Written by Samuel O’Brient | Edited by Cláudio Afonso
This week marked a significant milestone for electric vehicle (EV) charging adoption. Tesla has finally opened its North American Supercharging network to one of its chief competitors.
General Motors has confirmed that it has updated the software in several of its most popular EVs to make them compatible with Tesla’s supercharger network.
The list of GM EVs that can be charged with Tesla’s technology includes the Chevy Bolt, Cadillac Lyriq SUV and electric Chevy Silverado pickup. Tesla’s decision to open its network up to Ford owners took effect in February 2024.
For months, it remained unclear when Tesla would open up its network to other EV producers.
Less than one month ago, The New York Times reported that “Tesla’s Rivals Still Can’t Use Its Superchargers,” highlighting how slowly the company was moving towards making good on Elon Musk’s promise to allow non-Tesla owners to use the vast charging network.
Now more than 17,800 Tesla Superchargers will be available to most GM drivers across the U.S., as soon as they purchase the required adaptor for $225. It’s great news for the people who drive EVs made by General Motors, particularly in rural states with limited charging infrastructure. But this may not be so positive for Tesla owners.
Since the launch of the Supercharger network in 2012, Tesla owners have enjoyed access to a widespread charging network. The accessibility of its chargers has likely been instrumental in the decision of many people to purchase EVs made by Tesla over one of its rivals.
Additionally, the fact that the Tesla Supercharger network catered only to Tesla drivers meant less congestion when drivers needed to plug in their vehicles. Now that many drivers with GM EVs are going to have access to the network, the wait times for Tesla drivers are likely about to get much longer.
Musk’s decision to open up the Tesla Supercharger to other companies is good for EV adoption as a whole. But it might not be to the benefit of his customers who may now have a more difficult time charging their Teslas.
This development could compel some drivers to make the switch to a less expensive EV, as one of the perks of driving a Tesla is about to disappear. EV charging infrastructure is spreading across North America, a trend which could eliminate one of Tesla’s edges over its rivals.
In July, GM announced it was further scaling back its all-electric vehicle plans, postponing the launch of a second U.S. electric truck plant and delaying the debut of Buick’s first EV.
Written by Samuel O’Brient | Edited by Cláudio Afonso
Never Miss an Update
The post Tesla Owners Face New Competition as Supercharger Network Opens to General Motors first appeared on EV.