Tesla delays Supercharger installations by up to 12 months

Tesla has delayed the installation of several electric vehicle Superchargers in Australia, pushing back some target dates by up to a year.

Having commenced the rollout of its V3 Supercharging network with the Devonport Supercharger in Tasmania in 2021, the delays mean further waits for drivers who have reported recently that Tesla is automatically capping charges at 80% at busy sites.

Also, the installation delays come as Tesla has pushed out wait times for its Model 3 – currently the only vehicle on sale in Australia with any kind of delivery certainty. While Australian drivers can still order the Model S and Model X, Tesla’s website does not state when it will begin delivering them here again.

Though there are delays for new Tesla EVs, Tesla sales continue to increase. Adequate electric vehicle charging as electric vehicle sales increase is key to a smooth transition to clean transport.

For the first time in 2021 new EV sales tripled, tipping over 20,000. With this trend expected to continue in 2022, fast-charging infrastructure is important for those who need a quick top-up because they are unable to charge at home or are on a long road trip.

Therefore, having enough chargers available to a growing number of electric car owners will limit frustrations at adopting what is a new technology for many, as drivers change their mindsets from filling up the tank to topping up the battery.

Tesla is one of Australia’s largest EV charger operators

Tesla’s Supercharger network is one of the most extensive in Australia. There are nearly 50 sites available to Tesla drivers, making it the third-largest operator after Chargefox and Evie Networks.

Importantly, because the Supercharger network uses the CCS2 plug standard, Tesla drivers have access to the largest number of EV charging sites in Australia.

With the Tesla Model 3 accounting for six in every 10 EVs currently sold in Australia, the continuing expansion of the Tesla network is all the more important.

Though there are a number of charging networks in Australia, recently reliability has become a concern for many EV owners. As The Driven reported in March, a large number of Chargefox sites have been out of action as the maker of the chargers, Tritium, reports delays on parts.

In Tesla’s network, there are currently 18 new Supercharger sites slated for five states, including Queensland, NSW and Victoria. There are also two new chargers slated for West Australia and Tasmania.

But out of these 18 sites, the installation target dates for 13 have been pushed back from three months to as much as 12 months.

The reason for the new installation delays is unclear, but with supply chain issues dogging the broader manufacturing industry, it is highly likely this is at least partly responsible for the pushbacks.

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