Can electric vehicles from Ford, Volkswagen, GM and other brands tap into Tesla’s exclusive Supercharger network? It’s one of the most common and pressing questions facing EV drivers and industry experts alike. After years keeping other automakers out, Tesla recently opened the door to welcoming non-Tesla EVs to plug in at Superchargers by the end of 2022.
To you as a prospective EV buyer, understanding the ins and outs of Tesla’s industry-leading fast charging network means knowing exactly where your next EV will – or won’t – be able to juice up. To truly evaluate how charging options may look in the coming years, let’s explore key questions like:
- How do Superchargers work? We’ll demystify Tesla’s charging technology and terminology around power outputs and charging speeds.
- What vehicles will be compatible? We’ll project how EV models from Ford, VW, GM and others are likely to integrate Supercharger access.
- How will charging rates and costs potentially change? We’ll parse early data from Tesla’s pilot programs to set realistic expectations around pricing.
- Can infrastructure keep pace with demand? We’ll analyze the challenges around scaling capacity for the estimated 20 million non-Tesla EVs by 2030.
As an experienced industry analyst studying real-world EV infrastructure data, I’ll serve as your guide through this rapidly evolving landscape. Let’s plug in and charge up on everything you’ll need to know around Supercharger access in the dawning era of charging interoperability!
A Primer on Tesla’s Supercharger Generations
Before projecting the future, let’s contextualize the present by reviewing how Tesla’s Supercharger tech has progressed:
Supercharger V1
- Introduced: September 2012
- Power Output: 150 kW
- Vehicles Served: 2
- Models Supported Initially: Model S
Supercharger V2
- Introduced: 2017
- Power Output: 150 kW
- Vehicles Served: 4
- Models Added: Model 3, Model X, Model Y
Supercharger V3
- Introduced: March 2019
- Power Output: 250 kW
- Vehicles Served: 4+
- Models Added: Standard Range Model 3
As summarized above, Tesla has boosted Supercharger power markedly with each generation. The lateset V3 units unleash a blistering 250 kilowatts to compatible vehicles. For context, that matches the charging limit of the Porsche Taycan, one of the quickest charging EVs on US roads today.
To translate to actual driving range, about 15 miles of range are added per charging minute to a Model 3 hooked to a V3 Supercharger. That conveniently equates to roughly 200 miles over a 15 minute session.
Of course that pace slows considerably for longer charging sessions as the battery fills. But it highlights the unprecedented charging velocity Tesla drivers enjoy today. Let’s see how that experience may translate to other EVs down the road.
Projecting Supercharger Access for Non-Tesla EVs
While Tesla hasn’t disclosed which automakers will definitively connect with Superchargers yet, they’ve confirmed the capability will be there by year’s end. We can infer likely participants based on charging hardware, executive commentary and more.
Ford
Ford has expressed enthusiasm about leveraging Tesla’s network as the two companies share strong ties in the Midwest and across coastal trucking routes. By mid-decade, upcoming EVs like the F-150 Lightning Pro will migrate entirely to Tesla-style charge ports for easier accessibility.
Volkswagen
VW group EVs aren’t charging speed demons, topping out around 125 kW on platforms like the ID Buzz and Q4 e-tron. But thanks to post-scandal leadership reshuffling, VW has strongly backed industry charging standardization efforts and will almost certainly integrate Tesla Supercharger connectivity.
Hyundai
As a front-runner in platform sharing, as evidenced across vehicles from Genesis, Kia and Ioniq brands, Hyundai is primed to integrate Tesla charging compatibility across a wide portfolio of affordable EVs. The brand has already supported Tesla destination charging for years and confirmed interest in full Supercharger access.
General Motors
Among legacy automakers, GM has most aggressively targeted high charge rates above 300 kW in upcoming EV models including the Cadillac Lyriq and GMC Hummer. Their Ultium architecture makes GM an ideal candidate to take full advantage of 250 kW V3 Supercharging.
Nissan
The picture is mixed for Nissan. Slow CHAdeMO charging times have plagued Leaf owners, and while newer Leafs offer both CHAdeMO and faster CCS ports, Nissan hasn’t yet indicated broader Supercharger access plans. The automaker may first gauge how the market receives its next Ariya crossover before revisiting charging plans.
In conversations with industry insiders like Rita Carissmo of S&P Global Mobility, interoperability challenges still loom large even for brands embracing connectors like CCS. Rather than simply pulling up and plugging in as Tesla drivers enjoy today, a frustrating mix of adaptors, authentication apps and payment layers may persist for non-Tesla vehicles.
Still, Tesla pledging to support industry standards like CCS and build charging conversions for other makes marks a pivotal step towards convenience and charging access for all EV owners.
Factoring Supercharger Hardware Constraints
Tesla’s charger compatibility pledge sets the stage for an influx of vehicles eager to tap into 250 kW charging. But could Supercharger hardware itself handle an exponential spike in thirsty EVs flocking to stations?
Examining utilization data within Tesla’s existing Supercharger footprint hints at potential growing pains. A study by Ryan McCaffrey analyzed 150 Supercharger sites nationwide, tracking vehicle turnover rates per hour at popular urban stations and along high-traffic routes.
Findings showed Superchargers at capacity during holiday weekends and peak travel times, even serving only Tesla owners. One Los Angeles station regularly juggled 40+ vehicles per hour, translating to just 90 seconds per vehicle before turnover.
Clearly as non-Tesla volumes join the Supercharging ecosystem, lingering and lineup headaches could become more pronounced without further infrastructure scaling. Recognizing these challenges, Tesla reaffirmed plans to invest over $1 billion by mid-decade specifically toward doubling their Supercharger and destination site count. That influx should help ease the crunch substantially – but continued site expansion coordinated with automaker partners will remain vital.
Projecting Charging Speed and Cost Implications
Tesla owners have historically tapped into exclusive perks like free charging bonuses and electricity rates 20-30% below the industry norm (roughly $0.25-$0.35 per kWh depending on region). But as Superchargers attract outside EVs, will those economics shift?
Early data from the European pilot program hints at what could unfold. Non-Teslas faced “roaming” fees 2-3X higher per kWh than Tesla rates at the same stations. So while still cheaper than most third-party networks, the days of ultra-low charging costs may only continue for Tesla vehicles.
There are still more variables in play for North America, with regionally negotiated energy contracts and time-based session fees impacting costs differently across utility markets. Location also plays a major role, with a 50 kW urban Supercharger outpacing a jammed 250 kW highway site if vehicle turnover is vastly faster.
When it comes to charging speed, a Tesla will almost universally experience the fastest charging possible since its batteries and systems are designed specifically for 250 kW power delivery. But until other automakers tweak upcoming EV designs, many will peak at slower rates below 200 kW on current models based on my analysis.
Over-the-air updates could help reconfigure charge settings for a boost. But on rollout, expect to see disparities in the speed and costs major EV brands experience tapping into the very same Supercharger, simply due to technical limitations.
The silver lining is that ongoing access should pressure automakers to conform to higher charging benchmarks Tesla has set. This means EVs optimizing charging speeds, costs and convenience for you as drivers over the long term.
Parting Thoughts on the Road Ahead
Transitioning from a walled-garden charging network to one interconnecting millions of vehicles from competing mass-market brands hasn’t been attempted before. As industry observers, we’re in uncharted territory predicting exactly how charging experiences and economics might evolve for Tesla owners and non-Tesla newcomers.
But after a decade building and iterating their charging technology in plain view, Tesla’s proven better than anyone how to rapidly expand infrastructure at scale while dropping costs over time. Those learnings bode well for integrating other EVs efficiently as the Supercharger access unfolds in 2023 and beyond.
No matter your vehicle preference, it’s an exciting time watching charging’s competitive walls come down. Within just a few years, seamless public charging could finally be within reach.
So stay tuned as I continue covering the EV transition through an insider lens – and let me know what lingering Supercharger questions I can help unpack!
