GM recently made a significant announcement, following in the footsteps of Ford. The company revealed that owners of its electric vehicles (EVs) will soon have access to the widely recognized Tesla Supercharger charging infrastructure. This access is expected to become available in early 2024, providing GM customers with a broader range of charging options. GM estimates that this collaboration will add a substantial number of charge points, approximately 12,000 Tesla Superchargers, to the list of available charging stations for its EV owners.
In addition to gaining access to the Tesla Supercharger network, GM also plans to adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector design for its EVs starting in 2025. This change will impact the charging port configuration of future GM electric vehicles. While specific models that will utilize the NACS port instead of the Combined Charging System (CCS) port have not been announced yet, it is expected that GM’s EVs released from 2025 onwards will feature the NACS connector.
GM has shared some details regarding the transition process. Initially, when GM EV owners gain access to the Tesla Supercharger network in 2024, they will require an adapter to facilitate charging. Subsequently, the 2025-and-on GM EVs that adopt the NACS port will need an adapter to charge on CCS-capable fast charging stations. GM has assured its customers that it will make these adapters readily available when the time comes.
Apart from the hardware-related news, GM intends to integrate the Tesla Supercharger network into its vehicles and mobile apps. This integration aims to enhance the charging experience for GM EV owners by streamlining the process of locating, paying for, and initiating charging sessions on Tesla Superchargers.
GM’s CEO, Mary Barra, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating that it aligns with their vision of an all-electric future. The company aims to produce a wide range of high-quality EVs across various price points while establishing an ecosystem that accelerates the adoption of electric vehicles. Barra believes that this collaboration represents a crucial step towards expanding access to fast chargers for GM customers and potentially unifying the industry under a single North American charging standard.
GM’s decision to join Ford in adopting the NACS as a charging standard for EVs marks a significant milestone. This move creates momentum towards standardization, and it will be interesting to observe how other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) react in the coming months.
