One of the greatest obstacles to widespread EV adoption in the United States is the absence of a charging network that can be utilized by any automaker.
Whereas you can fill up your gas-powered vehicle at virtually any fueling station, the world of electric vehicle charging is littered with multiple charge point options that restrict the types of chargers you can use. This is exacerbated by the fact that charge stations in general are still scarce. Other automakers have been converting to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) port because Tesla’s charging network has proved to be the most extensive to date.
Tesla is currently the only company constructing chargers comparable to its own. According to the MIT Technology Review, Tesla has constructed over 19,000 rapid chargers in the United States, while all other operators have only constructed 15,000. The Biden administration has allocated $7.5 billion to create a more extensive charging network, but progress has been sluggish. Non-Tesla automakers may believe that by adopting NACS chargers, buyers will be more likely to contemplate purchasing an electric vehicle because there will be more opportunities to charge it.
As companies start to switch, it can be hard to keep track of which ones have switched to NACS and which ones have kept their old layout. We’re here to make sure you don’t overlook.
Non-Tesla Automakers Converting To NACS
- Ford: Beginning in the spring of 2024, Ford EV owners will be able to access Tesla Superchargers with an adapter. In 2025, Ford vehicles will have the NACS plug built in.
- General Motors: GM will provide its EVs with an adapter to use Tesla’s NACS network beginning in 2024; GM vehicles will be built with the NACS plug in 2025. GM also says it will continue to provide adapters, so its NACS vehicles will be able to use Combined Charging System (CCS) ports.
- Honda: All Honda models will feature NACS plugs beginning in 2025 and also intends to provide adapters for its current CCS-equipped vehicles.
- Mercedes-Benz: Even though Mercedes plans on building its own charging network in America, it announced that its EVs will come with NACS plugs beginning in 2025. It will provide adapters some time in 2024.
- Nissan: Nissan will adopt NACS for U.S. markets in 2025, but adapters will be available in 2024.
- Polestar/Volvo: Polestar and Volvo vehicles built in 2025 will come with NACS plugs. Starting next year, though, it’ll offer adapters to facilitate CCS-to-NACS charging. Later, it will offer adapters to facilitate NACS-to-CCS.
- Rivian: Rivan’s vehicles will come with NACS ports sometime in 2025, with adapters available next year.
- Fisker: Beginning in 2025, Fisker will implement the NACS charge port.
Stellantis, Volkswagen, and Hyundai are believed to be discussing arrangements with Tesla to adopt NACS chargers. ChargePoint and Electrify America, two public charging networks, will begin delivering NACS plugs at its existing CCS stations sometime around the year 2025.
