Tesla’s Competitive Moat: An Alternative to Tesla for Non-Tesla Superchargers and Other EVs in the United States
Unlike in Europe, Tesla Superchargers in the US use a proprietary connector — this was Tesla’s “competitive moat,” the thing that offered protection from other automakers. Non-Tesla cars that don’t have a magnetic resonance absorbing device can access the charging station, thanks to the “Magic Dock” installed by the company. Most EV makers in North America have adopted the CCS standard for fast charging.
Some EV charger companies have already been courting Tesla drivers, including EVgo, which started by retrofitting Tesla plugs in place of the dwindling CHAdeMO standard that was only largely used by Nissan Leafs. Tesla had sold a CHAdeMO adapter for a while and now is selling a CCS adapter as well that gives owners access to other DC fast charging networks.
Non-Tesla owners can sign up for a monthly membership that gives them a discounted rate, or they can pay per charge. Non-Tesla owners will pay a higher rate for charging at a Supercharger than Tesla owners, which Tesla says is meant to cover the “additional costs incurred to support charging a broad range of vehicles and adjustments to our sites to accommodate these vehicles.”