Who can use Tesla’s new-generation Superchargers?
Across Europe, more and more Tesla Superchargers are opening up their service to vehicles of other brands, particularly in France. So it’s hardly surprising that, after introducing the new V4 Supercharger in the Netherlands this past spring, the American manufacturer is setting more of this type on the continent. A V4 Supercharger station with a dozen charging stations has just opened in France’s Puy de Dôme region. Others are set to follow shortly.
The charger offers 250 kW of power, which, according to the American manufacturer, will enable a driver to get enough charge in a quarter of an hour for a 300-km range. However, that performance calculation only applies to the American brand’s models, with other manufacturers’ models limited to 200 kW. And the real-world results will vary wildly depending on the brand and model. Vehicles based on Hyundai and Kia’s E-GMP modular platform are unlikely to be able to benefit from the performance offered by these Superchargers, as their charging capacity is currently limited to a very low level. Owners of such vehicles would be better off using another charging network in Europe, such as Ionity. Meanwhile reports seen on social media, but not confirmed by Tesla, suggest that certain technical specifications indicate that these Superchargers could in theory one day offer a charging capacity of over 600 kW.
But the area where V4 Superchargers could really prove more efficient is in the volume of charges that can be done at the same time, potentially avoiding station congestion and long waits. The V4 Superchargers have been designed to be able to deliver large amounts of energy to several vehicles simultaneously. Indeed, opening up Supercharger stations’ access to cars of other makes has led to a much greater influx than previously, meaning that this new generation is primed for meeting this demand in an efficient fashion. Another advantage is that these Superchargers feature longer cables, which means that any car can be connected, no matter where its charging port is located.
To date Tesla claims there are over 45,000 Superchargers in the world.
