VW Group EVs to Get Tesla Supercharger Access in June 2025

[whitex]

Interestingly, when I was speccing a build at our local London centre the salesman told me that the residuals are pretty much the same and therefore the monthly payments are higher as you are financing 100% of the cost of the options. So I guess his point was that it’s not 55% of what you paid but a flat standard rate for the model you choose. If he was right (and he seemed both certain and a bit embarrassed) then basically all options are 100% lost cost. The only difference and therefore how you can recoup some of the option cost is that in theory they will offer you a better trade in price for a Taycan that is better specced with options. I guess his point was that a Taycan with zero options will probably result in a trade in price of close to the same as the residual payment. A Taycan with (decent) options will get you a better trade in price and higher than the residual because they will be able to sell it more easily. According to this one salesman anyway…..

I have no knowledge how things work in the UK, but here in the US the residual is a percentage of base price plus a percentage of options. Options depreciate faster than base price - down to about 0% after ~5 years. From what you're saying is that a Porsche GB assumes a 100% depreciation on all options as soon as you drive off the lot. Not sure I believe that a 2 year residual value of a $160K Taycan is the same as $99K Taycan, but again, never been to the UK. It sounds like the best deals to be had is buying lease returns. Might be a good negotiation tactic for inventory cars too - "Even your parent company says all options are worthless after I drive off the lot. Since I would not have ordered this option, so it's worth $0 to me as I will never get any value out of it on the back end either".

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[corgidad]

Maybe eight times?
And no problems.
Hit the i4 charging curve every time.
I’ve also never had any problems with Magic Docks. And each time I’ve hit the Taycan 130s max for 400v. Which I’ve never reached in a sustained manner at EA.

I actually always hit pretty good speed with EA when I could start the charge successfully (that's another story when I couldn't)

On 350kw EA units, the car always gets everything it wants (unless when it is power sharing with another stall)
On 150kw EA units, some times I could get 190+ kw because of the high voltage, and always sustained 150+ kw.

Mostly in EA stations in Massachusetts. Once in NH (the one near Merrimack mall) and several at Electrify Canada stations.

If there's no wait at EA 350kw stations and it's working I think I'd prefer those to Tesla v3 superchargers. It takes a bit longer than I'd like to charge at around 140kw-150kw.

 

[Jonathan S.]

Our household’s best EA speeds have been on 150kW labeled units, into the 180s.

Merrimack seems to have a good track record. Although just not along any routes I drive.

Manchester NH though keeps suffering from broken chargers and long lines. Maybe one of these days I’ll brave it just for the experience if I’m taking our daughter to the mall when visiting grandma and grandpa nearby.

I had a reasonably good experience in Quebec at EC, hitting the 140s.

Agreed that a functioning 350kW EA with no wait is preferable to Magic Docks.
But that’s like the old joke of Assume a can opener…

 

[Tori]

Just reporting what I read.

I just got my 2025 Taycan. I downloaded the Tesla app. Went to add a vehicle. Porsche was listed. Then went to model and Taycan was listed. The only question it asked was "Do I have an adapter?" I answered and my vehicle was added. Then added my credit card and I’m set up. Now I just need to get an adapter.

Just reporting what I read.

 

[Jonathan S.]

You’re all set up … to charge at stations with Magic Docks integrated adapters.
Your own adapter will not yet do anything at V3 pedestals that lack Magic Docks.

 

[corgidad]

Our household’s best EA speeds have been on 150kW labeled units, into the 180s.

Merrimack seems to have a good track record. Although just not along any routes I drive.

Manchester NH though keeps suffering from broken chargers and long lines. Maybe one of these days I’ll brave it just for the experience if I’m taking our daughter to the mall when visiting grandma and grandpa nearby.

I had a reasonably good experience in Quebec at EC, hitting the 140s.

Obviously we define "good experience" very differently. If the car gets everything what it wants, IMO it's a good experience. If the car indicates something like this, then it's not, even when it gets 170kw.

Agreed that a functioning 350kW EA with no wait is preferable to Magic Docks.
But that’s like the old joke of Assume a can opener…

There's at least something that can be done to increase the possibility of a successful charge. I always do some research on the charging stops before going there... Not trying to find excuses for unreliable and poorly planned charging stations, but at least these things help...

Read PlugShare recent comments. Look at the busy time on Porsche app (kudos to them - this information is useful but EA somehow just doesn't show it in their own app). That will give me a rough idea how the charging session will be. Trying to avoid EA stations near city centers also helps. They tend to be very busy and get a lot of abuse.

 

[Jonathan S.]

I plan extensively, reading PlugShare reviews and performing my own calculations (given the hopeless optimism of ABRP).
And still, long frustrating handshake attempts, unhelpful customer service, and woefully slow speeds.
Except at Magic Docks. Always hit my Taycan 400v max in the 130s and always hit the i4 max charging curve.

 

[SergeyIndy]

@corgidad is showing how cool the left tube battery screen is now on the refresh, but I did not realize it also comes with a point the finger and blame the charger message on the right tube. Do not have that in the J1 I, so very jealous.

 

[corgidad]

I plan extensively, reading PlugShare reviews and performing my own calculations (given the hopeless optimism of ABRP).
And still, long frustrating handshake attempts, unhelpful customer service, and woefully slow speeds.
Except at Magic Docks. Always hit my Taycan 400v max in the 130s and always hit the i4 max charging curve.

Perfect example of YMMV LOL

I never bother calling EA’s customer service when charge failed which only happened once on their old hardware (wouldn’t initiate). There isn’t really much they can do.

In my own experience ABRP isn’t really good…… I use Porsche route planner as a base and change charging stops as I like

 

[corgidad]

@corgidad is showing how cool the left tube battery screen is now on the refresh, but I did not realize it also comes with a point the finger and blame the charger message on the right tube. Do not have that in the J1 I, so very jealous.

Yeah I really like that the car tells me how fast I can possibly charge at any given time and the difference between how much the car wants vs gets. Really helpful to optimize my charging stops (also whether to precondition the battery or not). The finger pointing is just hilarious

 

[d00d]

Merrimack EA was completely shut down one day last year, Porsche navigation can't handle that and still showed available stalls.
Luckily Manchester EA wasn't busy, took a look at the EA application while I was charging, it accurately showed Merrimack down.
Don't need to stop in the cold since I changed to narrower 20" wheels, use a 20 mile shorter route through Boston, and keep under 65MPH.

 

[whitex]

@corgidad is showing how cool the left tube battery screen is now on the refresh, but I did not realize it also comes with a point the finger and blame the charger message on the right tube. Do not have that in the J1 I, so very jealous.

If Porsche used the Tesla approach, we'd all have it by now, and J1.2 owners would have had a more thoroughly tested (on J1 customers) software.

 

[RAHRCR]

Glad I never ticked this box….Porsche would have to pay me at least $500 or more to regularly charge with a bunch of “Tesla Bros”….

 

[Jonathan S.]

Glad I never ticked this box….Porsche would have to pay me at least $500 or more to regularly charge with a bunch of “Tesla Bros”….

Tesla charging is actually pretty boring from a social viewpoint.

Charging at EA and its equally miserable CCS1 competitors in northern New England is kind of a bonding experience, like in a POW camp. We can all talk about the disappointingly slow speeds we're receiving, the handshake problems, the equally poor nearby alternatives, etc.
On the positive side, fun to talk with owners of different EV models.

Tesla stations, all the drivers stay inside their cars the entire time. No socializing.
Then again, what could possibly be the topics of conversation? The chargers connect immediately and then hit the car's charging curves. Would be like asking drivers at a gas station if their flow rate is the usual.
Car model discussion? Something like 95% of the cars are Model 3 and Y, with the latter just looking like a bloated version of the former.
Only what, four different colors, so can't comment any car's color unusual color scheme.
Options? Perhaps I could ask them how many people they've killed so far with FSD?

 

[d00d]

You meet all types at EA, a fellow charging an Audi opined that the extra two pins circulate coolant from the charger through our batteries.

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