Tesla starts opening its Supercharger network to non-Tesla cars

Tesla has started its promised opening of the Supercharger network to non-Telsa cars by starting a pilot program in The Netherlands. I wonder if timing this to coincide with the COP26 event was intentional?

You can view the location on the global Tesla Supercharger map with a new toggle at the bottom to show Superchargers open to non-Telsa. Right now it just shows the pilot sites in the Netherlands:

Interesting Points

Some interesting points from the pilot that indicate the direction Telsa is taking:

Payment is via the Tesla App and can be pay-as-you-go, or a subscription with a lower rate.

Prices are higher than a Tesla owner pays on the same charger (surprise, surprise) and are variable depending on location and timing. Here is one example from The Netherlands - the pricing with €13 per month subscription looks the same as normal Tesla owner pricing (from €0.24 per kWh), without its more than 2x more at €0.57 per kWh. That means that if you charge more than around 40kWh in a month on Tesla Superchargers you'd be better off taking the subscription.

This looks competitive compared to Ionity, which is the charger network owned by other car manufacturers including BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Mercedes and Volkswagen Group. They charge €0.79 per kWh, a 38% premium over the Tesla price below. Remember that Tesla has variable pricing, so it varies between different superchargers and even time - they try and encourage the use of less busy locations.

Ionity also offers a membership scheme with usage pricing that looks similar to Tesla. The membership price is actually set by the car manufacturer for Ionity and often includes a period of free membership bundled with the price of the car. The membership rates look similar to Tesla's €13 per month. However, Ionity membership has a minimum 1-year term, while Tesla is per month, so for example if you were going on a long trip one month you could choose to just take the Tesla membership for that month.

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They are only opening a subset of locations and they seem to be just the large ones, with 12 or more chargers. Looks likely Tesla will avoid opening locations where Tesla owners already sometimes experience congestion.

Not all EVs can use as some don't have a CCS port in the right location with the relatively short Supercharger cables. I wonder if Telsa will either start fitting longer cables or offer a CCS extension cable?

An issue with this is Tesla Superchargers are located to the side of each parking bay. This worked fine when only Telsa's used. But now it can leave some bays unusable when non-Teslas with different charge port locations are using. Take the photo below as an example - in the middle is a VW ID3 charging, its charge port is on the opposite side to a Tesla. To the far left is a Tesla Model 3 charging. While there is an apparent space between the two there isn't actually a charger to plug into as they are both used.

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Summary

Overall this looks like a win-win: It helps the adoption of EVs overall as it improves the charging network in most countries for long journeys, with a significant number of large hubs of very reliable chargers (depending on the price of course) and for Tesla, it gives another source of income and exposes more people to the Tesla brand, chargers and mostly satisfied owners.

Note: This covers the Superchargers only. Telsa also has destination chargers at hotels and other locations. These are normally mixed-use per location - some are dedicated to Tesla cars only (with red signs) and others are open to any car (with white signs)

Non-Tesla's Supercharger Pilot November 1, 2021

Here is Tesla's page translated into English

Today we are starting our pilot at 10 locations in the Netherlands to open Superchargers for electric cars from brands other than Tesla.

Access to a comprehensive, easily accessible and reliable network of fast chargers is essential for accelerating the transition to electric driving on a large scale. That is why since 2012, after the commissioning of our first Superchargers, we have focused on a rapid expansion of the network. Currently, there are more than 25,000 Superchargers worldwide.

With this pilot, we offer Dutch drivers of Non-Teslas the opportunity to use our Superchargers at 10 locations via the Tesla app (version 4.2.3 or higher). Tesla owners can continue to use these charging stations in the same way they are used to. We will closely monitor the flow at the locations and listen to the experiences of our customers.

It has always been our ambition to open up the Supercharger network to non-Tesla electric cars in order to encourage more drivers to make the switch to electric driving. This fits in seamlessly with our mission to accelerate the global transition to sustainable energy.

The more customers use the Supercharger network, the faster we can expand the network. Our goal is to quickly gain experience and make any adjustments. In addition, we will continue to expand our network at a rapid pace so that in the future we can hopefully welcome both Tesla owners and Non-Tesla drivers to our Superchargers all over the world.

Frequently asked questions

General

Which Supercharger locations are open to Non-Teslas?

Non-Tesla owners living in the Netherlands can currently go to 10 Supercharger locations across the country:

Sassenheim Hotels, Apeldoorn East, Meerkerk Hotels,Hengelo, Tilburg, Pigeons, Breukelen Hotels, Naarden Hotels, Eemnes Hotels, Zwolle

Can I use the Superchargers when I am in the Netherlands?

In this pilot, the Superchargers are only open to non-Tesla owners living in the Netherlands. We will be adding more countries to this pilot in the not too distant future. Tesla owners from other countries can continue to use these locations as they are used to.

Will more locations be opened up to Non-Teslas?

We're starting with a limited number of locations so we can gain experience, monitor charger flow, and gather user feedback before opening up more locations. Future locations will only be opened for Non-Teslas if there is sufficient capacity for this.

Can Tesla owners continue to use these locations?

Yes. For Tesla owners, nothing changes about the Supercharger experience that they are now used to.

I own a Tesla. What advantages do I have over Non-Tesla Owners?

As a Tesla owner, you benefit from the perfect way in which charging point and car are matched, the optimized route guidance and the preheating of the battery. And with your Tesla, you'll also benefit from the lowest price for using the Supercharger.

Tesla App

I drive a Non-Tesla vehicle. How can I charge my car via a Supercharger?

Download the Tesla app (version 4.2.3 or later) for iOS or Android and create a Tesla Account. Select "Charge your Non-Tesla" and find your Supercharger location. Add your payment method, connect your car to the charger, select the correct charging station on the app and press "Start charging".Select "Stop charging" to end your charging session.

How do I know which Supercharger charging station to select on the Tesla app?

Each Supercharger charging station has a label with a unique identification code at the bottom. If you have grabbed the charging cable from charging station 4A, select charging station 4A in the Tesla app to start charging. Please note that if you have not connected the cable to your car within two minutes of selecting a charging station, your session will have expired and you will need to repeat the procedure.

Do Tesla drivers see in their app the option for Supercharging cars from other brands, so that they can use both Non-Tesla and Tesla products with one account?

Yes. All Tesla products and services can be accessed through the Tesla app. Tesla drivers can use their current account to charge Non-Teslas.

Can I check the availability of the location and information about the services on-site in the app?

Yes. You can check the availability of the Supercharger location in the Tesla app.

Price

Will the price of charging at a Supercharger for Tesla owners change?

Tesla owners will continue to pay the same price for charging.

How much does it cost to charge Non-Teslas?

The price of charging charged to Non-Tesla owners includes the additional costs associated with charging a large number of different cars and created to make the locations suitable for cars from other brands. The costs vary per location. You can view charging prices in the Tesla app. The price per kWh for charging can be reduced by taking out a charging subscription.

Are idle fees also charged to Non-Teslas?

Yes. Both Tesla owners and Non-Teslas have the same rules and tariff structure in place to ensure that charging stations become available again as soon as possible.

On location Is the cable of a Supercharger long enough for any electric car?

Certain Supercharger locations may not be suitable for all cars. Do not block other cars by parking outside the box if the cable cannot be easily connected to your car.

Can the cable of a Supercharger charging station be connected to any kind of connection?

In this pilot, only cars with a CCS connection can use the Superchargers. If a Supercharger charging station is equipped with two cables, cars from brands other than Tesla can only be charged via the CCS plug. If the plug does not fit on your car, please let Tesla Customer Support know.