Photo: Tesla, Ford, GM | collage
As part of the agreement to implement the NACS connector, carmakers were given unfettered access to Tesla’s Supercharger network. Many Tesla owners fear this will cause waiting lines at Supercharger, as more EVs will use them. Still, Tesla owners are the primary beneficiaries of these agreements when analyzing all the facts.
Tesla's charging connector is close to becoming the de-facto standard in North America as more carmakers and service providers announced supporting it. In the case of carmakers, the agreement conditions are pretty standard. They all announced access to 12,000 Superchargers in North America starting early next year, and NACS charging ports fitted standard in their vehicles in 2025. Until then, all their EVs will be able to charge using an adapter.
This is not very different from what is already offered with the Magic Dock adapter at select Supercharger stations. As I've explained in an earlier article, gaining access to North America's most extensive and reliable charging network is worth any compromise carmakers may have made when striking a deal with Tesla. As Tesla has their backs, Ford, GM, Rivian, Volvo, and Polestar customers would not need to worry about charging when buying an EV. This is important because neither carmaker has something remotely similar to Tesla Superchargers, and third-party providers offer sub-par services.
Still, it wasn't immediately clear what Tesla gains from these deals. GM CEO Mary Barra confirmed that owners of GM electric vehicles would not pay a premium to charge at a Supercharger. They get the same billing conditions as Tesla owners. This rules out the commercial advantage Tesla might have from the deal. This is the main difference between the NACS deals and opening up the Supercharger network via Magic Dock. In the latter case, owners of non-Tesla cars pay a higher tariff unless they opt for a subscription, which is basically the same thing.
Some said that the NACS deals are about control, with Tesla preparing to monopolize the charging market. On the contrary, with the NACS standard, every charging provider can offer services to Tesla owners, essentially competing with Tesla in the market. This is a good thing, increasing the options on the market. It's also the most essential advantage for Tesla owners and one of the least understood.
Many fear that drivers of non-Tesla EVs will clog the Superchargers, increasing congestion and waiting time. This could indeed happen and was already observed in some in-demand areas, especially in California, even before the deals were signed. Still, with the number of Tesla EVs sold in North America dwarfing other EV brands, it's hard to believe that Superchargers will get significantly busier from next year.
On the other hand, all other networks adding NACS connectors to their chargers would turn the charging market into a bonanza for Tesla owners. Some of those charging providers offer free charging, which is a nice bonus. Things for Tesla owners will improve significantly, allowing them to charge in more places without thinking of an adapter. And let's not forget that Tesla is expanding its network at a neck-breaking pace, with more stations opening daily.
This is not very different from what is already offered with the Magic Dock adapter at select Supercharger stations. As I've explained in an earlier article, gaining access to North America's most extensive and reliable charging network is worth any compromise carmakers may have made when striking a deal with Tesla. As Tesla has their backs, Ford, GM, Rivian, Volvo, and Polestar customers would not need to worry about charging when buying an EV. This is important because neither carmaker has something remotely similar to Tesla Superchargers, and third-party providers offer sub-par services.
Still, it wasn't immediately clear what Tesla gains from these deals. GM CEO Mary Barra confirmed that owners of GM electric vehicles would not pay a premium to charge at a Supercharger. They get the same billing conditions as Tesla owners. This rules out the commercial advantage Tesla might have from the deal. This is the main difference between the NACS deals and opening up the Supercharger network via Magic Dock. In the latter case, owners of non-Tesla cars pay a higher tariff unless they opt for a subscription, which is basically the same thing.
Some said that the NACS deals are about control, with Tesla preparing to monopolize the charging market. On the contrary, with the NACS standard, every charging provider can offer services to Tesla owners, essentially competing with Tesla in the market. This is a good thing, increasing the options on the market. It's also the most essential advantage for Tesla owners and one of the least understood.
Many fear that drivers of non-Tesla EVs will clog the Superchargers, increasing congestion and waiting time. This could indeed happen and was already observed in some in-demand areas, especially in California, even before the deals were signed. Still, with the number of Tesla EVs sold in North America dwarfing other EV brands, it's hard to believe that Superchargers will get significantly busier from next year.
On the other hand, all other networks adding NACS connectors to their chargers would turn the charging market into a bonanza for Tesla owners. Some of those charging providers offer free charging, which is a nice bonus. Things for Tesla owners will improve significantly, allowing them to charge in more places without thinking of an adapter. And let's not forget that Tesla is expanding its network at a neck-breaking pace, with more stations opening daily.
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