> Since the super charger network currently exists, it is a competitive advantage for sure, but it also could become a liability having to honor free supercharging for some cars and then not really providing value over a travel center.

That's assuming they don't become travel centers themselves.

That's actually another advantage. If they build travel centers around their superchargers, anyone with free supercharging (which is a large fraction of the current installed base) would prefer theirs over ones they have to pay for. But then they get all the people milling around buying coffee, burgers, phone chargers, sunscreen, etc.

For that matter they could go into business with the truckstop companies. Supply the charging hardware and expertise to install/operate/maintain them at the truckstops in exchange for a share of the overall take.