Tesla opens supercharging network to non-Tesla drivers in California
Drivers charge their Teslas in Santa Ana, on March 20, 2024.(Jeff Gritchen/The Orange County Register via AP, File)
Non-Tesla drivers in California now have access to the company’s network of charging stations, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Saturday.
The latest move brings the total number of public charging stations in the state to more than 105,000, including 10,000 fast-charging stations, according to the governor.
“California dominates in this space,” Newsom said in a video accompanying the announcement. “We want to maintain that leadership and dominance as we transition from dirty tailpipes to a low-carbon, green-growth future.”
Newsom also stated that for every five gas stations in California, there’s one electric vehicle fast charging station.
The announcement comes amid the state’s shift from gas-powered vehicles to their electric counterparts. In 2020, Newsom signed an executive order requiring the sale of new cars to be zero-emission by 2035.
Los Angeles County is home to the most electric car chargers in the state, according to a charger station dashboard operated by the California Energy Commission.
The county has a total of 31,425 electric car charging and fast-charging stations. Most of the standard charging stations are open to the public, while other fast-charging stations are identified as “shared private,” meaning they are only accessible to certain drivers.
It’s important to note that some EV drivers using a Tesla-branded charging station may need a charging adaptor.
