If charging companies want to participate in state-funded programs, they will need to integrate Tesla's NACS connector.
The State of Kentucky will require all EV charging companies to integrate Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector if they want to partake in a federally-funded program to electrify highways, reports Reuters.
Kentucky is the first state to mandate Tesla's connector. Texas was the first state to announce that it would soon require charging firms to incorporate the connector and was followed by Washington State a week later. According to documents seen by the news outlet, each port will have to be equipped with the SAE CCS 1 connector as well.
“Each port shall also be capable of connecting to and charging vehicles equipped with charging ports compliant with the North American Charging Standard (NACS),” reads the document. Kentucky's plan was put into action on Friday, says the report.
Tesla
But not everyone is happy about this, with several charging companies fighting back against Texas' plans. Several EV charger operators and manufacturers claim introducing Tesla's charging tech into stations is “premature.” In another document seen by Reuters, the chagrined stakeholders told the Texas Transportation Commission that “Time is needed to properly standardize, test, and certify the safety and interoperability of Tesla connectors across the industry.”
Despite this resistance, several prominent automakers have decided to adopt NACS. Ford was among the first to announce that its range of electric vehicles will be equipped with new software and a Supercharger-compatible adapter that would allow Ford-branded EVs to charge at Tesla's expansive charging network.
Since then, General Motors has also jumped onto the bandwagon, along with Rivian, Volvo, and Polestar. Other manufacturers, such as Stellantis and Hyundai, have said they are still evaluating the NACS connector for their vehicles.
Tesla
Charge station operator Electrify America announced last week that it will adopt the NACS connector by 2025, with all of its charging stations across the US and Canada expected to embrace Tesla's charging standard. The VW Group-owned company believes this will make EV charging more inclusive and will “facilitate the adoption of electric vehicles,” which is a shared goal amongst most automotive companies.
By integrating the NACS connector into non-Tesla chargers, owners of all makes and models will be able to enjoy a greater charging infrastructure, whether they drive a Model Y or a Mustang Mach-E.
Even though its charging company is willing to adopt NACS, the Volkswagen Group is yet to comment on whether it will implement the standard for its wide range of electric vehicles across the Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche brands.
Tesla
Keyword: Kentucky Mandates Tesla's NACS Connector For Federally-Funded EV Chargers