in the U.S. It launched a pilot program last year that allows non-Tesla drivers in parts of Europe to use its charging network.
Most EV owners charge at home over a period of several hours; fast chargers can repower EVs in around 30 minutes. They can be hard to find, though. The U.S. has fewer than 5,000 locations with 10,000 individual fast chargers that anyone can use, according to government data. “They’re going from a walled garden where they have complete control over the environment to when they start serving the general public, it’s 50 models,” said Nick Nigro of Atlas Public Policy, a Washington, D.C., research firm that tracks the EV market. “But they are well-positioned to be a really big provider of this service if they see that as a good business opportunity. They are really good at building charging infrastructure.
With gas prices on a wild ride, many consumers are exploring whether buying an electric vehicle could save them money in the long run. WSJ’s George Downs breaks down four factors to consider when buying a new car. Photo composite: George Downs