What is NACS and Why Are so Many Automakers Jumping on the Bandwagon?

A new acronym has been making headlines for the past several weeks, and you have probably seen it a few times while getting your daily fix of EV news. What exactly does NACS stand for? Read on.

It all starts with Tesla, of course. Two months after launching a CCS adapter (for customers who want to access public charging stations other than its Superchargers) last fall, the global EV leader announced that it would open its connector design to the world.

Remember, this was a longtime promise made by CEO Elon Musk, who has repeatedly said the company’s mission is to accelerate the global transition to EVs.

To be clear, you won’t find adapters at Superchargers (except for some “Magic Dock” stations). Rather, Tesla is inviting vehicle manufacturers to put its charging connector and charge port—which Tesla now calls the “North American Charging Standard” (NACS)—on their own EVs in the future. 

Ford was the first automaker to announce a deal with Tesla, offering existing and future customers an adapter so they can access more than 12,000 Superchargers across the U.S. and Canada starting in 2024. Then, from 2025 onwards, next-generation Ford EVs will incorporate Tesla’s NACS connector, eliminating the need for said adapter.

Other manufacturers quickly jumped on bandwagon, creating a real domino effect. General Motors (Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac), Rivian, Volvo, Polestar, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Honda and Acura have all made similar announcements. And the list will inevitably keep growing. Stellantis (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Maserati), Hyundai and Volkswagen are reportedly considering the move, as well.

Charger makers also are increasingly supporting the NACS. One of them is FLO, the Quebec-based company that operates more than 90,000 DC fast charging and AC level 2 charging stations across North America.

“FLO welcomes initiatives to standardize charging hardware in North America because we believe it will help eliminate confusion for EV drivers,” FLO Chief Product Officer Nathan Yang said earlier this summer. “Ultimately, the increased adoption of the NACS standard relates both to its widespread use by EV drivers and the reliability of stations that currently offer NACS.”

Amen.