Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi say they will use Tesla's EV charging plug (theverge.com)

Article summary

Volkswagen Group, which includes Audi, Porsche, and other brands, has announced its intention to adopt Tesla's electric vehicle charging standard, known as the North American Charging Standard (NACS). This move will give VW customers access to Tesla's Supercharger network, with 15,000 locations in North America. VW plans to start rolling out new EVs with NACS ports in 2025. The company is also exploring adapter solutions for its current EV owners to access Tesla's Supercharger network.

Main themes

• EV charging standards
• Tesla's Supercharger network
• Volkswagen's adoption of NACS
• Antitrust concerns
• Charging infrastructure reliability
• CCS vs NACS
• Government subsidies for EV charging
• Standardization of EV charging in the US

What commenters say

• The adoption of NACS by Volkswagen will likely lead to Stellantis, the last major holdout, also adopting the standard.
• Tesla's decision to open up its charging standard may lead to antitrust concerns, but it is also seen as a necessary step for the growth of the EV industry.
• The use of NACS will not necessarily mean that other charging standards, such as CCS, will become obsolete.
• Some commenters believe that the CCS standard is inferior to NACS and that its adoption will lead to a better charging experience for EV owners.
• Others argue that the choice of charging standard is not as important as the reliability and availability of charging infrastructure.
• The adoption of NACS may also have implications for the use of adapters and the rollout of new charging technology.
• There are differing opinions on whether the US will fully standardize on NACS or if other standards, such as CCS, will continue to be used.
• Some commenters think that Tesla's move to open up its charging standard is driven by a desire to qualify for government subsidies for EV charging infrastructure.