All plug-in car drivers could gain free power and access to luxury electric vehicle brand Tesla’s UK network of supercharging stations if their cars are compatible with Phase 2 charging technology.
Tesla recently opened up its technology patents, inviting any car manufacturer to use its technology free in the hope of growing the electric vehicle market across the world.
Georg Ell, Tesla UK and Ireland country director, told BusinessCar: “While it would rely on manufacturers making their plug-in vehicles compatible with our supercharger network, we would provide electricity for those cars for free.”
BMW has confirmed it is open to working with Tesla on EV technology.
A spokesman for the German brand told BusinessCar: “We are in discussion with [Tesla]. It’s an interesting possibility but one that would only work if it is was good for [BMW’s] i cars too.” BMW currently has its i3 electric supermini and i8 supercar on sale in the UK.
Nissan has also gone on record saying it is working with “numerous partners” to develop a charging infrastructure that is readily available to EV drivers.
A Nissan spokesman said: “We welcome others joining in the effort as we believe universally compatible charging will further accelerate EV adoption.”
Tesla currently offers the use of its supercharger network to its customers for “free for life, forever” and can charge its Model S EV to 50% capacity and a range of 170 miles in 20 minutes or to full capacity in one hour 10 minutes.
The electric car brand is planning to cover Dover to Bristol, the M25, the south of England, and north along the M1 with a supercharger network in the next three months. It is then planning to have superchargers cover England before the end of this year and the whole of the UK and Ireland before the end of 2015. There are currently two Tesla superchargers in the UK – one in London and one in Birmingham.
