Tesla Supercharger Opens to Rivian, Ford EVs: Exclusive Details by TSLA Exec

In a significant development for electric vehicle (EV) interoperability, Tesla's Vice President, Rohan Patel, clarified the accessibility of Supercharger stations for Rivian and Ford vehicles, expanding the charging network for non-Tesla EV owners.

This move, enabling access to over 16,000 Supercharger stalls, underscores Tesla's commitment to enhancing EV charging infrastructure and fostering an inclusive ecosystem for electric mobility.

Expanding Access: Tesla Supercharger Network Welcomes Rivian and Ford EVs

Patel, Tesla's Vice President of Public Policy and Business Development, recently responded to a question from Teslavangelist about the number of Supercharger stalls available to non-Tesla owners via NACS connectors, according to Teslarati.

Tesla recently expanded the Supercharger Network to include Ford and Rivian electric vehicles (EVs) via its NACS connector. Both automakers claim that NACS connectors give Ford and Rivian owners access to more than 15,000 Tesla Supercharger locations. Teslavangelist pointed out that non-Tesla EV owners only have access to V3 and V4 Superchargers, and they wonder if they have access to the entire 15,000 Supercharger stall network.

Patel clarified that Rivian and Ford electric vehicle owners can access 16,000 Supercharger stalls. He explained that approximately 11,000 Superchargers are exclusive to Tesla customers, most of which are V2 stalls.

"Multiple stations being added every week, and really our only limiting factor is utility interconnection which takes too damn long," posted Patel on X.

Grok added that Tesla has over 2,100 Supercharger stations and 20,000 stalls in the United States. Rivian and Ford NACS users have access to some of those Superchargers. Rivian released an infotainment update that allows owners to find which Tesla Supercharger stalls are compatible with NACS connectors, making trip planning easier.

Tesla intends to expand Supercharger NACS access to additional automakers in the coming months, including Lucid, BMW, General Motors, and Hyundai.

Rivian Owners Embrace Tesla Superchargers: A Seamless Charging Experience Unfolds

Rivian owners are beginning to test their Tesla Supercharger access and discovering how simple it is to charge at non-Rivian charging stations using Tesla only.

Rivian announced on March 18 that R1 owners now have twice as many fast chargers. The electric vehicle (EV) startup announced that R1 vehicles now have access to over 15,000 Tesla superchargers.

A few Rivian R1 owners have already tried Tesla Superchargers; the early feedback is positive. For example, Jenna Ezarik, the owner of R1S, tested the NACS (North American Charging Standard) DC adapter at a Tesla Supercharger station.

Ezarik pointed out that not all Supercharger stations are "compatible" with non-Tesla electric vehicles. Using the infotainment system, Rivian made finding a compatible Supercharger station easier.

"This was also super easy to use. All I did was plug in the adaptor and plug it into the Rivian, and I didn't open any additional apps. It just worked," she said.

Sasha and Jesse from Mountain Pass Performance posted a YouTube video about their Tesla Supercharger experience while charging a Rivian R1T.

"We've only had our Rivian for two months, so we haven't had to endure non-Tesla fast charging for long. Thank goodness the nightmare is over!" They wrote in the video's description.

Sasha and Jesse's video description hints at the level of service that third-party charging stations provide to non-Tesla electric vehicle owners. The couple said charging their Rivian R1T at a Tesla Supercharger was effortless and quick.

Out of Spec Studios charged his Rivian R1T at a Tesla Supercharger stall in a post on X. He stated that the NACS DC adapter will be provided to Rivian R1 owners at no cost. Rivian announced that R1 owners can expect to receive NACS DC adapters in April.

Photo: Ernie Journeys/Unsplash