Tesla has signed an agreement with yet another automaker, this time giving Nissan access to its North American Charging Standard (NACS) technology and access to the expansive Supercharger network in Canada and the US.
On Wednesday Nissan announced it is adopting NACS for the Ariya electric SUV and future electric models. Nissan’s deal is structured like Ford, GM, Rivian, and others in that existing Ariya owners, which currently charge via the Combined Charging System (CCS), will be able to purchase an adapter starting in 2024 that will allow them to plug in to over 12,000 Superchargers in North America. Then in 2025 the Japanese automaker will begin including the NACS charge port in its EVs for Canada and the US, eliminating the need for an adapter for those owners.
“Adopting the NACS standard underlines Nissan’s commitment to making electric mobility even more accessible as we follow our Ambition 2030 long-term vision of greater electrification. We are happy to provide access to thousands more fast chargers for Nissan EV drivers, adding confidence and convenience when planning long-distance journeys,” said Jérémie Papin, chairperson, Nissan Americas.
Nissan now joins the growing list of automakers adopting Tesla’s charging technology. It all started with Ford signing the first deal back in May, followed shortly thereafter by another big US automaker, General Motors. Signing those two deals then led to the dominos falling across the industry, with Rivian, Volvo, Polestar, and Mercedes-Benz following suit.
Several other automakers have said they are also considering adopting NACS, but have yet to reach a deal. One of the sticking points is the charging speeds offered by the 400-volt Supercharger network, which doesn’t meet the 800-volt architecture in some EVs from the likes of Hyundai and Lucid. Both Stellantis and Volkswagen have also said they are considering adopting NACS.
It is only automakers climbing on board the NACS train. Virtually all EV charging companies have said they will be adding NACS connectors to their charging stations, including some in Canada like FLO and BC Hydro.
Canada is also playing a role in that the Montreal-based A2Z EV has developed the first NACS adapter for CCS-equipped EVs. The adapter has already been tested and is ready for use, and the company is hoping Tesla will open up their Superchargers to third-party adapters. While they wait A2Z EV is actively engaging with car manufacturers to support this adapter.
