Tesla opens Superchargers to third-party EVs in Korea

Tesla has opened its Superchargers to all non-Tesla EVs in Korea, allowing other brands to access its charging network. The company eventually plans to open all 1,007 chargers in Korea to all automakers.

Tesla EVs are being charged at a Supercharger station in Seoul. [YONHAP]

Tesla has opened its Superchargers to all non-Tesla EVs in Korea starting Wednesday.

Tesla Korea said Wednesday it has opened around 570 of its chargers across the country to EVs from other brands. The EV maker has around 50,000 Superchargers across the world, with 1,007 in Korea, divided among 148 charging stations.

“We will eventually make all 1,007 chargers open to all brands,” Tesla Korea said.

To use the charger, drivers can select the “Unlock Adapter” option, which will allow them to access the Magic Dock. Grab the regular Tesla North American Charging Standard (NACS) charger's handle, push it up into the adapter, and then pull the whole shebang out.

Prices vary by station, and they can be checked via the Tesla app.

Tesla's EV charging connector at a charging station in Anaheim, California. Ford, General Motors, Volvo Cars and Rivian announced their adoption of Tesla's North American Charging Standard. [AP/YONHAP]

The announcement comes as many global automakers including Hyundai Motor Group, General Motors and Ford Motor have decided to adopt Tesla's NACS charging port in their soon-to-be-released EVs in an attempt to join the proprietary network.

Tesla sells cars with a NACS plug, while others — including most European carmakers — still make use of the Combined Charging System (CCS) port. The two are not compatible.

Beginning in the fourth quarter of 2024, Hyundai and Kia EVs sold in the U.S. will exclusively come with an NACS port. The standard will be adopted in Canada in the first half of 2025.

Tesla controls 60 percent of the United States' fast charger network as of March. Its chargers are lighter and faster than most others and deliver a maximum of 250 kilowatts of charging power, which is said to deliver a car up to 200 miles of range in 15 minutes.

“Tesla's Supercharger is being monitored thoroughly in real-time, and over 99 percent are operational worldwide,” Tesla Korea said.

BY SARAH CHEA [chea.sarah@joongang.co.kr]