Texas Is Helping Tesla Make The NACS The New Charging Standard

Jun. 23, 2023 9:20 AM ET byJacob Oliva Electric Vehicles /Comments

Texas EV charging stations are told to install both CCS and Tesla's NACS if they want to qualify for the state-funded program.

The state of Texas will now require electric vehicle (EV) charging companies to install Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS), in addition to the Combined Charging System (CCS) standard,Reutersreported.

EV charging companies that won't adopt the NACS will be disqualified from a state program, which aims to electrify highways using federal funds. This should boost Tesla CEO Elon Musk's hope to see the dayNACS becomes the standard EV charger, considering Texas is the second largest state in the United States and the home of the EV company.

Further fueling Tesla's ambition are the brands announcing the use of the NACS.

Automotive giants General Motors andFord have agreed with Teslato install NACS in their EV models starting in 2025. As such, models likeGMC Hummer EV, Ford Mustang Mach-E, and F-150 Lightning will be given access to over 12,000 Tesla Superchargers in the United States and Canada.

Rivian is the latest automakerto join the fray, meaning theR1Sand R1T will be coming with NACS ports starting in 2025. The three aforementioned brands should benefit from the switch as Superchargers account for roughly 60% of the fast chargers active in the US, according to the US Department of Energy.

"The decision by Ford, GM, and now Rivian to adopt NACS changed requirements for Phase 1," said the Texas Department of Transportation in an email to Reuters.

As more brands champion the NACS, we could see other automakers in North America follow suit. EvenStellantis is consideringusing Tesla's charging standard, the car company that owns Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep. This would aid prospective owners of EV models from Stellantis once the company begins its all-electric car sales in the US.

The decision to require the NACS in Texas charging stations would put a ton of pressure on other states to do the same, according to Lew Cox, director of business development at MD7.

"It'll effectively make NACS the new charging standard," Cox said.