A seismic shift is underway to fast-charge electric vehicles at public charging stations. The North American Charging Standard (NACS) is on the road to replace the current Combined Charging System (CCS). The redesigned charge port uses a charge-cable connector that will work for low-speed AC or DC fast charging (50 kW to 350 kW).
The redesigned connector is more compact, and some say it is a more efficient design compared to other charging connectors. The new connector also could lead to faster charging speeds and less time waiting for an available charger.
Originally developed by Tesla, NACS is being adopted by other manufacturers across North America. The NACS is now being standardized under the SAE J3400 designation, signifying its potential to become the dominant charging standard in North America.
A NACS connector allows AC and DC charging in one more compact plug, using the same pins for both. The new connector can support up to 1 megawatt of power on DC.
The transition to the next-generation NACS is not unlike the old Beta vs. VHS or HD DVD vs. Blu-Ray — but the stakes are much higher here, said Patrick George, editor-in-chief of InsideEVs, a consumer website.
“Nobody wants to deal with a format war when they’re trying to get to work or get the kids to school on time,” George said. “In the end, people just want a seamless charging experience, and going to NACS (which is a much slimmer and lighter plug than CCS) and enabling Supercharger access helps move things in the right direction.”
AC vs. DC
Level I AC charging is for the basic 120-volt household plug. Level 1 is trickle charging, requiring 40 to more than 50 hours to charge a battery to 80 percent from empty and 5 to 6 hours for a plug-in hybrid.
Level II AC uses a 240-volt connection for home or public charging. The higher charge rate of Level 2 can take 4 to 10 hours to reach 80 percent from empty and 1 to 2 hours for a plug-in hybrid.
Level 3, or DC fast chargers, have power outputs between 50 kW and 350 kW. Level 3 public chargers can boost an EV battery to 80 percent in about 15 to 45 minutes. Smaller EVs are generally incapable of handling Level 3 power and rely on Level 2 systems at home or in public stations.
The rise of NACS
In November 2022, Tesla announced it would allow other manufacturers to use its proprietary charging port, renaming the port to the North American Charging Standard. Tesla claimed its port connector was superior to the Combined Charging System (CCS) and that the industry should adopt it. That’s exactly what happened.
Since the NACS connector was made available to other carmakers, almost all have announced that their electric vehicles in North America will be equipped with the NACS charge port starting in 2025. It will eventually become standard equipment, but until then, some makers are offering the connector for free or as an option, usually around $250.
Kia America is among the early adopters of NACS. All 2025 EV9 electric SUVS will be fitted with the port in the first half of 2025. As explained by Kia communications chief James Bell, this update will significantly increase the number of public charging stations to 35,000, nearly doubling the current options for Kia EV owners.
“The new port will enable charging at all DC fast chargers with NACS charging connectors, including Tesla Superchargers, a move that will greatly enhance the convenience of EV9 owners,” Bell said.
The greater access to public charging networks that support NACS means that Tesla owners will also have access to thousands more public chargers.
Continuing charging security
EV drivers using the old-style CCS ports will not be left stranded.
According to public charging station provider ChargePoint, more than 5.5 million EVs are on North American roads, of which more than half have J1772 or CCS1 charging ports. These vehicles will continue to need public charger access for years to come.
More importantly, EV charging networks in the U.S. must support CCS to qualify for a share of the $7.5 billion in federal infrastructure funding earmarked for EV charging.
A big benefit of offering one standardized connector is more access to charging stations.
Public fast charging network EVgo referred to NACS as “The seismic shift in the competitive landscape for EV charging.” EVgo is now in the process of installing North American Charging Standard connectors. Stations included in the roll-out will serve CCS and NACS vehicles., said Badar Khan, CEO of EVgo.
ChargePoint and most EV charging network operators have also announced plans to add NACS connectors, per EV-lectron.com.
ChargePoint has created its own NACS connector, which it calls Omni Port. ChargePoint stations will have dual cables for the old and new connectors. Users can select the correct connector for their vehicle on the charger screen. Or app users can enter their vehicle’s make and model into the ChargePoint app, tap to charge, and the charge station will automatically release the correct connector type.
Other public charging providers with plans to add the NACS connector include Blink Charging, Electrify America, and EVconnect.
Mark Maynard has been writing about cars, their people and products for 30 years. Find him at MaynardsGarage.com.
The news and editorial staffs of Southern California News Group and The San Diego Union-Tribune had no role in this post’s preparation.