The shift towards the NACS charging port employed by Tesla’s Supercharger network continues. Today, BMW announced its intention to embrace the plug used by the American electric vehicle company, thereby gaining access to its extensive charging infrastructure in early 2025. The pertinent inquiry now is not which firms have transitioned to NACS, but rather which ones have not. Virtually every major car manufacturer has followed Ford’s example and made the switch.
Vehicles under BMW’s Mini and Rolls-Royce marques will also be equipped with NACS plugs. The company has stated that owners of its electric vehicles, all of which are equipped with the CCS plug, will also have access to the Supercharger network. In a press release, the brand did not explicitly mention offering adapters to these owners, although that seems to be the only viable solution. Whether these adapters will be provided or simply recommended for purchase, it is too early to determine.
Mini
Tesla Supercharger stations will soon be visible on charging station maps within BMW vehicles, and both companies are collaborating to integrate the charging applications of each BMW brand with Tesla’s network. BMW asserts that through this cooperation, owners will be able to handle charging payments without the need to download any additional software.
How this declaration ties into BMW’s substantial new charging station initiative involving numerous other carmakers remains to be observed. (To elaborate, Stellantis has yet to formally endorse NACS within that coalition.) The German company suggests that this announcement is separate from the charging station project, but the type of plug to be utilized on those stations is clearly significant. At present, the situation regarding this matter remains uncertain.
A multitude of automakers have declared their transition to NACS, yet it is ambiguous how many newly constructed chargers will incorporate the plug, and whether any existing ones may be retrofitted. Electrify America has revealed plans to establish NACS-equipped stations in the near future, but other charging networks have not provided such clear indications.
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