Tesla is opening its supercharger network of electric-vehicle chargers up to non-Tesla EVs.
What’s more, the news about this was scooped by the White House.
A White House memo says that the network will become available to those driving non-Tesla vehicles in “late 2022”.
The company has already opened up some of its chargers to other brands in Europe, as part of a pilot program.
It was unclear when, or if, Tesla would allow the same in the U.S., but a fact sheet circulated by the White House on June 28 said this: “Later this year, Tesla will begin production of new Supercharger equipment that will enable non-Tesla EV drivers in North America to use Tesla Superchargers.”
Tesla didn’t comment on the report — of course, the company no longer has a PR team to field such requests — so we don’t know if the company knew the White House would “scoop” it. As we’ve documented, however, there is no love lost between Tesla boss Elon Musk and President Joe Biden.
American EV owners who drive something other than a Tesla might need to download a smartphone app to use the chargers. They’ll also need an adapter to make the charger cable connect correctly.
The Biden administration wants to spend $5 billion to grow the nation’s charging infrastructure from the current 41,000 chargers (Tesla and not) with 100K plugs to 500,000 chargers by 2030, and the White House says it will only spend federal money on chargers that can juice up the broadest possible range of EVs.
Should this turn out to be true, it’s undoubtedly good news for EV owners who drive something from another brand. It may even help speed EV adoption — imagine a scenario where a potential EV buyer can’t afford or doesn’t want a Tesla but sees only Tesla Superchargers in the area where he/she lives and works. Now, however, this person could buy, say, a Chevrolet Bolt or Volkswagen ID.4 and use the Tesla network to keep it charged.
[Image: JL IMAGES/Shutterstock.com]
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Let me state the obvious, we need one standard for charging stations.
We’re very close to that now. The J-1772 is your standard Level 1 and 2 charger and will work with any Tesla, just add the proper adaptor from the J-1772 plug. CCS (non-Tesla Level 3, er, high speed charging) is Level 2 plus two additional connectors. Tesla’s have adaptors to handle anything of these two plugs.
The only other ‘standard’ is Chademo which is the high speed on a Nissan Leaf, pretty much nothing else, and is already the Betamax of the charging world.
Right now, my Bolt can do Levels 1 and 2 with the J-1772, CCS is already included in the car, and I only need an adaptor for a Tesla Destination Charger (aka, Level 2 with a Tesla plug, not networked) at any motel offering charging if the Level 2 is already taken. The only thing I’m lacking is genuine Tesla charging availability.
Yeah, it would have been better to demand everyone go for one plug back in 2010, but the government wasn’t thinking that far ahead.
Somewhere I read of a media-person test driving a Tesla, and one of it’s charging stations was run by PORTABLE DIESEL GENERATORS roaring nearby.
Detroit-X, GM is doing media launches in remote locations for their new BEV’s and changeling with hydrogen. It is their own proprietary Hydrotec generators to charge EV’s offsight.
Possibly this bit of fakery: https://factcheck.afp.com/http%253A%252F%252Fdoc.afp.com%252F9TB2YB-1, but it certainly *would* make sense to have backup power at charging stations for the occasional power outage. A few hours of diesels from time to time is a small overall matter if it prevents people from being stranded. Like with heathers on LED traffic lights, you’ve got to judge the net benefit on a long-term big-picture basis.
How about one charging standard for smartphones and other little devices with batteries that need recharging?
Instead we have this mess: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB
@ToolGuy don’t you think CHAdeMO might be overkill for a phone though?
And it is ironic that we chastise the company that has had 2 charging standards in the nearly 20 years they have been making phones (and their pre phone portable devices) in favor of the ones that have had 47 different connectors.
I still have and occasionally use a 30 pin dock connector. Every time a Mini USB cable shows up in a drawer or something it just p!$$es me off
The single charging solution for small devices is coming thanks to Europe now requiring a single standard They picked USB-C.
“We” have that already. A standard power cord.
For less dog-slow charging, “we” need something different.
Even the faster chargers available today, are dog slow compared to more reasonable alternatives for rapid refueling of cars and trucks (and planes and ships and….)
Which resolves to: “We” are not even close to even having the remotest idea how much current that “one standard” needs to be able to carry. Until that’s been “settled,” by at a minimum no meaningful improvements for a significant percentage of the US automotive fleet for a decade or more, mandating “one standard” serves no other purpose than any other attempt at picking winners in fields “we” know nothing about. Or, more realistically: Not even picking winners. But rather just handouts to “our” favorite buddies and lobbyists.
It’s wonderful news to anyone who owns a non-Tesla EV and wants to do more than local errand running. I’ll definitely be looking for an adaptor for my Bolt as soon as the specs have been finalized.
As a business move, however, it’s not Tesla’s smartest move. Right now, the whole reason you order a Tesla rather than buy a competing EV is because of their infrastructure, and you want to travel long distance. The latest Kia and Hyundai EV’s are playing in Tesla’s ballpark when it comes to design.
I’m assuming you’ll only get connectivity to the charger itself, and not access to Tesla’s built in system of GPS and charger planning. If so, that’ll still give Tesla an advantage over everyone else.
I’m also guessing that Tesla could charge nonTeslas out the a$$ for using one of its locations.
However I think the real goal here is to get a nice slice of that $5B. And although I’m not head of the Elon fan club, I do think Tesla would do a better job at creating EV infrastructure versus leaving it up to patchwork decisions from local politicians.
I’d say it is both but the primary reason is to try and get a big chunk of that gov’t money. Other networks have lower rates for those that spend money on a membership, so I’m sure Tesla will tack on a premium for non-Tesla vehicles.
So before today, it was the equivalent of Chevron only allowing you to fill up GM vehicles.
No. Tesla chargers are only good for Teslas. Tesla cars, however, can recharge at any other brand (EVAmerica, ChargePoint, SemaConnect, etc.) using a J-1772 or CCS patch cable. Non-Tesla cars cannot access Tesla Superchargers, but can access any other brand. They can also access what’s called a Tesla Destination Charger, a non-networked Level 2 charger that’s only different from other Level 2 chargers in that it ends with a Tesla plug instead of a J-1772. Just add adapter.
When I take long road trips, I find myself running across Tesla charging stations wherever I stop. Tesla charging stations which are clean and operating and standardized and have spaces available. In ideal locations. (I run across them and I wasn’t looking.)
I get why the government would want Tesla chargers open to everyone. I get why other manufacturers would like to glom onto Teslas charging network. I get why access to Tesla’s charging network *might* promote EV adoption overall.
Here’s what I struggle with: If I got a Tesla partially because of their charging network, and now any schmuck with a two-bit EV (complete with body damage and a low charging rate) from a lesser manufacturer can take up a valuable charging space (say, on July 3), didn’t Tesla just burn me, as their customer?
My other question: If I happen to be the imbecile with the beat-up Leaf, how much is Tesla going to charge me for the privilege of using their network?
“didn’t Tesla just burn me, as their customer?”
They did. But I guess that is a perk of owning 75% of the EV market and seeing your competition flail around unable to even build anything.
electrek.co/2022/04/26/tesla-tsla-owns-75- percent-us-electric-car-market-so-far-this-year/
“If I happen to be the schmuck with the beat-up Leaf” No problem there because CHAdeMo charging will still not be available at Tesla locations.
“No problem there because CHAdeMo charging…”
Hold up. Say I’m even more of a schmo, and my Leaf is one of the models which didn’t come with any fast-charge option, therefore no CHAdeMo. I am still a proud American, I still want to save the planet, my kid still voted for Biden, and I would like to use this here Tesla charging spot to charge my very fine used Leaf using the J-1772-7277-27 cable and the latest reverse adapter (Block III) just released by the Department of Energy. I’ll only be in the spot for 3.5 hours — perhaps 4. Is there a problem?
I’m not sure if that functionality would be available or not.
Tesla puts time limits on connections at busy chargers. If you exceed that limit you get an overage charge. Taking 3-4 hours to charge a Leaf might cost you more than the car is worth.
I’m pretty sure the clock doesn’t start ticking until the charge is completed. So yeah sit there for 4 hours with it actually charging and you won’t get hit with the overtime parking fee.
TESLA MARKET SHARE ABOUT TO PLUMMET So far this year, Tesla has 67% of the EV market in the U.S. according to Wards Intelligence. But that will drop to only 11% by 2025. That’s the forecast from Bank of America Research. It predicts that GM and Ford will surpass Tesla, with each of them getting 15% of the U.S. EV market by then. Lead auto analyst John Murphy says Tesla will lose share because of the wave of EVs coming from traditional automakers. These will be much more competitive, not like the compliance EVs they first came out with. Tesla will add only two passenger models over the next three years, the Cybertruck and the Roadster, while GM will add 17, Hyundai and Kia will add 13, Volkswagen will add 11 and Ford will add 6. With those models, they’ll have far greater market coverage and will be in more segments than Tesla is. Murphy spoke at the Automotive Press Association in Detroit yesterday. He says Elon Musk made a strategic mistake by not expanding Tesla faster when the cost of capital was essentially free. “He could have closed the door on them,” Murphy said. Instead, Musk left the door open, and the traditional automakers are racing in to fill the void. Autoline
Releasing a bunch of new models doesn’t matter much when you can’t (or won’t) actually build them in volume. When are we going to see the BEV production explosion from the nonTesla manufacturers?
“So far this year, Tesla has 67% of the EV market in the U.S. according to Wards Intelligence. But that will drop to only 11% by 2025. ”
No it won’t, I don’t even believe the 67% figure especially since Ford issued a stop-sale on Mach-E.
I’ll take a shot at question #1: Tesla’s network of clean, working, and convenient chargers is only half their advantage. The other half is the GPS in the cars (proprietary, of course). Tap in your destination and the system automatically figures out where you need to stop for interim recharges, how long you’re going to be there (you don’t charge to 100% on trips, usually 80%), how busy the planned stop is (constantly updated), and if that charge station fills up before you get there, the system will redirect you to an alternate, available charge point.
There are apps that sorta do this for those who drive anything else, but like any ‘one size fits all’ app, you’re going to be spending a lot of time setting it up, fine tuning, and you’re still not going to have the seamless service the Tesla system gives their owners.
Which brings this Tesla availability up with three questions: 1. When will it be available? 2. What’s it going to cost? 3. Are we talking access to the physical chargers, or also access to the trip planning system?
Using the GPS to plan your route around charging stations is not some magic only Tesla has. Other manufacturers do the exact same thing.
“I’ll take a shot at question #1: Tesla’s network of clean, working, and convenient chargers is only half their advantage. The other half is the GPS in the cars (proprietary, of course). Tap in your destination and the system automatically figures out where you need to stop for interim recharges, how long you’re going to be there (you don’t charge to 100% on trips, usually 80%), how busy the planned stop is (constantly updated), and if that charge station fills up before you get there, the system will redirect you to an alternate, available charge point.”
Now wait. It was right here on this very site that someone said, when I mentioned this, that “if you’re not using a 3rd party app for all that you’re doing it wrong”.
This was in context of discussing taking Teslas on trips; I used Tesla’s route planner to discover that my normal 10.5 hour trip to the beach turned into a 14 hour trip with detours (not to mention that there’s nowhere there to charge a Tesla or anything else). Whoever it was assured me, I was doing it completely wrong by using Tesla’s route planner–that I should be doing it a completely different way.
And that’s one reason EVs will fail.
Anyway, so even the Tesla system isn’t settled in people’s minds.
” two bit EV with body damage.” “imbecile with a beat up Leaf.” Really? So Teslas are these pristine spaceships driven by effete metrosexuals and every other EV is some jalopy driven by a Beavis type? Must be why you only see Teslas smashing into things and flying through the air – because their customers are soooo upper crust.
I will happily join any non-Tesla EV meet that wants to hang out and hog a supercharger location. My slow ass 55kwh Bolt will be there a while. No dents though.
The Leaf blows. It belongs in the conversation as one the worst vehicles since 1990.
My kid’s has been a great hooptie. He may have the distinction of owning the biggest POS EV around and it still gets him from point A to Point B and will likely never be as big of a pile as the MK III Supra my youngest is about to drag home.
Additionally as the owner of various Alfa Romeo’s and FIATs from the 90s at various points in my life, the Leaf ain’t even in that universe.
What’s the current max range on that Leaf? And what was the depreciation level when they purchased it?
It’s an EV with the same thermal management as a Harley Davidson Iron 883. It was under-engineered for 2010 and Nissan has done basically nothing to improve its faults since.
It still goes about 75 miles when it is warm out. It has dropped 2 of the battery health indicators. For a 5000 dollar EV it has been plenty good. I got it because it was cheap and met my kid’s needs, but it has turned out to be quite robust and given the repirs and resulting “mods” from an accident I wouldn’t be shocked if it shows up in one of those junkyard segments on this site one day.
They did change the battery design 2 or 3 times. I believe his is the second formula. Not the best, but certainly worth what I paid.
Nice buy, Art. Tell us more about this Supra…
It’s an 89 Turbo (Were they all?) with an automatic. It ran good until he (current owner and friend) decided to “mod” it with bigger injectors and a bunch of crap it didn’t need. He also plastidipped it purple and it hasn’t moved in 3 years. For 500 bucks with all the stock crap included I’ll put that back on, strip the plastidip (paint was good underneath), clean it up and see what happens. AC worked when he parked it so again, worth a 500 dollar bet but it looks like a riced out pile right now.
If someone with a beat-up Leaf in an imbecile, than what word could describe the owner/driver of a lifted diesel pickup with a coal-rolling modification?
I’m going with “mommy ignored me” for the coal-roller explanation.
“My other question: If I happen to be the imbecile with the beat-up Leaf, how much is Tesla going to charge me for the privilege of using their network?”
Hopefully 2-3 times what they charge Tesla owners. There is no reason why Tesla should be doing this. From a financial standpoint, this should help Tesla make some money back with soaring costs due to the Xiden inflation and the lower sales of carbon credits.
“There is no reason why Tesla should be doing this.”
Yes there is. If they didn’t, subsidies and favors would flow to competitors. Leaving their network (also funded by subsidized interest rates, road use favoritism etc…) increasingly marginalized.
The whole BEV game is about being on the receiving end, as opposed to the taken-from end, of the redistribution rackets. Tesla may (just may) be “in the lead” technologically. But just like in car racing, runner up is rarely more than a second or so behind.
After all: The very reason everyone and his incompetent uncle is going gaga about mandating BEVs, is because building them is something every incompetent uncle can also do. It’s a game where they can all be winners. Simply infinitely easier than trying to compete with Toyota at building real cars.
The only reason Tesla is doing this is for the gov’t money. Any station that is in the pipeline or expansions of existing stations will be on the gov’t dime. The fact that they will get to charge a premium for those other mfg vehicles is a bonus.
I remember hearing this a few years ago and tesla fans were pissed cuz they see those chargers as for them only. Im sure elon will cancel it now to spite Biden for announcing it first.
After government solves the EV charging dilemma, we should maybe get them involved with our road infrastructure.
(I have no idea who is supposed to keep our roads and bridges from crumbling, but things are getting really bad. If the government were involved, couldn’t they find a solution??)
Recommended binge-watch if you have Netflix: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_G_Word
TL;DR: Watch Adam Conover grapple with his misplaced trust in government.
you lost me at “watch Adam Conover”. ‘Nuff said.
“After government solves the EV charging dilemma…:
…we would still be in the bind we created when we used “zero emissions to fool ourselves.
https://youtu.be/S1E8SQde5rk
I have always regarded the Super Charger network as a huge asset for Tesla. It helped them sell more cars and if they do open it up to other EVs it could be a huge potential cash flow enhancer for them. One advantage Tesla has is that they keep pouring money into the Super Charger system which is why their sites seem to be mostly fully functional as compared to the competition. If they can maintain their uptimes eventually non-Tesla owners are going to be stopping at Super Chargers first instead of taking a risk that the EV America network will be working.
EV America are the Washington Generals of EV charging.
Just like BEVs are the Washington Generals of cars.
Not saying they’re not good for something. They both have their niches.
People need to think about the big picture.
https://youtu.be/S1E8SQde5rk
“One advantage Tesla has is that they keep pouring money into the Super Charger system which is why their sites seem to be mostly fully functional as compared to the competition.”
I’ll buy that. My experience and my take on the whole J1772 public charging world is, good luck. Somebody put one in somewhere because it sounded like a good idea, and may have even been paid for with tax dollars, but it hasn’t been touched since and the guy who had it put in is long gone and nobody knows anything about it or why it doesn’t work.
Wait…I thought Mary was leading?
If I bought a Tesla even partly based on the strength of their charging network, I would not be happy to see all the chargers occupied by other brands.
They aren’t free for new purchases though, so I’d imagine actual Tesla Owners would get a nice discount
Heck the way Biden and Musk get along Elon might let him make the announcement and then make it crazy expensive for non Tealas.
Will be very interesting to see if they can manage demand; this will immediately make non-Tesla EVs look a lot more attractive. If charging remains readily available this could make it possible for our next long-distance vehicle to be a BEV instead of a PHEV.
I wouldn’t get too excited. This is a play for the gov’t money so those new chargers that will work with other brands will mainly be going to new locations until that gov’t money runs dry. Don’t expect this to apply to all Supercharger locations for several years and even then it is likely to be a couple of units per station for many more years after that.
I believe Scoutdude is onto something here.
Went back and read the White House Fact Sheet and it says: “Later this year, Tesla will begin production of new Supercharger equipment that will enable non-Tesla EV drivers in North America to use Tesla Superchargers.”
The Verge article kind of jumps ahead of that wording, but they are piggybacking off the European rollout. (It does say “the company has said it would closely monitor each site for congestion and other concerns.”)
General Comment On Governance: We know that the Biden-Harris Administration is not a one-man show, yet the press releases and the Fact Sheets keep pointing us back to the One Guy and I wonder why that is?
Being that all of the information so far has come from the current corrupt White House, I’m treating this as a complete fabrication and completely false until proven otherwise.
This current corrupt White House has no issue saying things that are completely false (see their Covid response) and have no basis in reality. This seems to be the same (so far). The fact Tesla had no comment is telling.
The “current corrupt White House”
As opposed to the totally honest, honorable, and patriotic previous White House administration?
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