American electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Rivian Automotive has announced its adoption of the North American Charging Standard (NACS), originally developed by rival Tesla. Rivian joins a growing list of automakers embracing this charging standard.
In recent weeks, the term “NACS” has gained popularity as Tesla’s plug has rapidly transitioned from a proprietary component to the accepted North American standard. Tesla renamed its Charging Connector the North American Charging Standard when it opened its Supercharger network to non-Tesla EVs, paving the way for other automakers to follow suit.
Although the SAE combo (CCS Type 1) has long been considered the prevailing standard, automakers such as Rivian and Ford have established their own North American charging networks using CCS rather than NACS. Aptera Motors, a solar EV startup, was the only company actively advocating for NACS to become the new standard until recently.
NACS adoption gained significant momentum when Tesla unexpectedly partnered with Ford Motor Company in May. This partnership not only provides Ford EV drivers with access to adapters for utilizing Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network of 12,000 charging stations in the US and Canada, but also ensures that new Ford vehicles will feature the integrated NACS plug starting in 2025.
Following suit, General Motors (GM) swiftly embraced NACS, joined by numerous charging equipment manufacturers. Rivian now joins the ranks, announcing its adoption of NACS while simultaneously expanding its own charging network.
Rivian recently reached an agreement with Tesla, enabling its R1T and R1S owners to access Tesla’s Supercharger Network in the US and Canada starting in spring 2024. By providing an adapter, Rivian vehicles can utilize the Tesla network for charging. Furthermore, beginning in 2025, Rivian will equip its R1 vehicles as well as its upcoming R2 platform with NACS charge ports as standard equipment.
RJ Scaringe, the founder and CEO of Rivian, expressed enthusiasm for the NACS agreement and emphasized the collaboration’s contribution to carbon neutrality. While Rivian offers access to Tesla’s extensive charging network, it remains committed to expanding its own Rivian Adventure Network of chargers. The extent to which Rivian’s charging infrastructure will support NACS alongside SAE Combo with CCS remains uncertain.
This development is undoubtedly a victory for Rivian drivers and further establishes NACS as the new standard for North America. Rebecca Tinucci, Tesla’s senior director of charging infrastructure, commended the industry’s adoption of the North American Charging Standard. Tinucci emphasized the importance of ensuring all EV drivers have access to reliable and user-friendly charging hardware and expressed eagerness to welcome Rivian owners to thousands of Superchargers across North America.
