The Tesla Supercharging network became the biggest 150kW plus EV charging network in Europe last Wednesday, and now one enterprising classic car conversion business has grabbed the opportunity to try it out.
Tesla has been trialling the opening of access to its Supercharger network for some months now. It started in Norway, where EV uptake is the highest in the world. It then expanded to other European countries, including Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and France.
Last week, it added the UK, Spain, Sweden and Austria to the mix.
Now, Zero EV – a UK business that says it has converted 100 classic cars including Porsches and iconic MGs – has given the Tesla Supercharging network a whirl.
It’s certainly a sign of the times: a classic Porsche Boxster 986 charging at what is now Europe’s largest fast-charging network.
“Tesla just opened up their UK supercharging network to non Teslas. You know what that means?,” said Zero EV engineer Seb Smith on Linkedin.
“This converted Zero EV Porsche AG Boxster can charge its recycled Tesla battery cells with Tesla electrons once again! This is what proper #sustainability looks like….”
Charging our Tesla powdered Porsche with power from a Tesla super charger….. thanks @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/RlcO5N9c6d
— Zero EV (@zeroevuk) May 24, 2022
The business converted the vehicle in 2020, showcasing the conversion in a four-part series on Youtube. To convert the Boxster, they used a 36kWh Tesla battery pack, and added the ability for 11kW three-phase charging as well as 150kW CCS2 fast-charging. (Currently however, Zero EV tells us the charge rate is limited to 70kW.)
150kw ccs charging – Zero EV kit coming soon. #ccs #charging #evconversion #Porsche #dccharging pic.twitter.com/Xks66UIADQ
— Zero EV (@zeroevuk) September 27, 2020
You can view Zero EV’s full Boxtser conversion video series starting with this one:
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.