Tesla to open UK Superchargers to other EVs “within weeks or months”
Tesla could open its network of Superchargers in the UK to owners of other electric cars within weeks, helping to ease pressure on electric vehicle charging infrastructure in a country where EVs now account for 16.5% of new car sales.
UK transport minister Trudy Harrison told EV reporter Ginny Buckley on Saturday that the UK government has been in talks with the EV manufacturer, which in recent months has enabled non-Tesla access to its Superchargers in some countries in Europe.
Preparing for the continuing upwards curve of EV sales, the UK government on Friday announced it would drive a tenfold expansion of EV charging points to ensure support for those without access to at-home charging due to a lack of driveway or suitable carpark access.
By 2030, the UK government wants there to be 300,000 public charging sites, breaking down a key barrier to uptake as the country aims to tackle its transport-related carbon emissions.
But until then, there are concerns about the reliability of existing EV charging infrastructure – something that, as The Driven editor Giles Parkinson reports here, is also a problem in Australia.
Drilling Harrison on what can be done now about the problem, Buckley says Tesla could come to the party for non-Tesla owners “within weeks and months rather than years.”
“So we’re working with some of the large car and charge point infrastructure people to persuade them to make some of the charging infrastructure available for others as well,” said Harrison.
“Would that be Tesla?” asked Buckley.
Nodding, Harrison answered, “Tesla have been absolutely brilliant at working with us, and they recognise that they are absolutely part of the solution here.”
Tesla could open up its UK Supercharger network "within weeks", Transport Minister Trudy Harrison MP has told @GinnyBuckley. The Govt has been in discussions with @Tesla for some time about allowing non Tesla drivers to use its sector-leading network. https://t.co/IX9s6YoEqz pic.twitter.com/oksyUN3Xhj
— ⚡️Electrifying.com (@ElectrifyingCom) March 25, 2022
Certainty for the increasing numbers of drivers wanting to go electric, and particularly for those without the ability to charge at home, to have the confidence that their local public chargers are available and working is crucial to a smooth transition to electric vehicles.
In Europe, Tesla has already opened up its Supercharger network in the Netherlands, where the top ten cars sold in late 2021 were all battery electric. It is also trialling non-Tesla Supercharger access in France and Norway, the latter being a global market leader in the uptake of EVs.
In order to ensure reliability of charging infrastructure, Harrison also told Buckley that the UK government intends to bring in legislation that would see providers face consequences if sites were not maintained in working order.
“We’re bringing regulations to provide confidence to people (so) that when they find out where that charging infrastructure is (they) can be confident it’ll blooming work.
“Because you can have all these charge points but if they’re not reliable, they’re as much used as chocolate fire guards,” Harrison said.