Tesla is evolving as the operating system for the world’s emerging electric vehicle era. With charging stations that can support other brands, expect “Tesla” to become a verb soon. Yes, what happened to elevator (lifts), to google (search), to indomie (noodles), etc will happen to Tesla (charging for EVs). I have classified Tesla as a software company which sells cars because all the inherent accelerating factors which are typical in software companies are compounding in Tesla.
Tesla Inc is opening its charging network to other electric cars for the first time with a pilot program in the Netherlands, in what seems like a new playbook for the high-flying electric vehicle maker.
The world’s most valuable carmaker is leading burgeoning electric vehicle markets around the world, and now it is carving out another revenue vehicle by providing charging infrastructure for all electric vehicle users.
The company said on Monday that the program will be tested at 10 locations in the Netherlands, adding that Dutch non-Tesla EV drivers can access the Tesla stations, or Superchargers, through the Tesla app.
Current owner cannot transfer license – checked. New owner needs a new license – checked. Pay more fees post vehicle purchase to unlock more capacity – checked. Yes, with Tesla, depending on your ability to pay, you can unlock new capacities (think Pro, Premium or Enterprise plans which are used in software companies). That explains why depending on your plan, your car can do things which it could not do before.
Today, it has made it clear that it wants to be the operating system, and unify the world of EV. Of course, if it does that, it simply means that Tesla is running a double play strategy. Simply, with its charging stations, it can make money irrespective of the EV vehicle brand you are driving. That is why the ascension is just beginning. That is why the ascension is just beginning.
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Comment: Prof, ASDA and almost all major gas forecourt in the UK have got EV charging station or points. City Councils have various charging EV charging points around their Council area. Some firms provide EV charging points for their employees etc.
Thus, EV charging points or stations is not going to Tesla or any other brand the “operating system” for EV u mentioned. Anyone with the capital here can build and operate EV charging stations and they are springing up everyday and everywhere.
The Tesla EV hype will reach its crescendo soon and it will be forced to compete on pure aesthetics, reliability, safety, performance and cost effectiveness. This is where the likes of Toyota,Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari etc will give Tesla a run for her money as they are superior to Tesla vehicles on the above indices and at the end of the day, most folks buy cars for the aesthetics, luxury , reliability and cost depending on class in the society.
My Response: “This is where the likes of Toyota,Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari…” you may not be comparing apple and apple or orange and orange. I will suggest you compare Tesla with Microsoft instead of these companies you noted. Tesla is not a car company; it is a software company which sells cars. If you buy a Tesla today, you will keep sending money to Tesla until the day you sell it, and the new owner will restart with a new license and will be paying until the car goes to landfill.
That is how Microsoft sells its products. The biggest innovation in Tesla is its pricing model. That is why one Tesla compounds better than 20 Toyota cars. Tesla is worth more than $1trillion for selling 500k while Toyota is less than $300b though selling 10.5 million cars.
Tesla Opens Charging Stations for Other Vehicles in A New Playbook
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Charging stations should ordinarily be part of the EV architecture, so if Tesla leads the EV market, it’s natural that it needs to dominate the charging station business.
Its SaaS business model in auto market is perhaps the biggest innovation there, so as long as you own the car, you are sending money to Tesla.