TESLA SLOWLY OPENS ITS SUPERCHARGERS TO OTHER ELECTRIC VEHICLES

 While its fast chargers were previously reserved for Tesla customers, superchargers can now deliver electricity to other makes of vehicles. An experiment started on November 1st in 10 stations in the Netherlands.

Vehicles from other brands that are recharged on Tesla superchargers: it is now a reality. The American brand began this Monday, November 1 its "pilot program" in the Netherlands, as indicated in a press release, with 10 stations which "are now accessible to Dutch drivers of non-Tesla EVs (electric cars), via the Tesla app (version 4.2.3 or later) ".

For Dutch drivers only (for the moment)

Important clarification, especially for French owners of a non-Tesla EV (equipped with a Combo CCS port) who would like to test this novelty: this authorization to access the network of Tesla superchargers therefore only concerns Dutch residents for the moment. . Owners of a Tesla vehicle, on the other hand, can continue to use superchargers from other countries without restriction, even at these first stations of the pilot program.

It was not long before the first photos were shared on social networks. This Monday, the driver of a Ford Mustang Mach-e, for example, was able to recharge on these famous Tesla superchargers, specifying in another tweet that he had paid for his charge via the Tesla application.

While some Tesla owners enjoy a "free for life" recharge on these superchargers, the American brand ended this privilege in 2016.

A slightly higher price for non-Tesla

Tesla owners, however, retain a price advantage. Non-Tesla must indeed pay 57 euro cents per kWh, against 36 cents for Tesla owners, underlines the site Frandroid. But, as part of the pilot program, these non-Tesla users can also subscribe to a subscription, for 12.99 euros per month, in order to take advantage of a more attractive price for superchargers.

This is still more advantageous than at Ionity, which offers a rate of 79 cents per kWh in the Netherlands (and 79 cents per minute in France). A subscription is also available, the Ionity Passport, at 17.99 euros per month to benefit from a preferential rate of 35 euro cents per kWh (35 cents per minute in France). Customers of various Ionity partner brands (Audi, BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes, Mini, Porsche, Skoda and Volkswagen) can also benefit from a favorable price.

To avoid occupying a terminal for too long, Tesla has also been applying "unjustified occupancy charges" since 2016. Quite dissuasive charges (50 euro cents per minute once the charge is complete, 1 euro if all the terminals of the station are occupied), which will logically also apply to non-Tesla.

The loss of a strong point of the Tesla offer?

Since the announcement this summer of this upcoming opening of superchargers, this initiative has cringe some users who fear in particular that they will no longer find an available place to recharge as easily as before. A fear that already existed before the arrival of the Model 3, but to which Tesla was able to react by increasing the number of stations available. In Europe, there are currently more than 7,300 supercharging terminals, spread over 700 stations and 16 countries.

"Our ambition has always been to open the Supercharger network to non-Tesla EVs and, in doing so, to encourage more drivers to opt for an electric vehicle. This decision fits logically into our mission, which aims to accelerate the global transition to sustainable energy, "said the statement from Tesla.

But in fact, the access reserved for customers has always been a strong point of the Tesla offer. With the strong development of sales of electric cars, to see how the brand will manage the potential influx of vehicles during peak periods of traffic, when going on vacation for example.

The group led by Elon Musk thus remains rather cautious about the rest of this experience. In the FAQ following the press release, we can indeed read in response to the question "Will other sites be open to non-Tesla vehicles?":

"We're starting with a limited number of sites, so we can assess user experience, track traffic, and analyze feedback before we expand. Future stations will be open to non-Tesla vehicles only if capacity requires it. allow."