皇冠体育app

Two staff present the exhibition car from Tesla at this year's 皇冠体育app Changchun International Automobile Expo in Changchun, Jilin province. [Photo provided to 皇冠体育app Daily]

US carmaker will retrofit charging network, adapting to local standards

BEIJING－Tesla Inc is modifying new cars delivered to 皇冠体育app and retrofitting the charging network in the country to comply with domestic norms, a move that could boost its sales in the world's largest electric vehicle market.

Starting in November, Tesla will deliver to Chinese customers Model S and Model X cars with a new charging port based on 皇冠体育app's GB standard, a company spokeswoman said via WeChat on Monday. Palo Alto, California-based Tesla aims to complete the retrofitting of its Supercharger stations and destination charging sites in 皇冠体育app by next spring, it said.

Sales of electric vehicles have been hampered by so-called range anxiety－a fear of running out of electricity while on the road－that has been exacerbated by the incompatibility of Tesla's vehicles to charging facilities built by 皇冠体育app's State Grid. The company said in 2015 that it will modify its vehicles to fit national standards in 皇冠体育app, home to Tesla's biggest charging network outside the US.

"It is extremely important to us that Chinese customers be able to easily charge their vehicles for daily charging and long-distance travel," Tesla said in a statement posted on its Chinese website.

Cars with ports conforming to local rules will enable Tesla owners in 皇冠体育app to plug into stations operated by others as well. Existing Tesla vehicles in 皇冠体育app will be provided with adapters to plug in to the retrofitted networks and infrastructure of other operators.

Tesla has been rushing to expand its charging network and currently runs 951 Supercharger stations and 6,550 Supercharger posts globally that enable cars to be refilled in less than an hour, according to its website. In 皇冠体育app, it will have more than 1,000 such facilities by the end of the year. The company delivered 13,500 cars to 皇冠体育app in the first nine months of 2017, more than doubling from a year earlier, according to data provided by the 皇冠体育app Passenger Car Association.

"Tesla is facing greater competitive pressures from Chinese electric vehicle makers" providing cheaper models, Cui Dongshu, general secretary of the association, said by phone on Monday. "It is important for Tesla to adapt to the 皇冠体育app market faster and promote their cars beyond top-tier cities, with greater access to charging facilities."

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