Washington State has made the decision to require charging companies that receive federal funds for the development and improvement of charging infrastructure to utilize Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug. This mandate aims to standardize charging connectors and promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) in the state.
In line with Texas’ recent announcement, Washington State is now following suit by implementing a comparable requirement. Furthermore, notable automakers like Ford, General Motors, and Rivian have recently disclosed their plans to replace the Combined Charging System (CCS) connection with Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug.
“While the decision is not yet finalized, Tonia Buell, the alternative fuels program manager at Washington State, acknowledges that additional steps are forthcoming for the plan, according to Reuters.”
“We need to ensure that the NACS plug is tested and certified for other automakers before implementing it. However, we are currently planning to mandate the use of NACS at state-funded and federally-funded sites in the future,” stated Tonia Buell, the alternative fuels program manager at Washington State.
This requirement specifically targets companies seeking federal funds to establish new charging stations in the United States. The availability of $7.5 billion in funding creates significant incentives for such companies.
While federal regulations mandate a minimum of four CCS chargers per site, there is currently no minimum requirement for NACS plugs. It’s worth noting that Tesla is also subject to the CCS requirement if they choose to apply for federal funds to develop new Supercharger locations.
The recent requirement of NACS plugs by certain states adds an intriguing aspect to the future of charging infrastructure in the US. The progress will depend on whether other automakers choose to adopt NACS.
While there have been surprising announcements in the past weeks, the adoption of NACS is not a universal trend yet.
Hyundai and Stellantis are currently evaluating NACS for their EVs, whereas Lucid is cautious due to its higher-voltage battery technology. The coming months and years will provide insight into the direction of charging infrastructure development in the country.
Washington State has announced its plans to mandate the use of Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug for charging companies that receive federal funds to build and expand charging infrastructure. This requirement is part of the state’s efforts to standardize charging connectors and promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs).
The decision aligns with similar initiatives taken by other states, including Texas. It also follows recent announcements from prominent automakers such as Ford, General Motors, and Rivian, expressing their intention to favor Tesla’s NACS plug over the Combined Charging System (CCS) connection.
While the decision is not yet final, Tonia Buell, the alternative fuels program manager at Washington State, acknowledges that additional steps are needed to ensure the compatibility and functionality of the NACS plug with other automakers. However, the state intends to require the use of NACS at state-funded and federally-funded charging sites in the future.
The requirement specifically applies to companies seeking federal funds for the establishment of new charging stations in the United States. With substantial financial incentives available, amounting to $7.5 billion for charging infrastructure, companies have a strong motivation to comply with the NACS plug mandate.
It’s important to note that while federal requirements currently mandate at least four CCS chargers per site, there is no minimum requirement for NACS plugs. Interestingly, even Tesla would need to adhere to the CCS requirement if the company seeks federal funds to develop new Supercharger locations.
The move by Washington State reflects the ongoing developments and discussions surrounding charging infrastructure and connector standards in the EV industry. The adoption of NACS plugs and the role they will play in shaping the future of charging infrastructure in the US will be closely monitored in the coming months and years.
Source : insideevs.com