Depending on where they travel, owners of all-electric vehicles have a hard enough time locating electric charging stations as the U.S. national EV charging network grows at a pace slower than many expected. Beyond that, not every electric vehicle even uses the same connector, meaning that after finding a suitable station, owners may not be able to plug in. So with all that in mind, ChargePoint has announced its Omni port solution, an EV connector that ensures that any all-electric vehicle can charge in any parking space, regardless of its connector type and without an expensive additional cable.
Supposedly addressing connector confusion across AC and DC charging, this new Omni port theoretically works for every EV sold in the United States. All the driver has to do is tell the ChargePoint app what vehicle they drive, scan it at the Omni port station, and it will automatically give you the right charger for your EV. You can also specify which charger you need on the screen at the charging station.
It’s worth noting that the Omni port will be incorporated into select ChargePoint AC and DC charging stations at no additional cost.
“Across hardware and software, ChargePoint is bringing to market innovative solutions that ensure all drivers who need to charge are able to do so,” ChargePoint CEO Rick Wilmer claimed in a statement. “With Omni port, ChargePoint solved the challenges associated with a multiple connector environment, ensuring Tesla and non-Tesla drivers can continue to expect a world-class driver experience. We are giving drivers and site hosts assurance that ChargePoint will continue to meet all their charging needs now and in the future.”
Notably, the Omni port will begin shipping by the end of the year.
With General Motors’ access to the Tesla Supercharger Network delayed, this Omni port could presumably become a workaround for GM all-electric vehicles for years to come. Of course, GM EVs will also adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) in 2025.
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Comments
While the text stating ‘Give you the rightCharger’ is incomprehensible, the video shows that when a Tesla pulls up the adapter is attached to the plug in end for it.
Much simpler and straightforward than the explanation.
I agree. The video demonstrated quite well how the machine swaps the right adapter for your vehicle. The only concern I have is the omni port is so long with the NACS that long-term use will put a strain on the car’s charging port.
Knowing the Non-reliability of most charge point junk, it will fail far earlier than the car will.
Besides you only need the adapter for nacs. No change for ccs1
Not sure why the US doesn’t follow Europe and have the user just plug in their own cable to the charger. You always have the right cable and it would cut down on vandalised charger cables
That’s a clever idea, but some level 3 cables are liquid-cooled in the US to prevent high heat from dampening the charging speeds.
True
People there have their own level 2 cords. They typically do not carry 350 kw cords with them.
Great idea for the short term.
Automakers and charging station companies need to move to NACS as soon as possible.
Consumers do not want to mess around with Dongles and Adapters.
You’d think in 2024 we could have a global standard. Then manufacturers could just build cars and keep costs down by not having to have a different charge port or charger cable. Doesn’t seem unreasonable. Mind you they’ve been building ICE vehicles for over a hundred years and can’t agree on which side to put the filler opening!
Peter:
Well, at least a North American Standard. Why China insists on something different from the European Standard (Mennekes/CCS2) I don’t understand, as standard power supply is 220Y/380 3-phase or thereabouts.
US/Canada/Mexico is different since we typically *Do NOT* have 3-phase power in larger homes (mansions excepted). And the CCS1 is just an addition of 2 dc high current pins to the original single – phase J1772, which Europeans don’t want due to single phase current limitations there of 15, 16, 20, or 32 amperes, country dependent.
Americans didn’t want to use the European standard since the Mennekes 3 phase plug is more expensive than the very common J1772 level 1/level 2 connector used here.
WE HAD a single CCS1 standard – that is until FORD decided to abandon the standard and go with the Tesla NACS connector which as far as I know still does not have an adapter for higher voltage (around 800 volt) charging that larger vehicles have on the existing CCS1 connector. Seems totally backward to me.
GM of course, being “Monkey-See, Monkey-Do” with FORD, obviously INSTANTLY ‘Bolted’.
Now we’ve got all kinds of adapter crap going from 1 to the other, and going from the other to the 1, and of course, this doesn’t work with destination chargers so there has to still be more adapters sold to have them work.
And as could be easily predicted, Neither FORD nor GM can come up with a timely release of even NACS to CCS1, let alone all the other permutations required.
In short they’ve made a royal mess of things.
One day we can but dream! 😉
Maybe inductive charging can save us all.
They’ll probably mess that up too.