Tesla wants EV drivers to wait their turn.
In a Monday post on X, Tesla’s charging division said it was piloting a digital waitlist system at five Supercharger locations in California and New York. The feature allows drivers to join a virtual queue when all charging stalls are occupied.
Without a formal queue system, EV drivers at busy charging stations often rely on informal parking lot etiquette to determine who plugs in next. Unlike gas stations, where drivers typically wait directly behind an open pump, EV charging layouts can make it less obvious which vehicle is next in line.
Tesla’s feature effectively creates a digital single-file line at crowded charging stations.
A Tesla owner shared a video on X showing a new “Join Waitlist” button appearing on their car’s infotainment screen. After entering the queue, drivers could see how many cars were ahead of them and receive estimated wait times for an available charging stall.
The drivers said other EV owners can still bypass the queue, though the system will notify users that they’re skipping ahead.
Tesla reposted that video.
The company also confirmed in a separate comment that the waitlist is also available for Supercharger-capable non-Tesla vehicles through the automaker’s app.
Not all Tesla owners are convinced the feature is necessary.
Leslie Snipes, a Tesla Model 3 owner, told Business Insider that wait times at Superchargers are usually manageable and that drivers can often find another nearby station rather than wait more than 15 minutes.
“I could maybe see it work at extremely busy chargers where there are constant wait times,” Snipes said. “But for most stations, it feels like unnecessary complexity for a problem that usually solves itself pretty quickly.”
Tesla operates the largest fast-charging network in the US, with more than 3,000 Supercharger stations and roughly 40,000 charging connectors nationwide, according to Tesla’s website.
The automaker began opening portions of its charging network to rival automakers in 2023, allowing EVs from companies including Ford, GM, Rivian, and Hyundai to access Superchargers in North America.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
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