Volvo the Latest to Adopt NACS

by Matthew Guy

Published: June 28th, 2023

The exodus from CCS charging ports to NACS plugs continues apace with Volvo announcing its plan to incorporate the Tesla-designed tech starting in 2025.

As part of the brand’s aim to be a fully electric car maker by the calendar year 2030, Volvo Cars is promoting itself as the first European car maker to sign such an agreement with Tesla. This change will permit current and future electric Volvo car drivers access to Tesla’s vast Supercharger network across North America.

Readers giving this post more than a cursory glance will have noticed the word ‘current’ mentioned above, signaling there will be an adapter available to early adopters who have already signed the note on a Volvo EV. Indeed, the company says owners of the XC40 and C40 Recharge plus the recently revealed EX30 and EX90 will be able to find charging locations through the Volvo Cars app and are anticipated to have access to the Supercharger network from the first half of 2024.

By 2025, Volvo says buyers will find their EVs equipped with a NACS charge port. Anyone wishing to continue charging with a CCS plug out of necessity or preference will be able to continue doing so with an adapter provided by Volvo Cars. This is one of the first outright clear statements from an automaker that has announced the jump to NACS that their cars will only have that type of port. Given the sheer cost of adding a second port (and port door, and extra wiring, and and and), we’re not surprised – but it’s good to have confirmation of the plan from at least one automaker.

It’s only a matter of time until the remaining big EV guns also switch to NACS, with Hyundai and Kia being the two notable absences from this now-crowded table. While the Koreans are presently playing cards close to their chest, it's only sensible for them to make the leap in the wake of GM, Ford, Volvo, et al choosing to incorporate the so-called North American Charging Standard in their portfolio of EVs.

[Image: Volvo]

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Matthew Guy

Matthew buys, sells, fixes, & races cars. As a human index of auto & auction knowledge, he is fond of making money and offering loud opinions.

More by Matthew Guy

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3 of 11 comments

VoGhost on Jun 28, 2023

Another week, another ring kisser. Is Toyota next? My bet is H/K.

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- ToolGuy on Jun 28, 2023
  
  You did a fantastic job when you founded Tesla. 😉
  
  Like
- 28-Cars-Later on Jun 28, 2023
  
  Volvo Cars entered into some kind of alliance with Tesla in 2018.
  
  1
Dukeisduke on Jun 29, 2023

Also announced yesterday (saw this on Autoline Daily) is that SAE will standardize the NACS plug, so it will get a J number, like the CCS plug. This will probably end up driving the NACS plus becoming the default standard.

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