Shubham Sawarkar
Tesla has announced plans to open up 7,500 of its Supercharger stations to non-Tesla electric vehicles (EVs) in the United States by the end of 2024. The initiative is part of the Biden administration’s $7.5 billion plan to install 500,000 EV charging stations on US roads by 2030. The move is a significant step towards achieving the administration’s goal of converting half of all new US vehicle sales to zero emissions by 2030.
The expansion of Tesla’s charging infrastructure in the US will enable drivers of all compatible EVs to take advantage of the company’s extensive network of charging stations. The initiative will include the installation of 3,500 new and existing 250kW Superchargers along highway corridors, and the rest will be Level 2 Destination Charging stations (22kW max) at hotels, restaurants, and other urban and rural locations. Tesla will also increase its US Supercharger network by 300 percent.
To be eligible for funding from the $7.5 billion plan, companies must adopt the Combined Charging System (CCS) that dominates in the US and offer smartphone-friendly payment options. Tesla currently uses proprietary chargers, but it has committed to adding the CCS standard to its charging infrastructure.
Other automakers, including General Motors and Ford, have also made commitments to increase the number of public chargers available to all EVs. For instance, GM has committed to installing up to 40,000 Level 2 stations across the US and Canada as part of its Ultium Charge 360 network. It also plans to install a coast-to-coast network of 2,000 350kW fast chargers along US roads in partnership with Pilot Company and EVgo. Similarly, Ford plans to install DC fast chargers at 1,920 dealerships by January 2024, and Hertz plans to install thousands of BP’s Pulse chargers in US cities for Hertz customers and the public.
The White House has stated that the first tranche of NEVI funds will be delivered to states in the coming weeks. The administration is confident that the move towards increased EV charging infrastructure will make it easier for Americans to adopt electric vehicles and reduce the nation’s carbon footprint.
