by CHEN Xiaotong

Tesla on Sunday announced that the new V4 Superchargers are now operational in service areas across Shanghai, Gansu, Zhejiang and Chongqing. The upgraded chargers incorporate six layers of safety features, including enhanced waterproofing, and are accessible to non-Tesla vehicles.

The rollout marks the latest step in the company's effort to broaden access to its charging infrastructure. Tesla began piloting the opening of its charging network to other brands in China in 2023, initially covering 10 Supercharger stations and 120 destination charging locations, supporting 37 models from manufacturers such as BYD, Li Auto, Xpeng and Mercedes-Benz.

According to the company's latest figures, Tesla has deployed more than 70,000 Superchargers worldwide. In mainland China, the network includes over 2,100 Supercharger stations and 11,500 individual charging piles.

First introduced in the Netherlands in March 2023, the V4 Supercharger is Tesla's fastest and most powerful charging equipment to date. The new cabinet system delivers up to 500kW for passenger vehicles and 1.2MW for the Semi, Tesla's heavy-duty electric truck. By comparison, the V3 Superchargers widely deployed in China offer up to 250kW, while earlier V2 chargers typically provide 120kW. The higher capacity allows multiple vehicles to charge simultaneously at faster speeds.

Tesla operates a dedicated Supercharger manufacturing plant in Shanghai. Completed in 2021, the facility spans nearly 5,000 square meters and has an annual production capacity of 10,000 Superchargers, mainly focused on V3 units.

Company executives have described the strategy of opening the network to other brands as an important step to accelerate electric vehicle adoption globally and reinforce Tesla's position in fast-growing clean transport markets, including China.