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- Seven automakers are planning to build a charging network for electric vehicles to compete with Tesla.
- Tesla's Supercharger Network is the largest network in North America.
- The automakers plan to install more fast-charging outlets in North America than Tesla has currently.
Seven automakers are building their own charging networks to compete with Elon Musk’s Tesla Superchargers.
BMW, General Motors and Stellantis announced on Wednesday that they would form a joint venture to blanket North America with fast-charging outlets. The companies hope that the new initiative will make charging electric vehicles easier and encourage more people to buy electric cars, trucks and SUVs.
The alliance of brands hopes to install 30,000 fast charging plugs. This is more than Tesla, the largest fast charging provider in North America. Tesla has around 22,000 Supercharger stations in the area. Electrify America is the second largest charging company with 3,592 plugs.
The automakers did not specify how long it would take to build out the network, but they said that the first stations will open in summer 2024.
The charging infrastructure on the continent is of great interest to car companies. Concerns about the location and speed of charging are among the most common reasons people avoid buying electric vehicles. Car companies will sell more EVs if charging is made more accessible, convenient and fast. Public charging is key to attracting new buyers, especially those living in buildings with no private parking.
Most carmakers, except for Tesla, have let their customers use a patchwork system of public charging stations run by third parties. Tesla has, on the other hand, spent more than a decade developing a vast charging network for its own owners. This network, which has historically allowed Tesla owners only to plug in, is a major driver of Tesla's sales. Tesla recently opened up some of its network for drivers of other cars, and shared its charging plug design with competitors.
Tesla chargers are known for their ease of use and reliability. Tesla owners, for example, don't have to swipe their credit cards to pay. They just plug in and pull up, and the car will identify itself to network. The navigation system of a Tesla will automatically direct the driver to Superchargers if needed.
This is a level that other EV users don't enjoy. Non-Tesla charging stations are also notorious for their poor reliability, and they often go out of service.
The planned charging network sounds like it will mimic what Tesla did right and provide some additional conveniences. Automakers claim their network allows owners to pay for charging, reserve charging spots and plan routes that include charging stops. These stations will include rain awnings in all locations, which are currently missing.
Stations will have both the CCS plug, which is used by most automakers, and Tesla's NACS connector that's becoming popular in the industry.
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By: tlevin@insider.com (Tim Levin)
Title: Car companies like Honda, BMW, and Hyundai are banding together to build an EV-charging network bigger than Tesla’s Supercharger empire
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/car-companies-plan-tesla-sueprcharger-rival-charging-network-2023-7
Published Date: Wed, 26 Jul 2023 16:52:29 +0000
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