Tesla has emerged victorious once again in the realm of electric vehicle (EV) charging technology, securing a significant win in Texas. The state has announced that it will require state-backed charging stations to include Tesla’s NACS plug alongside the nationally recognized CCS plug if they wish to participate in a program aimed at electrifying highways with federal funding.
Earlier reports revealed that both Rivian, an electric pickup truck manufacturer, and BTC Power, a charger maker, have thrown their support behind Tesla’s standard. This comes after General Motors (GM) and Ford made the decision to incorporate Tesla’s charging technology, disregarding the Biden administration’s efforts to establish the Combined Charging System (CCS) as the dominant standard across the United States.
As Tesla’s headquarters and new car factory complex are situated in Texas, this mandate marks the first instance of a state mandating the use of Tesla’s charging technology, bolstering CEO Elon Musk’s vision of making it the national charging standard.
The Texas Department of Transportation confirmed that Ford, GM, and Rivian’s adoption of NACS has necessitated a change in requirements for the initial phase of the rollout. Going forward, direct current fast chargers must include both a CCS connector and a North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector.
Lew Cox, the director of business development at MD7, a company that assists with charger deployments, asserts that Texas’s decision will exert significant pressure on other states to adopt Tesla’s NACS, potentially establishing it as the new charging standard nationwide.
The U.S. Department of Transportation acknowledges that the EV industry is rapidly evolving and that they are actively engaging in discussions with automakers, charger manufacturers, and standards-setting bodies to ensure that federal investments support a reliable, convenient, and user-friendly charging experience for all drivers.
While the federal government provides funding to the states, the latter possess the authority to tailor their own guidelines as long as they meet minimum federal standards. States are expected to allocate the initial round of funding throughout the remainder of the year.
Following Ford and GM’s decisions, prominent U.S. charging companies like ChargePoint and EVgo have expressed intentions to incorporate the same standard into their chargers.
Other states, including California, Iowa, and Michigan, are reviewing the evolving charging market. Additionally, one state is contemplating awarding bonus points to applicants who include Tesla charging ports in their proposals.
Tesla’s stock experienced a 1.2% increase in after-hours trading following a 5.3% rise during regular trading hours on the day of the announcement.
Tesla reports that it currently operates around 2,000 Supercharger locations and over 21,000 Supercharger stalls in the United States, accounting for approximately 60% of the operational fast-charging plugs in the country.
Source: Reuters
