TESLA OWNERS LOOKING FOR A CHARGE WILL SOON HAVE MERCEDES DRIVERS IN THEIR WAY

Tesla has added yet another automaker to its Supercharger "coming soon" list, with German automaker Mercedes-Benz next in line to gain access to the expansive charging network, reports Teslarati. Last year, the German automaker was one of many brands that adopted Tesla's NACS connector for its vehicles, such as the EQB, EQE, and EQS SUV. This will enable Mercedes EV owners to charge their cars at the Supercharger network, which has more than 25,000 charging points in the USA.

So far, the Tesla Superchargers support Ford and Rivian EVs, with Mercedes, Polestar, Volvo, and General Motors to follow soon. While there's no timeline for this, Tesla says the network will open up to more brands "throughout 2024 and 2025." Non-Tesla EV brands will integrate the NACS port into their vehicles in the coming years. For now, these vehicles will require adapters to use Tesla Superchargers.

Will The Recent Supercharger Layoffs Delay Things?

Reports suggest that Tesla's recent spate of layoffs has delayed plans for additional car brands to join the Supercharger network. As part of a company-wide effort to cut costs, the electric vehicle brand has let several employees go, including Rebecca Tinucci, Senior Director of EV Charging at Tesla and Supercharging network.

Tesla also fired the 500-person-strong Supercharger team, suggesting that future delays can be expected. That being said, adding Mercedes-Benz to the "coming soon" list shows that some progress is being made. It's worth noting that Tesla has rehired some of the individuals that were initially let go.

Mercedes Has Multiple Charging Solutions In The Pipeline

Aside from the impending Supercharger support, Mercedes-Benz also has plans to introduce its own charging network. MBUSA has partnered up with Buc-ee's, with the new facilities to be built at Buc-ee's travel centers. By the end of 2024, Mercedes expects about 30 charging hubs to be available. The automaker has also invested in a charging network that will see the installation of 10,000 charging points globally, the first of which will be rolled out in the USA.

In the near future, Mercedes-Benz EV owners won't struggle to find a place to charge their vehicles. Aside from the aforementioned solutions, the automaker has partnered with several brands to establish a Supercharger rival. The WeCharge North America super alliance will see BMW, Honda, General Motors, Hyundai, Kia, and Stellantis team up to offer both NACS and CCS chargers with a minimum charging speed of 350 kW.

Source: Teslarati

2024-06-26T05:54:06Z dg43tfdfdgfd