Tesla’s long-standing policy of keeping its North American charging network closed to outsiders appears poised to change in the near future, as the company is reportedly preparing to allow other electric vehicles to use its Superchargers. With more and more Model S and Model X vehicles being sold in North America, Tesla has come under pressure to open up its charging network. However, doing so would likely require the company to shoulder much of the financial burden, given that Supercharger fees are billed in proportion to a vehicle’s battery capacity.
The 2020 election campaign was fought largely on the issue of climate change, and it is clear that concern about global warming has led to a gradual and widespread shift in consumer behavior towards electric vehicles (EVs). In anticipation of this trend, the White House recently announced that it would open 7,500 chargers to any EV with the combined charging system (CCS), the standard broadly used in the U.S. This will provide more options for drivers who want to own an EV and help accelerate adoption of EVs overall.
If Tesla follows through with plans to offer a home charging station that can handle the high power demands of its upcoming Model 3 sedan, it could herald a sea change in electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the United States. With enough juice to take down even the largest Wall Street institutions, Tesla’s new home charger would provide consumers with quick and convenient access to an unlimited number of chargers. This could lead to a proliferation of electric vehicles across the country, drastically reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and paving the way for future clean energy technologies.
Tesla is currently installing a new type of supercharger that can charge a car’s battery at up to 500 miles per hour. This could make it much easier for Tesla owners to travel long distances.
With Tesla expanding its Supercharger network, it is likely to cause a shift in the way people charge their electric vehicles. Previously, EV charging could be done at home or at public charging stations. With Tesla opening up more Superchargers, people will need to travel farther distances to charge their vehicles and this could lead to less support for electric vehicle adoption in the United States. Additionally, there could be an increase in gas-powered car sales as EV drivers take longer trips to charge their cars. This could have major implications for climate change since gas-powered cars produce far more greenhouse gases than EVs
Tesla may be using the new federal money to improve its already impressive network of charging stations, but it’s already clear that the company is looking beyond its traditional rivals. With its new funding, Tesla has placed itself at the forefront of electric car technology and shown that it’s not afraid to take risks.
