Tesla Supercharger network opens to other EVs in the UK

Tesla has officially opened up its Supercharger network to non-Tesla owners across the UK, with a total of 158 rapid and ultra-rapid Superchargers at 15 locations available for any compatible EV to use.

As this is still a pilot programme, only a limited selection of the network’s nearly 800 individual Superchargers in the UK are accessible to non-Tesla owners, however those that are open are spread widely throughout the UK. 

Here’s the full list:

• Aberystwyth, Wales
• Adderstone
• Aviemore, Scotland
• Banbury
• Birmingham
• Cardiff, Wales
• Dundee, Scotland
• Flint Mountain, near Chester
• Folkestone
• Grays (East London/Thurrock)
• Manchester Trafford Centre
• Thetford
• Trumpington, near Cambridge
• Uxbridge
• Wokingham, near Reading

For a monthly membership fee of £10.99, drivers of non-Tesla EVs can enjoy lower charging rates; non-members will pay on average 60p per kWh. However, prices will also vary between each site, with exact pricing available to view on the Tesla app.

Tesla said when announcing the opening of the network: “It’s always been our ambition to open the Supercharger network to non-Tesla EVs, and by doing so, encourage more drivers to go electric. More customers using the Supercharger network enables faster expansion. 

“Our goal is to learn and iterate quickly, while continuing to aggressively expand the network, so we can eventually welcome both Tesla and non-Tesla drivers at every Supercharger worldwide.”

The move comes after the conclusion of a 2021 pilot project across 10 of the brand's 54 locations in the Netherlands. Similar pilot projects also took place in Norway, France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Sweden and Austria, with the full opening of the network in those countries likely to follow in due course.

While European Tesla Superchargers have Type 2 and CCS connectors, those in the US have a proprietary connector, so cars from other brands would need an adaptor to use them – but Tesla CEO Elon Musk has indicated this will be made available.

Concerns have been raised by some Tesla owners of the impact opening up will have on the network, with certain locations in some countries already seeing drivers have to queue. Speaking on an earnings call in 2021, Musk indicated that dynamic pricing would be introduced, charging drivers more for staying longer, in order to encourage shorter charge sessions – and making it more expensive to charge at busier times. Tesla has also said that the locations opened up in the Netherlands and elsewhere will be "closely monitored for congestion".