Tesla’s Superchargers in California are now open to serve other electric vehicles, making 10,000 new locations available for cars of different makes.
The boost in charging stations will add to the 105,000 already publicly available for EV owners in the state.
In the video, the governor arrived at a charging station driving an electric Ford Mustang.
“So I just pulled up to a Tesla charging station, but not in a Tesla, because today we’re announcing Tesla’s opening up its charging network to additional models of electric vehicles,” Mr. Newsom said.
“All of this is in an effort to continue the progress we’re making in California,” he added. “California dominates in this space. We want to maintain that leadership, maintain that dominance as we transition from dirty tailpipes to a low-carbon green-growth nature.”
California leads the nation in electric vehicle sales, with about 37 percent of the total number sold in the U.S. by 2022, according to the latest numbers published by the U.S. Information Administration.
As of now, Ford and Rivian vehicles can charge using the Supercharger network. General Motors, Volvo, and Polestar EVs were expected to gain access this spring. Other major automakers were scheduled to follow by the end of the year.
Tesla announced the move months ago, saying adapters would be made available by vehicle manufacturers. EV makes other than Tesla were expected to equip new cars with updated charging ports to fit the Tesla chargers by the end of 2024.
Of the 105,000 stations already available, Los Angeles had the most with 2,286, followed by Orange County with 929. San Diego has 753, according to the state agency.
Tesla’s Supercharger network has more than 45,000 stalls worldwide, according to U.S. News and World Report. The units deliver rapid charging for the same cost as Tesla owners pay and bill vehicle owners via the Tesla app.
The superchargers can provide up to about 200 miles of range in about 15 minutes, depending on the vehicle model.