Tesla currently has the largest global charging network, with more than 25,000 “Superchargers” worldwide. However, these charging stations are exclusive to Tesla owners, meaning that owners of electric vehicles (EVs) from other automakers are not able to access them.
But all that is set to change with the launch of a brand-new pilot scheme that allows non-Tesla drivers access to 10 charging stations in the Netherlands – the small selection designed to allow the company to monitor congestion and review feedback before pursuing further expansion.
Any electric vehicles with a Combined Charging System (CCS) – such as those made by the likes of Volkswagen, BMW, Daimler and Ford – will be able to access the chargers.
However, non-Tesla drivers will face additional costs for the service, which the company claims will support the charging of a wider range of vehicles.
Non-Tesla customers will also need to download the Tesla app in order to access the charging points. After downloading the app, they will need to select “Charge Your Non-Tesla” to find the closest participating Supercharger site and then tap “Start Charging” when they’re ready to start their session.
The Netherlands’ drive towards Net Zero
The Netherlands is at the forefront of the EV movement, with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) collectively making up 25 percent of all newly registered cars in 2020. This impressive uptake is a testament to the strong incentives offered by the Dutch Government to reduce the costs for drivers. For example, buyers of new BEVs are entitled to a subsidy of €4,000 when buying or leasing through an approved dealer – and a €2,000 incentive is offered for purchase of used cars.
“It is important that clean driving is accessible to people. With this subsidy, I want to give them a helping hand, so that they can choose an electric car. New or second-hand. The more people who drive electric vehicles instead of fossils [fossil-fuel powered cars], the cleaner our air and the less greenhouse gas emissions,” stated former State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management, Stientje van Veldhoven.
Tesla takes charge
Tesla, with its pilot scheme, also hopes to drive electric vehicles into the mainstream, by making the charging infrastructure more easily accessible for the general public. “It’s always been our ambition to open the Supercharger network to non-Tesla EVs, and by doing so, encourage more drivers to go electric. This move directly supports our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy,” the company stated in a blog post.
If the pilot scheme proves successful, the company plans eventually to open up its charging network to non-Tesla cars on a global scale.
“More customers using the Supercharger network enables faster expansion. Our goal is to learn and iterate quickly, while continuing to aggressively expand the network, so we can eventually welcome both Tesla and non-Tesla drivers at every Supercharger worldwide."
Tesla partners up with Uber
Tesla’s electric vehicles have also been met with enthusiasm in Britain: in September 2021, the Tesla Model 3 became the nation’s first electric model to be crowned the nation’s best-selling vehicle.
Tesla’s influence over the UK’s electric car market is set to increase still further with the announcement on Wednesday 3 November of a new agreement with Uber.
In January 2019, Uber introduced a fee of 3p to every mile of a London passenger trip as part of its ‘Clean Air Plan’, which aims to aid a green recovery by helping to fund drivers’ transition to electric vehicles.
Since introducing the scheme, Uber has raised over £135 million for drivers to spend on EVs, from companies such as Nissan, Hyundai and Kia, at discounted rates (each driver saves, on average, between £3,000 and £4,000). As a result, over 4,000 London Uber drivers have already made the switch and more than 90 percent of new vehicles joining the app are electric.
Passengers in central London can also utilise Uber’s new service, Uber Green, to request an all-electric car, rather than a petrol, diesel or hybrid car, so they too can play their part in helping to reduce carbon emissions.
The ridesharing company has further pledged that all its vehicles in London will be electric by 2025, five years ahead of the UK Government’s scheduled ban on the sale of all petrol and diesel cars.
Now, with the new agreement, Tesla cars will be added to the scheme, to help boost the uptake of electric vehicles even further and help pave the way for a cleaner, greener planet.