Here’s When These 16 Automakers Will Switch to Tesla’s Charging Network
Original Post Date: April 15, 2024
Source: Autoweek
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Almost every automaker has now jumped on the NACS bandwagon, but just when will you be able to charge your non-Tesla at a Supercharger station?
One factor slowing down EV adoption in the US is uncertainty about charging. Consumers with range anxiety may have heard the buzz about the charging ports on their potential purchases becoming obsolete as the entire industry switches from the Combined Charging System (CCS) on most EVs now to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS). Plugging into Tesla’s chargers gives owners access to a robust national network that (unlike much of the competition) is up and ready most of the time.
The good news is that the movement to NACS—a trickle at first—soon became a flood and Tesla skeptics became believers. In late 2022, Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares told me, “Any responsible carmaker will avoid by any means necessary putting his or her company at the dependence of a competitor.” By 2024, though, Stellantis was, inevitably, in line with everyone else.
The target for selling vehicles with NACS connectors built in is, for most automakers, next year. But connections can be made this year with an adapter—Ford is giving them away to customers. This is not the only bet carmakers have: Seven of them (BMW Group, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz Group, and Stellantis) are joining together to install a minimum of 30,000 fast-charge points in cities and on highways across North America. The first of these is slated to open this summer. “The better experience people have, the faster EV adoption will grow,” GM CEO Mary Barra said last year when the network was announced.
Already aftermarket suppliers are offering adapters for connecting to NACS. The Lectron Vortex plug is $199. The company might want to clarify its statement: “Up to 150 mph in just 15 minutes.” Uh, should that be 150 miles in 15 minutes? For about the same price, there’s the A2Z Typhoon adapter. Both are made in China. According to Christopher Maiwald, Lectron CEO and founder, “Some OEMs are producing their own adapters, but Lectron wanted to be a frontrunner with third-party adapters to embrace the market.”
Here, automaker by automaker, is the NACS rollout:
1. BMW
BERNHARD_LIMBERGERBMW said last year that its fully electric BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce vehicles (in the latter’s case, the Spectre EV) “will gain access to designated Tesla Supercharger stations in early 2025.” The idea is to enable owners to find and access the Superchargers via their in-car displays, and make payment through their brand’s app.
“The plan is still for BMW EV drivers to gain access to designated Superchargers early next year,” said BMW spokesman Phil Dilanni. “The first BMW with a NACS port will also arrive before the end of next year.”
2. Fisker
Fisker Inc.
The troubled EV maker said it would install NACS ports in its cars starting in 2025.
3. Ford
Ford
Ford says its EV customers will have access to more than 12,000 Tesla Superchargers across the US and Canada, starting in 2024. The first cars with NACS ports will be in 2025.
The company’s EV stable includes the Mustang Mach-E, F-150 Lightning, and E-Transit vans.
“Ford is transitioning to NACS starting with its next-generation EVs and we’ll have more detail to share closer to launch,” said Model e spokesman Marty J. Günsberg. “Complimentary adapters are shipping to customers now.” The free adapters can be reserved through June 30.
Ford EV owners can also access the BlueOval Charge Network, with more than 10,000 DC fast chargers.
4. General Motors
General Motors
GM will start to integrate NACS in new EVs starting in 2025, but GM customers will be able to access Tesla Superchargers this year with an adapter.
GM says its customers also have access to more than 134,000 chargers through the company’s Ultium Charge 360 initiative and mobile apps. It’s not clear if GM will make adapters available to its customers.
5. Honda
Honda
Honda signed on to NACS last September. Its vehicles, including a new EV for North America, will have the NACS port starting in 2025. CCS-equipped EVs that are pre-2025 can plug in with an adapter.
According to Honda spokesman Chris Martin, “We are going to make adapters available, but we haven’t announced a specific plan, or whether they’ll be complimentary or not. We’re deferring closer to the on-sale dates.”
The 2024 Honda Prologue EV, a new model delivered to dealers in March, will initially ship with a CCS port, requiring an adapter.
6. Hyundai
Hyundai
Beginning in the fourth quarter of this year, Hyundai EVs such as the Ioniq 5, 6, and the upcoming 7 will come with NACS ports.
Adapters will be available for CCS cars in the first quarter of 2025. “Hyundai will also make adapters available to charge NACS-equipped vehicles at CCS chargers,” the company said.
7. Kia
Kia
Similar to Hyundai. The company said the new three-row Kia EV9 will be equipped with a NACS port.
8. Lucid
Lucid Motors
The Lucid Group said all its CCS-equipped vehicles can use Tesla Superchargers with adapters in 2025. It didn’t say if it would supply the adapters. “Lucid will integrate NACS into future vehicles in 2025,” the company said.
9. Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
According to Zakary Paget, manager of product and technology communications at Mercedes-Benz USA, Mercedes will provide access to the Supercharger network this year. And it will be “the first German OEM to implement NACS ports into its new electric vehicles starting in 2025 and as part of a phased transition.” The company plans to offer an adapter.
10. Nissan
Nissan
Nissan will adopt NACS for the US and Canadian markets beginning in 2025. The company “is the first Japanese automaker to announce future product support for NACS,” Nissan said in the summer of 2023.
Spokesman Jeff Wandell said a charging adapter for the Nissan Ariya with CCS will be available later this year. “More specific timing will be communicated at a later date,” he said.
11. Polestar
Polestar
Polestar vehicles “will be equipped with the NACS charging port by default” starting in 2025, the company said. Owners of exiting Polestar vehicles will be able to get adapters in the middle of this year. Future NACS-equipped Polestars will get a CCS adapter.
12. Rivian
Rivian
The R1T, R1S and forthcoming vehicles on the R2 platform will all have NACS ports as of 2025, and will get CCS adapters. The company will offer a NACS adapter for CCS cars “as early as spring 2024.”
According to Rivian, owners will “soon have access to over 25,000 DC fast chargers spanning Rivian Adventure Network, Tesla Superchargers, and third-party CCS networks.”
13. Stellantis
Fiat
The last major holdout on NACS, Stellantis pivoted last February. Vehicles with NACS charging will be built in “starting with select models in 2025.” During the transition period, Stellantis will make adapters available.
According to Stellantis spokesman Dan Reid, “Details on when adapters will become available for Stellantis BEVs will be provided in future updates.”
Stellantis brands include Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Fiat, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo. The company is also touting its agreement with six other automakers to install more than 30,000 charging points.
14. Toyota
Toyota
“We have stated 2025 will be the start of our rollout,” said spokesman Nathan Kokes. “Certain Toyota and Lexus battery electrics, including the all-new, three-row, battery-electric Toyota SUV that will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky” will have NACS ports incorporated, the company said.
Customers owning or leasing “applicable” Toyota and Lexus vehicles equipped with CCS “will be offered access to an adapter to enable NACS charging starting in 2025.” Toyota has only one EV currently, the bZ4X, and Lexus the RZ450e, but the company plans to ramp up its offerings.
15. Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen
Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche are planning to implement NACS “for future products in the North American region” beginning next year. The forthcoming Scout Motors, part of VW Group, will have NACS built in when the cars start rolling out of South Carolina in 2026.
VW said, “To enable existing customers with a CCS charging port to access the Tesla Supercharger network, the brands are exploring adapter solutions for existing vehicles.” VW-funded Electrify America said it will offer NACS connectors at its North American stations by 2025.
A Porsche spokesman, Calvin Kim, added, “At this point, we’ve only announced the information in the release.”
16. Volvo
Volvo
Volvo will offer adapters for NACS starting this year, and its EVs (including the XC40 Recharge, EX90, EX30, and C40 Recharge) will be standard with the Tesla connector in 2025.