Pilot program to open up Tesla Superchargers to other electric cars
Tesla’s historically closed network of high-powered charging stations might finally be democratised…
A pilot program has been launched in the Netherlands to open up usage of the Tesla Supercharger network to other EVs. Tesla’s impressive spread of reliable and high-powered charging points across the UK and Europe has been the envy of many EV drivers not willing or able to purchase a Tesla vehicle, and signals a chance it might be opening its doors to a wider audience.
For now Tesla plans to open ten locations in the Netherlands, a country that has the second-highest take-up of BEV sales in percentage terms in the world. Not to dissuade its own customers, Tesla will be closely monitoring the take-up and ensuring that its own customers have priority, and that congestion at the charge points don’t inhibit their accessibility.
The system will work through a Tesla app, much like other charging networks, and tariffs will be at a premium compared to Tesla car customers. As it stands, Tesla customers are charged two different rates depending on charging speeds, with the switch point to the higher tariff being above 60kW.
All Tesla Superchargers are capable of 150kW charging, with a new generation of V3 chargers coming online with up to 350kW – a rate higher than any BEV is capable of receiving, yet.
All Superchargers, regardless of version, are compatible with most CCS-capable BEV models, which has become the non-official standard for most European manufacturers including the Volkswagen Group, Daimler, BMW Group and Ford.
Tesla has not offered any more detail of whether the 20,000 strong global network will also open up to support other vehicles, but hopefully the days of sitting in a motorway services waiting for a Nissan Leaf to finish its 30kW charge on the sole remaining operational charge point while looking longingly at the row of reliable and high speed Superchargers sat unused on the other side of the car park will soon be over.
