Nissan Jumps on Tesla’s NACS Bandwagon, Too
Adding to the domino effect, Nissan said on Wednesday it has reached an agreement with Tesla to adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its own electric vehicles—the first Japanese automaker to do so.
Ford, GM, Rivian, Volvo, Polestar and Mercedes-Benz have all made similar announcements in recent weeks. Ditto for Quebec-based charger manufacturer FLO. Stellantis, Hyundai and Volkswagen are reportedly considering the move, as well.
- Also: Mercedes-Benz Wants Piece of Tesla’s NACS Pie, Too
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Starting next year, Nissan will make an NACS charging adapter available for Ariya models which are currently equipped with the Combined Charging System 1 (CCS1) for DC fast charging. This will enable customers to connect their vehicle's charging port to NACS plugs at compatible Tesla Superchargers in Canada and the U.S.
Then, from 2025, Nissan EVs in North America will incorporate an NACS port for a more seamless Supercharger experience—no adapter required.
This announcement by Nissan will significantly increase the number of public fast-charging locations at which its EVs can be charged. The LEAF hatchback, which is close to retirement and expected to be replaced by a brand new model around mid-decade, isn’t part of the plan, however.
"Adopting the NACS standard underlines Nissan's commitment to making electric mobility even more accessible as we follow our ‘Ambition 2030’ long-term vision of greater electrification," said Nissan Americas chairman Jérémie Papin. "We are happy to provide access to thousands more fast chargers for Nissan EV drivers, adding confidence and convenience when planning long-distance journeys."
As part of Ambition 2030, Nissan is targeting more than 40 percent of its U.S. vehicle sales to be fully electric by 2030, with even more to be electrified. This includes two all-new vehicles to be assembled at the Nissan plant in Canton, Mississippi, beginning in late 2025. One of them is going to be sold by its luxury brand Infiniti.