Tesla to open charging network for other electric vehicles

Tesla Inc is opening its charging network to other electric vehicles for the first time with a pilot program in the Netherlands.

The move cements the automaker’s willingness to push electric vehicles into the mainstream.

The program will be tested at 10 places in the Netherlands, the automaker said on Monday, adding that Dutch non-Tesla EV drivers can access the Tesla stations, or Superchargers, by using the Tesla app.

Tesla drivers can keep using these stations.

The automaker currently operates over 25,000 Superchargers worldwide, while other automakers have formed alliances or invested in startups for networks as they invest in the electric vehicles market.

The Superchargers are open to cars with the Combined Charging System (CCS) supported by BMW, Daimler, Ford, and Volkswagen.

Tesla is using the CCS standard in Europe, enabling a wide range of cars to charge in stations without an adapter that utilizes a similar connector.

“This move directly supports our goal to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy,” the company said.