(Austin, Texas) Tesla announced today that Volvo will build EVs with the North American Charging Standard (NACS), joining Ford, General Motors, and Rivian in accessing all Tesla Superchargers in the USA. 

This article is about the NACS and much more! I hope you’ll take a minute to read it. My goal is to inspire you, and put a smile on your face.

Why I’m in love with Tesla Supercharging

Nostalgia. As a kid, I liked going to gas stations. My favorite one was Sinclair Oil. I begged to go to Sinclair. Our family’s Oldsmobile used a lot of gas. We paid cash, and my father would pick up a pack of Camel cigarettes, buy us candy, and we would get a free small plastic dinosaur toy! 

When Sinclair Oil went out of business, I stopped enjoying fueling up my car.  Over the years the fun was removed from “gas stations,” and Tesla is making powering up your car fun again!  How?  

Tesla has created Superchargers that are easy to use in two main ways

1. The payment system is integrated into the Tesla App and the vehicle.  When you plug in your EV, the payment is automatically integrated, so you never need to pull out a credit card or push any buttons on a screen.  There is no screen, it’s just that simple.  

2. Tesla built the NACS so that you, with your hands full, can plug in the car.  The handle is small, ergonomic, and as it gets close to the charge port, it opens up the charger door. 

Tesla, Ford, General Motors, Volvo, And Rivian, Are All Part Of A New Movement 

Tesla has grown a robust Supercharging Network in the USA and there is plenty of room for other EVs to join in the fun. Soon, most EVs in the USA can be expected to either be assembled with the NACS charge port or to have an adapter. 

Today the current lineup includes Ford, General Motors, Volvo And Rivian. (see addendum at end of the article for more automakers that have adopted NACS). These automakers have an agreement with Tesla so that their vehicles can access Tesla Superchargers. To emphasize the scope and scale of Tesla’s Supercharger Network, see the current map of Superchargers below.  It keeps growing every day. How can it grow so fast?

Tesla builds Superchargers that are pre-fabricated at Giga New York, then ships them to a site, and they are installed within just a few days. 

This fast installation process using the NACS, is the biggest indicator to me that it will be quicker than most realize that we will transition to all electric vehicles in the USA. 

Texas and Washington Lead The Way In Making Charging Easier

Texas is the first state in the USA to guarantee all state-funded fast charging will offer the NACS. Washington is the second state and I’m ready to add most states to the list! 

I encourage you to make your next car electric. If you have not driven an electric car, I urge you to test drive one. 

You’re going to laugh when I tell you that I own two Teslas, yet I still take test drives! I loved testing the Tesla Model X. I’ve never been this excited, since that day when my father pulled into the Sinclair gas station and I started collecting those little dinosaurs!

If you drive a Tesla and see other EVs at the Supercharger, be sure to give a smile and a thumbs up to the new people you’ll be seeing soon at the Superchargers!

Addendum/Update:

(June 29, 2023) Polestar joins General Motors, Ford, and Rivian in adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS) which will enable access to Tesla’s expansive Supercharger network for all Polestar drivers in the United States and Canada. On June 29, 2023, Polestar stated “From 2025, new Polestar vehicles sold in North America will be equipped with the NACS charging port by default. Adapters to help allow existing Polestar drivers to access the network in a convenient way are expected in mid-2024.”

Addendum/Update:

Mercedes-Benz becomes the first German automaker to adopt NACS, enabling access to Tesla’s expansive Supercharger network.

(July 7, 2023) Mercedes-Benz drivers in the USA and Canada are delighted with this announcement!

A press release by Mercedes-Benz from July 7, 2023 states,

“Mercedes-Benz will be the first German OEM to implement NACS ports into its new electric vehicles starting in 2025. As part of a phased transition, Mercedes-Benz will initially offer an adapter that enables the company’s existing CCS BEVs to charge seamlessly on the NACS network from 2024 onwards.”

Mercedes-Benz joins Ford, General Motors, Volvo, Rivian, and Polestar in making the Supercharging experience seamless and pleasant for EV drivers.

Article is by Gail Alfar please credit accordingly.