Tesla to give GM vehicles access to Superchargers

Tesla’s decision to open its charging network to rival automakers has a few benefits for Tesla, including access to federal money for new charging stations. But it also removes one of the EV maker’s biggest advantages over competitors, analysts say.

The Tesla Supercharger network is considered the gold standard by EV analysts for its size, reliability and rapid growth versus other public charging providers. Tesla has more fast-charge units than all competing charging networks combined.

“This will really help put people’s mind at ease and we can focus on one standard and it’s really going to be great for consumers,” Musk said. “They just won’t have to worry about which plug, which socket, which charging station and it will just work seamlessly. So, I think this is going to be just a really fundamentally great thing for the advancement of electric vehicles in North America.”

With the opening of the Supercharger network, most EV owners will have access to both the Tesla network and competitors such as Electrify America, EVgo and Chargepoint. Although Tesla and the rival networks use different charging plugs, adapters make it possible for most EVs to use either charger standard using an adapter.

It was not immediately clear what the collaboration with Tesla will mean for GM’s dealerships and its ongoing charging partnerships. Access to Tesla’s network first will require an adapter, before the NACS connector is built into GM’s EVs, the automaker said. GM also eventually will provide adapters so that EV owners will be able to charge at stations with CCS ports.

A GM spokesperson said “charging adapters will continue to provide interoperability, including for charging infrastructure at our dealerships.” GM declined to provide additional details Thursday about the cost of adapters and how EV owners will receive one.

GM is working with charging network provider EVgo and Pilot Co. to install 2,000 fast chargers at as many as 500 Pilot and Flying J travel centers. The automaker also is working with its dealerships in the U.S. and Canada to install 40,000 Level 2 chargers in local communities — at locations such as restaurants, shopping centers and parks — by the end of 2026.

“We don’t see this announcement changing the collaborations with EVgo or Pilot Flying J, but rather enhancing what we will be able to offer EV drivers going forward,” the spokesperson said.