Cory Gunther
Earlier this year, Tesla announced plans to open up its Supercharger network to non-Tesla vehicles, and now it’s finally happening in select regions. The EV charger pilot program kicks off today in the Netherlands, with 10 Supercharger networks supporting vehicles other than Teslas.
So far, this pilot program is only available in the Netherlands. Still, we can expect several more regions to gain access shortly, even in the US, before the company rolls it out worldwide for anyone and everyone. Here’s what Tesla had to say:
“Today we are launching our Non-Tesla Supercharger pilot at 10 Supercharger locations in the Netherlands. Access to an extensive, convenient, and reliable fast-charging network is critical for large-scale EV adoption. That’s why, since opening our first Superchargers in 2012, we have been committed to rapid expansion of the network. Today, we have more than 25,000 Superchargers worldwide.”
As you can see, with more than 25,000 charging stations worldwide, letting drivers who own other EV brands access these chargers is a big deal. And again, while this is only in the Netherlands, this summer, Elon Musk stated that over time it’d be available in all countries.
Over time, all countries
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 20, 2021
Here are the 10 locations in the Netherlands and how it works.
- Sassenheim
- Apeldoorn Oost
- Meerkerk
- Hengelo
- Tilburg
- Duiven
- Breukelen
- Naarden
- Eemnes
- Zwolle
As expected, the entire experience is handled by the Tesla app for Android or iPhone. Once you get the app all up and running, choose the “charge your non-Tesla” option when you pull up to the Supercharger station. Owners must start and stop the charging process inside the app, rather than it happening automatically as it does with a Tesla vehicle.
Additionally, non-Tesla vehicles must tap a few options in the app and confirm which charging stall they’re using. Once the app confirms the location, hit start, and you’re all set. It looks like Tesla is charging a bit of a premium for non-Tesla vehicles to use its chargers, and in the future, it’ll even open up a membership program which will likely be a monthly or yearly subscription.
Again, this is just the first of many charging network pilot programs we’re expecting from Tesla over the next several months. Keep in mind that in Europe, Tesla uses the CCS charging plug standard, and any EV with a CCS connector can top off the battery with ease. However, in North America, chargers use a different plug, and there’s a good chance non-Tesla owners will need to buy an adapter to take advantage of Tesla’s network.
Either way, this is good news for EV owners everywhere, as you’ll soon have more options than ever before when it comes to charging up on a road trip.
via Electrek
