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More automakers this week announced a switch in the style of charging plugs that will be fitted to their future electric vehicles. On Wednesday BMW broke its news, then yesterday Toyota did the same: Both are ditching the Combined Charging Standard 1 socket for their North American EVs and will instead use the North American Charging System plug, designed by Tesla. Together with the changing plug comes access for their EV drivers to Tesla’s Supercharger network.
BMW
BMW’s announcement applies to all its car brands, which means that in addition to EVs like the BMW i5 or i7, it’s also swapping over to NACS for the upcoming Mini EVs as well as the Rolls-Royce Spectre. BMW will start adding native NACS ports to its EVs in 2025, and that same year its customers will gain access to the Tesla Supercharger network.
BMW’s release doesn’t explicitly mention a CCS1-NACS adapter being made available, but it does say that BMW (and Mini and Rolls-Royce) EVs with CCS1 ports will be able to use Superchargers from early 2025.
“With six fully electric BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce models now available in the US market, and more to come, it is our top priority to ensure that our drivers have easy access to reliable, fast charging,” said Sebastian Mackensen, president & CEO, BMW of North America. “This agreement is the latest in our longstanding and continued effort to expand charging options for our customers as we continue on the road to electrification.”
Toyota
Similarly, the Toyota news applies to its brand as well as Lexus. Toyota says that it will start incorporating NACS ports into “certain Toyota and Lexus BEVs starting in 2025.” And customers with Toyota or Lexus EVs that have a CCS1 port will be offered an adapter allowing them to use NACS chargers, also in 2025.
And—you guessed it—2025 is the year that Toyota and Lexus EVs gain access to the Supercharger network.
Who’s left?
With this week’s announcement, virtually all the brands that sell EVs in the North American market have now announced they are converting to NACS. But not quite all of them. Stellantis has yet to make the switch, which means that Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, and Ram are all sticking with CCS1 for the time being.
Volkswagen Group has also yet to take the plunge, which means that Audi and Porsche are also staying with CCS1 for now, as well as the soon-to-be-reborn Scout brand. But we should note that Electrify America—which is part-owned by VW—said in June that it will add NACS plugs to its DC fast chargers in 2025.
What’s more, Stellantis is one of seven automakers that have committed to a new joint venture that will roll out a network of 30,000 DC fast chargers starting next year—chargers that will feature NACS as well as CCS1 plugs. If I had to guess, I reckon we might see those last two dominos fall by the end of 2023.
