Tesla Supercharger Access Extends to Volvo Electric Car Drivers across North America
July 25 2023,
Tesla's expansive Supercharger network, spanning across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will soon become accessible to Volvo's electric car drivers, marking an agreement between Tesla and Volvo Cars. This significant alliance makes Volvo Cars the first European carmaker to ally with Tesla, effectively bolstering the viability of electric vehicle ownership on the continent.
The Swedish automaker's initiative is consistent with its 2030 goal of transitioning to a fully electric car maker. Jim Rowan, CEO at Volvo Cars, highlights the necessity of this collaboration. "In our pursuit of going fully electric by 2030, our prime focus is to simplify life for electric car owners. Access to convenient and straightforward charging infrastructure has been a prominent hurdle for many prospective electric vehicle users. This agreement with Tesla significantly alleviates this challenge for Volvo drivers in North America,” Rowan said.
With the new agreement in place, Volvo's fully electric vehicle drivers will gain access to over 12,000 new fast-charging points. This figure is anticipated to inflate with Tesla's continued expansion of its Supercharger network. This enhanced charging capability complements the pre-existing access Volvo drivers have to multiple tens of thousands of fast-charge points.
Volvo's commitment to the North American Charging Standard (NACS) is apparent as the automaker plans to equip its future vehicles with NACS charging ports starting from 2025. However, Volvo's loyalty to the Combined Charging System (CCS) users remains intact. An adapter provided by Volvo Cars will facilitate drivers who wish to continue charging with CCS.
Meanwhile, for Volvo's current range of electric cars – from the XC40 and C40 Recharge to the newly unveiled EX30 and EX90 – accessibility to Tesla's Supercharger network is expected to be available through an adapter from the first half of 2024. Owners can conveniently locate charging stations via the Volvo Cars app, which provides real-time information on charger availability and facilitates payment for the charging session through a single interface.
