The move will provide Hyundai and Kia drivers, as well as drivers of Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Honda and Rivian cars, with thousands of Tesla Superchargers in both countries and in Mexico.
While NACS is surpassing the combined charging formula (CCS) as the new charging standard, the question in the automotive industry’s brain is when will Volkswagen raise the bar?
In June, Electrify America, VW’s electric vehicle charging subsidiary, announced it would charge the NACS connector to Electrify America and Electrify Canada’s fast-charging networks through 2025. Many imagined that day would come, given the amount of cash VW had to shell out. VW has invested $2 billion in building Electrify America (EA) as part of the settlement of VW’s diesel emissions scandal.
Like most other charging companies, EA said it will also continue to supply CCS connectors across its network. And Tesla will come with CCS connectors at some of its charging stations in the US. The U. S. government is taking advantage of some of the benefits of the Biden administration’s IRA grants. The supercharger network accounts for about 60% of fast chargers in the U. S. The U. S. Department of Energy, according to the Department of Energy.
In the coming years, the VW brand, the automaker, expects to launch a diversity of new electric vehicle models, adding the 2024 ID. 3, 2024 ID. 7 and 2025 ID. 7 Wagon.
Most automakers that have committed to building cars with NACS ports are targeting 2025 models. Hyundai aims even earlier.
The automaker said Thursday that new Hyundai electric cars in the U. S. will be in the U. S. U. S. carriers, such as the Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6 and upcoming Ioniq 7, will feature the NACS port in the fourth quarter of 2024. This will start in Canada in the first part of 2025. Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury brand, will also jump on the NACS bandwagon.
Kia also announced that it will integrate the NACS port into new cars sold in North America in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Hyundai and Kia said they plan to offer adapters at dealerships in the first quarter of 2025, for consumers with cars equipped with CCS ports.
Tesla’s NACS is temporarily adapting to the industry standard, thanks to the already significant presence of Tesla superchargers in smart locations along highways. EV drivers also say Tesla offers a more streamlined and straightforward charging process.
In late June, SAE International, formerly Society of Automotive Engineers, announced it would expand a popular industry around NACS, reassuring other corporations that are hesitant to let a competitor be a key component of the electric vehicle experience.
Why automakers are rushing to adopt Tesla’s NACS plug and what it means for drivers