Tesla in France but no Supercharger nearby?

[57Ford]

I’m looking for a quick pointer please chaps. We’re on holiday in France at a beautiful little town called Benodet. Because I have free supercharging with my car, I’ve never paid for charging anywhere but assumed if I needed to, I’d be able to just use my debit/ credit card. Unfortunately it seems the local charging stations require a membership card which I don’t have and I don’t have a recognised French address to use either.
Is there an app I can register with for payment or are there certain networks that will accept card payment?

[Mammasaid]

57Ford said:

I’m looking for a quick pointer please chaps. We’re on holiday in France at a beautiful little town called Benodet. Because I have free supercharging with my car, I’ve never paid for charging anywhere but assumed if I needed to, I’d be able to just use my debit/ credit card. Unfortunately it seems the local charging stations require a membership card which I don’t have and I don’t have a recognised French address to use either.
Is there an app I can register with for payment or are there certain networks that will accept card payment?

Have you tried registering with Ouest Charge?

https://ouestcharge.fr/commentcamarche

[frisbee]

There are some nearby in Quimper that work with the Electroverse app apparently.

[57Ford]

Thanks guys, I’ve gone to the Carrefour in Quimper and by dint of much faffing with plugging in, unplugging, presentez la carte and registering for the app, scanning QR code etc, I’ve somehow got the car charging
I’m sure it’s easy really but the locals must think I’m mad! They were giving me pitying looks and what sounded like sage words of encouragement as they arrived, charged and departed but my French just isn’t up to it.

[57Ford]

Mammasaid said:

Have you tried registering with Ouest Charge?

https://ouestcharge.fr/commentcamarche

I looked at their website but I couldn’t really decipher it and the guy I spoke to said I’d be registering for a card but like I said, I have no address - I’m a vagrant

[Mammasaid]

57Ford said:

Mammasaid said:

Have you tried registering with Ouest Charge?

https://ouestcharge.fr/commentcamarche

I looked at their website but I couldn’t really decipher it and the guy I spoke to said I’d be registering for a card but like I said, I have no address - I’m a vagrant

I've just downloaded the app (from Google, but I presume Apple is also available) and could register without providing a French address. It also asked for a payment method, so I presume it would work ok.

[Michael_B]

Beware that some chargers in France (especially free ones in supermarkets and shopping centres) need a code to start the charge. A code which can only be sent by SMS to a French mobile number.

I usually charge at home at my place in Burgundy, I once tried to charge (for free) whilst in the local Leclerc. Numerous fruitless attempts with my Swiss mobile, followed by a chat with the ‘accueil’ in the shop, confirmed that furrin phones didn’t work.

[mikey_b]

This sounds like the crappy situation you used to get in France with petrol pumps, which on Sundays were often pay-at-pump only, but which only worked with a French-issued credit card.

Why do they have to make things so difficult? For the love of God, just make it 'electricity at this charger costs X per kWh. First plug your car in, and then tap your credit card here to begin charging'. If they want to give discounts for using certain networks, then make it like shops do with the 'tap your loyalty card first'.

[mcm87]

If there are any Ionity chargers nearby, they have good coverage in France, then you can start them with a U.K. account in the app. Usually very good hardware and reliable as well.

For everything else I use Plugsurfing when abroad, but mainly in Germany I don’t have any experience in France.

Edit - just noticed you included a location and Ionity is 50km away, not too bad if there are no alternatives.

[catatemyhomework]

Michael_B said:

Beware that some chargers in France (especially free ones in supermarkets and shopping centres) need a code to start the charge. A code which can only be sent by SMS to a French mobile number.

I usually charge at home at my place in Burgundy, I once tried to charge (for free) whilst in the local Leclerc. Numerous fruitless attempts with my Swiss mobile, followed by a chat with the ‘accueil’ in the shop, confirmed that furrin phones didn’t work.

You can use Airalo to get a French number in seconds (cheapest cost is just over £3). Not ideal, but may get you out of an issue in an emergency!

[RobbyJ]

I use the Shell Recharge app (and the card you get when you register).

Just download the app, register and register a payment card.

I looked on their map in the app and all the chargers you mention and more in your local area are in there and can be remote started from the app.

The only charger I've ever found in Europe that I couldn't start with their card or app was an Ionity in France.

[Michael_B]

catatemyhomework said:

You can use Airalo to get a French number in seconds (cheapest cost is just over £3). Not ideal, but may get you out of an issue in an emergency!

Thanks for the suggestion. I did have two mobiles for a while (we bought our Burgundy place in 2013), as many French companies, govt departments (EDF, France Telecom, SAUR, nd even plumbers, electricians, etc) would not call back a Swiss number. This made dealing with utilities and renovations all rather complicated.

I abandoned the aggro of a CH and a FR phone after a few years, once most things were in place and over time French businesses became more 'international' in outlook. The Leclerc charge-point incident is the only case where it's been an issue in many years. But I think I'll wait for them to catch up as well, rather than going back to managing two numbers

[PetrolHeadInRecovery]

57Ford said:

I’m looking for a quick pointer please chaps. We’re on holiday in France at a beautiful little town called Benodet. Because I have free supercharging with my car, I’ve never paid for charging anywhere but assumed if I needed to, I’d be able to just use my debit/ credit card. Unfortunately it seems the local charging stations require a membership card which I don’t have and I don’t have a recognised French address to use either.
Is there an app I can register with for payment or are there certain networks that will accept card payment?

All FastNed stations I've been to have accepted credit card payment, but haven't been to the one closest to Benodet ( https://maps.app.goo.gl/hPUMqxjM7Xv1ru15A).

[Cobnapint]

Avez vous un charger de granny?

[57Ford]

Oui, mais je n’ais pas anywhere to plug it in.
Home now anyway and back to having well spread plus local Superchargers.
Thanks everyone.

[Cobnapint]

57Ford said:

Oui, mais je n’ais pas anywhere to plug it in.

[Tycho]

57Ford said:

Oui, mais je n’ais pas anywhere to plug it in.
Home now anyway and back to having well spread plus local Superchargers.
Thanks everyone.

If you go back there then this charger was close by.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/YFdMufXBSrD6YDJL6

We were closer to the Pont Du Raz and used this one and a Powerdot charger which allowed you to scan the QR code and pay on the web. I did also find ABRP quite helpful finding chargers.