EV charging has been a divided landscape, with Tesla using its proprietary chargers and basically all other manufacturers adhering to the Combined Charging System (CCS) plug. But that could all be about to change. American manufacturers Ford, GM and Rivian have announced they will transition to Tesla's charging plug. Other manufacturers may follow.
Here's everything you need to know about Ford, GM and Rivian converting to Tesla's charging standard.
Here is the current state of play with EV chargers
Currently, Tesla uses its proprietary plug, a bit presumptuously called the North American Charging Standard (NACS). Most other manufacturers use the Combined Charging System (CCS), the standard in Europe. A third type of plug, CHAdeMO, is only used by a couple of new vehicles — notably the Nissan Leaf — and will soon be phased out. CCS is at more locations than Tesla's NACS. But NACS is more charging stalls.
That EV charging paradigm will shift
Ford, GM and Rivian have said they will transition from CCS to NACS in 2025. This is a bit of a surprise. Tesla has already switched to CCS in Europe. And many may have presumed Tesla would eventually join other automakers making that Tesla'sin the United States as well.
Why did Ford, GM and Rivian switch to Tesla's charging plug?
The Supercharger network has been perhaps Tesla's most significant competitive advantage. There are more CCS locations. But Tesla’s network has better strategic locations, more stalls, and more stalls that work. Those companies get access to Tesla’s charging network without waiting for Superchargers to be retrofitted with CCS adapters. Tesla gets more money.
Is Tesla's NACS better than CCS?
It depends on who you ask (and how much Tesla stock they own). Tesla proponents argue that the NACS outlet is a simpler, more elegant design. CCS may have a perceived technical advantage on charging speeds at the top end (for the few cars that can use that). Tesla updates likely will make up that difference.
Will this shift to Tesla's NACS be good for consumers?
Potentially. Ford, GM and Rivian customers will get access to a better charging network. More broadly, what EV owners need is one standard — whatever the standard is — to take over. And for payment methods to be standardized. If every manufacturer converts to NACS (does not look like a huge technical leap) that could happen.
Will other manufacturers move from CCS to NACS?
Not necessarily. European manufacturers have invested in CCS. Stellantis hasn't has not followed Ford and GM yet and is European-owned. The Hyundai group hasn’t signed on yet. And while Japanese manufacturers like Toyota, Honda and Subaru are not significant players for EVS now, they will be by the end of the decade. It’s not clear what any of those manufacturers will do.
Legislation may also confuse matters further. One of the requirements for national public subsidies for EV chargers will be having a minimum number of CCS ports. Texas just passed legislation mandating that publicly funded EV charging stations have both NACS and CCS.
What about the CCS EVs already on the road?
Ford, GM and Rivian are selling EVs now with CCS plugs and will continue to do so. Buyers are installing CCS Level 2 chargers in their homes. Those vehicles and chargers will still work. But they will, annoyingly, require an adapter to transition between NACS and CCS. Those are already available. And we suspect manufacturers transitioning will offer them to customers as well.
