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- Seven automakers plan to build an electric-vehicle charging network to take on Tesla.
- Tesla's Supercharger network is by far the largest in North America.
- The automakers aim to install 30,000 fast-charging plugs in North America, more than Tesla currently has.
Seven car companies are making their own charging network to take on Elon Musk's Tesla Superchargers.
BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, and Stellantis (the European goliath that owns Jeep, Fiat, Dodge, and many others) announced a joint venture on Wednesday aimed at blanketing North America with thousands of fast-charging plugs. They hope the move will make EV charging more convenient and get more people into electric cars, trucks, and SUVs.
The coalition of brands aims to install 30,000 fast-charging plugs, more than Tesla (by far North America's largest provider of fast charging) currently has. Tesla operates around 22,000 Supercharger stalls in the region. Electrify America, the charging company established by Volkswagen as part of the Dieselgate scandal, is the next biggest with 3,592 plugs.
The automakers didn't specify how long building out the network will take, but said the first stations are scheduled to open in the summer of 2024.
Car companies have clear interest in beefing up the continent's charging infrastructure: Worries about where to charge and how long it takes are some of the biggest things turning people off from buying electric cars. The more convenient, accessible, and quick charging becomes, the more EVs car companies can expect to sell. Most current EV owners charge at home in their garages or driveways, and public charging will be key for getting new buyers — particularly those who live in buildings without private parking — on board.
Up until now, most carmakers apart from Tesla turned their buyers loose on a patchwork of third-party public-charging stations. Tesla, by comparison, has spent over a decade building out a vast network of charging stations specifically for its owners. And that network, which historically only allowed Tesla owners to plug in, has been a huge driver of Tesla sales. (Tesla recently began opening up parts of its network to drivers of non-Tesla cars and sharing its charging-plug design with rivals.)
Tesla's chargers are renowned for their reliability and ease of use. For example, Tesla owners don't need to swipe a credit card to pay — they just pull up and plug in, and their car identifies itself to the network. If a Tesla owner goes on a long trip, the car's navigation system will automatically route to Superchargers along the way as needed.
That's a level of convenience and seamlessness other EV owners don't get. Moreover, non-Tesla chargers are notorious for poor reliability and for often being out of order.
It sounds like the planned charging network aims to mimic some of the things Tesla got right, and add some extra conveniences. The automakers said their network will allow owners to reserve charging spots, plan routes with charging stops, and pay for charging just by plugging in. The stations will also include rain awnings wherever possible, something missing from most current locations.
The stations will offer both major charging plugs: The CCS standard that most automakers have used, along with Tesla's NACS plug that's gaining popularity in the industry.