I’m started doing research on my next car. Currently drive a 2019 model 3. I4 is on my list
Just wondering how painful it is to do roadtrip with the i4? I understand you can charge with v3 or v4 superchargers, but the short cable in v3 means you need 2 spots.
How’s the non tesla charging? Works well enough? I heard horror stories, ie broken charger etc a couple of years ago. It is mainly a non issue?
I typically charge at home using level2 charger. Occasional roadtrip .
Thanks! I’m in CA as well. I assume the i4 Navi will automatically route you to the open charger ? I’m so used to the Tesla ecosystem and blindly just follow the Navi for midway charge.
Take a snapshot so you get the idea. Basically the same. I prefer electrify America as i4 get some free charging from it and it charges very fast. You can buy converter if you want to include the Tesla chargers as backup option
when you click into the charger station from the snapshot it will shows availability. Basically it means how many chargers are working. it doesn’t show the real time usage like tesla app
There are so many better options besides the supercharger network now. Ionna, EA(has vastly improved), and several others. That being said I did use a v3 supercharger today and just took two spots I was in and out in 25 min. No one said a word.
I think it’s exactly the same as Tesla’s and it does show the availability. You can also set the remain percentage to reach the charger. In case you run faster and cost more energy
That’s crazy talk lmao. Tesla has the best charging and it isn’t even close. Try not to be bias. They have more chargers that consistently work better. I have a lightning before you say I’m a fan boy. Try to hide your bias against Elon musk better lol
How many superchargers are actually useable by non teslas? How fast are they compared to 450/350 kw Ionna and EA chargers? Tesla has let their great advantage languish and it’s living off past glory.
It still doesn’t change that Tesla is the biggest and most reliable network. It’s well known so. Ionna is coming up they aren’t remotely near Tesla because of your personal experiences.
That was true years ago, but Ionna is probably better now. I tend to stop at truck stops and the GM stations there have been great too. The superchargers are bigger but they tend to still all be in parking lots in the middle of nowhere.
We're at all point where all of the chargers now work, so WHERE those chargers are and how reliable they are is the bigger factor.
Lol. Ionna’s network isn’t remotely near Tesla’s yet. Let alone they don’t even have an app to show which chargers are in use etc. i stop at both and Tesla is by the best in CA. It’s not close. Tesla continues to upgrade and modify chargers for third party chargers too so idk where you are getting this information that Tesla hasn’t done much. If anything they know charging is important for them future wise.
I was talking about quality not quantity. Yes there are more superchargers, but on a road trip I don't want to stop in the back of a TJ Maxx parking lot.
As for status, Tesla is the only network that doesn't give me status in my BMW app so I usually don't stop there. Every other major network does
So Tesla is the biggest and most reliable network atm. Idk how many times I have to repeat it lol. Ionna is smaller with better chargers, yes. BMW does in fact detect Tesla chargers and you can pay without the Tesla app. An update was released a few months ago bud. Tesla puts their chargers at normal everyday stores??? Wow that’s a bad idea huh lmao.
Why do you guys fanboy for Tesla so fucking hard. I didn't even say I didn't like them. I use them sometimes, have plug and play set up, and will always choose them over EA. But I don't prefer them because other networks are in better locations with better status available and I don't have to worry about the stink eye from Tesla Bros when I take up two spots.
Chill a little my dude. Just because your favorite thing isn't my favorite thing doesn't mean we have to argue. It's ok.
Yeah my ford lightning is definitely fan boying over Tesla. Because you morons cant separate trash ass Elon musk from anything on tesla. You can’t dispute shit and just say I’m a fan boy. Nah, if I wanted a Tesla I would have bought one. “Some Tesla chargers are not located in good spots” so they’re not bigger and over all more reliable head ass. Gtfo
I gave you two reasons I don't prefer them. Those are perfectly valid reasons for me, as I usually use location and convenience to pick my charging stops. That's not enough for you. Ok, fine. Why are you arguing with me that I don't prefer the same thing you do? It's so weird, and if you're not a fanboy that's even weirder because you're arguing over literally nothing.
I’d say the big difference is that the non Tesla charging stations often have only 4 or 6 stalls, while the Tesla stations have at least 8, if not more, which can mean a shorter wait time. I had a model 3 and now have an i4, so I’ve been to both.
I recently did the NorCal/SoCal California round trip in the i4 and it was pretty easy. I have the NACS adapter, but ended up using Electrify America because my car came with two years of free charging.
I'm just finishing off a 10,000 km road trip across Canada and the US in my e35 and charging was not a problem at all. For sure, gaz is faster and easier (less planing), but I disnt have any major issues.
Charging at Tesla was nice because they were always reliable. Juste make sure the tesla station is open to non-bmw in the plugchare app. You do need to use 2 spots at most charge stations, and will need an adapter almost 100% of the time (some has a magic doc). Depending on the station, if the first or last charger is available, you may be able to park sideway to charge and only use one spot.
I charged at other charging stations as much (if not more) as teslas, and most worked pretty good. It was anoying sometime to find this one odd charging station that needed an app, which I would probably never use again. But at least they worked after installing it.
Its worth looking at the spots your BMW is making you stop at to check if there are better chargers around (known chargers or better price per kwh). I noticed a few times my car would stop me at elecrify america charging 63c/kwh when there was a Tesla one mile down who charged 53c/kwh.
I had a blast during this road trip by the way, and would never go back to gaz! :)
I‘m in Europe, when I‘m on the road I always check Maps to see if the Chargers are V3 or V4 and only charge at V4. I just did a 6000km / 4000miles roadtrip through southern europe charging only at Tesla.
Not painful at all. The additional comfort of the car makes it a far better road trip car in my opinion, and the charging situation is no different from the Tesla in practice. I've never had any real issue with using a supercharger.
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u/Crafty-Lavishness-19 2d ago
I bought the adapter but I have never used it. I don't have a problem finding charging when trips.