The North American Charging Standard (NACS) is gaining ground: Kentucky has just become the first state to mandate Tesla’s charging technology at state-funded electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The decision comes as major automakers, including Ford, adopt the NACS standard for their future electric vehicles, making it the de facto charging standard in North America. ChargePoint and Electrify America have also agreed to install NACS outlets at their charging stations. Due to the widespread acceptance of NACS, Tesla’s charging technology has emerged as a key player in the rapidly expanding EV charging scene.
Kentucky leads the way for Charging Stations
Kentucky has officially implemented a policy requiring Tesla’s NACS plug to be installed at state-funded EV charging stations. The RFP for the state’s EV charging programme specifies that each charging port must be equipped with an SAE CCS 1 connector and be capable of connecting to and charging NACS-compliant vehicles.
“Each charging point must be equipped with an SAE CCS 1 connector and be capable of connecting to and recharging vehicles equipped with charging ports that comply with the North American Charging Standard (NACS),” states the call for tenders.
While the NACS standard is gaining in popularity, some manufacturers and operators of electric car chargers are opposed to it. Several companies, including FLO and ChargePoint, have objected to the Texas mandate.
“Time is needed to standardize, test and certify the safety and interoperability of Tesla connectors across the industry,” they said in a letter to the Texas Transportation Commission.
They propose that the adoption of NACS connectors be delayed to allow for full industry standardisation, testing and certification of safety and compatibility. This dispute demonstrates the complexity of implementing a universal charging system.
Federal funding requirements
The US Department of Transportation has established criteria that charging companies must meet in order to qualify for federal funding to build 500,000 EV stations by 2030. Although CCS is mandatory, the rule allows charging stations to offer other connectors, provided they are CCS-compatible. As Tesla’s NACS gains popularity, it remains to be seen whether EV charging infrastructure in the US will finally adopt the standard nationwide.
Kentucky’s decision to install Tesla’s NACS connectors in state-funded charging stations is a big step towards the adoption of standardised charging technologies. The charging landscape in North America is becoming more unified as more cars and charging providers adopt NACS. Despite this, difficulties and opposition from many industry players highlight the complexity of creating a unified charging standard. Continued advances in EV charging technologies and standards will be essential in shaping the future of electric mobility.
