Violation of calibration law: Several thousand Tesla superchargers in Germany are illegal

shares in this article

• Tesla Superchargers do not have calibrated meters
• Authorities keep their feet still
• High replacement costs

Tesla is stepping on the gas in Germany

The US electric car manufacturer Tesla is also gaining a foothold in Germany. Not only can the Musk Group increase its sales in Germany from fiscal year to fiscal year, but the long-awaited Gigafactory in Berlin-Brandenburg was finally opened in March 2022. The superchargers, Tesla’s fast charging stations, some of which have now also been opened up to other e-car models, are also becoming increasingly popular in Germany. Only recently “Teslamag” reported that the company wants to implement 35 additional locations in the Rhine-Main area, each with 20 charging stations. According to research by the “Handelsblatt”, which goes back to charging station operators and the provider “Going Electric”, the group currently operates more than 1,800 superchargers across the country – which, however, violate German law.

Charging stations without measuring devices

Specifically, it is about calibration law, which entails specifications for measuring devices. For example, consumers must be able to rely on the charging station calculating the exact amount of electricity charged using a calibrated meter. According to the “Handelsblatt”, however, the superchargers have been billing for electricity in kilowatt hours for several years without having installed a corresponding meter. The numerous charging stations thus violate legal provisions. Although Tesla is not the only operator who does not comply with calibration law, it certainly accounts for the largest share of illegal charging stations.

Exceptional flat rate

In order to boost sales of Tesla vehicles, the electric car manufacturer initially offered the free use of superchargers, as reported by “auto motor und sport”. Since the introduction of the Model 3, however, this free service has been history. From time to time, however, the manufacturer lures Tesla drivers with time-limited promotions in which charging is free outside of peak times. In this case, according to the “Handelsblatt”, calibration law does not apply. The law does not apply to flat rates either, since the consumer knows from the outset how high the costs for the electricity charges will be.

According to data from the “IKT for Electromobility” project and information from manufacturers, to which the business newspaper refers, there are also providers in Germany who comply with the regulations: These are ABB, alpitronic, the Porsche partner ASD TEC and Compleo.

Authorities are holding back for fear of “outcry”.

Charging stations that are not legal due to missing meters must be reported by the manufacturers to the respective state calibration authorities, together with an ultimatum by which the measuring devices must be retrofitted. However, the authorities are not taking any action. “We proceed with the Tesla charging stations in Bavaria just like with all other fast charging stations: illegal operation is not hindered and not sanctioned,” Thomas Weberpal, head of the Bavarian State Office for Weights and Measures, told the “Handelsblatt”. “If we were to enforce the applicable law, thousands of charging stations would have to be retrofitted or shut down immediately. That would cause a political and social outcry.” The Bavarian state government instructed the office to refrain from fines against Tesla & Co. According to the newspaper, these could be worth up to 50,000 euros.

Expensive retrofit

But retrofitting the illegal columns is also expensive: The energy operator E.ON explained to the medium that these are in the four-digit range for each charging station. EnBW even estimates a “mid-seven-digit amount”. At ABB, the existing chargers without calibration are probably already increasingly being exchanged for legally compliant models. The charging stations that are not approved in Germany are still used abroad, where there is no calibration law. According to “Handelsblatt”, the calibration regulations in no other country in the world are as strict as in Germany.

Tesla’s superchargers are ahead in comparative studies

In the long term, however, Tesla will also have to convert its charging stations. “There are no exceptions,” said the energy association BDEW to the “Handelsblatt”. In a study by the analysis company JD Power, in which different charging stations for e-cars were compared, the superchargers were able to assert themselves against the competition. With 739 out of a possible 1,000 points, the Tesla charging stations performed best of all the DC quick chargers examined. The company was the only candidate to position itself above the industry average.

Editorial office finanzen.net

Image Credits: Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images, Lukas Gojda/Shutterstock