Düsseldorf With 40 “superchargers,” Hilden Charging Park near Düsseldorf is a popular destination for Tesla drivers. But now more and more non-Tesla drivers are flocking to charging stations. The reason: American carmakers have opened up their “superchargers” at selected locations to other electric car brands—70 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity.

There’s only one important catch: Tesla’s charging stations operate illegally because they violate calibration law. Customers cannot rely on being billed for the correct amount of electricity.

Every charging station at which charging current is billed per kilowatt-hour must comply with the calibration law in Germany, that is, have a meter that can accurately measure the charged current. This applies to a public place, but also to company and private premises.

On the other hand, anyone who bills with a flat rate or pays the charging current may be ignoring the calibration law. Because the customer already knows what he is paying for.

Supercharger: Tesla charging stations violate calibration law