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.
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Tesla drivers can continue to use these stations and the company will closely monitor each site for congestion.
Early last month, Tesla launched supercharger stations in Morocco, signaling intent to provide charging infrastructure for other electric vehicle models in MENA.
While there is a rush by carmakers, motivated by climate concerns, to build enough non-combustible vehicles, battery and charging infrastructure has remained a huge concern.
Tesla, who last week, crossed the $1 trillion market capitalization, has been dominating the market not only with vehicles but also charging stations, operating more than 25,000 Superchargers worldwide. Despite the increasing number of Tesla’s charging stations, the gap remains wide, leaving other carmakers to form alliances or invest in startups for networks as competition heats up.
Per Reuters, the Superchargers are open to cars with the Combined Charging System (CCS) favored by BMW, Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler, Ford and Volkswagen, which includes Audi and Porsche.
Tesla uses the CCS standard in Europe, allowing a wide range of cars to charge in stations without an adapter that uses a similar connector.
Charging prices for non-Tesla drivers will include extra costs to support a broad range of vehicles and site adjustments to accommodate these vehicles, Tesla said. The price to charge can be lowered with a charging membership, it added.
“This move directly supports our mission to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy,” the company said.
Europe has intensified calls for environmentally friendly vehicles as part of efforts to reduce carbon footprint. With many European countries adopting short-term and long-term climate goals, focused on eliminating fossil fuel, electric vehicles have become the preferred choice and the market is increasingly getting every support from the governments.
Electric vehicle charging stations market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 39.8 percent from 2020 to reach $29.7 billion by 2027, according to research work published by Bloomberg.
With this roll out, Tesla is aiming to sit at the helm of the charging stations market as well. The electric vehicle charging infrastructure defied global chip shortage and supply chain bottlenecks unlike other markets, pointing at a huge growth potential despite market shortfalls.