By: Nick Gambino
Tesla has the electric vehicle game on lock not only because they had a headstart on designing and building EVs, but because they also had a headstart on installing a countrywide charging network.
The Supercharger network boasts more than 17,800 chargers in the U.S. alone. And now Polestar and Volvo EVs will gain access to the robust charging system.
Originally, Tesla Superchargers were only available for those who owned a Tesla. Elon Musk and company made the decision to open it up to any EV and just earlier this year Ford vehicles gained access to the entire Supercharger network in the U.S.
Polestar and Volvo are both owned by the same parent company – Geely – so it’s almost as if this is a single decision. Still, they are a different line of cars and so require different charging solutions to integrate.
Polestar is going to start selling adapters that are compatible with the Supercharger. This requires something that connects to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) system. These NACS adapters are a temporary solution for any EV looking to take advantage of Tesla’s chargers. In the future, most are planning to switch out their systems and produce all new EVs with superior NACS ports.
Volvo, on the other hand, is being a little more generous. They announced they will provide free adapters to anyone who purchases a current year (2025) EC40, EX40 and EX90. And that’s where the generosity stops. Any current owners will have to buy an NACS adapter from an official Volvo service center or dealer.
Besides compatibility issues solved with adapters, there is the issue of software compatibility. Volvo and Polestar are both updating their Android-run infotainment system to include relevant Tesla data. This means drivers will be able to GPS to Superchargers, check availability and even pay with ease.
Of course, opening up Superchargers to non-Tesla EVs means additional strain on the network. Tesla is hard at work installing new stations throughout the U.S.
