Tesla to open charger network to other EVs
Tesla has agreed to open up its charging network to non-Tesla electric vehicles after the U.S. government said it would foot the bill.
Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, promised to provide 7,500 open-access chargers in the U.S. by the end of 2024, according to Biden administration officials.
Taxpayer dollars will pay for the conversion of existing Tesla chargers or the construction of new ones to accommodate cars built by Ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Volvo, Volkswagen and other EV makers.
The Tesla deal is part of the Biden administration’s $7.5-billion plan to fund 500,000 EV chargers throughout the U.S., mostly along major highways at 50mile intervals. The spending was approved by Congress in 2021.
Tesla’s proprietary Supercharger network is by far the world’s largest and most reliable, and is considered a key competitive advantage for the automaker.
By opening its network to outsiders, however, Tesla is positioned to boost its charging revenue and profit margins. (The company had said it would charge higher prices for non-Tesla charging if and when it opened the network.)
Currently, Tesla provides 28,000 charging ports at Supercharger stations in the U.S. and 40,000 worldwide.
There are two common standards for electric vehicle charging in the U.S. — Tesla’s and everyone else’s. The main reason for incompatibility is the nature of the charger plug that fits into an electric car’s charging port.
The industry standard is known as CCS, larger than Tesla’s version with a different plug configuration. Exactly how Tesla will equip its Superchargers for open access hasn’t been detailed.
The $7.5 billion will be spread among charger manufacturers, other automakers, retail chains, land developers and others that qualify for public charger subsidies.
Separately, Tesla might qualify for charger subsidies from state programs in California.
Whether Musk will meet his 2024 commitment is another matter. He has a long and growing record of unfulfilled promises, blown deadlines and reneged deals.
A White House spokesman said no contracts with Tesla have been signed yet.