chargers with my credit card unsuccessfully. However it should have worked because other non-Teslas have used these chargers successfully on credit card alone. The member of staff thought that the fault was in the charger, not my car, as it appeared to accept my card OK and then decline the connection. When I tried the Gridserve chargers at the MOTO services everything was fine. However, another very helpful driver suggested that it might be an idea to set up a Tesla account for the next time I might venture to the mainland! Something to think about.

 

[aitch]

Specific to the OP, only version 4 chargers have credit card terminals, version 2 and 3 are via the Tesla app only!
As Zapmap states contactless they should be version 4 chargers.

 

[CuriousIslander]

Specific to the OP, only version 4 chargers have credit card terminals, version 2 and 3 are via the Tesla app only!
As Zapmap states contactless they should be version 4 chargers.

They are version 4 chargers! I would not have tried otherwise.

 

[NickHeynes]

This is what I've found recently. A lot will take contactless credit/debit cards, but the facility to do so has been out of order. For a number of my last public charges I've had to resort to using the appropriate app (Electroverse / MFG / Gridserve etc.) and initaiting the charge from the app after identifying the exact charger number. The contactless pad has not worked at all for any card payment. The benefit is you also get an immediate receipt on the app which you can screenshot if needed

I think , tho not entirely sure , that MFG have changed the way you initiate the charge and pay. I seem to recall that at the MFG chargers in Bexhill on Sea you tapped your card and then plugged in . I thought that the chargers weren't working the other day but I then tried again ,plugged in first , then tapped my card and Hey presto!

 

[JonnyG]

I think , tho not entirely sure , that MFG have changed the way you initiate the charge and pay. I seem to recall that at the MFG chargers in Bexhill on Sea you tapped your card and then plugged in . I thought that the chargers weren't working the other day but I then tried again ,plugged in first , then tapped my card and Hey presto!

My experience with MFG was at Newcastle Airport. Contactless has worked before but recently it did'nt and I tried three chargers and two different CC's (plugged in already). I downloaded the app and now find it much easier to start the charge from the app anyway. I just get the charger number, plug in, get back in the car and start the charge with the app. Oh and for anyone using this location you need to go into the PFS and give them your reg (as per ZapMap comments) as parking duration is limited at the airport. Probably something to be aware of at other locations too these days with "ParkingEye" type systems all too eager to send out fines .

 

[MGCamb]

It didn't work....... A very helpful member of staff and I tried 3 chargers with my credit card unsuccessfully. However it should have worked because other non-Teslas have used these chargers successfully on credit card alone. The member of staff thought that the fault was in the charger, not my car, as it appeared to accept my card OK and then decline the connection. When I tried the Gridserve chargers at the MOTO services everything was fine. However, another very helpful driver suggested that it might be an idea to set up a Tesla account for the next time I might venture to the mainland! Something to think about.

It costs nothing to set up and enter your card details. I don't need to charge often away from home but the simplicity of their systems makes me think I will go for one of their cars next.

 

[hmibennett]

I hope this belongs here! Used the rapid charger at Hartshead Moor services on the M62 in foul weather conditions on Saturday. Have done so before without problems but this time when I stopped charging (tapping credit card on reader as instructed) found I could not disengage the lead from the car. Eventually had to phone the helpline and was told to lock car using key fob then unlock twice in rapid succession - it worked, to my immense relief. Bizarrely, I then had the same problem with a slow (Monta) charger at a hotel yesterday and fond the previous solution worked again, so maybe it's worth remembering the lock-unlock-unlock trick.

 

[Martinonline]

I think this has been mentioned before and found that a single lock-unlock also worked. MG also has the physical disconnect option if that fails. The lock-unlock sequence will have triggered the car to recognising charging has finished.

 

[hmibennett]

I think this has been mentioned before and found that a single lock-unlock also worked. MG also has the physical disconnect option if that fails. The lock-unlock sequence will have triggered the car to recognising charging has finished.

Single lock-unlock didn't work: the quickly repeated unlock appeared to be the key.

 

[Coulomb]

only version 4 chargers have credit card terminals, version 2 and 3 are via the Tesla app only!

I saw an Electric Viking video recently that seemed to be saying that Tesla will over the next few months change how V2 and V3 charges are paid for. That sounded to me that they must somehow be getting card readers, but the Tesla statement didn't say that directly.

 

[siteguru]

The problem with the latest (UK) regs is that the chargers also need a screen as well as contactless payment ... I can see that being the sticking point. (Using the app on your phone as a screen substitute doesn't cut it unfortunately).