It sounds similar to the current "standing charge" you get on UK household energy bills (don't know about the rest of Europe).

Even if you don't use any electricity you still pay a day rate (on most tariffs).

What I'd hate to see long term is if the subscription remains tied to a single supplier (i.e. I pay my subscription to Tesla, but use Ionic to charge, so pay the subscription charge and the higher rate). That will mean the decision to use a different charge point still has repercussions, and prevents the openness of the infrastructure we (society at large if we're moving full electric) really need.

What gas station requires a subscription to buy aside from Costco or Sam's club?

Until these EVs can match the convenience of gas, there isn't a point to get one. Especially since batteries are a huge tax on resources as it is.

Because it makes EVs a closed system of kinds. Compared to ICEs, where I can get fuel at any station just using my credit or debit card, no subscription needed. All there exists, where I live at least, are bonus programs and cooperations that give you some price reductions. Subscriptions like those for EV charging a only there to create a kind of lock in, a lock in that has the potential to slow down EV sales.

Does Shell charge for a subscription to get some fuel at their stations...? Don't they have fixed costs too? And let's not make up excuses that patronize consumers; they can budget fine for fuel, they will do the same for electricity.

The more we stop this parasitical "subscription for everything" model, the better.

Gas stations (which are way more complex & expensive to operate than unattended electric charging points) manage just fine without subscriptions though.

Because it severely reduces the quality of service received by the user.

If I have a subscription to Walmart which gives me half price food in return for $50/month, you can bet I'll always be shopping there.

That means I'll usually drive further for food, have less selection, and will be far less likely to switch to another grocery store.

When many stores have a subscription model, they can start to creep prices up for non-subscribers, and before long grocery shopping starts to look like cable internet or phone plans.

I can't 'just switch to AT&T for a few minutes to see if it's faster'!

Endgame:. "36 month Walmart Grocery Plus for $50/month. Early termination charge: $1800. For just $25/month extra, you can also shop at other Walmart locations."

It creates captive audience, which is a gateway to further anti-competitive and abusive market practices

Most utilities and physical retail doesn't have monthly recurring revenue, it's all driven by demand. Yes, some of them have additional plans/subscriptions you can get involved in, but most of their revenue comes from one-off payments and they seem to do just fine, what about Tesla makes them special?

Not speaking for others but my personal goal is to only use cash 90% of the time, maybe more. I am not quite there yet but I want to delete all my dependencies on banks and online systems. I am currently still depending on Amazon for some items and that is what is mostly holding me back. I will hold onto my ICE vehicle as long as I can or until cash slots on charging terminals has been sorted as well as entirely offline EV's exist. Cash works fine at the car wash.