The state of Texas has announced a new requirement for state-funded electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. These stations will now be required to have a connector for the North American Charging Standard (NACS), as automakers such as Ford, GM, and Rivian shift to adopting this standard. This move away from the Combined Charging System (CCS) has prompted the Texas Department of Transportation to implement this requirement.
The Texas Department of Transportation stated that the adoption of the NACS by automakers has led to the decision to require EV charging companies to install NACS connectors in order to be eligible for inclusion in a state program that involves federal funding. However, it is important to note that DC fast chargers in the state will still need to have a CCS connector in order to obtain federal dollars through the program.
This requirement falls in line with the US Department of Transportation’s plan to allocate up to $7.5 billion in funding for EV charging infrastructure along highways. The department has stated that EV charging companies must include a CCS connector to be eligible for this funding. With Texas adding the additional requirement of the NACS connector, other states are also free to add extra provisions as long as they comply with federal rules.
Tesla, which currently has the largest share of EV charging infrastructure in the US, has been actively promoting the NACS as a new standard. In fact, the company has announced that it will open source the NACS in hopes of encouraging other automakers to adopt it. Tesla’s Supercharger network, with over 21,000 charging stations, accounts for approximately 60 percent of the country’s fast-charging stations.
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In recent weeks, both GM and Ford have announced plans to offer NACS adapters to their current vehicle owners, who are currently using the CCS connector. This will allow them to access Tesla’s Supercharger network before fully embracing the NACS standard in future models. Rivian has also followed suit in offering their customers access to Tesla Superchargers starting in 2024. Other EV charging companies like ChargePoint and EVgo have expressed interest in adding NACS compatibility to their charging points.
The implementation of this requirement by Texas may serve as a catalyst for other states to push EV charging companies to include the NACS connector as well. States like California, Michigan, and Iowa are reportedly reviewing the state of the charging market, while at least one other state is considering providing incentives for companies to include the NACS connector.
Overall, this shift towards the NACS as a standard for EV charging connectors is gaining momentum. With major automakers embracing this standard and states like Texas implementing requirements for NACS compatibility, the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles continues to evolve. As the adoption of electric vehicles increases, the availability and accessibility of charging stations will play a crucial role in supporting this transition to a more sustainable transportation system.
