Tesla has a strong lead in the electric vehicle (EV) market, not only because they started early with EV design and production but also because they were quick to establish a nationwide charging network.
Today, Tesla’s Supercharger network has over 17,800 chargers across the U.S. Recently, access to this network has expanded to include EVs from Polestar and Volvo.
Initially, Tesla Superchargers were exclusively for Tesla owners. However, Elon Musk and his team decided to open the network to other EV brands. Earlier this year, Ford gained access, and now Polestar and Volvo drivers will benefit too.
Polestar and Volvo share the same parent company, Geely, so this expansion feels like a joint decision. However, since Polestar and Volvo are distinct brands, they require specific solutions to use Tesla’s system.
Polestar will offer adapters that make their EVs compatible with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS). This adapter allows any compatible EV to connect to Tesla’s chargers until future models can be equipped with NACS ports directly.
Volvo, meanwhile, is going a step further by offering free adapters to anyone buying their 2025 models (EC40, EX40, and EX90). Current Volvo owners will need to purchase an adapter from official Volvo service centers.
In addition to hardware compatibility, Volvo and Polestar are updating their Android-based infotainment systems to include Tesla’s charging information. This update will allow drivers to locate Superchargers, check availability, and pay easily.
Opening Tesla’s network to non-Tesla EVs does increase demand, but Tesla is actively expanding its network to meet these needs.
