NACS in black, CCS in gray
You may not have noticed it yet, but there is a major shift happening in the automotive industry right now. The EV revolution is coming. Love it or hate it, every major automaker is making major plans to electrify half—or more—of their vehicle line ups by 2030. California and New York have already put legislation in place to
prohibit the sale of new ICE vehicles by 2035. If you are of those who believe that switching nearly all new car sales to EVs will be a help to the environment then this is all great news, but there is a problem with infrastructure that manufacturers need to overcome, and many are now looking to rival Tesla for help.
Infrastructure Woes
The EV charging infrastructure in the United States is definitely not ready to handle mass EV adoption. There just aren't enough chargers and many of the existing ones suffer from reliability and user experience issues. The one shining exception is Tesla's Supercharger network. Though, because the Supercharger network uses Tesla's North American Charging Standard—or "NACS"—ports. Non-Tesla EVs use Combined Charging Standard—CCS—ports which makes them incompatible with Tesla's Superchargers. Some Tesla Superchargers are equipped with adapters to allow other EVs to use them
but it isn't the smoothest experience.
Rather than wait for CCS charging to get better, some automakers like Ford and General Motors have decided to start a partnership with Tesla to license out NACS ports for their vehicles in 2025.
So eventually, the Ford Mustang Mach E can pull up to a Tesla Supercharger, plug in, and start charging right away with no adaptors needed. Since Ford and General Motors announced the move other automakers have followed suit. Here's all of the automakers that have announced a migration to NACS ports, and where other major automakers stand on the issue when we asked.
Audi
On December 19, 2023, and the same day that the SAE formally announced the new standard, Audi joined the rest of the VW Group in announcing that it would be joining the NACS party starting in 2025. This will not only allow future Audi electrified products to use Tesla Superchargers, but will also allow current products like
the 2024 Q8 E-Tron Sportback to use them by way of a future adapter. Outside the 15,000 Superchargers on Tesla's network, VW Group's joint venture, Electrify America, will also begin to offer NACS connections at charging stations starting in 2025 and add 3,800 chargers as another higher-wattage option over Tesla's units.
BMW Group
The BMW Group, which includes BMW, MINI, and Rolls-Royce, has confirmed that by 2025 its electric vehicles will begin transitioning to NACS charging ports.
That means cars such as the BMW i7 can pull right up next to a Model Y at a Tesla Supercharger station. The transition will start in 2025 in the United States and Canada. It's likely that in the early part of 2025, adapters will be provided to existing EV owners but by the end of that year EVs from the BMW Group will with the NACS port from the factory.
Fisker
In August 2023,
Fisker Automotive announced that it had signed an agreement with Tesla to bring NACS charging ports to its models in 2025. However, one major difference between Fisker and the other automakers who have signed on is the timing of providing adapters. Most of the other partner automakers will start providing NACS adapters in 2024. Fisker won't get adapters out to its customers until Q1 2025 with built-in NACS ports coming later. Fisker is already delivering its Ocean SUV to global customers, and has plans for the
Alaska EV pickup and
Pear EV SUV to launch by the end of 2025.
Ford
Ford was the
first major automaker to announce that it will be switching to Tesla's NACS ports in 2025. During a Twitter Spaces event with Elon Musk, the automaker's executives detailed that in early 2024 it will start offering adapters for its current EVs with CCS ports so that they can use Tesla Superchargers. Starting in 2025, Ford's EVs like the Mustang Mach E, F-150 Lightning, and E-Transit van will come standard with the NACS port equipped on the vehicle.
General Motors
General Motors was the second major automaker to
announce that it will switch to Tesla NACS ports. Like Ford, General Motors is following the same rollout of adapters in 2024 with the full switch to NACS coming in 2025.
Expect to see the new Chevrolet Blazer EV and Equinox EV visiting Tesla Superchargers in a few years.
Genesis
Genesis has joined its sibling companies in agreement with Tesla that will see it adopt the NACS charging port. Starting in Q4 2024 in the United States and in 2025 in Canada all new or refreshed Genesis EVs will come standard with a NACS port.
That includes the Electrified GV70 and Electrified G80. Owners of CCS-equipped Genesis EVs will have access to an NACS adapter starting in Q1 2025.
Hyundai
After holding out for a few months, an agreement with Tesla has been reached and Hyundai will adopt NACS ports. Starting in Q4 2024 in the United States and in 2025 in Canada all new or refreshed Hyundai EVs will come standard with a NACS port.
That includes the MotorTrend 2023 SUV of the Year, Hyundai Ioniq 5. Owners of CCS-equipped Hyundai EVs will have access to an NACS adapter starting in Q1 2025.
Kia
With Hyundai and Genesis already on board, it's no surprise that Kia is also joining the agreement to adopt Tesla's NACS charging port. Starting in Q4 2024 in the United States and in 2025 in Canada all new or refreshed Kia EVs will come standard with a NACS port. That includes
the highly anticipated Kia EV9 three-row SUV. Owners of CCS-equipped Kia EVs—excluding the 2015-2019 Soul EV—will have access to an NACS adapter starting in Q1 2025.
Lucid
Lucid has officially announced it will join the NACS migration starting in 2025. First, vehicles such as the Lucid Air will be granted access to the Tesla Supercharger network via adapters that will be made available to owners of CCS-equipped Lucid Air vehicles. Later in 2025 Lucid's vehicles will start coming with a NACS port standard. If you're in the market for a Lucid Air then you may want to wait until the tail end of 2025 to make the purchase.
Porsche
On December 19, 2023, and joining the rest of the VW Group, Porsche that it would be joining the NACS party starting in 2025. This will not only allow future Porsche electrified products
like the 2025 Macan EV to use Tesla Superchargers, but will also allow current products to use them by way of a future adapter. Outside the 15,000 Superchargers on Tesla's network, VW Group's joint venture, Electrify America, will also begin to offer NACS connections at charging stations starting in 2025 and add 3,800 chargers as another higher-wattage option over Tesla's units.
Rivian
While technically speaking, any other automaker is direct competition for Tesla, it still may seem shocking that fellow EV startup Rivian has also
announced it will be switching to the NACS port. The Rivian R1T likely inspired some people to get their Cybertruck deposit refunded for this EV pick up instead. Yet, Rivian and Tesla have managed to work out a deal that will see the R1T, R1S,
and upcoming R2 platform vehicles all using Tesla's charging port in 2025.
Scout Motors
While it hasn't produced a vehicle yet, Scout Motors will join the NACS standard as it's a part of the Volkswagen Group. While the rest of the group will have to worry with using adapters since most of the electrified products from VW were all introduced prior to this announcement, Scout's future vehicles won't need one. This is due to the earliest date for
the first Scout EV being produced will be sometime in 2026 and the NACS switch will occur during 2025.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen has finally decided to join the NACS party and formally announced its intentions of joining with the rest of the VW Group on December 19, 2023. While seemingly late to the charger shindig, it does so at the same time the SAE formally announced the NACS as part of its standards in electric vehicle charging. Like most every other auto manufacturer, this switch will occur in 2025 and VW Group is exploring a NACS adapter for its current J1772-CCS connection on 2024 and below electrified VWs to allow those vehicles to use Tesla Superchargers and future NACS-equipped Electrify America chargers. That way, vehicles like the ID4 and
the ID Buzz can use these DC Fast Chargers and have many more options for charging on the go.
Volvo
Volvo is the first European automaker to announce the switch to the NACS charging port. The automaker entered the same deal with Tesla as the others meaning in early 2024, Volvo will provide adapters to its current EV owners. Then in 2025,
vehicles like the Volvo XC40 Recharge and EX90 three-row SUV will come standard with Tesla's port and can access the Supercharger network.
Polestar
For those who don't know, Volvo is related to Polestar. That being said, it isn't surprising at all that Polestar has also confirmed that it will be making the switch to NACS ports in 2025. Adapters will be provided in mid-2024
to owners of current Polestar EVs and once the switch is made in 2025, buyers will be provided CCS adapters so they can still use CCS chargers.
Nissan/Infiniti
When we initially reached out to the Nissan Group—which includes Infiniti—and asked if it had plans on joining the NACS migration, it responded that it was "evaluating a variety of opportunities to provide customers the best EV ownership experience." The company has since announced on July 19 that it will officially adapt the NACS port on its vehicles beginning in 2025, with an intermediate adapter to be available in the meantime for its current Ariya EVs (the Leaf wasn't mentioned).
Toyota/Lexus
Toyota and Lexus have confirmed that they are joining the NACS migration by equipping vehicles with the charging port starting in 2025.
At the moment the Toyota bZ4X and the Lexus RZ are the only BEVs produced by the group, but
Toyota confirmed that a three-row electric SUV is coming soon.
Owners of CCS-equipped Toyota and Lexus BEVs will be offered adapters to enable NACS charging starting in 2025 as well. For now, Toyota's PHEVs—like the Prius Prime—will not be making the switch to NACS.
Honda/Acura
When we reached out to Honda and Acura to ask if either brand would make the switch to NACS in 2025 with
the upcoming Honda Prologue EV or the Acura ZDX, which have relations with upcoming General Motors EVs that will adopt the NACS. A representative responded with the following statement:
"We [Honda/Acura] are focused on providing the best electric vehicle ownership experience for our customers, and we continue to investigate all possible options to ensure an excellent user experience and access to reliable public charging options as we prepare for the launch of our first volume BEV models." Again, we'll see.
Aston Martin
Aston Martin may not have an EV yet but the automaker is set to reveal one in the near future. We reached out to see if NACS was in its plans and a representative came back with the following statement:
"While we
just announced our technical partnership with a lucid on future Aston Martin EVs, we are not commenting further on the future product lineup and the type of charging port that'll be used. Aston Martin will unveil its first BEV in 2025 with the full lineup being electrified by 2030."
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is the second European automaker after Volvo to announce a partnership with Tesla which will bring NACS charging ports to its EVs by 2025. On top of that, Mercedes-Benz is taking a page out of Tesla's playbook and expanding its own charging network in North America which will incorporate both CCS ports and NACS ports with the new charging hubs set to start opening at the end of 2023.
Like the other OEMs that have joined the partnership, Mercedes-Benz will provide NACS adapters
for its existing EVs like the EQS starting in 2024 before switching to NACS in 2025.
ChargePoint
It's not just automakers that are making the NACS switch. Other
public charging networks are starting to make the transition as well. ChargePoint has announced that it will be rolling out NACS connector support for its AC and DC chargers starting in October 2023. Cable upgrade kits for existing DC chargers will ship in November 2023.
New public charging "Power Link" units from ChargePoint will also have the ability to charge two cars at once with one NACS connector and one CCS connector. As long as they are configured correctly with enough power modules, speeds will not be reduced when charging two vehicles at the same time.
There's Time to Adapt and Adopt
As you can see, many automakers clearly haven't fully considered the benefits (and potential pitfalls) of linking up with the Tesla Supercharging network, but are actively considering it in the wake of Ford, GM, and Rivian's move. While heralded as a major boost to available EV infrastructure and one of the best charging networks in the world, Tesla is still fleshing out its full network and the potential increase in charging volume now could impact Tesla's record of excellence. We'll have to wait and see how it all plays out, but it's definitely a plus for more future drivers to now have access to the Supercharger network.
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