Rival Supercharger network banks on Biden's subsidies to match Tesla's charging stations

Seven automotive brands that collectively hold nearly half of the US vehicle market - GM, Stellantis, Mercedes, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, and Honda - announced a new nationwide EV charging network that will rival Tesla's Superchargers in scale and scope. Previously, Hyundai said it is hesitant to adopt Tesla's NACS standard as its Superchargers are too slow for the modern 800V drivetrain of its EV.

Instead, the dedicated company formed for the task aims to build 30,000 EV fast chargers in North America, relying on President Biden's US$7.5 billion infrastructure bill component earmarked for a cross-country charging network along major highways, in cities, and in rural areas.

Tesla will participate with no less than 7,500 Superchargers and destination chargers in the government- subsidized National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program (NEVI), too, adding to its current roster of about 20,000 charging points in the US. Globally, Tesla has more than 48,000 EV chargers now, as it boasted during the Q2 results presentation.

With 30,000 chargers in the US alone, the new network would easily rival Tesla's which the White House welcomed as a major step towards its goal of rolling out "a nationwide network of 500,000 electric vehicle chargers" sponsored with federal money by 2030. The White House press secretary commented that the Supercharger network rival will be "creating new union jobs for installation and maintenance." "We think this is an important step forward," they added.

In order to qualify for the government's funding, the new charging network will include both Tesla NACS and regular CCS connectors on made-in-US piles. The joint venture also announced that it will aim to make its EV charging locations like gas stations, complete with restrooms, food, and retail. 

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