In a significant move towards electric vehicle charging standardization and improvement, Swedish automaker Volvo Cars has just announced its future adoption of Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) for its offerings in the region.
This strategic move ultimately made Volvo the first European automaker to embrace this innovative charging port, signaling a push for unification in the EV charging ecosystem.
“As part of our journey to becoming fully electric by 2030, we want to make life with an electric car as easy as possible. One major inhibitor to more people making the shift to electric driving – a key step in making transportation more sustainable – is access to easy and convenient charging infrastructure. Today, with this agreement, we’re taking a major step to remove this threshold for Volvo drivers in the United States, Canada and Mexico.”
Jim Rowan, Volvo Cars CEO
Tesla publicly welcomed Volvo as it joined the growing NACS family.
Seamless charging experience: Volvo EVs to gain access to Tesla’s Supercharger Network
The agreement between Tesla and Volvo is very similar to the one signed by Ford, GM, and Rivian.
Current Volvo electric car owners will gain access to Tesla’s vast Supercharging network by utilizing an adapter from the first half of 2024. Notably, the existing electric portfolio includes XC40 and C40 Recharge and the recently announced EX30 and EX90.
Even more, Volvo will equip its next-gen EVs for the North American market with Tesla’s NACS connector by 2025.
Owners of these models can also navigate charging locations and complete payments through the Volvo Cars app.
“With the Volvo Cars app, drivers of fully electric Volvo cars in the United States and Canada will be able to find tens of thousands of public charging stations, get real-time information on availability of chargers, and pay for their charging session through one single interface, making charging a Volvo car easy.”
Volvo Cars
This significant move enables Volvo to leverage Tesla’s expansive Supercharger network, currently encompassing over 12,000 locations across the continent. Furthermore, this integration will enhance the convenience and charging accessibility for Volvo EV owners.
What’s special about Tesla’s NACS?
The NACS connector features a single-port charging system that supports alternating (AC) and direct (DC) charging.
Notably, it boasts a compact design, approximately half the size of the Combined Charging System (CCS) connector, while delivering twice the charging power.
These qualities align with the company’s commitment to enhancing the convenience and accessibility of electric cars for their customers.
“We are committed to making electric cars more convenient and accessible for our customers. By adopting NACS, we are giving our customers the freedom to charge their cars anywhere in North America.”
Henrik Green, Volvo Cars Chief Technology Officer
See Also:
- Tesla’s NACS connector becomes mandatory for state funding, encouraging adoption by automakers
- Adoption of Tesla’s NACS plugs could be difficult for Automakers
- Rivian emerges as the latest automaker to join Tesla’s charging network
- Stellantis may join the growing NACS family, but not so soon
- White House offers Tesla Superchargers subsidies but on one condition
Indeed, Volvo’s decision represents a significant step towards establishing a unified charging infrastructure in North America. It reinforces the industry’s shift towards standardizing charging ports and streamlining the charging process for EV owners.
By leveraging Tesla’s NACS connector and joining the Supercharger network, Volvo takes a significant step towards providing a cohesive and accessible charging infrastructure for EVs in North America.
