Tesla’s Superchargers have been ruled “illegal” in Germany because they don’t have kilowatt-hour counters on them. Over the past year, Tesla has been working to open up its Supercharger network to other automakers making electric vehicles.
In November 2021, Tesla took the first step by setting up a pilot project using 10 supercharging stations in the Netherlands, and owners of other brands of electric vehicles can also use Tesla’s app and charging equipment to charge their vehicles. Recharge.
In January, Tesla expanded the service to Norway and France, and a month later the company announced that all of its supercharger stations in the Netherlands would be open to other brands of electric vehicles. The company has since brought the service to countries such as the UK, Spain, Sweden, Belgium and Austria. In June, Tesla announced that it would offer to charge services to other brands of electric vehicles in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg and Switzerland.
However, Tesla has encountered problems with the service in Germany. Local media reported that Tesla’s supercharging stations were deemed “illegal” installations in Germany because the devices didn’t have an obvious kilowatt-hour counter.
The report said: “Every kWh charging station must comply with the German calibration method, that is, there is a meter that can accurately measure the charging current. This regulation applies to public spaces, as well as businesses and private locations.” And Tesla has historically relied on its app to display charging progress, so its chargers don’t have screens.
Thomas Weberpals, director of the Bavarian State Office of Weights and Measures, said that what Tesla has to do now is to retrofit these charging piles, and given that the company has already started the work, the government does not intend to take action against the company now. He said: “Tesla’s illegal activities have not been hindered or sanctioned for the time being. The company was and is working towards legal status.”