Does access to a robust, reliable charging network sell electric vehicles" While Tesla and its Supercharger network might be the first example that comes to mind, Nissan and BMW have more time invested in the idea that a generous set of chargers does spark a larger market for electric vehicles.
Tesla and those other two companies have gone about it very differently. Instead of focusing the effort toward building out a network of waypoint fast chargers, as Tesla has, with consistent branding and a fluid user experience, Nissan and BMW have become pioneers in brand-agnostic city fast charging. Although both automakers had started infrastructure efforts before Tesla, July 2014 marked the start of Nissan?s No Charge to Charge and BMW?s ChargeNow. No Charge to Charge essentially gives those who buy or lease a 2013 model or newer Nissan Leaf two years of complimentary public charging (in one of 51 major metro areas, with more than 1000 quick chargers) to serve as ?a safety net? for when they need to drive farther around cities and suburbs. ChargeNow offers similar benefits to i3 drivers, although it?s a little more focused toward providing longer-distance waypoints. In fact, BMW and Nissan teamed up in January to facilitate public access to charging using the EVgo fast-charging network, so No Charge to Charge stations are not necessarily exclusive to Nissan owners. (Ford also offers a service called EV 1-2-3 Charge.) Nissan couldn’t say exactly how many sales it...