Skip to main content
Energy

Tesla may have made EV charging harder, even for other car brands

Media Landscape

See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this data
Left 44% Center 45% Right 11%
Bias Distribution Powered by Ground News

A recent move by Tesla may have made it harder for electric vehicle (EV) drivers to charge their cars, even if they own a model from a different brand. Just weeks after cutting 10% of its global workforce, the automaker announced another round of layoffs. Tesla said it will part ways with with almost the entire team responsible for its Superchargers.

QR code for SAN app download

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

Tesla’s Superchargers are capable of fully charging up a car battery from zero in about an hour. That is a significant improvement over the three to eight hours required by most public EV chargers. The auto company also boasts a larger network of fast chargers in the United States than all other providers combined, making it a crucial player in the EV charging landscape.

Many other automakers planned to utilize Tesla’s Supercharger network for their own EV models. Over 20 different brands expressed intentions to make their vehicles compatible with Superchargers over the next two years. However, the sudden downsizing of the Supercharger division raised questions about the feasibility of those plans.

Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, said that the company remains committed to expanding its Supercharger network at a slower pace. He said Tesla intends to focus on improving the reliability of existing charger locations rather than rapidly expanding the network.

Executives at other automakers shared their concerns in light of Tesla’s recent layoffs. Rivian, which just started shipping out Supercharger connectors to thousands of customers, was surprised by the news. Ford is also in the middle of making its own connector deliveries. The company warned its EV owners that shipments may be delayed due to “constraints” with the supplier.

The ripple effects of Tesla’s layoffs on the broader EV industry remain uncertain. Other car brands will continue weighing their options and assess the impact on their own charging infrastructure plans.

Tags: , , , , ,

[JACK AYLMER]

PUMPING THE BRAKES ON SUPERCHARGERS.

A RECENT MOVE BY TESLA COULD MAKE REFILLING YOUR E-V BATTERY A WHOLE LOT HARDER – EVEN IF YOU DON’T OWN A TESLA.

HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING:

JUST WEEKS AFTER CUTTING 10 PERCENT OF ITS GLOBAL WORKFORCE, THE AUTOMAKER JUST ANNOUNCED ANOTHER ROUND OF LAYOFFS.

THIS TIME, PARTING WAYS WITH ALMOST THE ENTIRE TEAM RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPERCHARGERS .  

THE TECHNOLOGY THEY HAD BEEN WORKING ON HAS PROVEN FAR SUPERIOR TO OTHER CHARGING STATIONS.

IT’S ONE REASON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AWARDED OVER A TENTH OF ITS CHARGING GRANTS TO TESLA, TOTALING MORE THAN 17 MILLION DOLLARS.

WHILE MOST PUBLIC EV CHARGERS TAKE 3 TO 8 HOURS TO POWER UP A CAR, A TESLA SUPERCHARGER CAN DO IT IN JUST AN HOUR.

AND THEY HAVE MORE OF THESE FAST CHARGERS AVAILABLE IN THE U.S. THAN ALL OTHER PROVIDERS COMBINED.

THAT’S WHY A NUMBER OF OTHER AUTOMAKERS HAVE BEEN LINING UP TO USE THEM.

MORE THAN 20 DIFFERENT CAR BRANDS HAVE SAID THEY WILL MAKE THEIR VEHICLES COMPATIBLE WITH TESLA SUPERCHARGERS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS .

SO, WHAT HAPPENS TO THOSE PLANS NOW THAT THE TEAM FACILITATING THEM IS ESSENTIALLY GONE?

WELL, ACCORDING TO CEO ELON MUSK, HIS COMPANY STILL AIMS TO GROW THEIR SUPERCHARGER NETWORK-

JUST AT A SLOWER PACE.

TESLA WILL FOCUS MORE ON EXPANDING AND IMPROVING THE RELIABILITY OF THEIR EXISTING CHARGER LOCATIONS.

BUT, THE OTHER AUTOMAKERS WHO WERE PREPARING TO GIVE THEIR CUSTOMERS ACCESS TO TESLA’S TECH HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS.

EXECUTIVES AT RIVIAN WERE REPORTEDLY CONFUSED BY THE NEWS. 

WHICH CAME JUST AS THEY’RE STARTING TO SHIP OUT SUPERCHARGER CONNECTORS TO THOUSANDS OF CUSTOMERS.

MEANWHILE, FORD, WHICH HAS BEEN DOING THE SAME, TOLD ITS EV OWNERS CONNECTOR DELIVERIES MAY BE DELAYED DUE TO “CONSTRAINTS” WITH THE SUPPLIER.

IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN HOW OTHER IMPACTED CAR BRANDS WILL RESPOND. 

SO STAY UP TO DATE WITH DEVELOPMENTS ON THIS STORY BY DOWNLOADING OUR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP. WHEN YOU DO – YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME, JACK AYLMER, SO I CAN KEEP YOU PLUGGED IN.