Volvo has joined the growing trend of automakers transitioning to Tesla’s charging plug, marking another milestone in the unstoppable rise of the North American Charging Standard (NACS). In addition to Volvo’s move, SAE International plans to establish NACS as an official standard within the next six months, which could significantly influence the rest of the auto industry.
The NACS protocol, introduced by Tesla in November 2022, initially saw limited adoption with only Aptera as a participant. However, the situation took a significant turn at the end of May when Ford announced that its electric vehicles (EVs) starting from 2024 would be compatible with Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network in North America, comprising nearly 12,000 charging stations.
Currently, all automakers, except Tesla, employ the Combined Charging System (CCS) plug for DC fast charging in their EVs sold in North America. However, CCS-equipped EV owners often face an unpleasant charging experience due to the scarcity and unreliability of CCS DC fast chargers compared to Tesla Superchargers. Thus, gaining access to Tesla’s superior charging network is undoubtedly a victory for future EV customers of Ford and now Volvo, both of which will provide CCS>NACS adapters from 2024 and integrate NACS sockets into their cars by 2025.
General Motors and Rivian have also joined the ranks by securing access to Tesla’s Supercharger network for their EVs. Initially, they will rely on adapters to connect NACS cables to their CCS sockets, but starting from 2025, they plan to build EVs with native NACS sockets.
The widespread adoption of NACS represents a positive development for EV drivers, as the Tesla Supercharger network offers a superior charging experience. Tesla’s plug is lighter, smaller, and more reliable than the CCS1 connector, and the extensive coverage of Superchargers ensures greater accessibility for EV owners.
However, the timing of this transition presents a challenge due to the federal government’s commitment to funding a nationwide network of fast chargers along major roadways. While this initiative is crucial for the electric transportation transition, the mandated plug under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) standards is the CCS1 connector, which now faces potential obsolescence.
Nevertheless, some states have taken the lead in supporting NACS adoption. Washington, for instance, will require charging companies to incorporate NACS plugs in chargers funded by the state, while Texas will only approve NEVI funding requests if NACS plugs are included alongside CCS. These state-level actions indicate a growing acceptance of NACS and may inspire other automakers to follow suit.
The emergence of NACS has already prompted DC fast charger manufacturers to offer NACS compatibility as an option for their customers. However, some unanswered questions remain, such as how the influx of non-Tesla EVs at Supercharger sites will impact the charging experience. Additionally, it will be interesting to observe whether NACS addresses the reliability issues associated with CCS chargers once third-party hardware makers and charging networks begin deploying NACS.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Hyundai or Volkswagen becomes the next major automaker to abandon CCS in favor of NACS. Given that Volkswagen’s Electrify America charging network heavily relies on CCS, its potential shift to NACS could have a substantial impact. Consequently, the hundreds of thousands of CCS-equipped EVs already on US roads might face obsolescence, much like vehicles that relied on the CHAdeMO standard, which fell out of favor years ago.
