Which electric vehicles can use the Tesla Supercharger network?

Can your electric car now use a Tesla Supercharger?

After announcing its intention to open the Supercharger network to non-Tesla EVs toward the end of 2024, Tesla now have a number of locations dotted around the UK where those with any old EV with a CCS charger can use their Supercharger Network.

The combined charging system (CCS) is a system used by manufacturers around the world, including BMW, Ford, and the VW Group. 

It's one of the most popular connectors on the market, with a majority of new EVs now coming with CCS. This means that most electric cars already on UK roads will benefit from the reliability and ease of use the Supercharger network has long been famed for.

If you have an older car, like a pre-2019 Kia Soul EV, it's worth checking that it has CCS - some models only received the connector on newer updates. 

Can I use a Tesla Supercharger to charge my electric car?

The short answer: yes, as long as your EV has CCS. 

The long answer: the different types of chargers can get confusing, so we've pulled together an A-Z list of electric car brands with CCS so all you have to do is look and see if your car is on there.

Note: cars like the older Nissan LEAF with CHAdeMO won't be able to use the Supercharger network

• Audi
• BMW and BYD
• Citroen and CUPRA
• DS
• Fiat and Ford
• Genesis, GWM and GWM ORA
• Honda and Hyundai
• Jaguar and Jeep
• Kia and KGM
• Mazda, MG and MINI
• NIO and Nissan
• Omoda
• Peugeot, Polestar and Porsche
• Renault
• SEAT, SKODA and Smart
• Volvo, Vauxhall and Volkswagen

How do I use the Tesla Supercharger network?

Like with any other charging point, you pull up, plug in, and pay. 

The Tesla app will let you know where the nearest Supercharger station is but bear in mind that there aren’t masses of these chargers.

For example, if you’re in the southwest like us, there aren’t masses of them available to other EVs.

15 locations were initially opened, but now they’re dotted around the UK:

• England: Manchester, Wokingham, London, Banbury, Merry Hill, Newmarket, Birmingham, Thetford, Folkestone, Trentham, Harrogate, Reading, Kettering, Frankley, Reading, Ipswich, Lifton, Exeter, Penhale, Camborne, Portsmouth, Guildford, Trumpington, Dorking, Bristol, Solihull, Grays, Adderstone, Heartlands.
• Scotland: Fort William, Aviemore, Dundee, Inverness, Larkhall, Eurocentral, Aberdeen, Porthleven, Perth.
• Wales: Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, Newport, Bridgend, Flint Mountain, Cardiff.
• Ireland: Enfield, Athenry, Cork, Tralee, Dublin, Dungannon.

(This list isn’t exhaustive, as the network expands, more places will be available to other EVs)

For a live picture of the network in the UK, you can use Tesla's Supercharger map. Just make sure you filter it for 'Superchargers open to other EVs'. 

The UK pilot is part of a larger trial taking place in countries like the Netherlands and Belgium, and if it's a success it's likely the rest of the Supercharger network will be opened to non-Tesla electric cars.

The Tesla app also lets you pay a monthly subscription fee of £9.99 to access the lower kWh prices, but you can still charge your car without it.

It works out more expensive, at around £0.60 per kWh, but Tesla have also warned that pricing for non-Tesla EVs will also reflect the additional costs incurred as the company adjusts their existing stations to support a broader range of vehicles. 

What are the benefits of the Tesla Supercharger network?

As one of the only manufacturers who have invested as heavily into the charging infrastructure as they have their cars, the Tesla Supercharger network has long been heralded the cream of the crop when it comes to being able to charge your electric car on the go. 

Situated at existing service stations, Tesla have placed their Superchargers at intervals that allow drivers to cover most long-distance trips up and down the country without having to worry about where to stop and recharge. 

Tesla opening some of the Supercharger network is a landmark moment for the EV movement - it'll provide much needed access to quick and reliable chargers for many drivers looking to do longer trips. 

V2 chargers are capable of delivering up to 150kW of electricity, while the newer V3 chargers can deliver up to an incredible 250kW of charge per hour - both more powerful than any other rapid charger on the market.

But how long it actually takes you to charge your car will depend on its battery size and max DC rate.

Just look at the Model Y, it can recoup up to 150 miles in as little as 15 minutes via a Supercharger – a feat that no other manufacturer has managed to compete with.

With Tesla opening up its Supercharger network to non-Tesla EVs, charging your electric car just got a whole lot easier—provided your vehicle has a CCS connector.

This move is a game-changer, offering drivers access to one of the fastest and most reliable charging networks in the UK.

While availability is still expanding, this is a big step toward making EV ownership more convenient and reducing range anxiety.

Whether you're driving a BMW, Kia, or VW, the Supercharger network could be your new go-to for quick and efficient charging.

FAQs about the Tesla Supercharger Network

How does it work?

Charging your non-Tesla at a Tesla Supercharger is straightforward. Here's how to do it:

1. Download the Tesla app (version 4.2.3 or higher) and create a Tesla account.
2. Find a Supercharger station: Open the app, tap "Charge Your EV," and locate a Supercharger nearby.
3. Park, plug in, and choose your stall: Once you arrive at the station, connect your vehicle to the charger and select the stall in the app.
4. Start charging: Tap "Start Charging" in the app to begin.
5. Stop charging: When your session is finished, tap "Stop Charging" to complete the process.

Remember, only CCS-enabled vehicles are compatible with Tesla Superchargers.

Payment is processed through the Tesla app.

Do other countries have access to the Supercharger Network?

Yes. Tesla has opened Superchargers to non-Tesla EVs in several countries, including, but not limited to:

• Sweden: The first country to open all Superchargers to non-Tesla EVs.
• The Netherlands: The first country to pilot the initiative in 2022.
• South Korea and the U.S.: Select Superchargers have been opened to non-Tesla vehicles.
• Europe: Countries such as France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Slovakia, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Turkey, Romania, Greece, Czechia, Croatia, and Slovenia

Tesla aims to eventually open its entire network worldwide.

Where in the UK can I access the Supercharger Network as a non-Tesla EV driver?

Several Tesla Supercharger sites in the UK and Ireland are open to non-Tesla EVs, including locations in:

• England: Manchester, Wokingham, London, Banbury, Merry Hill, Newmarket, Birmingham, Newport, Thetford, Folkestone, Trentham, Harrogate, Reading, Flint Mountain, Kettering, Frankley, Reading, Ipswich, Cardiff, Lifton, Exeter, Penhale, Camborne, Portsmouth, Guildford, Trumpington, Dorking, Bristol, Solihull, Grays, Adderstone, Heartlands.
• Scotland: Fort William, Aviemore, Dundee, Inverness, Larkhall, Eurocentral, Aberdeen, Porthleven, Perth.
• Wales: Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, Newport, Bridgend.
• Ireland: Enfield, Athenry, Cork, Tralee, Dublin, Dungannon.

(This list isn’t exhaustive, as the network expands, more places will be available to other EVs)

What is the impact on the EV industry and consumer choice?

Opening the Supercharger Network to other brands benefits everybody, including both the industry and consumers:

• For the EV industry: Encourages standardisation, improves charging infrastructure, and accelerates EV adoption.
• For consumers: Expands charging options, making EV ownership more convenient and practical.
• For competition: Other charging networks may lower prices and improve services to compete.

Do Supercharger posts support all connector types?

No. Tesla Superchargers only support CCS-enabled vehicles. If a Supercharger has two cables, only the CCS connector is available for non-Tesla EVs.

Vehicles without CCS compatibility cannot use the Supercharger network.

However, most new electric vehicles have the CCS connector so this shouldn’t be a massive issue.

Who can use the Tesla Supercharger Network?

Now that the network has been opened up, you might be wondering if you’re one of the lucky ones who can use it.

All you need is for your EV to have a CCS connector, which most do.

There aren’t loads which have the capability to charge non-Tesla’s in the UK, but this is growing as Tesla expands their network.