TGR Staff - 06/21/2023
According to a Reuters report, the state of Texas has implemented a mandate requiring electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to include both Tesla's charging standard and the Combined Charging System (CCS) in order to qualify for a state program that aims to electrify highways using federal funds.
Recently, the White House made EV charging stations equipped with NACS plugs eligible for federal grants worth billions. However, the inclusion of a CCS charging connector is also a requirement. Tesla has received support from Rivian, Ford, and General Motors, as well as charger maker BTC Power for its North American Charging Standard (NACS).
The Texas Department of Transportation stated in an email to Reuters that the adoption of NACS by other manufacturers has led to changes in the requirements for Phase 1. Each Direct Current Fast Charge port will be mandated to have one CCS connector and one NACS connector.
Reuters noted that Texas has become the first state to enforce CCS as the primary charging standard, despite the Biden administration's efforts. This move is seen as a significant development for CEO Elon Musk and Tesla within the EV industry.
Lew Cox, the director of business development at MD7, mentioned to Reuters that Texas taking the lead in incorporating NACS could potentially influence other states to follow suit, making NACS the national charging standard.
ChargePoint and EVgo, leading charger companies in the United States, have also expressed interest in adding NACS connectors to their public charging stations. This is partly due to the perception that Tesla's charging standard is more user-friendly and convenient.
Tesla, which currently operates approximately 2,000 Supercharger locations and over 21,000 Supercharger stalls in the US, accounts for about 60% of the fast-charging plugs in operation, as reported by Reuters.
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