Texas has approved Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) for new electric vehicle charging stations. By making this strategic move, Texas not only secured federal tax funding, but also strengthened Tesla’s control over EV charging infrastructure in the United States. This decision aligns with Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s vision of having a standard charging system across the country. Industry players still have concerns and need time to evaluate the impact on supply chains and certification processes.
Texas has recently approved a plan that mandates the installation of Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) at new stations. Texas made Tesla Tech compulsory in EV chargers and this strategic move is crucial for the state to become eligible for federal tax funding. This would further strengthen Tesla’s position as the leading provider of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in the United States.
After being initially proposed in July, the requirement faced a delay in the voting process. This was a result of objections raised by five EV charging companies, which were expressed in a letter sent to the Texas Transportation Commission. Texas had to delay voting on the plan two times because they needed to fully grasp NACS and its consequences. Eventually, the commission voted unanimously in favor of the plan on Wednesday. The vote on the matter finally took place last week.
Other states are closely monitoring Texas, the largest beneficiary of a $5 billion initiative aimed at promoting electric highways in the United States. This decision represents a significant advancement for Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s ambition to establish their technology as the standard for charging across the nation.
The companies have expressed concerns regarding the supply chain and certification of Tesla’s connectors. They believe that this situation could jeopardize the successful rollout of EV chargers. Therefore, they are urging for additional time to thoroughly evaluate Elon Musk’s exclusive Supercharger network.
Also See: Teslas 350kW V4 Stations are the Key to Diagonal Supercharger Parking of Other EVs
In the letter the group wrote, “Time is needed to properly standardize, test, and certify the safety and interoperability of Tesla connectors across the industry.”
As some states begin to roll out the funds, Tesla’s efforts are facing early tests. The company was awarded numerous projects in the first round of funding announced on Monday in Pennsylvania, yet did not secure any projects in Ohio last month.
The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program has set aside $5 billion in funding. New EV charging stations in Texas should include Tesla Technology as it is the biggest recipient of the grant and its disbursement is being discussed. In order to qualify for funds, companies must comply with federal regulations and provide the established Combined Charging System (CCS).
This system, which has gained favor with the Biden administration, is set as the minimum requirement. Furthermore, individual states have the authority to impose additional prerequisites on the distribution of federal funds in addition to the existing CCS requirements. However, individual states have the authority to impose additional requirements on CCS prior to distributing the federal funds at a local level.
There is a suggestion that politics influenced the decision made by the state of Texas. It is worth noting that Texas is not only the headquarters of Tesla but also holds the third-highest number of electric vehicle registrations in the United States. The majority of electric vehicles currently on the road, except for Tesla’s vehicles, use CCS technology to link up with a DC fast charger.
In June, it was reported that Texas would require companies to include Tesla’s plugs as part of their plans to receive and deploy $407.8 million over five years. Washington has been discussing similar plans, while Kentucky has already implemented a mandate for it.
Florida, one of the major recipients of funds, has recently made a significant revision to its plans. It has announced that it will mandate the adoption of NACS technology one year after the esteemed standards body, SAE International, formally recognizes it, as they are currently reviewing this technology.
Humberto Gonzalez, director at the department of transportation, Texas, said, “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,” while presenting the state’s plan to the commissioners.
Though Texas made Tesla Tech compulsory in EV chargers, in recent months, an impressive line-up of automotive giants including Ford, General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Polestar, Rivian, and Volvo have all made the remarkable pledge to incorporate NACS technology into their forthcoming vehicle models.
Also See: Mercedes-Benz on Board with Tesla’s EV Charging Connector
Ford and General Motors recently announced their plan to adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS). This decision had a significant impact on the industry and encouraged other car manufacturers and charging companies to also embrace this technology.
Source Texas approves plan to mandate Tesla tech for EV chargers despite opposition
