Tesla opens charging network to other EVs for the first time

01 November 2021 - 20:53 By Reuters
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Tesla electric cars charge at a Tesla charging station.
Tesla electric cars charge at a Tesla charging station.
Image: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Tesla Inc is opening its charging network to other electric cars for the first time with a pilot programme in the Netherlands, as the world's most valuable carmaker looks to bring electric vehicles into the mainstream.

The programme will be tested at 10 locations in the Netherlands, the company said on Monday, adding that Dutch non-Tesla EV drivers can access the Tesla stations, or Superchargers, through the Tesla app.

Tesla drivers can continue to use these stations and the company will closely monitor each site for congestion.

Tesla operates more than 25,000 Superchargers worldwide, while other car makers have formed alliances or invested in start-ups for networks as they rush new electric vehicles to market.

The Superchargers are open to cars with the Combined Charging System (CCS) favoured by BMW, Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler, Ford and the Volkswagen, which includes Audi and Porsche.

Tesla uses the CCS standard in Europe, allowing a wide range of cars to charge in stations without an adapter that uses a similar connector.

Charging prices for non-Tesla drivers will include extra costs to support a broad range of vehicles and site adjustments to accommodate these vehicles, Tesla said. The price to charge can be lowered with a charging membership, it added.

“This move directly supports our mission to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy,” the company said.

Tesla, which crossed $1 trillion (roughly R15,432,200,000,000) in market capitalisation for the first time last week, has defied supply chain issues and global chip shortages to mark a record quarter for car deliveries as demand ramps up and its investments in new factories pay off.


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