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| Tesla allows its network to charge other cars |
Tesla launched a pilot program in the Netherlands this week to enable non-commercial electric vehicles to use its Supercharger network. This is the first time the automaker has opened its own charging station for electric vehicles from other companies.
The Tesla Supercharger is widely considered the best example of grid electric vehicle charging due to its speed, reliability and abundance. However, the network is only accessible to owners of company cars, which means that people who drive electric Volkswagen or Ford cars cannot use it. But this situation is now beginning to change.
Company president Elon Musk has been talking about unlocking the supercharging network for other electric vehicles for many years. Last summer, he began revealing important details on how to proceed. With an initial pilot project announced, the company now looks ready to begin the process.
Initially there were 10 supercharging stations for non-commercial cars in the Netherlands. Car owners must download the latest version of the Tesla smartphone app (4.2.3 or higher) to access the website.
After downloading the app, customers must charge their non-Tesla phones to find the location of the nearest supercharger.
Tesla owners can continue to use these stations as usual. “We closely monitor traffic jams at each location and listen to customer feedback,” the company said in a blog post.
Not surprisingly, the Netherlands was chosen as the starting point for the pilot project. The company's CEO, Elon Musk, said earlier that testing could begin in Europe, where standard charging cord plugs are mandatory.
The Tesla trial started with 10 locations in the Netherlands
Before the company opened a supercharger station in the US, other European countries could follow suit. The company is keen to open a network in Norway.
The company uses proprietary North American connectors. So, according to the US Department of Energy, non-owned vehicles will need an adapter to connect it to the company's compressor, which has more than 6,400 outlets in the US.
"Our goal has always been to open up the Supercharger network to electric vehicles for other companies," the company said. Thus, we encourage more drivers to switch to electric vehicles. This resolution directly supports our mission to accelerate the global transition to sustainable energy.
There is still a lot of work to be done before the supercharger is shipped to non-professional electric vehicle owners, especially given the cost to other automakers willing to purchase adapters for customers. However, the experience of the Netherlands shows that the plan announced by Musk to lead the revolution in the adoption of electric cars continues.