Ford is not the only electric vehicle manufacturer making significant strides by adopting Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS). General Motors (GM) has also announced its transition to this standard. During an engaging Twitter Spaces conversation with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Mary Barra, the CEO of GM, revealed that all of its future electric vehicles will be equipped with the NACS open-source adapter by 2025. This pivotal move underscores GM’s commitment to integrating with the growing network of Tesla’s charging infrastructure.
As part of this transformative partnership, GM electric vehicles will gain access to an impressive network of 12,000 Tesla Superchargers starting in 2024. Current owners of GM electric vehicles will not need to replace their cars to utilize Tesla’s chargers; however, they will require an adapter to ensure compatibility. Additionally, GM has announced plans to develop an adapter that will enable future NACS-enabled electric vehicles to charge at its existing network of CCS-capable fast charging stations, thereby enhancing the charging options available to their customers.
The development of this backward-compatible charger could prove to be crucial in the transition to more accessible charging solutions. Tesla’s initiative to open its charging ecosystem to non-Tesla vehicles was first unveiled alongside a substantial $7.5 billion initiative from the Biden administration aimed at broadening the availability of electric vehicle chargers throughout the United States. However, this strategy heavily relies on expanding the network of CCS chargers to meet the demands of a growing electric vehicle market.
Mary Barra emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “This partnership is a vital component of our strategy and a crucial next step in rapidly increasing access to fast charging solutions for our customers.” She further elaborated, “Our vision for an all-electric future involves producing millions of world-class electric vehicles across various segments and price ranges, while simultaneously creating an ecosystem that fosters mass adoption of electric vehicles.”
