FYI: Tesla’s Supercharger Network Played a Key Role in Securing Widespread Adoption of Its Charging Standard
Tesla’s Supercharger Network Was Key to NACS’ Widespread Adoption
A glance at the plans of electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers in the United States illustrates that Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) has emerged victorious in the battle over EV charging standards. Initially, however, NACS did not attract much uptake. This changed dramatically after Tesla introduced a compelling incentive.
Slow Initial Adoption
When Tesla opened its NACS to other automakers in late 2022, there were few early adopters, according to an Automotive News report. At that time, Aptera, a small EV startup, was among the first to integrate NACS ports into its vehicles. Meanwhile, legacy automakers such as Ford and General Motors (GM) showed minimal interest.
Objective Superiority, Yet Limited Adoption
Matt Teske, CEO of Chargeway, commented on the situation, stating that while NACS is objectively superior to the Combined Charging System (CCS) used by non-Tesla EVs, many automakers were already committed to CCS. Some even viewed Tesla’s announcement of NACS as an act of hubris. "When Tesla announced the North American Charging Standard, most everyone in the industry scoffed and said ‘Who are they to say this is a standard?’" Teske remarked.
The Game-Changer: Access to the Supercharger Network
Approximately six months later, Tesla made a strategic move that shifted the landscape. The company decided to offer NACS adoptees access to its extensive and reliable Supercharger Network, widely regarded as one of Tesla’s most significant advantages over its competitors. This move made NACS far more attractive to other automakers.
Loren McDonald, CEO of EVAdoption, highlighted the importance of the charging experience: “The impetus behind the switch to NACS was not about the connector. It was about the better charging experience across the Supercharger network.”
The Domino Effect
Once access to the Supercharger Network was on the table, automakers swiftly pivoted to adopt NACS. Ford was the first legacy automaker to embrace the standard. In May 2023, Ford CEO Jim Farley and Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Ford would gain access to Superchargers. Farley revealed he reached out to Musk after experiencing the inadequacies of CCS fast charging during an EV road trip. “I just realized, ‘Wow, that is a big advantage for them. I’d always intellectually understood, but I didn’t really understand it as a consumer,” Farley stated.
Following Ford’s lead, GM also joined the NACS movement. In June 2023, Musk and GM CEO Mary Barra confirmed in a conference on X that GM would adopt Tesla’s NACS. This marked the beginning of a larger trend, with various automakers—from newcomers like Rivian to established brands like Toyota—committing to the standard. Eventually, SAE International also standardized NACS, officially naming it J3400.
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William Kouch, Editor of Automotive.fyi
