Gary Zhou 
Key Points
- 🚗 Texas mandates inclusion of Tesla’s NACS connector in EV charging stations for federal funding eligibility.
- 🛢️ Initially, Texas planned to include Tesla’s NACS and CCS connectors in EV charging stalls.
- 📊 Texas Department of Transportation revises requirements due to major automakers’ support for Tesla’s NACS connector.
- ⏰ Concerns raised by a group of EV makers delay the vote, urging time for standardization and safety testing.
- ⚡ Tesla’s NACS connector becomes mandatory on new EV chargers after unanimous vote.
- 🚙 Multiple major automakers commit to adopting the NACS connector for Tesla Charging Stations.
- 🌍 Push for more charging options to accommodate the growing popularity of EVs.
- 💯 Texas expects 97% coverage of over 168,000 electric vehicles with fast charge ports using the two-connector approach.
- 🛣️ Tesla continues expanding its charging infrastructure across the U.S. and Canada.
Tesla secured a significant triumph in Texas recently, with the Lone Star State announcing its mandate for companies to incorporate Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector in their electric vehicle charging stations to qualify for federal funding.
Earlier in June, we highlighted Texas’ intention to integrate Tesla’s NACS connectors alongside the conventional Combined Charging System (CCS) connectors in EV charging stalls.
The Texas Department of Transportation acknowledged that substantial automaker support for the Tesla NACS connector prompted the need to revise the Phase 1 requirements for expanding the state’s charging infrastructure.
However, as June progressed, a coalition of EV manufacturers and operators, including ChargePoint Holdings and ABB, alongside the Americans for Affordable Clean Energy Association, expressed reservations about the accelerated standardization of Tesla’s NACS within such a brief timeframe.
“Time is needed to properly standardize, test, and certify the safety and interoperability of Tesla connectors across the industry,” the group said.
Because of the pushback, Texas deferred its vote from mid-July to yesterday, which would give the State more time to adequately examine the NACS connector and its inclusion as a mandatory connector on new EV chargers.
However, the vote occurred yesterday, and Tesla’s NACS connectors are now mandated on chargers in order to qualify for federal funding as a unanimous vote moved the plan forward.
As Ford, General Motors, Rivian, Fisker, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Polestar, and many other companies have already committed to adopting the NACS connector to take advantage of Tesla Charging Stations, the need for more charging options is needed now more than ever.
Allowing more cars to use more charging stations will only benefit the consumers that choose to drive EVs. While charging stations were a competitive edge previously, EVs are becoming so mainstream and accepted by the general public that it is time to put aside exclusivity and give drivers who have not yet made the switch from gas to electric another reason to consider.
Texas Department of Transportation Director Humberto Gonzalez said (via Reuters):
“The two-connector approach being proposed will help assure coverage of a minimum of 97% of the current, over 168,000 electric vehicles with fast charge ports in the state.”
Tesla continues to build out its charging infrastructure across the U.S. and Canada, and other companies are also continuing to move forward with their buildout of additional charging stalls as EV adoption increases in the United States.
