The state of electric vehicle (EV) charging in North America resembles the smartphone charging wars, but with a focus on more expensive hardware. Currently, the Combined Charging System (CCS, Type 1) plug is compatible with a wider variety of cars, while Tesla’s plug has been likened to Apple’s Lightning connector.
Similar to how Apple eventually adopted USB-C, Tesla is now transitioning to the North American Charging Standard (NACS), aiming to overshadow CCS.
And it appears to be working: the new NACS port is being standardized by SAE International. Major automakers, including Ford, GM, Toyota, Rivian, Volvo, Polestar, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, Fisker, Hyundai, Stellantis, Volkswagen, and BMW, have signed on to this shift. New cars equipped with NACS are expected to roll out by 2026.
In contrast, Europe has resolved its standards issue by adopting CCS2. For now, EV drivers in the U.S. with Tesla Model Ys, Kia EV6s, and Nissan Leafs (which still use the outdated CHAdeMO connector) have to search for the correct station or adapter, hoping everything is operational—but improvements are on the horizon.
The federal government is investing $7.5 billion to support charging network operators in establishing a reliable EV infrastructure.
North America has the potential to become a convenient place to own an electric vehicle, but how long will that take? Stay informed about the latest in electric vehicle charging news to find out.
- Ford is bringing its free home EV charger offer to Canada.
- Kia EVs will gain access to Tesla Superchargers in March.
- Tesla Cybertrucks will have faster charging at V4 Supercharger stalls.
- The Lucid Gravity features a unique rear motor for optimized EV charging.
- ChargePoint addresses the issue of EV charger cable theft.
- Mercedes-Benz EV owners can start using Tesla Superchargers in February.
- Hyundai will provide free NACS adapters for its EV customers in early 2025.
- GM and ChargePoint aim to install hundreds of fast EV chargers by 2025.
- EVgo secures a $1.25 billion loan as part of Biden’s EV funding initiative.
- Rivian opens its charging network to other EVs for the first time.
