It’s common knowledge that Tesla Inc. leads the electric vehicle (EV) industry. This reputation extends beyond just its vehicles to include the company’s expanding Supercharger network.
While Tesla continues to establish future partnerships, several startups aim to shake up the industry. One example is Dunamis Charge, which focuses on overcoming cost and accessibility obstacles for EV adoption in urban areas. These startups are playing catch-up, but by adopting a specialized approach, there is ample market share available.
New Partnerships for Tesla: BP and Ford
BP plc is making significant progress in the EV charging sector by acquiring $100 million worth of Supercharger hardware from Tesla. This groundbreaking deal marks the first instance of a third-party charging network purchasing Tesla’s DC fast-charging equipment.
The acquisition is intended for BP’s EV charging business BP Pulse, which plans to invest up to $1 billion in developing a nationwide charging network by 2030.
The Tesla Superchargers, capable of handling up to 250kW charging, come with a Magic Dock connector that is compatible with the standardized North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug from Tesla and a CCS Combo attachment suitable for most other EV models.
BP Pulse aims to start installing these chargers in 2024 at various locations, including TravelCenters of America, Thorntons, Ampm, Amoco, as well as third-party sites like Hertz rental car locations. Key cities like Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., are among those scheduled for the initial rollout. With over 27,000 charging stations already in place, BP Pulse plans to increase this number to over 100,000 globally by 2030.
In another development, Ford Motor Co. has announced its plans to incorporate more Tesla Superchargers into its electric vehicle charging network, surpassing previous estimates. Ford intends to add over 15,000 Tesla Superchargers to its network, an increase from the initial projection of 12,000.
This expansion is part of Ford’s strategy to expand its BlueOval Charge Network in North America by 25%, bringing the total number of chargers to over 106,000.
Ford’s integration of these chargers is viewed positively by EV owners who have long considered the availability of charging stations a significant barrier to EV adoption. Ford has also partnered with three new charging providers — Francis Energy, Blink Charging, and Red E Charge — in the U.S. and Canada, adding over 10,000 new chargers, including more than 550 new DC fast chargers, to its network.
Ford’s collaboration with Tesla to access its extensive Supercharger network represents a significant milestone in the EV industry. The partnership, established months ago, also positions Ford as the first major automaker to adopt Tesla’s proprietary charging standard.
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