As anticipated, extra carmakers proceed to hitch in partnership with Tesla on Tesla Supercharger entry for his or her automobiles. After Ford broke open the dam, GM, Rivian, and varied charging networks have adopted in partnering with Tesla on this. The most recent information is that Volvo Automobiles is partnering with Tesla, too.

Proper firstly of its announcement, Volvo Automobiles reiterates its plan to promote 100% electrical automobiles — solely totally electrical automobiles — by 2030. The corporate decided that so as to take action, Volvo Automobiles wanted to supply consumers the perfect charging expertise doable, and meaning partnering with Tesla and giving Volvo consumers Tesla Supercharger (aka North American Charging Customary) entry. (Humorous the way it simply decided this after Ford, GM, and Rivian got here to the identical conclusion.)

Volvo EX30 inside.

Within the case of Volvo Automobiles, new automobiles will embody the North American Charging Customary (NACS) charging port beginning in 2025. No want for an adapter — simply plug in and charger at a Tesla Supercharger close to you. Earlier than then, although, Volvo Automobiles electrical automotive consumers will get a Tesla charging adapter beginning within the first half of 2024.

One humorous factor about this current development is that it comes lengthy after we spent years pushing for it. A number of years in the past, Tesla invited different automakers to companion with it on Supercharging. We pushed for automakers to take Tesla up on the provide and speed up EV adoption for his or her consumers, and EV charging comfort and reliability for them. We even wrote an open letter to Carlos Ghosn and received varied outstanding signatories on it — since we assumed he’d be the one more than likely to just accept Tesla’s invitation. After some time, although, we gave up on the thought. It appeared that no automaker would be part of Tesla on this; CCS fast-charging stations began rolling out in a lot larger quantity, creating good networks of chargers; and we accepted that there’d be the Tesla community and there’d be the CCS community for everybody else. Regardless that customers clearly needed (and wanted) entry to Tesla Supercharging, delight and hubris received … we thought. Then Jim Farley’s children and road-tripping in a Ford F-150 Lightning electrical pickup truck made him notice that Ford EV consumers actually wanted entry to Tesla Superchargers to have road-tripping expertise. And the remaining is historical past.

One other humorous factor right here is that, whereas Tesla drivers have had the perfect charging choices for years, non-Tesla electrical automobiles with built-in Tesla Supercharger (NACS) ports or complimentary Tesla charging adapters may have higher EV quick charging choices than Tesla drivers! Except Tesla drivers purchase adapters to make use of CCS chargers, they may lack entry to these different quick chargers whereas Ford, GM, Rivian, and Volvo drivers (and whoever joins subsequent) may have entry to each Tesla Superchargers and CCS quick chargers, giving them superior charging entry. I’m curious to see if that impacts EV shopping for developments within the US. (Although, higher entry or not, if different automakers don’t produce much more EVs, there aren’t much more non-Tesla EVs to promote to consumers.)

Volvo EX30 exterior

Again to Volvo Automobiles, that is how the corporate explains this benefit:

“The association offers totally electrical Volvo drivers entry to 12,000 new fast-charge factors, a determine that’s anticipated to develop as Tesla continues to broaden its Supercharger community within the area.

“These new charging factors come along with Volvo drivers’ present entry to tens of 1000’s of fast-charge factors.”

In brief, 22,000+ (12,000+ plus 10,000+) is bigger than 12,000+. So, in the event you care rather a lot about quick charging, Volvo Automobiles will get the sting right here over Tesla.

Be aware that the brand new Volvo automobiles coming with the Tesla Supercharging port won’t have a separate CCS port. As a substitute, they may obtain a complimentary CCS adapter. I’m undecided what the total rationale for that’s, however my guess is that Volvo Automobiles acknowledges the Tesla Supercharger community as being superior and figures that the default charging port ought to be the superior one. (Maybe it’s additionally extra price environment friendly this fashion? Or maybe it’s extra of a advertising and marketing resolution? However I’d put these potentialities as much less possible, or complementary, to the principle situation of the Tesla Supercharging community clearly being the extra dependable, extra handy, extra helpful fast-charging community for many EV drivers.)

“As a part of our journey to changing into totally electrical by 2030, we need to make life with an electrical automotive as straightforward as doable,” stated Jim Rowan, CEO at Volvo Automobiles. “One main inhibitor to extra folks making the shift to electrical driving – a key step in making transportation extra sustainable – is entry to straightforward and handy charging infrastructure. At the moment, with this settlement, we’re taking a serious step to take away this threshold for Volvo drivers in the USA, Canada and Mexico.”

Kudos to Volvo. Higher late than by no means.

Volvo EX30 inside.

Volvo electrical automobiles embody the XC40 Recharge and C40 Recharge. The EX30 and EX90 are coming quickly, too. Volvo EV drivers will be capable to discover Superchargers utilizing their Volvo Automobiles app, and presumably additionally through the in-car navigation system (however that hasn’t been explicitly acknowledged but).

Jim Rowan with the Volvo EX30 Cross Nation.

Jim Rowan and automobiles at Volvo EX30 reveal occasion.

Jim Rowan and Volvo EX30 at reveal occasion.

Jim Rowan and Volvo EX30 at reveal occasion.

All photos courtesy of Volvo Automobiles.