Stellantis, the global conglomerate of American and European automotive brands, has recently announced its adoption of the North American Charging System (NACS), also known as the Tesla plug. This move makes Stellantis the latest automaker to embrace the standard, joining other major automakers that currently sell or plan to sell electric cars in North America.
Formerly known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Stellantis includes well-known brands such as Chrysler, Dodge SRT, Jeep, Ram Trucks, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Maserati. The decision to adopt the NACS comes as part of Stellantis’ participation in a joint venture with six other automakers to create a mega-network of EV charging stations. This network will support the NACS plug across its 30,000 charge points, which are set to be built by 2030.
While Stellantis has not specified which electric vehicle models from its various brands will be among the first to make the switch to NACS, it has confirmed that starting in 2025, adapters will be made available for owners of Stellantis EVs equipped with the current Combined Charging Standard (CCS) ports. This ensures that these owners will be able to plug in and charge at NACS-equipped stations during the transition period. Following this, select 2026 model year vehicles will be built with native NACS support and hardware.
The adoption of the NACS by Stellantis is seen as a significant development in the EV charging landscape. It essentially marks the end of the road for the future of CCS in North America. However, this does not mean that CCS-equipped EVs should be disregarded or traded away immediately. The transition to NACS is not expected to commence in full until 2026, and it may take several years to complete. In the meantime, drivers can still benefit from the interoperability of the two standards and take advantage of the expanding CCS-equipped EV charging networks.
Furthermore, the availability of relatively inexpensive NACS-to-CCS or CCS-to-NACS adapters will enable drivers to stay charged for years to come. This means that even if a vehicle is not initially compatible with the NACS, there will still be options for charging at both NACS and CCS stations.
In conclusion, Stellantis’ adoption of the North American Charging System is a significant step toward standardizing EV charging across North America. By joining other major automakers in embracing this standard, Stellantis is ensuring that its electric vehicle lineup will be compatible with the growing network of NACS-equipped charging stations. While the transition may take some time, drivers can rest assured that they will have options for charging their vehicles during this period. With the rapid expansion of CCS-equipped charging networks and the availability of adapters, the future of EV charging in North America is looking bright.
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