US-based electric automaker Telsa Motors has partnered with China Unicom, the country’s No. 2 mobile carrier, to expand its network of charging points in China.
China Unicom and Tesla last Friday signed a strategic cooperation agreement to jointly build charging stations in China. The two also held a ceremony to open the first surcharging station in Chengdu, Sichuan, China Unicom said in a statement.
As part of the agreement, Tesla will build 400 charging points at China Unicom sales stores in 120 cities. The two companies will also build 20 of Telsa’s fast-speed supercharging stations, known as Supercharger, at Unicom’s retail outlets in 20 cities. Telsa Supercharger stations allow its customers to replenish half a car’s battery in 20 minutes, which is far faster than typical public station.
Under the partnership, Tesla will provide the equipment for the charging stations, while Unicom will provide the land, and Tesla customers will be able to charge their cars for free at the stations, Bloomberg quoted a Tesla spokesperson as saying.
According to the company website, Tesla already has more than 200 charging points across China. It also has 13 Surperchargers in Asia, 12 of which are in China and one in Hong Kong.