- GM and Tesla partner to streamline EV charging in North America.
- GM gains access to Tesla’s fast chargers, doubling availability for both brands.
- Shift from CCS to Tesla’s NACS charging port design signifies success of Tesla’s charging network.
GM and Tesla collaborate to expand their EV charging networks and solidify a new North American charging standard
General Motors (GM) and Tesla have teamed up to transform the landscape of electric vehicle (EV) charging in North America. The partnership enables GM to utilize Tesla’s extensive charging network and cutting-edge technologies. The agreement comes soon after Ford struck their own deal to use Tesla chargers across their EV range.
Under the partnership, GM vehicles will gain access to Tesla’s fast chargers. Starting next year, GM customers can utilize Tesla’s charging network with an adapter and GM’s dedicated EV charging app. This collaboration doubles the availability of fast chargers for both GM and Tesla customers, effectively addressing concerns about public charging infrastructure.
GM plans to adopt Tesla’s charging port design, known as NACS (North American Charging Standard), in its EVs by 2025.
This marks a significant shift for GM, as it had previously been working on its own connector standard called CCS (Combined Charging System). However, Tesla’s charging network is significantly more mature than GM’s. Tesla’s Supercharger network boasts approximately 45,000 connectors worldwide. Whereas, the US only has around 5,300 CCS fast chargers, making Tesla the dominant player in public charging infrastructure.
“I think we have a real opportunity here to really drive this to be the unit unified standard for North America, which I think will even enable more mass adoption, so I couldn’t be more excited,”
Mary Barra, CEO, GM
This landmark collaboration benefits not only GM and Tesla but also has broader implications for the EV industry. Positive reactions from Wall Street analysts have led to surges in both GM and Tesla stocks. Moreover, this partnership could save GM up to $400 million in EV charging investments while doubling the number of fast chargers available to their customers.
Tesla has committed to opening 7,500 of its charging stations to non-Tesla EV drivers by the end of 2024. It’s worth noting that Tesla owners will not receive priority access to the company’s chargers, emphasizing their dedication to creating an inclusive charging ecosystem.
Through this partnership, GM and Tesla are accelerating the adoption of EVs in North America. By embracing Tesla’s charging network and incorporating NACS into its EVs, GM propels towards a unified charging standard. This means that EV charging, and by extension, ownership, will be far more streamlined.
This collaboration addresses EV buyers’ concerns about public charging infrastructure and signals a likely shift away from the CSS standard in the United States. Tesla’s success underscores the necessity for a reliable and extensive charging network.
