Tesla is opening its charging network to other electric cars for the first time with a pilot program in the Netherlands as the world’s most valuable automaker seeks to bring electric vehicles into the mainstream.
The program will be tested at 10 locations in the Netherlands, the company announced on Monday, adding that Dutch non-Tesla electric vehicle 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 location for congestion.
Tesla operates more than 25,000 superchargers worldwide, while other automakers have formed alliances or invested in start-ups for networks to bring new electric vehicles to market.
The Superchargers are open to cars with the Combined Charging System (CCS), which is preferred by BMW, the Mercedes-Benz manufacturer Daimler, Ford and the Volkswagen Group, which includes Audi and Porsche.
Tesla uses the CCS standard in Europe, which allows a wide variety of cars to charge in stations without an adapter with a similar connector.
Calculating prices for non-Tesla drivers would include additional costs to support a wide range of vehicles and location customizations to accommodate those vehicles, Tesla said. “This step directly supports our mission to accelerate the global transition to sustainable energy.”
Tesla, which topped $ 1 trillion in market cap for the first time last week, has braved supply chain problems and global chip shortages to mark a record quarter for auto deliveries as demand rises and investments in new factories pay off.
