Electric Vehicles - Tesla opens Superchargers to other electric cars for first time

A random-controlled trial is underway in the Netherlands, with Tesla opening up their superchargers to other brands of electric car in the hope of bringing this technology into the mainstream.

However, the trial only accounts for 10 of Tesla's 25,000 global superchargers, and the trial is being monitored to see whether or not it increases congestion around the charging points. Inter-operability is likely to be a major issue for the fast-growing electric vehicle sector. Owners of electric cars need to know that the charging system network is reliable.

And on the same day, Toyota, who have previously been heavily reliant upon hybrid technology have announced the launch of their first, mass-produced, all electric vehicle.

It's an SUV, with the catchy name of bZ4X, which, ironically, is the sort of thing that Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, might call a child.

Economies of scale in production are key to driving down long run costs and real prices for electric vehicles to make them more affordable and thereby increase effective demand.