Volkswagen Group Joins Tesla’s EV Charging Network
Volkswagen Embraces Tesla’s Charging Standard
Volkswagen Group, a global automotive giant with brands such as Audi, Porsche, and Bentley, has announced its decision to adopt Tesla’s electric vehicle charging standard.
This move places Volkswagen among the ranks of major automakers who have recognized Tesla’s dominance in EV charging infrastructure.
Access to Tesla’s Supercharger Network
Volkswagen plans to provide its EV customers with access to Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network, which boasts 15,000 locations across North America.
The company is reportedly working on developing adapter solutions for its current EV models and expects to implement these by 2025.
Additionally, new Volkswagen electric vehicles, starting from 2025, will be equipped with Tesla’s charging port as a standard feature.
Late to the Party
Volkswagen’s decision comes after a significant delay compared to other automakers. Tesla, rebranding its charging technology as the North American Charging Standard (NACS) in November 2022, opened its network to other brands, with Ford and General Motors quickly jumping on board.
The delay in Volkswagen’s participation seemed at odds with its position as one of the world’s largest automakers.
Electrify America and Tesla Charging Plugs
Reports earlier indicated that Electrify America, Volkswagen’s EV charging subsidiary, was set to add Tesla charging plugs to its stations.
This move hinted at a possible collaboration between Volkswagen and Tesla, despite the former’s initial hesitance.
Meanwhile, other German automakers like BMW, Mini, and Mercedes-Benz had already aligned with Tesla’s charging technology.
Tesla’s Exclusive Supercharger Network
Initially, Tesla’s Supercharger network was exclusive to its own customers, offering consistent and reliable EV charging.
This exclusivity began changing a few years ago when Tesla opened its Superchargers to non-Tesla EVs in Europe, and later in the US, following the Biden administration’s stipulation for accessing funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Supercharger Network’s Reliability
Tesla’s Supercharger network is recognized for its superiority in reliability compared to other EV charging stations, which often struggle with software issues and malfunctioning chargers.
Tesla reported an impressive 99.95 percent uptime for its Supercharger sites in the last year, barely down from 99.96 percent in 2021.
Focus on Stellantis
With Volkswagen’s commitment, Tesla can now concentrate on the last major holdout, Stellantis.
This multinational automotive manufacturing corporation owns several popular brands, including Jeep, Chrysler, and Fiat, which have yet to adopt Tesla’s EV charging standard.
