EV charging companies request delay in Texas' Tesla NACS mandate

03 July 2023

Not everyone is happy with the rapid switch to the NACS - several prominent EV charging companies are urging Texas to reconsider its plan to mandate Tesla's North American Charging Standard (NACS) in state charging stations. In a letter to the Texas Transportation Commission, companies including ChargePoint, FLO, ABB, FreeWire, and EVBox have voiced their opposition, describing the move as "premature" and warning it could disrupt the deployment of federal funds.

In the recent announcement, Texas revealed plans to require charging companies to include both Tesla's NACS and the rival Combined Charging Standard (CCS) in charging stations statewide. The decision is part of a state program aiming to electrify highways using federal funds. Following Texas' announcement, Washington unveiled similar plans, suggesting the momentum toward Tesla's NACS is growing.

However, EV charging companies have expressed concerns about the rapid implementation of the mandate. They argued that they need more time to standardize, test, and certify the safety and interoperability of Tesla connectors across the industry. The companies, already operating Tesla's NACS at some of their charging stations, stressed the need for additional time to re-engineer several aspects of the NACS connectors. This includes lengthening the cable and ensuring suitable temperature ranges, along with procuring certifications for specific parts.

Furthermore, these companies emphasized the importance of establishing a robust supply chain for NACS cables and connectors, underlining that rushing this process could potentially lead to issues down the line. Some companies are reportedly planning to bring their concerns to the federal government soon.

Despite the opposition, the adoption of Tesla's NACS by other car manufacturers continues to increase. Companies like Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Volvo, Polestar and Rivian Automotive have announced their adoption of NACS, while many others contemplate the adoption, fearing loss of customers if they solely offer CCS.

Tesla's Superchargers, which use the NACS, currently constitute about 60% of all fast chargers in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. This widespread usage could be one of the factors behind Texas' decision, as it allows non-Tesla users to benefit from Tesla's extensive charging network.

The controversy underscores the challenges inherent in the expanding EV industry, particularly around standardization and infrastructure development. It remains to be seen whether Texas will heed the call of the charging companies to delay the implementation of the NACS mandate or if the state will push forward with its original plan.

Via