Walled Garden No More: Tesla Opens Part of Its Charging Network to Other EV Brands

by Chris Teague

Published: March 1st, 2023

walled garden no more tesla opens part of its charging network to other ev brands

One of Tesla’s most significant competitive advantages could be fading, as the White House recently announced a deal with the automaker that would open part of its previously-exclusive charging network to owners of other EV brands. The wheels are in motion, as Tesla tweeted last night that the first round of chargers is now open.

The automaker said that “select Superchargers” are now open in the U.S., and hopeful users can find locations in the company’s app. Teslas use a proprietary plug, requiring the company to install adapters at the pilot locations to allow EVs with CCS plugs – the majority of the market – to access the chargers.

Tesla’s move comes as part of the president’s plan to expand the national charging network to 500,000 locations along highways and at end-point locations. The White House’s announcement stated that the automaker would make 7,500 Superchargers and Destination Chargers available, but this first wave includes a much smaller number.

As far as the charging experience goes, Tesla owners have had it great for a while, despite long wait times in some locations. Non-Tesla EVs may cost more to charge at Superchargers, but they are still subject to the same rules, including a per-minute charge for occupying a charger after the process is complete.

[Image: Tesla]

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Chris Teague

Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.

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17 of 21 comments

SCE to AUX on Mar 01, 2023

I suspect the IRA deal was this: Tesla opens up it charging network to other EVs (something it already planned to do), in exchange for restoration of Federal subsidies on some of its vehicles.

Tesla lobbied against the bill on principle, but wait until Tesla's volume shoots up even higher when cheaper cars enter the pipeline - incentivized by you!

1 Reply
- See 1 previous
- 95_SC on Mar 01, 2023
  
  I already subsidize all manner of jack@$$ary I don't agree with. May as well get something for it for a change.
  
  2
- Dukeisduke on Mar 01, 2023
  
  @ SCE to AUX
  IRA? You mean the IRS? I doubt the Irish Republican Army are involved.
  
  Like
- Art Vandelay on Mar 01, 2023
  
  I assume he is talking about the Inflation Reduction act as that is what restored the tax credit. The Irish Republican Army may have done the seatbelt tensioners in the Genesis though as they are known for their prowess in explosives.
  
  2
Dukeisduke on Mar 01, 2023

Okay, so why does Tesla use a proprietary charging plug? Are they better than CCS? Sounds like Apple with the Lightning plug.

1 Reply
- See 4 previous
- VoGhost on Mar 01, 2023
  
  With the superchargers they are opening up to the public, Tesla is introducing a plug that can be used by Teslas or other EVs.
  
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- Art Vandelay on Mar 01, 2023
  
  They already have an adapter for the normal non DC portion to their plug
  
  Like
- Jeff S on Mar 01, 2023
  
  Hopefully there will be an eventual adoption of a universal charging plug by all EV manufacturers. A universal charging plug would make it easier to charge an EV anywhere and would help further in more acceptance of EVs.
  
  2
- Bullnuke on Mar 01, 2023
  
  I agree with "proprietary plug". I don't have any insight into the business workings of Tesla but it makes sense a bit to build a cutting edge (at the time) EV vehicle and install a nationwide (more or less) charging network to allow those who purchase this cutting edge Tesla product somewhat exclusive locations to recharge rather easily without the traffic of other makes of EV vehicles interfering with the process. As time rolls on and more Tesla Superchargers come online on their network and more unoccupied spaces at the increasing number of Tesla charging locations become available, it makes sense to open their charging stations to others. And, as charging isn't free to all, Tesla makes a bit of money by charging other EV makes.
  
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- SCE to AUX on Mar 01, 2023
  
  Tesla has had a proprietary plug since the Roadster 1 in 2008, but that plug quickly morphed into the plug seen on the Model S in 2012.
  It is physically smaller than a CCS plug, and way smaller than the near-extinct Chademo plug.
  
  CCS is a high-powered extension of the J1772 plug, in which two DC connections are added below the J1772. By itself, the J1772 is pretty compact, but it cannot fast charge without the full CCS implementation.
  I have long held that the Tesla plug should be the North America standard, due to its proliferation, compact size, and delivery capacity.
  
  3
Tassos on Mar 01, 2023

My time is valuable. half an hour to 'fill my battery' is utterly unacceptable. I am not interested in eating the garbage they have near gas stations and EV chargers while I wait. If it does not go down to FIVE MINUTES, I will not bother using them. (IF AND WHEN I get a BEV or plug-in). This half hour will be MUCH MORE, not only now that Tesla has allowed all the non-Tesla riff-raff to fill in the same chargers, but always in the past, chargers places between popular destinations (eg along the LA-Las Vegas corridor) were way too damned busy, had to wait in line for hours ON TOP of the time to charge. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Is your time WORTHLESS????
'

3 Reply
- See 4 previous
- Syke on Mar 01, 2023
  
  Gee, lemme guess, you have no intentions of ever owning an EV, they will always be unacceptable to you, should the technology advance to the point that it meets your currently claimed standards you'll immediately change them to make the vehicles unacceptable again . . . . . and you just love shooting your mouth off anytime the subject comes up.
  And, to anyone who's lived with an EV for any amount of time, it's painfully obvious that you don't have a clue about the cars. No doubt, you're also completely unwilling to learn.
  
  4
- BEPLA on Mar 01, 2023
  
  So you have no electricity at home?
  
  2
- 95_SC on Mar 01, 2023
  
  I have no interest in waiting for people to scratch off their lottery tickets or getting my credit card skimmed while paying for fuel
  
  1
- Ianw33 on Mar 02, 2023
  
  I think that EV enthusiasts sometimes forget that the majority of regular buyers (non-enthusiasts) have reasons that they are not buying EVs at this time that have nothing to do with being "anti-ev". Its all about maintaining conveniences the public at large is used to. For me, the main reason is cost and lack of choice. i live in a snowy climate, there aren't a lot of options for awd EV's that arent $45K and up, i dont really want to spend that much for a gas car or EV. I also dont enjoy the styling at this time (for the "affordable" EVs) Additionally, i live in an older house, so it would necessitate a new electrical panel, so that cost + a good charger is something that needs to be added into the equation. Then adding in the time it takes to recharge on a trip (and having to hunt down a charging location vs the plentiful gas stations), it just adds time/planning that i dont want to deal with. EV enthusiasts may be willing to make financial/time/planning compromises for their EV travel, but for the rest of us, we just arent getting excited about EVs yet since they require us to pay more and take a step back in many areas, thats not an attractive proposition for a lot of us. As time goes on, a lot of these issues will probably get ironed out, but that time is not now
  
  1
- VoGhost on Mar 02, 2023
  
  The reality is that on an average week, EV owners spend less than a minute refueling at home, whereas ICE owners spend 5-10 minutes refueling at the gas station. And on those rare occasions they drive more than 3 hours, EV owners do spend 20-25 minutes refueling, but overall, you save a lot of time with an EV. Also, you spend those 20 minutes getting coffee or lunch, not standing around in the weather.
  
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ToolGuy on Mar 01, 2023

Ford Motor Company has the largest public charging network in North America.

1 Reply
- VoGhost on Mar 02, 2023
  
  Ford is also #1 in distributing weed, apparently.
  
  1