US Lucid Air charging in Canada

[MikeM.]

Hi,
I am currently visiting family in Canada and this is the first time taking our Air Pure there. I was hoping it would be uneventful from a charging perspective as we have done this extensively with our 2015 Tesla Model S.
Unfortunately, not. Plug and Charging was a complete failure. The EA app would not give me any locations except closet US chargers. One of the chargers in London, ON didn’t connect at all. Another at the same station eventually failed and let me use a credit card in guest mode. So much for any discounts. At least the rate was a lot cheaper than in the Midwest.
Anyone try this and did it work any better for you? Do I have to sign up for EC and use their app? Will try one if I can find one in Orillia or Barrie.
Thanks.

 

[Sid432]

Electrify Canada is a different app used in Canada. I’ve only used PlugShare, and I’ve been able to charge without any issues using my credit card tap. However, there was one time when I arrived at a charging station that was out of commission. Fortunately, I found a 100 kW charger nearby. The best time to arrive is between 10% and 15% SOC. Always choose a charging location that shows at least one or two different locations within a 10-15 mile radius.

 

[Saksak]

Why not get the Tesla supercharger subscription for one month (discontinue immediately after activation) and use the Tesla network?

 

[Saksak]

Note: With the Tesla supercharger subscription, do not plug the charger into your car first. This will activate plug-and-charge and you won’t get the discounted rate. First, activate the charger from the Tesla app, and only then plug the charger into your car to get the discount.

 

[doubletwist]

Why not get the Tesla supercharger subscription for one month (discontinue immediately after activation) and use the Tesla network?

Downside being limited to 50kw charging, at least until real v4 stations become widely available.

 

[Truthlesshunter]

Hi,
I am currently visiting family in Canada and this is the first time taking our Air Pure there. I was hoping it would be uneventful from a charging perspective as we have done this extensively with our 2015 Tesla Model S.
Unfortunately, not. Plug and Charging was a complete failure. The EA app would not give me any locations except closet US chargers. One of the chargers in London, ON didn’t connect at all. Another at the same station eventually failed and let me use a credit card in guest mode. So much for any discounts. At least the rate was a lot cheaper than in the Midwest.
Anyone try this and did it work any better for you? Do I have to sign up for EC and use their app? Will try one if I can find one in Orillia or Barrie.
Thanks.

EA and EC are different companies under the same umbrella. Yes, some companies let their rewards/paid subscription programs crossover (e.g. starbucks) but most won't carry over, especially since they don't share the same corporate and financial structure.

It sucks, but that's how it is. Your option would have been to either register with EC for the monthly subscription to get the discount or just pay as a guest as you did.

Side note, EC is one of the most reliable networks in Canada, but they are also one of the most expensive. Use plugshare or ABRP in Canada.

 

[borski]

Yes, some companies let their rewards/paid subscription programs crossover (e.g. starbucks)

Even this is not true everywhere; for example, Starbucks in Asia is a wholly different program, and you cannot use your American Starbucks account in Korea (for example) at all.

 

[kurious]

@MikeM. -- I've lived your same surprise challenges, I'm pretty sure.
There are a bunch of different threads here about charging in Canada.
Takeaways?

• Wow it really is an entirely separate country, so cannot count on seamless familiar brands just working... The third-party chargers at ALL petrol stations in particular I've found to be absolutely horrible, wonder if they're intentionally a disaster.
• Cellular service (data for sure, voice for solving issues, SMS for ordinary and extraordinary) are part of our toolkit for smooth successful solutions on the fly. And not everyone's US plan provides fair-priced services in Canada, so solve this ahead of time for sure. I reluctantly got a Google Fi ESIM just for travel.
• Options are everything. Get all the apps, open free accounts, open your options. My favorites are PlugShare, Electrify Canada, BC Hyrdo EV (here in the Northwest), Flo, EVgo, SWTCH. Tesla for sure as a last resort.
• PlugShare in particular is my favorite for planning trips and just finding chargers I can actually access and use and predict the charging times.
• When planning, I look for nearby coffee, restrooms, food, etc. It never takes even 1 hour but I usually welcome the break.

If all else fails, take solace knowing you're savvier now than you've ever been.

 

[Truthlesshunter]

Even this is not true everywhere; for example, Starbucks in Asia is a wholly different program, and you cannot use your American Starbucks account in Korea (for example) at all.

yeah i meant USA/Canada..not the rest of the world.

 

[MikeM.]

I guess I don't understand why a pioneering company shows the way and yet most that follow do not understand these intricacies. If there were more V4 Superchargers, I wouldn't even consider using any other, to be honest. I have the third party adapter, but to be limited to 50kW just cripples a trip. I did have trouble at a Supercharger in OH with the integrated adapter in the SuperCharger. Ended up having to use my third party adapter even though the Supercharger stated it would not work. Next time I am in Canada, I will probably plan better for ChargePoint, Electrify Canada, and Tesla.

I thought Plug and Charge wouldn't interfere with my international charging, but it did.

I have done this trip a number of times with our Model S but with 5-6 stops @ 45 min each, it makes the trip so much longer and slow. Although free supercharging, internationally, does make it a plus.

Thank you for all the suggestions.

 

[borski]

If there were more V4 Superchargers, I wouldn't even consider using any other, to be honest.

"If there were more V4 Superchargers" is doing a lot of heavy lifting there.

But yes, once there are more than the two v4 superchargers in existence worldwide, it will be a very useful network for Air owners.

 

[PCMc]

"If there were more V4 Superchargers" is doing a lot of heavy lifting there.

But yes, once there are more than the two v4 superchargers in existence worldwide, it will be a very useful network for Air owners.

I just stopped at one yesterday in Richmond, IN although my Model S not able to take advantage of the peak 325kW capability.

I did a sort of the data on supercharge.info to find open Tesla V4 sites listed as > 325kW and open to brands other than Tesla with NACS or CCS connectors. It currently shows me 659 such sites in the US. Here's a snapshot of my search criteria.

Now what do the community rules state about overly generalized and hyperbole type of statements that are not in the spirit of being helpful to other users?/owners??

 

[PaulJ]

Hi,
I am currently visiting family in Canada and this is the first time taking our Air Pure there. I was hoping it would be uneventful from a charging perspective as we have done this extensively with our 2015 Tesla Model S.
Unfortunately, not. Plug and Charging was a complete failure. The EA app would not give me any locations except closet US chargers. One of the chargers in London, ON didn’t connect at all. Another at the same station eventually failed and let me use a credit card in guest mode. So much for any discounts. At least the rate was a lot cheaper than in the Midwest.
Anyone try this and did it work any better for you? Do I have to sign up for EC and use their app? Will try one if I can find one in Orillia or Barrie.
Thanks.

I live in Canada on the border between Quebec and Ontario and can confirm what others are saying: you can't use EA in Canada just like I can't use EC in the US. I have about 8 months of free charging left with EC and I have not been that impressed. Plug and charge free works about 2 of 3 tries. When it doesn't I tap my credit card and pay out of pocket without an account (after cursing). Getting the EC app even without an account is nevertheless helpful as you can see what stations are busy or down.

The charging situation in Canada varies by province. I don't know the West, but the best I have seen is circuit électrique, which is owned by Hydro Quebec. It is a very dense network with usually ok speed and good reliability. Flo also seems to work well. Both Flo and circuit électrique work with their own apps as well as others like charge hub so you don't necessarily need to sign up for their apps.

I would second what someone said here: consider using A Better Route Planner. It works great in Canada.

 

[Adnillien]

I just stopped at one yesterday in Richmond, IN although my Model S not able to take advantage of the peak 325kW capability.

I did a sort of the data on supercharge.info to find open Tesla V4 sites listed as > 325kW and open to brands other than Tesla with NACS or CCS connectors. It currently shows me 659 such sites in the US. Here's a snapshot of my search criteria.

View attachment 36887
Now what do the community rules state about overly generalized and hyperbole type of statements that are not in the spirit of being helpful to other users?/owners??

Keep in mind that your data shows only two full V4 stations meaning both the dispenser and cabinets are capable of 1000V. They are the two listed as 500kW. The 325kW are only capable of 500 volts and are not true V4 stations since only the dispensers are V4.

 

[PCMc]

Keep in mind that your data shows only two full V4 stations meaning both the dispenser and cabinets are capable of 1000V. They are the two listed as 500kW. The 325kW are only capable of 500 volts and are not true V4 stations since only the dispensers are V4.

So this is appears a definitional thing of what of what some on this site mean when they say V4 supercharger.

Tesla's own website makes no distinction or criteria for 500kW capability to be called a V4 supercharger. The description of V4 superchargers from the Tesla support page states (ref: https://www.tesla.com/support/charging/supercharging):

V4 Superchargers​

​

What is V4 Supercharging?​

We opened our first V4 Supercharger location in Harderwijk, the Netherlands in March 2023 and we will continue to open more V4 sites. All V4 Superchargers are equipped with a longer cable, providing easy access for all EVs.​

​

Will all Tesla vehicles charging at V4 Superchargers be able to receive a 325 kW charge?​

In North America, V4 Superchargers can charge up to 250 kW for Model S, Model 3, Model X and Model Y vehicles.​

​

Cybertruck vehicles have the ability to charge up to 325 kW only at V4 Superchargers.​

So if the criteria being expressed was a Tesla site at 500kW or greater, then would have been clearer to have made the statement of 500kW site versus just stating V4. Goes back to communications prof I had 40+ years ago ... it's not what you thought you said but what the listener heard that defines the message!

 

[borski]

I just stopped at one yesterday in Richmond, IN although my Model S not able to take advantage of the peak 325kW capability.

I did a sort of the data on supercharge.info to find open Tesla V4 sites listed as > 325kW and open to brands other than Tesla with NACS or CCS connectors. It currently shows me 659 such sites in the US. Here's a snapshot of my search criteria.

View attachment 36887
Now what do the community rules state about overly generalized and hyperbole type of statements that are not in the spirit of being helpful to other users?/owners??

Those are not v4 sites. Those 500kW sites up top? Those two are v4 sites. The rest are v3.5 sites, which means they have a v4 dispenser but a v3 cabinet, and are thus limited to 325kW, because they are still 400v; slightly better than the original v3 250kW dispensers, but they attain this by increasing amperage rather than voltage. On v3.5 sites, because they are still 400v, the Air is still limited to 50kW.

The two sites up top though? The Air can obtain the full 350kW for the GT/DE.

Confusing? Yes, because Tesla decided to put one foot ahead of the other. It remains unclear at what rate or schedule they will install more v4 cabinets; as is, they get to say they have more v4 chargers without actually changing much of anything. Dispensers are easier to swap than cabinets.

 

[PCMc]

Those are not v4 sites. Those 500kW sites up top? Those two are v4 sites. The rest are v3.5 sites, which means they have a v4 dispenser but a v3 cabinet, and are thus limited to 325kW, because they are still 400v; slightly better than the original v3 250kW dispensers, but they attain this by increasing amperage rather than voltage. On v3.5 sites, because they are still 400v, the Air is still limited to 50kW.

The two sites up top though? The Air can obtain the full 350kW for the GT/DE.

Confusing? Yes, because Tesla decided to put one foot ahead of the other. It remains unclear at what rate or schedule they will install more v4 cabinets; as is, they get to say they have more v4 chargers without actually changing much of anything. Dispensers are easier to swap than cabinets.

See my second post in response to @Adnillien. It's a definitional thing. I don't believe Tesla ever has defined a V4 supercharger as having the 500 kW capable cabinets, per the post from Tesla's website which I linked/cited above. I understand the difference, and understand why it's important for Lucid owners, but the more precise terminology would be to state expectations for 500 kW stations and not try to reference by V4.

 

[FooFighter]

Hi,
I am currently visiting family in Canada and this is the first time taking our Air Pure there. I was hoping it would be uneventful from a charging perspective as we have done this extensively with our 2015 Tesla Model S.
Unfortunately, not. Plug and Charging was a complete failure. The EA app would not give me any locations except closet US chargers. One of the chargers in London, ON didn’t connect at all. Another at the same station eventually failed and let me use a credit card in guest mode. So much for any discounts. At least the rate was a lot cheaper than in the Midwest.
Anyone try this and did it work any better for you? Do I have to sign up for EC and use their app? Will try one if I can find one in Orillia or Barrie.
Thanks.

Reviving this old thread. OP, did you use the native Lucid Nav?