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Tesla Supercharger Network Must Offer CCS Connection To Get Federal Subsidies

The industry-wide move to mass adoption of all-electric vehicles is far from sorted, with one of the big questions being the standardization of electric vehicle plug types. One of the most popular is the North American Charging Standard, or NACS, developed by Tesla. GM recently announced it would adopt the NACS standard starting in 2025. Now, however, the White House has stated that in order to be eligible for billions of dollars in federal subsidies, the NACS-based Tesla Supercharger Network would also need to be compatible with a competing plug type, specifically the Combined Charging System, or CSS.

The Cadillac Lyriq parked in front of a Tesla Supercharger.

Per a report from Reuters, a White House spokesperson has weighed in on the competing plug type standardization efforts.

“Earlier this year, we developed minimum standards to ensure publicly funded EV charging is accessible, reliable, and affordable for all drivers, and we required interoperability to promote competition,” said White House spokesperson Robyn Patterson in a statement to Reuters. “Those standards give flexibility for adding both CCS and NACS, as long as drivers can count on a minimum of CCS.”

Patterson also said that every EV should eventually be able to connect to any publicly funded charger, adding that “More drivers having access to more high-quality charging – including Tesla Superchargers – is a step forward.”

Just last week, GM announced that it would adopt NACS in new GM EVs starting in 2025. The announcement coincided with news that GM was partnering with Tesla to provide GM EV owners with access to more than 12,000 Tesla Supercharger stations throughout North America, starting in early 2024. GM’s crosstown rival, Ford, made a similar announcement, and also plans to equip future EVS with an NACS port.

Notably, GM EV owners already have access to 134,000 chargers through the Ultium Charge 360 initiative and mobile apps, which includes CCS plugs. Moving forward, GM says it will make adapters available for NACS-enabled vehicles at CCS-capable fast charge stations.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. Ultimately only one charging standard should be adopted, but it’s unfair to companies using either of the two standards to subsidize only one to the exclusion of the other. I am dubious that CCS is better. NACS has a smaller footprint (less stress on the cables) and the Tesla Supercharger network is fairly extensive. It shouldn’t be this hard to make an agreement. Perhaps have Tesla and CCS manufacturers agree to stock adapters at 80% of their superchargers by 2030 and continue the subsidies?

    Reply
    1. Its funny how Tesla bent for Europe and yet we do this here! All I have to say is my current home chargers better be usable or not buying their car! GM better provide adapters free or cheap if they go out the door with tesla format in the next 2 cars or they can keep them!

      Reply
      1. @imanjunk
        Europe and China each has a Standard. We on the other hand never made a standard so we should be smart and make the far superior NACS the Standard going forward.

        Reply
  2. I don’t think the plug is the problem because Tesla did create Magic Dock but I think the government wants Tesla to open up every charger they own to any driver.

    Reply
  3. This should be standardized. We don’t have Ford only gas stations, Chevy only, etc.

    Reply
    1. Hey James,
      If we go wayyy back to the beginning, gas nozzles we’re not standardized for decades…
      That must have been fun. 🙂
      For this crazy situation it kinda falls on the fact that Tesla designed a specific charger that allows an insane amount of DC current that did not otherwise exist at the time on a commercial level, so they created the standard. A LvL2 charger (like at the Mall or a Condo parking lot) is much much slower and uses a J1772 plug that does not fit a Tesla (head spinning yet?). CCS is a huge Female outlet that allows yet another male plug type. It’s funky and lets you plug in a lvl2 type plug or a fast DC (but not a Tesla plug) style plug.
      This is my very long winded way of saying…
      Yes. We need 1 damn plug please..

      Reply
    2. @James Robert
      Tesla specific Superchargers is not what is being asked to get Standardized but their Port and Plug.
      Tesla Open Sourced it so they get Zero royalties and any charging Network can use it as they have decided to do so. Meaning when you go to say EVGo or Electrify America they all will have the NACS Charging system.

      Reply
  4. I agree that standardization is very important and I’m no Tesla fan but fair is fair and Tesla should be compensated for their participation. However, I don’t think the gov (us) should compensate them, they should recover it from user fees. I tired of paying for other people’s EV’s.

    Reply
    1. Carl,
      I totally agree, Think of the cash Tesla will make off usage fees. Lordy…
      Their install base of Superchargers is massive. During the day when energy is upwards of 50 cents per kilowatt hour filling an EV can get spendy… around $40 to go from 20% to 80% at those rates… I have a Model 3 Performance (basically means 2 big motors and a huge battery pack) and those are real-world numbers… that’s massive $$$ with a good chunk being pure profit for Tesla. Elon makes more on Superchargers than on selling cars…. Insane $$$

      Reply
  5. So…. They will give our $$$ to Tesla for offering CCS?
    Classic, big money US Govt move…
    Elon will make it work… and pocket another few Billion taxpayer dollars…
    We are nuts…
    Lol

    Reply
  6. In a few years, no one will be using CCS, but Taxpayers will be stuck with the bill. With Ford, GM, and now Stellantis all agreeing on NACS in less than a month’s time, is there anyone not going to be on board by the end of the year? CCS isn’t really a standard; it’s just a group of German companies that pushed for the use of a poorly made German connector so they could collect royalties.

    Reply
  7. Biden has already shown he has a distaste for Tesla. To be honest as NACS is the better system and as Tesla grows it’s charger footprint larger and makes deals with even more automakers, the government money is nothing to them, they will make all of the money they need. Next thing will be the government trying to sue them for a monopoly. In the long run the CCS will be just a blip in the market.

    Reply
  8. Yep billions up for grabs from the taxpayers. We always get screwed when the government is involved. They don’t do anything well, and theey use your money to make things worse. Brilliant!

    Reply

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