What’s next for Tesla’s Supercharger network?
With auto companies investing heavily in EVs, they’ll need to figure out how to make chargers available to customers. As a result, automakers are turning to Tesla, which has opened up its once-private Supercharger network.
Every major automaker has announced a switch to Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS), meaning their new EVs will be able to use NACS Superchargers without requiring an adapter. The decision to open up the Supercharger network expands charging access for EV drivers and has created a new source of revenue for Elon Musk's EV company.
EV charging is a fraction of Tesla's current revenue, but that could change as the automaker continues to expand its charging network. It now offers Supercharger for Business, which are Supercharger stations owned by a third-party company and managed by Tesla. It's also building much larger charging stations. Project Oasis is a recent example, and Tesla has revealed plans to expand its Firebaugh, California station to 304 stalls.
With EVs making up a growing share of vehicles on the road -- and automakers desperate for convenient charging options to boost the value proposition to potential buyers -- Tesla has an opportunity to become the market leader in EV charging.