GM Electric Cars Can Now Charge At Tesla Supercharger Locations

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As of Wednesday, September 18, 2024, the Tesla Supercharger network is available to all electric cars manufactured by General Motors (except the EV 1, of course!). We will dig into the details in a moment, but first we have to say that this is a hugely important announcement for owners of GM electric cars in North America. The tales about EV drivers standing in the pouring rain trying to contact customer support to get a balky charger to work are enough to make many folks turn away from buying or leasing an electric car in the first place.

Those stories get whipped into a frenzy on social media, egged on by trolls paid by fossil fuel companies. Not to put too fine a point on things, but such reports about charging hassles are one of the reasons why interest in plug-in hybrids has increased recently. People just don’t want to have to deal with charging when they are away from home and in unfamiliar territory. Of course, companies like GM, Ford, and all the others should have figured all this out before they made the decision to manufacture electric cars. Tesla did, and it is one of the major reasons why it was able to successfully market the Model S when it was first introduced. Other companies had institutional myopia and just assumed someone else would provide the necessary charging infrastructure.

GM Supercharger Announcement

Here is the GM press release dated September 18, 2024. There is going to be lots of interest in this and people will jump to incorrect conclusions, so we think it is important to start with the source and work from there.

Beginning today General Motors will open up access to more than 17,800 Tesla Superchargers for its customers, with the use of a GM approved NACS DC adapter, a move that will help accelerate fast and convenient charging options for current and future EV drivers.

With the addition of the Tesla Supercharger Network, GM customers will have access to more than 231,800 public Level 2 and DC fast chargers in North America – a number which will grow as GM continues to help accelerate the deployment of infrastructure in communities and heavily-traveled corridors through its various charging collaborations. GM approved NACS DC adapters will first be made available to customers in the United States, followed by availability for Canadian customers later this year.

“GM’s ongoing efforts to help accelerate the expansion of public charging infrastructure is an integral part of our commitment to an all-electric future,” said Wade Sheffer, vice president of GM Energy. “Enabling access to even more publicly available fast chargers represents yet another way GM is focused on further improving the customer experience and making the transition to electric more seamless.”

To access the Tesla Supercharger Network, U.S. customers will be able to purchase a GM approved NACS DC adapter through GM vehicle brand mobile apps for an MSRP of $225 USD. Customers will be able to also use the same apps to seamlessly locate available Tesla Superchargers, check station status, initiate a charge, and pay for charging sessions.

To help ensure a positive customer experience, GM plans on leveraging multiple suppliers to produce approved NACS DC adapters. Each adapter has been developed to ensure customers can charge their GM EVs at chargers that utilize the North American Charging Standard.

The press release goes on to say, “Additional information about GM’s efforts to accelerate accessible public charging options is available on GM’s public charging webpage.”

According to GM Authority, all GM electric cars based on the Ultium platform are compatible with the Tesla Supercharger network, as are BEV2-based cars such as the Chevy Bolt and Chevy Bolt EUV. However, an adapter is still required to fit the plug, since all current GM EVs use the CCS standard for DC fast charging. Last year, GM announced it would adopt the North American Charging Standard by 2025, with the first GM EVs with native NACS connectors expected for the 2026 model year. Current GM EV owners can purchase a NACS adapter for $225 through their specific vehicle mobile app (myChevrolet, myGMC, or myCadillac).

My own personal experience with my Chevy Bolt is that the myChevrolet app is only available if I subscribe to OnStar, GM’s onboard emergency contact network. I decline to have GM track my every move and sell that information to third parties, and so I cancelled the complimentary subscription to OnStar that was included with the purchase of the car last year. The biggest negative about that is the app has been disabled, which means I cannot monitor the battery SOC and charging status remotely on my phone. That is an inconvenience, but one I am willing to put up with.

Not every first generation Chevy Bolt will work with the Tesla Supercharger network right away. “Select Bolt EVs (mostly MY19 and MY20) may require a software update to ensure seamless charging at a Tesla Supercharger,” GM said. “Those customers can order a GM approved NACS DC adapter through their GM vehicle brand apps and contact their Chevrolet dealership to schedule this complimentary software update.”

Adapters & The Supercharger Network

Once GM starts installing NACS charging ports on its new cars, driver will not need adapters to connect their cars to Tesla Superchargers. For those whose cars were built with CCS charging ports, they will need to purchase an adapter from GM for $225. Yesterday, my colleague Jennifer Sensiba told us about two of those adapters — one from A2Z and the other from Lectron. She subsequently penned a follow-up article that has lots of good information about which charging apps support the new GM – Tesla charging protocol. I recommend you check out that second article for its treasure trove of useful information.

One difference between GM and Ford is that the Blue Oval team decided to give the adapters free to its EV owners and is purchasing them from Tesla. But Tesla manufacturers them at its not-so-giga factory in Buffalo, NY, and to date, the supply is limited. We have heard from readers that it has taken up to six months for their adapters to arrive. GM is sourcing its adapters from several different companies, so perhaps drivers of GM EVs will be able to get one sooner. But Jennifer has an interesting caveat that you should be aware of.

She writes, “If you’re familiar with CCS — NACS adapters, you probably recognize that GM is selling a Lectron adapter, which you can get for $199 online. But, if you buy the Lectron adapter, it doesn’t go through GM’s priests, who give each one a proprietary blessing and exorcism before it heads out the door. If you buy a heretical non-blessed adapter, GM threatens you with loss of warranty (something they really can’t do under U.S. warranty law unless they can prove that the adapter caused damage — so, be sure to buy a good one!).”

Yesterday, I heard from a press agent who had more information about the Vortex CCS to NACS adapter from Lectron. The company says it is the perfect companion for CCS1-equipped vehicles. “This adapter, readily available, ensures seamless charging at Tesla Superchargers, expanding your charging options like never before. For GM EV owners, the VORTEX Plug is an essential tool to tap into this growing network — offering convenience, speed, and compatibility.” The Adapter is compatible with BMW, Fisker, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Polestar, Rivian, Toyota, and Volvo and is rated at 500 amps and 1000 volts, making it an excellent choice for the fastest possible charging. In addition, it is UL 2252 listed, meaning it is compliant with all Tesla superchargers and is safe and reliable for consumer use.

That last sentence needs some explanation. For all practical purposes, GM electric car drivers will want to use only V3 or V3 Superchargers. While that adapter fits all NACS charging plugs, not every V2 Supercharger is compatible with GM cars. Drivers can filter for V3/V4 in their charging apps to make sure they will be using a Tesla Supercharger that is capable of initiating a charging session. According to the New York Times, not all of the Tesla Supercharger network will be open to other car brands. The adapters will work with about 18,000 Tesla fast charging points in the United States — about 60% of the total. Older, less powerful (V2) Tesla chargers will remain inaccessible.

The Takeaway

This is mostly good news for drivers of electric cars from GM. Tesla and The General have been bitter enemies in  the past, with GM opposing Tesla’s direct sales model in many states. The once fierce battle has cooled in recent years, but GM essentially won by keeping Tesla from selling direct to the public in several US states, including its new home of Texas. Nevertheless, the two companies are now cooperating, which is a bonus for drivers. There seems little question that the money the Biden administration has put on the table to promote EV charging had something to do with getting this deal done as well. Despite Elon’s constant sniping at the Biden administration, money talks and bullsh*t walks.

Despite some niggling concerns, this is a big deal for EV drivers in North America. Tesla Superchargers are the gold standard in the industry today. There are fast, reliable, and always located in clean, well-lit places where restrooms and fresh foods are available. This could very well change the conversation about electric cars to the point where by the time GM, Ford, and Stellantis get their plug-in hybrids into showrooms, the demand for them will have shrunk considerably.

On a personal note, my wife and I put 4000 miles on our Chevy Bolt this summer, crisscrossing New England from side to side and top to bottom. About 80% of our charging took place at home using a very basic 120 volt wall outlet, but fast charging was needed on some of those trips and it was not always easy to find. We experienced range anxiety and it was no fun. Knowing we will now have access to Tesla Supercharger locations means that range anxiety has now virtually evaporated. We can’t wait to tell our friends who are considering an electric vehicle for the first time. As of now, the lights on the highway to EV acceptance are all green for the first time in North America.