n a significant industry development, ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CHPT), a leading provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, has announced its adoption of Tesla’s NACS connector. The decision to offer this connector option on both new and existing charging stations underscores ChargePoint’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the expanding EV market.
The NACS connector gained widespread acceptance after Ford and GM/Rivian recently declared their adoption of the proprietary Tesla connector, prompting a wave of announcements from other charging station manufacturers and operators committing to offer NACS connectors. Until now, ChargePoint was notably absent from the list of companies embracing this standardized connector.
Following a careful evaluation of the situation, ChargePoint has now confirmed the availability of NACS connector options for new orders as well as for customers with already installed CP6000, CPE 250, and Express Plus charging stations. By adding NACS compatibility to its existing range of J1772 or Combined Charging System (CCS) solutions, ChargePoint aims to provide customers with the flexibility to cater to the charging requirements of any electric vehicle in any parking space.
⚡️Today we are proud to announce the availability of NACS charging solutions, which will complement our CCS, J1772, and CHAdeMO connector options in North America. Available for both new and existing chargers, whether they are DC, AC or home. Production begins later this year.… pic.twitter.com/Kw9vsKTxne
— ChargePoint (@ChargePointnet) June 27, 2023
The decision to incorporate NACS connectors aligns with ChargePoint’s strategy to support the upcoming EV models from Ford, GM, and Rivian, which will utilize this particular connector. ChargePoint intends to offer not only new charging stations equipped with NACS connectors but also retrofit existing stations upon customer request, starting in 2024.
ChargePoint’s lineup of DC products, including the Express 250 and Express Plus, as well as the home-based AC products, namely the CPF50 and the award-winning Home Flex, will be made available for purchase or reconfiguration with NACS connector options later this year. Furthermore, the CP6000, ChargePoint’s latest offering for commercial and light fleet applications, will be sold with or reconfigurable for NACS connectors from early 2024. To enhance the overall charging experience, ChargePoint’s mobile app, which grants EV drivers access to over 743,000 active and roaming ports, already features personal location filters for NACS, J1772, CCS, and CHAdeMO connectors. This allows EV drivers to easily locate and utilize the appropriate charging solution for their vehicles.
With the inclusion of ChargePoint, virtually all major charging companies in North America have now embraced the NACS connector, highlighting the industry’s commitment to standardization and interoperability. As the market for electric vehicles continues to flourish, this collective effort to adopt a common charging standard aims to simplify and streamline the charging process for EV owners nationwide.
