Internet Provision

There are multiple options to provide internet connectivity for the Wall Connectors. These include:

Property Owner provides Internet Connection - Property owner provides access to their existing Internet infrastructure via access to a network switch or existing wireless access points. Note that installer may still need to supply and install new access points to ensure sufficient wireless coverage.
Add New Cellular Internet - Another popular option preferred by property owners is to add a cellular data based internet gateway to provide dedicated connectivity for EV charging. Recommendations for new networking gear is detailed in the next section.
Satellite based Internet - Lastly some remote sites with very poor or non-existent cellular connectivity might benefit from satellite-based internet services. Note that these services are generally more expensive compared to cellular data services.

Wireless Network Hardware

A stable Wireless network is essential for accurate billing and charging operation of your Wall Connectors. A typical wireless network setup looks like the diagram shown below.

Note

Not all the components are required all the time. See the recommended network packages below for specific hardware.

Outdoor Enclosure (1) - A weatherproof enclosure that is needed when the networking gear is housed in an exposed environment and isn't sufficiently outdoor-rated.

External Antennas (2) - The Internet Gateway modem and Wireless Extension Access Point may come with external antennas. It is important to install all the antennas provided by the manufacturer for optimal performance.

Internet Gateway (3) - Based on the type of internet provisioned, this could be a cellular data-based internet gateway or a local network provided by the property owner or a satellite based internet gateway. The purpose of this component is to provide an internet connection for the Wall Connectors on-site.

Cellular Network SIM card (4) - When using a cellular data-based internet gateway, a suitable SIM card with a data plan is essential. Check your Internet Gateway to confirm the size and type of SIM card to procure and choose a data plan suitable for devices such as security cameras and EV chargers. See the section on SIM card recommendations for more details.

Power-over-Ethernet switch (5) - Allows wireless Access Points to be powered from another location over Ethernet. This is only needed when the Internet Gateway model does not support Power-over-Ethernet natively. Please refer to recommended network packages for specific hardware.

Power Supply (6) - Required DC power supply in the enclosure where the networking gear is housed. Often, the networking gear comes with an AC/DC adapter included to power them.

Wireless Extension Access Point (7) - Devices that create a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network to which Tesla Wall Connectors connect. Add additional Access Points as needed when the site is too large for the Internet Gateway’s Wi-Fi Access Point to cover the area. Note that WiFi extenders are not recommended.

Tesla Wall Connector (8) - One or more Wall Connectors in the location.

Tesla has tested and recommends the following hardware packages. Use one of the recommended packages for robust connectivity.

Note

Any 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network is compatible with the Wall Connector, but the following hardware has been tested to work effectively with the application.

Network Package 1

The total cost is approximately $1200. This is a cost-effective solution for sites and customers who want robust connectivity for their chargers but do not need advanced remote Access Point management features.

Note

The Teltonika Internet modem has a built in access point that could be sufficient for small sites with 2 or less Wall Connectors where you do not need to extend the coverage with Ubiquiti Access points.


Category	Gear	Approximate Cost	Notes / Setup Instructions
Internet Gateway Modem	Teltonika RUT M50	~ $700	Install all antennas provided in the box https://teltonika-networks.com/products/routers/rutm50
Access Points	Ubiquiti U7 Outdoor	~ $200	Needed when Wall Connectors are out of the range from the Internet Gateway https://dl.ui.com/qig/u7-outdoor/#index
Power-over-Ethernet switch	Teltonika TSW202	~ $80 - $150	Connect on LAN ports to Internet Gateway and the Extension Access Point
Outdoor Enclosure	Aletelix NP 1711406A1 Or Akwscyby Enclosure	~ $60 - $150

Network Package 2

The total cost is approximately $1500. This is a cost-effective solution for sites and customers who want robust connectivity for their chargers but do not need advanced remote access point management features. Peplink Internet Gateway may have suitable SIM plans for your area that make it simpler to configure.

Note

The Peplink Internet modem has a built in access point that could be sufficient for small sites with 2 or less Wall Connectors where you dont need to extend the coverage with Ubiquiti Access points.


Category	Gear	Approximate Cost	Notes / Setup Instructions
Internet Gateway Modem	Peplink BR1 Pro	~ $1000	Install all antennas provided in the box https://manual.peplink.com/peplink-max-user-manual/
Access Points	Ubiquiti U7 Outdoor	~ $200	Needed when Wall Connectors are out of range from the Internet Gateway https://dl.ui.com/qig/u7-outdoor/#index
Power-over-Ethernet switch	Teltonika TSW202 OR ASUS – Expert EBP15 Smart Managed PoE+ Switch	~ $80 - $150	Connect on LAN ports to Internet Gateway and the Extension Access Point
Outdoor Enclosure	Aletelix NP 1711406A1 Or Akwscyby Enclosure	~ $60 - $150

Network Package 3

The total cost is approximately $3300. This is an advanced solution for sites and customers who want robust connectivity for their chargers and requires remote access point and security management features. No Power-over-Ethernet switch required here since it is built into the Internet Gateway.

Note

Cradlepoint also has a built-in Wireless access point which can be leveraged for smaller Wall Connectors sites.


Category	Gear	Approximate Cost	Notes / Setup Instructions
Internet Gateway Modem	Cradlepoint r1900	~ $2000	Install all antennas provided in the box https://customer.cradlepoint.com/s/article/R1900-Getting-Started
Panaroma Antenna	Panorama Antenna	~ $100	Antenna needs to be purchased separately https://panorama-antennas.com/r1900-starter-kit/
Access Points	Aruba AP-565	~ $1,100	https://www.arubanetworks.com/techdocs/hardware/aps/ap560/ig/AP-560_Install_Guide_EN.pdf
Outdoor Enclosure	Aletelix NP 1711406A1 Or Akwscyby Enclosure	~ $60 - $150

Cellular Data SIM Plans

When using a cellular internet gateway, choosing the correct SIM plan is essential to undisrupted operations for charging sites. There are 3 key factors:

Choose the network with the best local coverage. Use the following open-source tools to check network strength in your location.
- https://www.fcc.gov/BroadbandData/MobileMaps/mobile-map
- Mobile app - https://opensignal.com/
Choose the right data only SIM plan.
1. To size the data plan, we suggest allocating ~ 200 MB per Wall Connector per month and average bandwidth of 0.1kbps per Wall Connector. For example, for an 8 Wall Connector site, choose a 8 x 200 MB = 1.6 GB per month or higher plan.
2. Ensure the data plan is suitable for charging site application. Some smartphone plans will not work for this application.
  Note
  Property owner and installers are responsible to provision and maintain the correct data plan.
For large sites with more than 20 Wall Connectors, consider deploying 2 SIM cards from different networks for redundancy. If one network goes down, the secondary SIM can provide internet connection.
Note
To deploy 2 SIMs, a Teltonika or Cradlepoint Internet Gateway is required.