Tesla is expanding its Supercharger network to other electric vehicle (EV) brands in Canada as part of a government initiative to make EV charging more accessible and convenient. The company will open up some of its existing Superchargers to non-Tesla EVs later this year, starting with a pilot route between Ottawa and Sudbury. By the end of 2025, there will be 750 open Superchargers across the country, including at least 350 high-speed 250kW stations. These will enable long-distance travel for EV drivers, as the open Supercharger route will cover a large portion of the Trans-Canada Highway between Ottawa and Calgary.
The move comes as the Canadian government announced a plan to install nearly 3,000 EV chargers in various locations, such as multi-use residential buildings, offices, public places, and fleets. The government is partnering with various organizations to fund five ongoing projects that will add up to 1,328 EV chargers, including 100 Level 3 fast chargers.
Tesla is collaborating with Ford and General Motors to adopt its common charge port standard, the North American Charging Standard (NACS). It's an open-source design that Tesla has been using for its vehicles. It is smaller and more compact than other charging plugs, such as the Combined Charging System (CCS).
Ford and GM have announced that they will switch to NACS for their EV models from 2025 onwards. They will also allow their EV customers to access Tesla's Supercharger network. Ford EV drivers will be able to use Tesla Superchargers from the spring of 2024, while GM EV drivers will have access from early 2024.
GM will provide adapters for their EV drivers to access NACS-enabled charging stations. It will also offer adapters for NACS-enabled vehicles to charge at CCS-capable stations. But starting in 2025, GM's EVs will have a built-in NACS inlet to eliminate the need for this adapter. GM will also integrate the Tesla Supercharger Network into its vehicle and mobile apps.
Canada aims to become a major player in the EV industry, by attracting investments in battery production and car manufacturing. The country has set a target to ban sales of new combustion engine passenger cars by 2035, so it needs to increase the demand for EVs in the meantime.