NACS or CCS 2?

The “conflict” over standards is not limited to connectors. The issue of Plug&Charge

CharIN e.V. is a nonprofit organization open to companies around the world involved in the business of electric mobility.

Established in 2015, it has always aimed to unify global electric vehicle charging standards. The result of the operations conducted so far has led to the establishment of CCS2.

CCS connector 2

This connector enjoys a central placement in the Euro zone.

Over the years, major automakers, on par with the brands producing charging solutions, have equipped their products with CCS2-standard connectors.

The choice was made in an atmosphere of honest and shared competition and guaranteed cooperation.

Since that time, as can be guessed, Charin’s choices have been aimed at assigning a technical standard to the Combined Charging System.

Successful operation if considering public charging, there are currently 61,000 CCS2 public chargers and 40,000 Tesla Superchargers.

The three “consumer-oriented” pillars on which its activities are based, as stated by the organization, are as follows:

• Create a fully interoperable electric vehicle charging network
• Defend the standard to ensure the effective progression and consolidation of the transition
• Safeguard the user experience in its entirety.

Technical standard vs. dominant model: the case of CCS2 and NACS in the U.S.

Although a member of the organization, the electrical giant Tesla occupied a “de facto” contrasting position from the outset with CharIn’s positions.

In fact, all of Elon Musk’s brand vehicles recharge using NACS, the connector coined by Tesla.

NACS – North American Charging Standard

Half the size of CCS2 at “squared” power, compared to the Type2 standard, with more than a decade of use behind it and 20 billion EV charging miles, Tesla’ s charging connector is the most proven in North America.

Aware of its dominant model position, Tesla has initiated a campaign aimed at making NACS official as a standard in the United States.

Since last November, several “big” automakers have joined the mobilization.

Thus, in the United States we will most likely see a widening of the pool of vehicles equipped with NACS caviconnectors and, consequently, compliant with the Supercharger network.

In addition to Tesla, the brands in America that have already signed an agreement with Tesla to equip their vehicles with NACS connector are:

• Ford
• General Motors
• Volvo
• Polestar

While, just these days, Volskwagen has reportedly begun a phase of negotiations for its U.S. market.

Pro NACS – not just automakers, SAE’s opinion

The Society of Automotive Engineers, also known as SAE, is the trade association that develops and publishes technical standards (including for electric vehicle connector cables), guidelines and best practices for various areas of automotive and aviation engineering.

Alongside the automotive manufacturers, just these days, SAE said it will standardize the NACS connector developed by Tesla:

“In this way, any supplier or manufacturer will be able to use, produce or distribute the NACS connector on electric vehicles (EVs) and charging stations throughout North America.”

CharIN’s position

The association’s response was not long in coming and distanced itself from the flow of events:

“The global electric vehicle industry cannot thrive with several competing charging systems. CharIN supports global standards and sets requirements based on input from its international members. CCS is the global standard and therefore focuses on international interoperability and, unlike NACS, is future-proofed to support many other use cases besides public DC fast charging. Early and unconsolidated announcements of changes create uncertainty in the industry and hinder investment.”

CharIN Response to Ford Announcement to Use the NACS Proprietary Network

On Plug&Charge – the question is still open

As is well known, Tesla pioneered the Plug&Charge (PnC) charging service.

This charging access mode allows Tesla users to recharge at Supercharger stations around the world without the use of RFID cards for identification and/or payment.

An important aspect, that of the PnC, which brings the discussion about connectors to the plane of use, as well as to the plane of production.

Given the latest developments, will Plug&Charge mode (so far reserved for Tesla vehicles worldwide), also be extended to the models of companies that will gradually embrace NACS adoption?

The European Alternative to Plug and Charge

While Tesla’s system is becoming increasingly popular, allowing all its drivers to recharge their cars at superchargers automatically (if necessary with the help of an adapter), Europe is focusing on the deployment of “Ad Hoc Charging.”

Ad hoc recharging that provides for the user to be given the option to pay for each recharge using normal payment methods (credit cards or online) without being required to join a recharge circuit, although this mode will still remain available.

A solution that does not, however, solve the aspect of automatic car recognition: both for activation and dispensing of the charge, as well as for payment for the session performed, offering a lower quality user experience than a plug & charge.

Easier recharging: here is the demand of EV drivers

According to the most recent surveys, such as the EV Driver Survey Report 2023:

“Motorists seek greater simplicity (…) 47% of respondents* are willing to pay slightly more for a single method of accessing charging points.”

Shell, sondaggio annuale  sui conducenti di veicoli elettrici

In this respect, the multiplicity of circuits, the heterogeneity of identification and payment systems related to them, or the move through digital payment do not facilitate the user experience. On the contrary, the extreme convenience represented by the automatic recognition and payment made possible by PnC adds considerable value to recharging.

Conclusions

The agreement on the adoption of NACS in the United States by other automakers besides Tesla is likely to extend into the next-generation automotive sector.

If, in addition to the physical connector standard, the “new adopters” of NACS were to move their interest to Plug and Charge mode, Europe would risk being at a severe competitive disadvantage.

In fact, until a European PnC system, compatible with CCS2, is implemented, Europe risks having to subject itself to the way charging is used as well.

Silla‘s take

The time is ripe, and the latest events from overseas call for accelerated decision-making that benefits users, improving simplicity and convenience of charging, and offering manufacturers a certain framework for standardizing the solution adopted for the types of caviconnectors.

We therefore hope that, in addition to a reflection on the physical standard, a participatory debate on a future CCS2-compatible European Plug and Charge will be stimulated.