The North American Charging System isn’t simply granting individuals access to Superchargers; it’s also transforming the way Level 2 chargers are built.
Earlier this year, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) introduced a new abbreviation that may seem harmless but might revolutionize the world: J3400. This formalized the U.S. auto industry’s transition to Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS for short) charging connector and marked the beginning of the extensive process of creating universal standards aimed at achieving a fully electrified future.
While it appears to be an insider’s perspective, it essentially means that in a few years, nearly all new electric vehicles sold in America will likely have Tesla’s style of plug and have access to its vast Supercharger network – a feature previously exclusive to Tesla owners. This shift marked a significant change for the global automotive industry, offering consumers more options and wider availability of public EV charging resources.
That is why our panel of jurors chose the NACS standard and the transition to it as our inaugural Technology of the Year winner.
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Smart charging stations can charge your car to 80% in just 15 minutes, making it a convenient option for daily use. Smart home integration can also allow owners to schedule charging sessions remotely, ensuring the vehicle is always charged when needed.
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and Tesla-designed plug natively is such a game-changer,” he said.
This game-changer means that more individuals will have easier access to a broader public charging network, marking an essential step towards an electrified future. Given that makers now possess a standard for charging, they can initiate providing a broader selection of electric vehicles for customers with diverse needs and preferences, at various price levels.
“I believe the greatest advantage offered by NACS is the value of interoperability and increased options for manufacturers in developing their vehicles,” said Frank Menchaca, President of Sustainable Mobility Solutions at SAE International, in an interview with InsideEVs. “Like plugging in a new appliance, you wouldn’t choose which type of plug to use,” he stated, noting that as the industry continues to evolve, this compatibility will become a crucial aspect of making things easier and more reliable.
In the tumultuous twelve months, transformation brought challenges to the quintessential qualities of some of the deal’s key proponents. Leaders wavered, though NACS attempted to enforce greater policy role with decision-making privileges, they lost sight of their pivotal role in ruling plurality.
It is revealed that the US presently boasts more than 200,000 public charging stations equipped with a variety of charging ports. Prior to standardization, non-Tesla vehicle owners would need to look elsewhere for charging due to the proprietary plug designs.
The proprietary charging port designed by Tesla was originally limited to only Tesla vehicles using the Supercharger infrastructure. However, in 2021, this design seemed set for obsolescence as the federal government decided to provide subsidies for Combined Charging Systems or CCS connectors used by non-Tesla manufacturers. In response, CEO Elon Musk made the decision to make the design open-source under the North American Charging Standard or NACS for short, which paved the way for an agreement with the government to allow other automakers to access Tesla’s chargers.
A 23% year-over-year growth was initially seen. In the second quarter, there was a 31% year-over-year decline in new charger placements following the layoffs. Despite this, the Supercharger network is still expanding at a rate faster than any other US network. However, not all users can access the chargers.
Non-genuine adapters that pose a significant risk when used.
This will be the first non-Tesla vehicle on the market to feature native NACS charging, marking the beginning of a broader transition.
NACS offers a game-changing, all-in-one solution for car dealers who seek improved efficiencies, increased transparency, and scalable business growth.
While the sheer number of Tesla charging stalls is significant, there’s one major factor that explains why NACS also emerged victorious in the standards battle: It can accommodate 277-volt charging.
This means it can handle the standard industrial voltage, whether it’s dropped or stepped up from power poles or bollards on the street, without needing extra infrastructure or electricity delivery. This is significant as current 240-volt chargers require costly hardware to work with industrial power supplies.
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Eliminating the federal $7,500 tax credit for electric vehicle purchases will likely have a chilling effect on the EV business and growth.
”An innovation is only an innovation if it actually improves people’s lives in a substantial way,” Menchaca said. “So, there may be more attention-grabbing innovations, like flying cars or anything like that, but the crucial question I always ask is, ‘How is this innovation making a real difference and helping people solve a problem they were previously unable to solve?'”.
He added, “Technology in and of itself is great, and R&D is always necessary, but technology that genuinely addresses a problem earns my approval. This definitely qualifies, because it addresses a pressing issue – charging an electric vehicle – which has a ripple effect. It makes consumers more at ease with electric vehicles, which paves the way for a significant increase in the adoption of low-emission vehicles with reduced carbon footprints. It’s part of a larger constellation of benefits.”
