What crowd fear at the charging stations on the highway in summer?

It is logical to think that a day in circulation on the highways, it is at lunch time that it will wedge on charging stations. Our presence from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Vendée area of the A83 revealed some surprises on this subject. This article follows a first title “Who said that there are only Tesla in electric cars on the highway?” ».

Start of the weekend of July 14

Saturday July 12, 2025, start of the long weekend of the national holiday in France, traffic was dense on motorways. Connecting the Pays de la Loire, Brittany, and Normandy to Aquitaine and beyond, the A83 where we were probably not as problematic to borrow as the fast tracks in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

However, we arrived around 8:00 a.m. to the Vendée area accessible in both directions, like many of those who want to avoid traffic jams on the delicate peripheral of Nantes. We did well because there were already people on the bounds. The choice of this site is justified by the presence of an Ionity station with six DC chargers and a tri-stand terminal in a row with nine Tesla steles.

A set of three rows of spaces for parking separates the recharging area from the AVIA service station which has also experienced its moments of great influx. Our day’s observations were very different from what happened the day before or in another region. But we found material to think about it.

Station already crowded at Ionity shortly after 8:00 a.m.

As soon as we arrived, we found that frequentation on the terminals was very different between the Tesla and Ionity stations. Around 8:00 am, there was only one Model 3 at the first, while, in the brand created by a consortium of manufacturers, three electric cars (Volkswagen ID.4, Renault Scenic and Hyundai Ioniq 5) were already in recharge before adding ours.

A few minutes later, it only remained the free tri-stand terminal. We have given way to an electromobilist in BMW IX1. Meanwhile, Tesla superchargers remained free. Up to 9:00 a.m., the Ionity terminal rotation has made it possible to avoid expectations, motorists most often not remain much more than 20-25 minutes.

At this breakfast time for the bravest, we had two Tesla Model Y, one Model 3 and … already two thermal suction cups barring access to two steles. If it is true that traffic was quite important at that time on the area, there were still a few spaces in the parking lots to park. Note that all the charging points were well functional in the two stations, including at the Tri-Standard terminal which also started to be exploited.

Saturation of the whole area around 10:30 a.m.

At 10:00 a.m., the situation was quite different, and even inverted, with only a Kia Ev6 and a Volkswagen ID.4 at Ionity, against five Tesla with superchargers. Under the heat which was starting to rise around 30 ° C, and after having already swallowed a few hundred kilometers already, the latter sometimes appeared very noisy with their cooling fans at full speed. No VE of other brands was distinguished in this way during our seven hours there.

Barely half an hour later, the Ionity station was again full, but still the same number of Model 3 and Model Y next. Less than ten minutes later, for the first time since our arrival, the nine places were also occupied with Tesla by brand cars. It was also complicated at Avia station where more than twenty vehicles were waiting to refuel. However, this situation was caused by the arrival at the same time at the pumps of eight or ten mini CRS.

We have observed a time of passage of the order of thirty minutes to finally have been able to put gas or diesel in the tanks. Not to mention the need to then then not pass the toilets also very busy, which can increase the presence time on the site over an hour. VE, in particular the Kia Ev6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 under 800 V, remained much less on site. All of this has created congestion all over the area where traffic was completely blocked for several minutes.

Strangely accessible just before noon

Only four Tesla at 11:00 am. On the other hand, the six high power chargers were constantly mobilized at Ionity, forcing an electromobilist to connect its Audi Q4 e-tron to the tri-standard terminal. Half an hour later, while the lunch call was approaching, the space dedicated to the American brand supercharges was absolutely deserted: not even a suction cup car. At the same time, traffic at the Vendée area had become fluid again and the tails at Avia station had dissipated, all the pumps being occupied.

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At noon, an Audi driver decided to exploit one of the three Tesla free steles, but not the one in Kia Ev6. For at least two reasons, he preferred to wait in a double line for about twenty minutes: recharging more quickly, and using the badge provided with this company car. When he was finally able to access an Ionity charger, his 5th was not plugged into it much more than a quarter of an hour.

During the lunch period, the owners of electric cars were less likely to stay next to it and the individual time of mobilization of the terminals has lengthened to the point of sometimes exceeding the time. At 12:30 p.m., there were free places in the two stations. Despite an incessant flood of cars arriving in the area, little ve, which avoided that the situation becomes critical.

Critical time: 1:00 p.m.

Beginning of tension to recharge around 1:00 p.m. while the two stations were full and three 5 were pending, including one Tesla. But several cars of the American brand left at the same time, unlocking the situation. A Peugeot E-308 was even connected to one of the steles. Around 1:30 p.m., three thermal cars, including an old Renault Kangoo Diesel came to block access to three Tesla supercomputers.

A quarter of an hour later, the arrival flow at the Vendée area began to calm down. The Ionity station still did not merge, but it was then without waiting. However, two VEs shared the Tr-Standard terminal: a Renault Twingo E-Tech parked in the Zebra area, and a BMW IX3. There were only three Tesla in charge next to it.

From 2:00 p.m., the places began to free itself. An hour later, there were only five ve loaded and only two brands left: two Tesla Model y on one side, and three Volkswagen on the other (2 ID.4 + 1 ID. Buzz). Not really critical waiting on terminals (maximum of 20 minutes) during our seven hours of presence.

Suction cups

If the Ionity station has escaped the phenomenon no doubt due to the terminals continuously stressed over long periods, we counted a total of six suction cups in front of the Tesla steles between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., all photographed, including one registered in Germany. Excluding the case of electricity recharging well beyond 80 % to the point of arriving at the top of the batteries.

We have noticed several profiles among the smoking indelicate motorists: the one who parked his vehicle there with a visible mark of enjoyment; Whoever authorizes him since someone else has just done him in front of him; Whoever stays in the car (to free up the place if necessary) while his small family goes to the toilet; Whoever seems to be a regular because and quickly abandons his machine.

It is enough that a petrol or diesel vehicle is park in front of a supercharger so that others follow in the process. Obviously without knowing each other, the drivers of the Renault Kangoo, Clio and Renault Grand Scenic have invested in less than 30 seconds three free-to-side places. However, the owner of the minivan quickly left after being worried about the usefulness of the Tesla steles. Thank you for him for making this effort to search for another location elsewhere.

When such suction cups have arrived, no electromobilist present reacted to point out to them the importance of not blocking access to recharge.

Few of the Tesla terminals

In seven hours of presence, we did not notice much more than a Peugeot E-308, an Audi e-tron, a Volkswagen ID.4, and a BMW IX3 connected to Tesla. We interviewed several owners of electric cars from other brands to know why they did not use the steles when the Ionity station was full.

We have received various answers: will to recharge faster (VE Koreans under 800 V), badge provided by the company and incompatible, an interesting ionity subscription, ignorance of the possibility, did not allow themselves to do so. Conversely, a foreign motorist wanted to connect his Model 3 to the Tr-Standard Ionity terminal: we told him that a free stele remained at the other end.

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More than the others, Tesla users remain in their car during recharging, including in full sun and by an outside temperature of 35 ° C. It is undoubtedly to take advantage of air conditioning and the infotainment system. We expected faster rotations for superchargers, but not necessarily to hear a fairly noisy fans’ concert when you find itself in front of the aligned Tesla.

Operation of terminals

In general, the connection appeared much easier and faster at Tesla station with the brand’s cars. And this is where the curious in thermal people came to discover the world of electromobility. The 17 charging points (9 Tesla + 6 Ionity + 2 chargers for the Tr-Standard terminal) were all operational during our presence time.

Note, however, an untimely 20 % stop on the Tr-Standard terminal for a Renault 5 E-Tech, imposing a connection to an Ionity charger with higher power. In addition, digital and touch screens have sometimes been capricious, especially when pressing the button to launch the recharge. Fortunately, solidarity between electromobilists has played full, preventing some from thinking of blocking dysfunction.

Apart from a few exceptions, the electromobilists appeared generally serene once their recharge started. The concern could above all come on the side of those moving with VEs to relatively low autonomy.

Automobile clean and I thank all the motorists who welcomed us that day and who agreed to answer a few simple questions.