The Electric Vehicle Charging Landscape: A Tale of Standards and Convergence

The electric vehicle (EV) charging landscape in North America is on the cusp of a significant shift, mirroring the smartphone charging wars of the past. The Combined Charging System (CCS, Type 1) plug is currently the most widely used, similar to USB-C on Android phones. Meanwhile, Tesla’s proprietary plug has long been the outlier, much like Apple’s Lightning connector.

However, just as Apple eventually adopted USB-C, Tesla is opening up its connector, renaming it the North American Charging Standard (NACS), and attempting to supplant CCS. And it’s working: the new NACS port is being standardized by SAE International, with many automakers, including Ford, GM, Toyota, Rivian, Volvo, Polestar, Nissan, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, Fisker, Hyundai, Stellantis, Volkswagen, and BMW, signing on. New cars equipped with NACS are on the way, but they won’t start rolling out until 2026.

Meanwhile, Europe has already resolved its standards issue by adopting CCS2. For now, EV drivers in the US, stuck with their Tesla Model Ys, Kia EV6s, and Nissan Leafs (with the struggling CHAdeMO connector), are still searching for the right station or adapter and hoping everything’s operational. But things are about to get easier.

To address these challenges, the federal government has established a pool of $7.5 billion to fund charging network operators in building reliable EV infrastructure. With this influx of capital, North America can become a great and convenient place to own an electric vehicle. To stay up-to-date on the latest developments in EV charging, keep reading our coverage and come back often.

What’s Next for EV Charging in North America?

* The widespread adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS) and its potential impact on the electric vehicle charging landscape
* The efforts of charging network operators to build reliable and convenient EV infrastructure
* The role of government initiatives in promoting the growth of the electric vehicle market
* The benefits and challenges of adopting a single, standardized charging system

Key Players in the EV Charging Landscape

* Tesla and its proprietary connector
* SAE International and its role in standardizing EV charging connectors
* Automakers and their adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS)
* Charging network operators and their efforts to build reliable EV infrastructure
* The federal government and its initiatives to promote the growth of the electric vehicle market