After prolonged delays, owners of GM electric vehicles can finally charge at Tesla Supercharger stations. This service was initially expected to launch in the spring but was postponed due to software issues on Tesla’s end. Now, GM EV owners can access 17,800 Supercharger stations throughout the United States and Canada. However, there’s a notable condition—they still require adapters, which are currently in limited supply.
Tesla Superchargers utilize the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug, while GM and most other automakers have been using Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors. To bridge this gap, owners will need a CCS-to-NACS adapter. Although Tesla is manufacturing these adapters for legacy automakers, production has not kept pace with demand. GM is working with a third-party supplier to produce more adapters, but their availability remains constrained. When will GM be able to supply adapters to its customers? “We intend to ensure that happens as quickly as possible,” stated Wade Shaffer, Vice President of GM Energy, in an interview with InsideEVs. The timeline, however, is still uncertain.
To obtain an adapter, GM EV drivers need to download the specific app for their vehicle—either MyChevrolet, MyCadillac, or MyGMC. These apps will also provide information on adapter availability. However, there are two additional limitations. Firstly, GM customers must purchase their adapters, priced at $225, while Ford and Rivian provide them free of charge, with a limit of one per vehicle. Secondly, even with the adapter, GM users cannot simply connect and charge at Tesla stations as Tesla owners can. Instead, they need to use either a GM or Tesla app on their smartphones to initiate the charging process. In contrast, Ford customers can plug in and leave, as their vehicles and the Supercharger handle payment authorization automatically.
“The app experience—allowing users to start, stop, locate, charge, and pay at the Supercharger Network—is expected to be excellent, both in the U.S. and Canada,” Shaffer reportedly mentioned.
Despite these caveats, this news is generally positive for owners of GM Ultium EVs, like the Cadillac Lyriq and Chevy Equinox EV. Once they secure an adapter, they can begin utilizing Superchargers right away. Chevy Bolt drivers can also access Superchargers, but they will need a software update beforehand. GM’s priority now is to expedite the distribution of adapters.
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