Verge Motorcycles, the Finnish company that will begin selling its electric superbikes in the US market at the end of this year, joins the ranks of well-known car giants, General Motors and Ford, in announcing its intention to utilise Tesla’s NACS charging network.
Electric superbike pioneer, Verge Motorcycles, has taken a stand on the recently much talked about electric plug-in war and announced at the end of June that it would be the first in the industry to adopt Tesla’s NACS charging connector.
“We have been following the discussion with interest about the future of the charging infrastructure and Tesla’s decision to open up its NACS charging standard. Providing our customers with a comprehensive and easy, fast charging system is vital in terms of Verge’s growth. We are currently preparing to enter the US market, and as the Tesla of motorcycles, this decision seemed like a natural solution for us,” says Marko Lehtimäki, Chief Technology Officer at Verge.
“Total customer service is everything for Verge. We want Verge owners to have access to the most extensive fast charging system in North America, which is why we plan to utilise Tesla’s network of 17 000 charging stations,” says Pekka Parnanen, Chief Operating Officer of Verge’s US operations.
Tesla’s decision to remove all the patents for its NACS charging standard has received a lot of international attention recently, after several major players in the industry, including General Motors, Ford and most recently electric car manufacturer, Rivian, announced that they would adopt the charging system developed by Tesla.
Following the move to open up the NACS charging standard, competing operators can also add charging devices equipped with NACS connectors to their networks. Until now, the patent-protected system could only be used to charge Tesla’s own vehicles.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed strong confidence in South Africa's automotive industry, stating it is making crucial investments to build resilience and lead the transition to green mobility despite mounting global pressures.
South Africa is scrambling to protect its economy after USA’s President Donald Trump signed sweeping tariff measures targeting the country's key exports, potentially putting 100 000 jobs at risk, reported Reuters on 1 August.
Vehicle exports to the US – South Africa’s second-largest trading partner and a key destination for locally manufactured premium models – have plummeted by 82.2% in the first half of the year compared to the first half of 2024.
Advertisement
Advertisement
You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do.
Henry Ford
The demand for new energy vehicles (NEVs) keep growing in South Africa with a steep increase in greener mobility during the last two years.
Absa and BYD, the world’s leading electric car manufacturer, have partnered to drive sustainable vehicle finance solutions as demand for new-energy vehicles (NEVs) surges in South Africa.
Hino South Africa has extended its Hino 300 Hybrids undergoing local field trials with selected customers.
