Electrify America, Blink to add Tesla’s NACS connector to their EV chargers

Electrify America and Blink are the latest EV charging station makers to announce that they’ll add NACS connectors to their EV chargers.

Electrify America and Blink adopt NACS

NACS – or the North American Charging Standard, previously known as the Tesla charging connector – is an EV charging connector system that Tesla developed and owned.

So what this announcement means is that Tesla drivers or EVs that feature NACS will be able to charge at non-Tesla networks without having to use an adapter.

Both Electrify America and Blink say their chargers will continue to feature existing CCS-1 connectors; they’re just adding NACS charging ports as well.

Electrify America is aiming to offer a NACS connector option at existing and future DC fast charging stations by 2025. With more than 850 charging stations with about 4,000 individual chargers in the US and Canada, it has the largest open DC fast charging network in the US.

Blink says it will begin to produce NACS DC fast chargers by October 2023, and it’s also going to offer NACS connectors on its Level 2 chargers. It points out in its announcement that Level 2 chargers “currently account for approximately 90% of EV charging use” in the US.

Harjinder Bhade, chief technology officer at Blink Charging, said, “Whether it’s a Tesla Model S driver needing to plug into a NACS charger while shopping, or a Chevy Volt driver seeking a quick charge via a CCS charger during a summer vacation trip, our chargers will be accessible to every kind of driver.”

Electrek’s Take

My colleague Fred Lambert noted a couple weeks ago that Electrify America doesn’t manufacture its own chargers, but that its suppliers, such as ABB and Tritium, have made announcements to adopt NACS, so this decision from Electrify America was expected.

This latest adoption is a good thing, because it expands options and reduces hassle for Tesla drivers and other EV models that adopt NACS – although the Tesla network is pretty darned good.

What non-Tesla EV drivers REALLY want in the near future is the ability to use the Tesla supercharging network in addition to other chargers.

I have Tesla supercharging near me. I also have an Electrify America DC fast charging station near me. To have the option to charge quickly and efficiently on both of those EV chargers without any glitches would be great.

Photo: Electrify America

If you’re an electric vehicle owner, charge up your car at home with rooftop solar panels. To make sure you’re finding a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing on solar, check out EnergySage. EnergySage is a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20 to 30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.