Tesla will introduce virtual wait queues at its Supercharger stations following a physical altercation between two customers in California that went viral online.
The electric vehicle maker plans to begin testing the system at select locations in Q2.
Currently, Tesla drivers form physical lines when stations are full, occasionally leading to disputes when some drivers cut in line. According to Tesla, these queuing situations—and the conflicts they sometimes generate—occur in approximately 1% of charging sessions.
“Virtual queuing pilots starting in Q2 at select sites. Goal is a net customer experience improvement for the ~1% cases of a wait time. Wider rollout this year if feedback is positive. We also continue to expand the network 20%+ year-over-year, closely tracking site-level demand,” Tesla announced in a post on X.
Tesla has revealed few technical details about how the virtual queue system will function. Reports suggest it will be integrated into the Tesla app or in-car system and will automatically record drivers as they enter charging stations — potentially eliminating disputes about charging order.
The company hasn’t confirmed whether the virtual queuing system will extend to non-Tesla vehicles, which can currently use Supercharger stations if equipped with CCS charging ports.
Tesla’s Supercharger network continues to expand despite CEO Elon Musk reportedly firing nearly all of the 500-person Supercharger team following a dispute with a senior executive in 2024. The network currently includes 60,000 Supercharger sites globally, with 1,400 locations in the UK.
Tesla Superchargers deliver charging speeds starting at 150kW, with newer models capable of 250kW charging rates.
