Eighteen months prior, Ford’s transformative impact was felt as the U.S. The automaker has secured a pact to offer exclusive benefits to owners of its electric vehicles.
Automakers are making an unexpected move: they’re donning swimsuits. By early 2023, most major automakers had committed to adopting Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS), pledging seamless charging for electric vehicle owners with the promise of adapter availability soon.
Most non-Tesla clients . Despite reservations, GM’s recent declaration may provide a glimmer of hope.
General Motors (GM) owners of electric vehicles (EVs), such as the Chevrolet Silverado EV and Cadillac Lyriq, can now access Tesla’s extensive network of Superchargers. GM EV owners simply need to acquire and monitor GM-endorsed adapters that enable their vehicles to charge at Tesla’s stations.
Extra could quickly comply with. TechCrunch tracks access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, regularly updating our list of certified manufacturers.
As the world transitions to electric vehicles, the importance of reliable and widespread charging infrastructure has become increasingly crucial.
In November 2022, Tesla released its electric vehicle (EV) charging connector design, aiming to foster collaboration with community operators and manufacturers to standardize the technology as a new benchmark in North America. In the past, various automakers in North America employed the Mixed Charging Standard (MCS), specifically the Combined Charging System (CCS).
Despite being touted as a major selling point, mass adoption of electric vehicles seemed uncertain in those early days, largely due to concerns over Tesla’s charging network, which while robust and user-friendly, was still a relatively new concept, with users initially hesitant about the idea of paying for “EV juice”.
Six months after the initial announcement, Ford took a major step by becoming the first automaker to partner with Tesla on a deal that grants its customers access to over 12,000 Superchargers across the United States. and Canada. Despite this, Ford wasn’t providing EV owners access to a specific charger. Ford has committed to integrating its future electric vehicles (EVs) with North American Charging Standards (NACS) ports instead of Charge Cord Connectivity (CCS).
Companies such as Rivian, General Motors (GM), BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, Kia, and Lucid have adopted the innovation.
Tesla charging FAQs
Within the U.S. As we converse, approximately 36,499 public NACS ports exist, some potentially modified for Tesla’s widespread use; in contrast, around 16,925 CCS ports are accessible. Regardless of whether they have gone explicitly to the buildout of CCS chargers.
For EV owners equipped with a CCS port, they’ll need to obtain manufacturer-approved adapters to ensure compatibility and safe charging. While certain third-party adapters claim to meet specific security and efficiency standards, the company explicitly prohibits such devices, citing one example at a price of $199.
A General Motors spokesperson has clarified to TechCrunch that the company’s adapters are specifically designed to protect GM electric vehicle batteries during charging, emphasizing that the manufacturer’s warranty does not cover damage to automotive components resulting from the use of non-GM authorized adapters.
In late August, Tesla announced on Twitter that it had delivered a record number of adapters. The suggestion of a correlation between Tesla’s assertion and GM’s announcement raises the possibility that numerous non-Tesla electric vehicles (EVs) could potentially draw upon Supercharger stations with similar rapidity. To access Tesla’s charging network, users will require the Tesla app to facilitate payment processing.
Tesla supercharging entry guidelines
Ford
Ford had initially allowed its clients access to Tesla Superchargers in February. However, ongoing supply chain constraints have since delayed the provision of complimentary fast-charging adapters for many clients – although Ford claims that only some clients have been impacted by these delays.
Present owners of the Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning who have yet to order their charging adapter can accomplish this through their FordPass app. What is your preferred method of receiving the free adapter?
Common Motors
As of September 2024, General Motors has finally updated the software on its Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC electric vehicles (EVs) to enable customers to utilize Tesla’s extensive network of Supercharger stations. For expedited entry, customers can opt to purchase a “General Motors authorized” adapter through the app at a cost of $225.
General Manager’s team declined to specify a timeframe for the delivery process, citing uncertainties that made it difficult to provide an exact estimate. According to a General Motors (GM) spokesperson, the company has developed a comprehensive list of authorized adapters and collaborated with multiple suppliers to manufacture the approved NACS DC fast-charging adapters.
Starting from 2025, General Motors will enable the construction of its electric vehicles (EVs) using the Novel Affordable Cell Supply (NACS) cost structure.
Kia
Kia has announced that, starting from September, it will offer its electric vehicle (EV) owners access to NACS charging stations, effective January 15, 2025. Typically, they leverage the announcement as a promotional tool.
From September 4, 2024, Kia is offering a special incentive for clients purchasing a brand-new 2024 EV6 or 2024/2025 EV9 SUV. As a limited-time offer, these customers will receive a complimentary adapter shipped to their doorstep in early 2025, pending sufficient supply. Kia advises customers who received their EV6, EV9, or Niro EV prior to September 4 that they will need to acquire a charging adapter from a third-party provider at a future point in time.
Rivian
Rivian officially secured a deal to acquire access to 15,000 Supercharger stations across North America on March 18, 2024. By that point, Rivian had committed to dispatching adapters to customers. A Rivian representative told TechCrunch that the company began supplying the adapters this spring and will continue to deliver them as they arrive.
By September 2024, Rivian informed customers that they would automatically dispatch an adapter to new vehicle owners once their car was delivered. Your adapters will be delivered within a timeframe of 7-10 business days. The electric vehicle manufacturer committed to providing complimentary adapters to all existing Rivian owners waiting on their adapters, with delivery scheduled to occur by the end of January 2025.
As automakers secure their official entries, TechCrunch plans to replace the current listings.
