Heading 1: Rivian to Adopt North American Charging Standard Plug Type
Rivian has announced that it will be adopting the North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug type, joining Ford and GM in the move. The announcement was made on Instagram, and details are now emerging about how the plan will affect existing owners.
Heading 2: What Happens for Current Owners?
One user on Instagram asked Rivian about what would happen for “current owners” in light of the new charging standard. In response, Rivian stated that “owners of vehicles built with the CCS charge ports will get a free NACS adapter! You’ll also be able to purchase additional adapters in the Gear Shop.”
Heading 3: Cost of Additional Chargers
While Rivian did not disclose how much the additional chargers would cost, Tesla’s CCS Combo 1 Adapter is priced at $175. This adapter works in the opposite way, allowing Tesla’s vehicles (which use NACS plugs) to plug into the Combined Charging System (CCS), which is used by most other automakers.
Heading 4: Availability of Adapters
Rivian has stated that the adapter will be available to its customers in the spring of 2024. A year later, it will make the NACS charge port standard on all of its R1 and R2 vehicles, so that no adapter is needed to use Tesla’s Supercharger Network.
Heading 5: Increasing Adoption of NACS System
In addition to Rivian, Ford, and GM, other automakers such as Stellantis and Hyundai have indicated that they are considering adopting the NACS system. Tesla’s Supercharger network is widely considered to be the most reliable in North America, and increasing adoption means that there is greater strain on charging infrastructure.
Heading 6: Reliability of Charging Infrastructure
The reliability of charging infrastructure is becoming a concern for EV drivers. Other operators have been found to have much less reliable chargers, with lots of downtime, leaving drivers in the lurch. Tesla’s Supercharger is also the biggest in North America, outnumbering chargers by all other operators combined.
Heading 7: Conclusion
Rivian’s move to adopt the NACS plug type is a significant step towards standardization in the EV industry. While existing owners will need to purchase an adapter, Rivian has stated that it will be providing one for free. As more automakers adopt the NACS system, it will be interesting to see how this affects the reliability and availability of charging infrastructure across North America.